I think I'll do a group reply in response to your posts about relaxation. First, if you're all telling the truth, it sounds like you have a good handle on the importance of work-life balance. I couldn't agree with Diane (Meggie's co-op) more when she says, "If teach ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" (that's true with parenting, too!). When we keep our bodies and minds healthy through whatever form of relaxation we choose, we're not only allowing time for our brains to rest and get rejuvenated, but we're serving as roles models for our students! Julie, make sure you tell your first graders stories about your hiking, canoeing and fishing on the weekends. They'd love it. Someday when you have your own classroom, I can totally see you doing a few "weekends with the teacher" when you invite kids to join you in the great outdoors. As I'm sure you know, kids' time outside is so limited, and there's a lot of research that shows nature is a major contributor to healthy development. You should consider teaching in an outdoor-ed focused school. Nicole, the value of friends and family keeping us grounded can't be overestimated. I like your idea about taking time to talk about something other than teaching. Sometimes it's nice to hear about other kinds of jobs, the people in cubicles, or healthcare professionals, or nail technicians, right? Sometimes those career choices seem so much more straightforward and contained--when you go home, you leave your work behind. That's impossible for teachers if they're doing their job well. Meggie, there are plenty of ways to get your mind-body balance without exercise. Don't be too hard on yourself about that. If you want to get some fresh air, though, you know where to find Julie on the weekends :-) I can totally appreciate your need to just be quiet when you get home after a busy day of interacting with many different constituencies. I try to remember the value of quiet when I pick up my own kids from school--they must feel the same way teachers do about the constant stimulation--and not bombard them with 8 thousand questions the second I see them. I hope the weekend brought some good relaxation strategies to each of you. It sure feels like fall. Enjoy the week (I know you have to write Friday's post, but I won't be back on our blog until tomorrow morning). Dr. K