Dear Students,
I'm not going to lie to you; I am beat tired. I can barely keep my eyes open. It's 11:55pm Saturday night, and I can't sleep. My thought are running wild keeping me awake as I think of you. All of you. Teaching you is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. No one will ever grasp how much work a teacher is asked to do. Mountains of procedures and paperwork. Hours of planning and researching. Buckets of sweat in 90 degree portables. Bloody blisters from monitoring and assessing, helping and redirecting. Countless convincing and pleading to focus and have grit. It's exhausting.
But here's my truth. Listen well. You're worth it. You are our future. Can you imagine holding the future in your hands and being responsible in shaping it. I am honored I have been entrusted with this great feat. I will gladly cross the Texas desert blacktop in late August to reach you. I want to be here. And I am committed and determined to teach you how to learn. I will show you how to work hard by working hard for you. Make no mistake; I will prove to you that you can learn anything you set your mind to. I just wanted you to know that about me. And I can't wait to get started!

Your 8th grade ELA teacher,
Mrs.Gutierrez

today was a test. Cat's CYO team played in their first tourny. We've had three practices maybe. All three coaches decide it was going to be a transitional year teaching proper vball.
9am game time. Round robin. 4 teams. I asked a lot of my girls this morning. The girls were scared. But that's their team trait. Polite and nervous. We won in three sets. So many three offensive hits. More than all of last year combined. I was so proud!! I barely looked at the score. I wanted today to be like practice. (I shld of mentioned that to parents and coaches)

I tell you what they played REAL vball not tennis. My other coaches were very upset. I mean mad and I was so excited and optimistic. Crash and burn. They both said I was going to be coaching by myself. And that parents were comingbupbro them expressing their displeasure. Gasp! I was like okay. Diffuse. No need to be so upset. It's just a game. Let's do it your way. Second hit to middle front. And we played it safe bc they wanted to look good.

No worries. But for the record... I KNOW these are caple to rise to the challenge. You disagree. namaste. we will do it your way. We won the second match again to a team of first year players who couldn't serve it over the net. Happy now. Nope. And lost the last match to a good team. Our serves killed us and they were still deer in headlights. EVEN after playing it safe. Positive thoughts only. We can only get better from here. Besides seriously life is so much more than this.

It's been a successful week and I think my students like me...(almost putty in my hands). Not only did I survive, I even enjoyed myself. The girls love their new school and their teachers are already impressing me. God came through like he always does. We are so grateful!

edited

cat took this one.

There is no filter or editing on this pic. This was one of most amazing skies I have ever seen. I told the girls God was peeking through. I see you. Addie said he was playing peekaboo. He was shining his light on my preteen (kinda like a cop) bc HOLY MOLY she was in rare form tonight. She made this mom work. *heavy sign* I will be grateful even when hormones are high.

oh and it all worked out. I was able to meet the two lucky ladies that get to love my girlsall day every day. I know they have no idea how much I envy them. God please take care of these beautiful teachers and my amazing girls. Please Lord protect them.

Driving home from meet the teacher, we saw a kitten walking in the middle of Hausman and 1604 access during rush hour traffic. I jumped out of the car and saved it. Poor baby was so scared. It bit me pretty bad. After a bath and a bandaid, it is looking better. I wanted to name it Street Walker, but Frk said it was inappropriate. Booooo We decided on Jay Walker. Welcome to the family. And I may or may not have rabies. #quarantine

This is just ridiculous. The media is the problem that needs to be solved.

This is my last weekend of summer. I start work on Monday. Officially anyway. I'm feeling very overwhelmed. I found out my school's parent night is the SAME night as the girls'. I cried about it. How am I going to miss meet the teacher for Addie's kinder year. And Cat's 4th grade year at her NEW school. It's so hard for me to accept. It makes me cry just thinking about it. I am still trying to find a way. I might have a 30min window. It feels so wrong and I'm so sad about it. But I suppose I will be making a lot of sacrifices as a teacher or my girls will. I just hope one day they will understand.