The Panic Paradigm

It's Tuesday, and that means Slice of Life! 
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It never fails.

I’m relaxed. It was a wonderful break. Sometimes it’s just a normal weekend, and sometimes it’s longer. No matter how long the break may be, I’m so very careful not to completely disrupt my sleep schedule. Maybe I stay up a little bit longer. Maybe I sleep in just a hair each morning.

Some vacations I take home work and actually do it. Some breaks I decide to give myself – wait for it – an actual break from work. I know what needs to be done when I arrive at school after any length of break. I’ve been doing this job long enough that even if I did forget something, I would be able to dive in and figure it out.

Yet – it never fails.

My reward for all this careful diligence is a tossing, turning, sleepless night. Is there some reason my brain seems to think this is a good idea? Perhaps there is some evolutionary benefit I’m from the insomnia I experience each time I head back to work? If so, I’d really like to be clued into what it does for me.

Tired and cranky doesn’t really appear to be a helpful trait when teaching young souls.

(While you’re here at the blog, check out the poems I’ve been writing for National Poetry Month! http://www.mariaselke.com/search/label/Poetry I’ve written one each day this month, based on a visual prompt at Bud the Teacher’s blog.)