New School Year Resolutions

I wrote this last year as I started the new school year. Twelve months on these resolutions all still apply so time to remind myself of them.

Last school year was the toughest I’d had so far as I struggled to combine working full time and still being a very much hands on mum.  With a husband who works long hours during the week the majority of baby organization fell to me.  By the time Christmas came I felt like I was cracking up.  So after sitting down with hubby, checking we could afford it, we made the decision I would reduce my hours to 4 days a week.  As Monday morning is rapidly approaching I am starting to feel the familiar mixture of hope and anxiety that comes with the start of the new school year.

So this is the year I will be super organized and efficient.  I just need to follow and keep to my New School Year Resolutions:

  1.  Make packed lunches the evening before.  I always tell myself to do this but then when evening comes I just can’t be bothered and promise I’ll do it in the morning.  I never have time to make a packed lunch in the morning, need to stop kidding myself.
  2. Decide on my clothes for the day the night before. Hopefully to avoid the 20 minute mini-meltdown I have because nothing fits properly and I decide I hate everything in my wardrobe.
  3. Dress smartly!  Do not put on the (very) faded black trousers because they are comfy.  Power dressing is the way forward.
  4. Mark the books the day I take them in.  Otherwise, I will definitely forget about them and then have to give them back out unmarked (which I hate doing).
  5. Complete all paperwork as soon as I receive it.  Do not put it in my file to complete later, I will forget.
  6. Get tough with discipline.  This is the year nothing will get past me, I will follow up every incident and incomplete homework.  The kids will have nowhere to hide (hahaha, evil laugh!)
  7. Do not give in to the gooey delicious chocolate cake at break-time.  I am determined to lose half a stone by Christmas so must avoid these treats at all costs.
  8. Spend more time getting to know the quieter kids in my classes.  It is so easy to get distracted by the louder children, sometimes the quieter ones can go a little unnoticed.  I must make time to speak to them and have a chat about how their day is going.

A lot of my resolutions are based around the fact I have a terrible habit of putting things off, which ultimately I end up regretting.  I’m really hoping that working 4 days a week helps me to find a better work/life balance where I feel I can be the mum and teacher my child and the kids that I teach deserve.

 

21 Comments

  1. August 31, 2013 / 7:07 pm

    Good for you, and don’t beat yourself up if you cannot manage them all. I salute you for being a teacher and a mum to a toddler. I tried but failed, it was too hard to go through teacher training with a baby, the hours are insane, I don’t know how you do it but well done! Thanks for also commenting on my blog. Although it looks like I have a lot of posts, a lot were written recently but I changed the dates so I am new to blogging too.

    • notafrumpymum
      September 1, 2013 / 7:28 pm

      I don’t think I could have done teacher training with a baby in tow, I found it so tough! Feeling nervous for tomorrow now x

      • September 1, 2013 / 7:36 pm

        Oh gosh, did I make you feel more nervous? If I did I am sooooo sorry! You will be great hun, you really will. You are already an experienced teacher, and it is hard going back to work (I did it 2 months ago) but you get into the swing really quickly, and it is really nice to have regular lunch breaks and conversations with grown ups! Good luck sweety

        • notafrumpymum
          September 1, 2013 / 7:40 pm

          Oh no, it’s not you making me nervous, it’s just the night before the new year making me nervous. I’ll be worse on Tuesday night as the kids aren’t in until Wednesday. I know within a week it’ll feel like we’ve never had a summer holiday. Really looking forward to a good catch up with people at work though, and going to the toilet on my own 🙂

          • September 2, 2013 / 7:23 pm

            Hope your first day went well! 🙂

          • notafrumpymum
            September 3, 2013 / 6:48 pm

            Not too bad yesterday, but hectic today. Starting to remember how frustrating it is when nothing is working properly and you want to get organized but can’t because printers/photocopiers/computer networks aren’t working!!! Looking forward to my day off on Thursday x

  2. stephaniearsoska
    September 3, 2013 / 10:15 am

    Great resolutions. Teaching and being a mum is a tough combination – I wish you lots of luck!

  3. September 4, 2013 / 7:23 am

    Hi, I am a teacher currently on maternity leave with my first baby. The start of term has really got me thinking about how I will have to change my working practices to be more efficient. I will also be looking to reduce my hours probably. I love a good list of resolutions tho! Good luck with the new school year and with those quiet ones.

    I found you through #MBPW

    • notafrumpymum
      September 7, 2013 / 12:41 pm

      I worked full time last year and found it so difficult, it didn’t help that we had a several members of our department off on long term sick so the rest of us had to cover. I can feel the difference already after just one week. Loved spending the day with my little man.

  4. Dawn Frazier
    September 5, 2013 / 7:46 pm

    I wish you lots of luck. I am a SAHM and often admire mums who go to work as well as being a mum. I find it hard enough sometimes without having a job to worry about as well!

    • notafrumpymum
      September 7, 2013 / 12:42 pm

      I admire you being a SAHM, sometimes it can feel like a break when I go to work as at least I can have a cuppa and a chat without having my eye on Baby O.

  5. September 6, 2013 / 10:42 pm

    I work in a school but am not a teacher. I don’t know how you guys cope with the hours, never mind the family life as well.

    • notafrumpymum
      September 7, 2013 / 12:43 pm

      I didn’t cope last year, but feeling really positive about this year.

  6. September 7, 2013 / 4:35 pm

    good luck! I ought to part make packed lunches night before just leave wraps for morning..

  7. Mummy Hearts You
    September 8, 2013 / 12:49 pm

    Hope your first week went well! I really admire mums who work, its must be really difficult having to juggle everything! I sometimes crave that, but I think if I worked I would just crave being at home all the time!

    Found you through BYOB x

  8. lollinski
    September 8, 2013 / 7:14 pm

    That day is going to make such a difference to you – but it must be school free! Don’t just fill it with even more stuff on that never ending teacher list!
    After teaching full time for 10 years I left my full time job last summer & have spent the last yr doing supply. It was without doubt the best decision I ever made. I work 2 to 4 days a week, I get to go to my son’s assemblies, do the school run sometimes – I have a work life balance.
    Good luck! X

  9. Wicked World of Lucas
    September 4, 2014 / 5:42 am

    Great resolutions – would love to know that you keep them up 🙂 Good Luck for the next school year #sharewithme

  10. September 4, 2014 / 9:01 am

    These are great and achievable tips! I will remember the ones about making packed lunches the night before when my F starts school next September. We never have any time in the mornings, so anyway to cut corners is a good thing! #sharewithme
    Becky | Spirited Puddle Jumper recently posted…Garden Update – AugustMy Profile

  11. Jenny
    September 9, 2014 / 8:55 pm

    Fantastic list of resolutions. You can do it this year. I bet last year was very tough and glad you got the extra day with your little one now too. Sounds like there was a lot on that plate of yours last year. To a new year and less stress. Christmas will be more than just busting this year! Great post hunny. Inspiring. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me. I hope to see you again tomorrow for another great round. #sharewithme
    Jenny recently posted…Tuesday’s Blogiversary Giveaway: The Oxo Cookie Press & Disk Storage CaseMy Profile

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