red pen in the garbage, purple Mr. Sketch marker all over my hands.

I do not have a 9-5 job.
I do not have an 8:20-3:20 job.
_

I have a-22 little lives are depending on me to teach, to nurture, to inspire-job.

I have an-even when I finally leave, I go home and plan more, ponder more, prepare more, read more, learn more-job.

I have a-must be 100% on; must be 100% cognizant of how I'm reacting because how I respond can determine if a child is humanized or dehumanized-job.

I have a-spend countless hours differentiating spelling lists, assessing student reading abilities, holding writing conferences, concocting daily science experiments, creating math games to correspond with the curriculum, finding test-taking strategies to teach, searching out Readers Theatre scripts, all while following state and district mandated standards, corresponding with parents, dealing with endless paperwork, and attempting to create an environment that fosters self-esteem and respect for other students-job.

I have a-budget called my own paycheck to buy books, experiment supplies, bins, organizational drawers, shelves, carpets, etc.-job.

I have an-I don't mind putting in so much work, so much time, so much effort, so much money, and so much of myself when I see those little faces in the morning-job.

I have an-I don't mind putting in so much work, so much time, so much effort, so much money, and so much of myself when those little faces come back the next year just to say hello-job.

I have an-I don't mind putting in so much work, so much time, so much effort, so much money, and so much of myself because it all matters and it all will continue to matter-job.

I do not have a 9-5 job.
I do not have an 8:20-3:20 job.
I like it that way.

(Extra: I have an-I can't drink too much water because I only get one break in the day-job.)