Tuesday, October 29, 2013

bump #57: pms

Today was the day I hit my breaking point. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. It feels like my head exploded. I don't remember how I even got home, but the second I walked through the door I lost it. Sobs and sniffles and incoherent words along the lines of "I haven't eaten all day, and I have to pee so bad, and the parents are all incarcerated."

Let me back up.

Saturday morning I woke up with a UTI. I have only had two bladder infections in my entire life, but by Saturday my kidneys were in so much pain I couldn't stand up and I thought I was going to die. I probably had it all week; as a new teacher I don't have time to do anything, much less go pee when I need to. Thank God my new insurance kicked in last week and I was able to get on antibiotics right away.

The only problem with antibiotics is they make you super nauseous. So I have been uncomfortable and queasy for the past four days. Normally I could handle that, but yesterday PMS showed up like a dark cloud raining down cray cray, emotional what not, and a fog I can't seem to get out of. On top of the "I feel like I'ma barf" meds, everyday life kept escalating, and it's only Tuesday, so you can only imagine how pleasant I am. Usually right before my period comes I am crampy and cranky. No big deal. But once or twice a year my hormones get all out of whack and I turn into a teary eyed, unpredictable mess. This is one of those times.

PMS before infertility was awful, no joke. But PMS after infertility is insane. There is something about knowing, without a doubt, every month, that this is not "the month" that makes it infinitely worse. Everything seems so final and uncontrollable. I'm not a mom and I'll never get to be a mom and everything is awful. Normal teacher Bren doesn't make a big deal about my 5th grade students' parents being years younger than me, but today it was all too much. All I saw was a 25 year old with four kids telling me how to do my job. And all I could do was suck it up, hold it together for the next 7 hours, come home, and cry. In all honesty, that lady young lady girl child is a hot mess with a bad attitude and no social skills, but for a minute I was so jealous of her. She has something I don't. Life is so unfair. More so when you're premenstrual, obviously.

After suffering through the day where technology failed me, my laptop died in the middle of a power point presentation, half the class couldn't do basic multiplication, everybody hated everybody, and my recess and lunch break went to dealing with behavior problems (no wonder I come home starving with bladder infections), there was a staff meeting. It wasn't the kind with cookies and warm fuzzies. It was the kind where we review every minute detail about everything pertaining to our audit on Thursday.. Halloween. Yes, the District Superintendent has great timing. I cannot think of a worse day to be observed than Halloween except for maybe the day after Halloween. The hits keep on coming.

In reviewing our school data I learned that our elementary school students have the highest percentage of incarcerated parents (mom, dad, or both) in all of San Diego County. We also have the highest percentage of homeless families. My heart sank. How can I teach these kids about fractions when they're in broken homes at best, assuming they even have a home? Then the principal told us that a kid threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot one of the teachers last week. As if we weren't all on edge already due to current events. He then went on to say that another student in the classroom right next to mine did bring a gun to school today (a pellet gun, whatever that is), and shot several rounds into his backpack during class. He is currently suspended for 5 days with a court date pending. I have no words.

I have to think that some of my current mental breakdown is totally warranted. Basically everything sucks, and it sucks even more because of PMS.

6 comments:

  1. Disregard everything I wrote. I just found my coffee mug and realized I didn't get to drink any of it today and I may have a slight problem with caffeine dependency. I'm feeling much better now!

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  2. Glad you're feeling better! Isn't coffee like magic?! ;) XOXO

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  3. Girl… the gun thing- meltdown totally warranted. I actually don't get too upset over my period from a "my life sucks" place anymore, but I do find it interesting that often, without realizing it, my mood sinks. I find myself hating my job, hating my boss, hating my house, wishing Sam could be better, neater, sweeter and then all of a sudden it clicks- "I'm about to start my period". And within two-three days, yep, right on time. Add in a UTI and I'd be a holy terror. I use to get those all the time in high school and college… so miserable/painful! So sorry girl friend! Hoping tomorrow is a better day! Love you Bren!

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  4. UGH. What a terrible horrible day. :( I am so sad for your students' situations...that does make it so hard to feel like you're able to make any difference. The schools I taught in were of similarly low SES...most of the time I felt less like teaching them their letters and more like giving them baths, feeding them, and hugging them to death. They just can't learn when they're hungry, tired, and terrified. Ugh. So awful. :( PMS sucks too...and I don't blame you a bit for the whole thing turning into a huge meltdown. Be sure to drink all of your coffee (and then some) tomorrow. Love you friend!

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  5. I don't even know where to start. So sorry about it all, really. Those poor kids - they are lucky to have a teacher like you who realizes their circumstances. I student taught in 2 low SES schools. I remember after a really bad day with my 7/8th graders, my mentor teacher told me, "It is hard for them to focus on mixing colors when they don't know where they'll be sleeping tonight." I was like, WHOA! Yeah, I wouldn't care about painting, either, if that was my reality. In the elementary school I student taught at, all of the kids went bat-shit crazy a week and a half before spring break. I asked what was going on. My mentor teacher there said, "These kids eat 3 times a day at school. Breakfast, lunch, and snack. Over break they don't know how much, or IF they will get to eat." All that being said, it does make infertility hurt even worse. Families who can't even care for their kids have 3,4,5+ ? How does it make sense? It doesn't. I'm drinking my coffee right now before heading off to teach my little angels who have their whole own set of issues. Ugh

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  6. Oh my gosh! What a hard week already ... :( I'm so sorry to read this. The gun situation is pretty scary, wow. I hope things get better as the week progresses.

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