Page 151 - She's One Crazy Lady!

On trial
Well, my enforced time off school dragged on and the days stretched out. Too much time on my hands. I felt lost. I missed everyone. I missed having a routine. I felt resentful that life was as it was, knowing this was just the start of a very long few months. A temporary replacement headteacher was in place, but I was told not to get in touch or intervene which, as disappointing as it was, I had to adhere to even though I felt there were matters I could have helped the school with. I had to accept that everyone needed to adapt and to get on in their own way. However, I couldn’t help but think how hard it was going to be for them.
My days at home really were long and reality had set in as to what I had had done and what lay before me, for I was about to face many more ‘unknowns’. Schools were ready to go back, and I felt quite tearful on the first morning of the new term as I watched excited children go past my house (and relieved parents, no doubt), freshly washed, dressed in their new uniforms, carrying their new back packs, holding their parents’ hands, chatting and laughing with their friends. The older children, of course, loudly screeching and, in a friendly way, thumping one another, so thrilled to be catching up with classmates they’d not seen for a while. The first day of a new school year was always my favourite day of the year – a fresh start with a new class of children, the whole year ahead of us to learn together, to work hard, to have fun and to make, what I hoped would be, lasting memories. I should have been there to greet them – all of them, the whole school – not as a Class Teacher this year, but as their Headteacher.
I knew I had to concentrate on building up my energy levels and to heal from the two operations, so I did a lot of walking, mostly around Sywell Country Park. I spent hours on the phone, calls made nearly always in the evening as everyone I knew was working in the day. I spent quality time with Mum and Dad too, which was I treasured; Mum recalling a quote she used very often when anyone was up against it: “This too shall pass.” We were supporting Mum in helping to get Dad the care he required, and the respite Mum needed so time together was, indeed, precious.
It was the isolation I hated most – the isolation from my everyday ‘people’.
“
I spent quality
time with Mum
and Dad too,
which was I
treasured;
mum recalling
a quote she used
very often when
anyone was up
against it:
“This too shall
pass.” ”
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