My rock

I know that just about every married person believes their spouse is the best but really y'all, my husband is so wonderful. Let me start with something small. I decided to put a movie on the tv for background noise while I did some paperwork at home. My husband was in a nearby room but didn't see me make my selection. No joke, not even ten seconds into the movie he asks, "Are you watching Mulan?" That's right, he can identify Mulan from just the first few seconds of music. 💜

Next up is his giving heart. My husband's parents were in town during Thanksgiving and he really wanted to do everything for them. He insisted that we all go out to the nicest restaurant in town (our city isn't huge so don't think of anything Michelin star rated!) and spoil everyone on his dime.

Look at him! How can you not love that smile?!

Finally, it's how he treats me when I'm sick. I've had a cough for a few days but yesterday I was seriously ill. I spent hours that morning on the couch, crying and groaning from the pain. He let me choose what to watch on tv, took care of our pets, and kept asking what he could do to make me more comfortable. (Of course, me being me, I kept telling him I would be just fine and not to worry) Well, I finally, uh, lost my breakfast . . . and lunch. While I was hunched over the toilet making the world's most disgusting noises, he stayed by my side and offered me the only thing I ever want when I'm like that: a cool, damp washcloth to wipe my face. He then helped me to bed, brought me a cup of water, and insisted that I nap for a few hours. He knew exactly what I needed. I later thanked him and pointed out that he really did not have to stay in the bathroom while all that went down but he replied that he wanted to make sure that he was quite literally right there by my side for whatever I needed.

I thank God for leading me to Matthew and for his love and kindness toward me everyday. We've been married for four years, together for eight, and I look forward to decades with him. He is my rock and I cannot imagine my life without him right there by my side through thick and thin.

-Clare G. S.

Fat B*tch

Today was an interesting day for one reason: a student called me a fat bitch. Yup, you read that correctly. I'm a fat bitch. You know what? If that had happened 5 years ago, I probably would have cried. Today? Today I'm going to embrace it.

Let me tell you how this came up. The grading period just ended. This student did not pass. She asked about her grade and I pointed out what caused her to not pass. She was not pleased with my response. When I walked away, she said "fat bitch". It's as simple as that.

I'm ok with it. Yes, I'm fat but I love these curves. Yes, I won't pass a student who hasn't earned that grade so I guess I'm a bitch.   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  I think I've finally grown a thick enough skin that I just don't care. Or maybe I recognize that I have enough on my plate so worrying about what a teenager thinks about me is not a priority at all. Hate me. Love me. My job is to teach you math. You aren't going to learn if I just pass you along and pray that your next math teacher is able to reach you.

So to all my fellow teachers out there, keep on teaching and keep on being bitches.

-Clare G. S.