Belgian Waffles Make All The Things Better

My homeroom and I been planning to make waffles for a while. I don’t know how the topic came up, but with middle school kids, random things pop up in the middle of the class all the time….sometimes I’m guilty of causing said distractions. Whatevs. It was supposed to happen last Friday, but with the world’s worst virus (perhaps a hyperbole, but it surely didn’t feel like any other virus I’ve had) looming over me last week, and not working two days, waffles didn’t happen. This week, though, we were bound and determined.

So this morning, at 7:05am, students starting making their way to class, though the tardy bell doesn’t ring for 7:25am. Two kids brought in Belgian Waffle makers, and I quickly mixed up some batter. By 7:15am, the nomming began, and I had The Head and The Heart blasting from my computer (BEST new band around right now). High spirits were abound.We invited the Vice Principal to join us as he’s provided ice cream parties in the past and the kids wanted to give back.

Class began and I had kids teach the VP a new reading concept they learned to help them decipher between hoping/hopping and scaring/scarring etc. Kids quickly jumped up to volunteer. The VP brought out his iPad, snapped pictures, and took notes using Evernote (a great App for ALL…I just got it for my phone to help me organize my brain. Thanks to Brandy for getting me on board!). The kids were smiling. The VP was smiling. And I was smiling. And this moment turned into my second semester teacher evaluation. Usually you plan and schedule these things and as teachers you try to get that rock star lesson put together and know the evaluation is coming. But this was more authentic and genuine and what teaching is about. And it makes all the things better.

This is exactly what I needed right now. After being sick for what seemed like an eternity with probably the worst respiratory virus I’ve ever had in my life, resulting with me being prescribed an inhaler, I needed this refueling moment. At home I wasn’t being the best mom. My kid would see me lying around and saying to me, “Mommy doesn’t feel good.” I just couldn’t be there. And at work, I was short tempered and not as patient as I could be for the three days I was at work last week.  I just couldn’t be there. Overall, I started doubting myself as a human being.

But fun giggling times with my kid this week began the refueling. And this morning, it came full circle. All it took was some Belgian Waffles to get the rest of my soul charged up.

I know I’m meant to be a teacher.  I know I’m meant to be a mom. And I need both parts, along with all the wifing I do, to be a whole person.

What fuels you? What keeps you going? How do you recharge when you’re stressed and struggling?

Photo Credit: http://waffle-maker.org (post)/http://www.foodieinmotion.com (homepage)