More Family and Work, Less Ponies ...

9/9/2011

for a couple of days, anyway. Thursday was the first non-barn day in a long time. I felt a wee bit guilty, but it was a necessary absence. As a teacher, I typically put in a nine hour work day throughout most of the school year. I get to work at the crack of dawn, but that allows me to leave pretty much as my students do. This gives me that blissful one to two hours each afternoon at the barn. That 5:00 a.m. start to the day is worth it. Thursday was our annual Back to School Night which meant that I put in a 13-hour work day. Yeah, kinda of unpleasant, but, it's part of the job. More work, less ponies ...

After work today, I'll pop over to do a quick check on my boys as Hubby and I head to the mountains for a night or two. Work has been so hectic that neither of us had the energy to pack a bag and make the drive. We'll spend a day or two relaxing, catch up on sleep, watch a movie or two, and then head home for another work week. I should be able to pop back by the barn on Sunday afternoon for a quick ride and a pony check. More family, less ponies ...

A good life, which I know I live, is about priorities. In order to enjoy my boys, I have to go to work, which means that sometimes I don't get to enjoy their company. A good life also includes family. Spending time with my husband (away from the barn) is important for maintaining a solid marriage. When the occasional week or weekend shows up where I don't immerse myself in all things equine, it just make my return to the barn that much better. And in this case, I get the both of both: a weekend away with my husband, and the knowledge that my next barn visit will be all the sweeter.

More family and work, less ponies ...

Val

9/9/2011 05:11:38 am

Do you get to work at 5am???

If I count from when I get up, I guess that my day is nine hours, more if I stay after, which is usually unavoidable. I have been too tired to get to the barn since Monday. I need to get my stamina back. Whoever told me that teaching should be thought of as a marathon knew what they were talking about.

Hope you get more ponies, soon. I am off to see mine!

Karen Sweaney

9/9/2011 08:59:34 am

Val - Oops! Didn't mean to convey SUCH an early day! I get up at 5:00 a.m. and try to get to work by 6:45 a.m. I try to leave work by 3:30, but I am not ALWAYS successful. In my situation, it works better to get there really early and leave "on time," rather than staying late. It's the same difference though. All teachers work longer than their contractual schedule. For Back to School Night I got to work at 6:45 a.m. and stayed until 7:45 p.m. - very long day!

9/9/2011 01:22:39 pm

Oh yeah. Back to School Night is a very, very long day. I wish we did not have it on a Monday. I drag the rest of the week.

9/10/2011 06:29:57 am

ooh ... I feel your pain, Val. Monday would be a tough night for the whole Back to School Night thing. The Friday after our night is a long and tiring day ... I can't imagine 4 more days.

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage