Some days I wake up feeling ready to face the day. Maybe I don’t feel totally rested, and more likely than not, I didn’t get enough sleep, but I feel pretty good. I take Baby Incredible to daycare and head off to work. As things come up in my day, which they inevitably do, – being a middle school teacher means being ready for the unexpected – I handle them with confidence and grace and wisdom. Maybe a kid throws up all over my classroom floor. Maybe a parent sends a five paragraph letter, addressing some concerns. Maybe the fire alarm goes off unexpectedly, prompting an unplanned drill. Or maybe, it’s just a “normal” day with preteens: teaching and redirecting and laughing and disciplining and lesson planning and paper grading and dress code violations. I end my day at work and get to see Baby Incredible and his heart melting smile. We go to whatever appointments we may need to attend that day, and then we come home to prepare for the next day. When I have spent some time with him and then rocked him to sleep, I get a little time to myself before I get some shut eye. Those are the Superwoman days. The days where I feel amazed that I have been able to accomplish so much and do it with peace and joy and a seamlessness that can only be attributed to God working.
And then there are days like today. The days that may even start out as Superwoman days but end up being Wonder Woman days. On Wonder Woman Days I end my day feeling as if I was hit by a mac truck. I wonder how I ever accomplished all of the things I did. I wonder how I didn’t say something completely inappropriate or mean. Sometimes I wonder how I let that inappropriate or mean thing fly out of my mouth! I wonder why on earth I’ve taken on so much. I wonder when I will get a break. I wonder how I will make it through tomorrow. I wonder if I am on candid camera. I wonder just how much more I can handle, and then I shudder at that thought, thinking it may cause something else catastrophic to happen.
On Wonder Woman days, I need to pray with my friends. I need to cry. I need my boyfriend to bring me dinner at 8:30 at night because I haven’t been home but a few minutes and have zero energy to make myself anything, even if there were groceries in the house. I need a hug and to be told that everything is going to be okay and that I’m doing a great job. I need to be reminded of why I’m doing this and that God is in control of every last detail in Baby Incredible’s life story. I need people to make me laugh. Today, I got all of those things after my Wonder Woman day, and I feel truly grateful and blessed. Thank you to those of you who loved me through my Wonder Woman day. You know who you are, and you are blessings in my life.
Mama Mango 