You might be in the first week of school if...

Ahhhhhhhhhh. The first week of school. After weeks in the making, the most highly anticipated fall kickoff, aside from football, of course, came and went. Just like that. In a way, it feels like we never left. My brain's inbox is already full; a plethora of items on my mental "to do" list.

The first few days are magical. I'm blinded by my cherubs' cuteness. My classroom sparkles and shines; the faint smell of Pine Sol still wafting through the air. My condo is still somewhat organized after a summer filled with time to accomplish said organizing.

But with these magical first few days, also comes the realization that the switch in my brain has been flicked back on and will stay that way until June. And since every teacher's switch went on simultaneously, we can all bask in our knowledge of knowing we're all sharing the same "First Week Back" experiences.

You might be in the first week of school if:*

1. You and your bladder are in negotiations as you try to navigate your new classroom schedule.

2. You go home every night with a hoarse voice, and by Friday, it's down to a dull, froggy mumble.

3. You are asleep by 7 p.m. on the first Friday night, completely wiped out to the point that even your eyebrows are exhausted.

4. You new dress rips under your armpits as you stand on your tippy-toes and reach up high to hang yet another chart.

5. You realize that you are not in good enough shape to be a teacher. Time to hit the gym.

6. You catch yourself giving your dogs step-by-step procedures for how to go outside correctly and what your expectations are.

7. You lose five pounds because you forgot that as a teacher, you are on the constant move. Lose the teacher chair. It's not needed.

8. You realize that the teacher's desk in really non-essential. It's best use is a reward for good classroom behavior and as a large perch for your coffee cup.

9. Speaking of coffee, you decided that, yes, you do need a coffee pot in your classroom.

10. Your spouse is wondering why there are numerous credit card charges to Barnes and Noble, Target, and your local teacher supply store.

11. You start squirreling away toilet paper rolls, empty milk jugs, and old pickle jars. You have a thousand ideas for how to use them.

12. You ask your friends and family to squirrel away said "treasures" as well.

13. You pull over on the side of the road to rescue old bookshelves that someone had the audacity to throw away. Your students will love them.

14. You wake up on Saturday morning at 7 a.m., worried (mistakenly) that you are late for school. Not able to go back to sleep, you get up and work on lesson plans.

15. Your friends wonder where you are and why you fell off the face of the earth.

It's sad how spot on this list is. Especially #1. And #2. And #3. And...

It was a magical first week. I love my cherubs already.

But I'm tired.

And my eyebrows hurt.

*List written by Megan Allen; a girl somewhere in cyberspace that I don't know. But she's a genius.