There are exactly three days left, and one weekend, until the inevitable chaos that is the beginning of a new school year.

Not that I’m counting. 

The thing is, I don’t need to count. There are way too many people counting for me, on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook. They are bemoaning the loss of these lazy days of summer whilst cheerily advertising sales on Teachers Pay Teachers. And other sites. They are cleaning their classrooms (again!) and creating posters and putting up beautiful, award-worthy decorations.

Me?

I am reflecting, deeply, and physically doing…nothing. I have taken a week off from boxing. I am checking my email and then shutting down my laptop to spend another hour swinging outside in the hammock.

Reading?

No.

Thinking.

Reflecting.

When the time comes, and it certainly is coming, I will Do All the Things. I will smile and hug and reassure parents who walk their brand-new sixth grade children right to my very door twenty minutes before the first bell rings. My classroom will magically be put together, in its own Spartan way, awaiting student work to make it bright, make it ours.

For now, I am enjoying this last little bit of time to recharge, re-center, and remember why it is that I love the end of summer so much.