7 Stages of Summer for School Based Employees

Whether you’re a teacher or an SLP, we all have this semi-magical time called summer. We wait and wait (while working very hard) to cross that finish line known as the end of the school year, at which time our blissful summer break starts. I’ve come to the conclusion that there are 7 stages of summer that we all go through. Let’s delve into them, shall we?

1. Blissful Stage: Ahhhh, yes. 8(ish) weeks of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation stretch before you. You blissfully turn off your 4 alarms on your phone (unless you have kids, and then they become the alarms) and think about all the happiness that awaits you.
2. Motivational Stage: Fire up those Pinterest boards, folks. You set out to complete all those fantastic projects you never have time for during the school year. 5 trips to Michael’s or Hobby Lobby? No problem, I have my teacher ID which grants me a discount! I’m going to be SO organized when the school year starts!
3. Loss of Time Stage: After you’ve successfully started 7 of those Pinterest projects (while not completing any of them), this stage hits around week 3 of summer break. You forget what it’s like to pick out real clothes and you really have to think about what day of the week it is.
4. Summer Stress Stage: This hits around week 5. You had planned to get so much done, and yet it feels like you haven’t accomplished anything, which ramps up your stress-o-meter. You are feeling
5. Comfortable Stage: You are happy here. You’re feeling relaxed and have overcome the stressful feelings of the past stage. You have fully immersed yourself into summer mode and couldn’t be feeling better.
6. Denial Stage: Suddenly, those “back to school” commercials and signs are all over the place. You’re silently screaming, “NOOOO IT’S NOT TIME YET!” You begin to change the channel and avert your eyes whenever one of these ridiculous things smacks you in the face, all the while chanting, “I still have 2 more weeks. I still have TWO MORE WEEKS!”
7. Acceptance Stage: This stage tends to occur right before you return to work. You do love your job! You will be so happy to see those kids walk into your room on the first day of school. Never mind all the prep work you need to accomplish before that can happen. You shall conquer another year!

There you have it – the 7 stages of summer. Let me know which stage you’re in right now!