Today I’m grateful for the fun-size Kit Kat that got me over the finish line of the day.

11.1.2022

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Teaching the day after Halloween is rough. Like really rough. Like it’s probably in the top 3 of the most difficult days of the school year. Picture a child who has spent the entire month of October anticipating trick-or-treat day and then trying to process how it’s suddenly over. They’re still excited and yet also let down. They’re over-sugared and over-tired and likely to melt down at any moment. Now picture 22 of them. In one room. With one adult. For 6 ½ hours. While trying to learn how to read.

I don’t blame anyone for this. 5 year olds are wired like this. It’s not their fault. And I sure wouldn’t want to deny them the excitement and joy that comes with trick-or-treating. It kinda just is what it is. But, after many years of teaching, I’ve learned to manage my expectations for what we will accomplish on the day after Halloween; and I know to pour an extra big cup of coffee, take a deep breath and just jump in.

This morning in a group text my cousin’s wife shared with me that their Kindergartener had asked to bring some candy for his teacher. I was struck by his sweet request. Well, wouldn’t you know, but one of my little Kindergarteners must have had a similar conversation with his mom, because he showed up with a Ziplock baggy with 3 pieces of candy in it for me.

I ate the Reese’s when the kids went to PE this morning and the Swedish Fish at lunch. Honestly, I probably would’ve had that Kit Kat at lunch too, but I got interrupted and I threw it into my lunch tote along with my unfinished sandwich.

Tuesday is night class day, and although I’m loving teaching this class, after a long day in Kindergarten I was a little nervous about hitting the metaphorical “Halloween hangover” wall tonight. I knew my night class students (all teachers) would be in the same boat so I wanted to be extra intentional about keeping my energy up. I was doing great … until I wasn’t. When we took a short little dinner break, I sat down for the first time all day and immediately knew that was a huge mistake. I was 100% sure that if I blinked too long that I would fall asleep, right then and there in the middle of my night class. Knowing I still had about an hour and half left of class I forced myself to stand up, drink some water, and soldier on. Thankfully, I also remembered the Kit Kat in my lunch bag, unwrapped it, and ate it in 2 quick bites.

The little sugar rush was just what I needed to make it to the end of class tonight. I’ll own the fact that a sugar-induced push to the finish isn’t ideal. But, I’m pretty sure that the day after Halloween qualifies in the ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’ category.

So, is it ironic that I’m thankful for candy on the same day that I’m silently cursing a holiday centered around the overconsumption of candy? Yeah, probably. But am I thankful for it nonetheless? Yep. Yep, I am. I’m thankful for the sweet little Kindergartener who asked his mom if he could bring Ms. Wiebel some candy. And I’m thankful for the role it had in getting me successfully through the day.