Bodily functions and Teacher Appreciation...

I know, I know... it's been a while. I have TONS to report. Races I've run, cupcakes I've baked, and historic sites I've visited. But all of that will have to wait until I upload new pictures on my home computer. Instead, I have decided to mark my return to the blogging world by discussing another milestone in my life...my first experience with a student puking in class. Now, to others this might not seem like such a big deal, but in my family it's huge. My sister and I have somehow both acquired a huge phobia of puke. I'm not really sure why, and my sister's fears make mine look minor, but we both fear it. All that to say, that since the day I was student teaching and heard a girl barf in the hallway, I've been dreading the first time this happened in my room. Now I no longer have to fear it--it has happened, and I survived. I always thought, that like many things in life, once it happened once it wouldn't be such a big deal. I guess my fear of puke may have actually made me more prepared for the big moment. I actually had already planned out in my head what I would do if a student started losing their lunch during class...everyone needs an exit strategy, right?

So what happened you ask? It was actually a rather minor event. Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you look at it, the girl got sick right before lunch. This meant the cleaning crew had 30 minutes to clean it up before we had to be back in my classroom. Unfortunately I couldn't eat much of my lunch since I had just witnessed such a disturbing event. :) All that to say, I survived, I didn't vomit myself, and I even was able to keep it together enough to get her a trashcan, call the front office, and go to lunch. All in all, I think it went as well as can be expected. And now I know it's not that bad.

I'm leaving you with an ecard I got on Twitter the other day. Clearly these people don't understand the trauma teachers go through during those nine months. Maybe if they read the above post, they would reconsider their view of teachers. :) Happy Friday!

Comments

Elizabeth said…
Blech! I had my first vomit this year too. But, I think it's more common with 1st graders. =)
And that ecard is awful! In my 2 years of teaching, the only time I left at 3, I had a Dr.'s apt. 9 months is more like 10, and don't even get me started on the pay! ha! =)
May 1, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Trish said…
Hi Ms. Taylor, I used to go to church in AR w/ your mom and dad. I can't believe someone twittered that card! They have obviously never taught. I am not a teacher, but have made a few weak attempts at it in the years past. I tutored for a semester, and it was the hardest/worst job I have ever had. I truly believe teachers are gifted and called to that profession!! I hope you have a better Teacher Appreciation week this week! I enjoy reading your blog.
May 3, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Ms. James said…
Oh, Laurel, dear Laurel...I, too, can't do throw up. Seriously, I think I've thought I was dying the few times in my life that I've suffered in this way. (I don't remember the girl in the hallway getting sick while we were working together. Maybe it's a repressed memory.) I will remind you that the one time this event occurred in my classroom it was a girl who habitually asked to leave the room, and I sent her back to her seat to think about whether or not she really needed to leave. She barely made it back to her seat before she lost it. It sure showed me something I'll never forget. Want to leave the room? LEAVE!
May 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM
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