Super Teacher vs. Super Wimp!

I often believe that there are two separate people living inside this POTSy body of mine. They seem as opposite as night and day. The super teacher whose strong and making a difference in the world. I can comfort a weeping five year old in her arms one moment then sing the peanut butter song with hand motions and dancing the next. Then there's the super wimp who can't walk up a set of stairs at church without being dizzy and out of breath by the time I get to the top. My classroom life and my home life are so different that I'm always aware of the contrast. Yesterday I had a 20 minute chunk of time that seemed super human or super teacher. As I recall each incident I shake my head in disbelief that I was the one who did all those things. Here's a play by play of that chunk of time;

10:38
Finished a K-W-L chart on oceans with the class.
Made out a nurses pass for a sick student.
Refill the baby wipe container.
Corrected six papers with students.
Helped a student figure out how to get an answer to a math problem.
Tied a shoe.
Stop two running students and mark their behavior charts.
Checked the bathroom for urine on the floor after a student complaint.
Called custodian for a clean up of urine on bathroom floor.
Wash the eyes and hands of student who got bubbles in his eyes.
Comforted a crying student.
Settled an argument between two students over crayon stealing.
Picked up some trash and a backpack from the floor (which is a never ending job).
Quieted the class twice with a clapping chant.
Directed several students to get back to their seats and get to work.
Unhooked a child's earring that got stuck on the earphones to the listening center.
Corrected seven more papers.
Called clean up and gave positive complements to those following the rules.
Excused the class for lunch.
11:00

Now compare this with this mornings trip to the mall.

9:50
Park in front of Target.
Walk into the store and pick up four items (including my happy chicken free range eggs) all on the first floor of the store.
Wait in a line of only two people to pay for my items.
Walk back to my car.
Drive to a handicapped parking place in front of Macy's because I'm already pooped.
Walk straight to the make-up department on the first floor.
Purchase my foundation for my pasty white face.
Walk back to my car.
When I get outside the store I'm ready to curl up on a bench, I'm so tired.
10:17

My classroom time described above is a little over twenty minutes, but I had been working in my classroom since 7:20 that morning.

By the time I get to the staff parking lot at the end of the day I feel like I've been hit by a bus full of kindergartners. I'm too tired to have a social life outside of my classroom. I know the reason I'm able to work is because God has a purpose for me there. Every day I pray that I can somehow live out that purpose. Being human I often fall short. There are days when the stresses of the classroom make me wish for Friday to come so I can rest on the weekend. I'm not sure why I do that, I'm most "normal" when I'm at work. I feel like I'm almost living up to my potential at work. Why wish that time away?

Super Wimpy Michele

Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.