frustration

One of my greatest strengths as a teacher (or what I think is my greatest strength) is my ability to remain completely calm with my kiddos. I can have objects thrown at me, obscenities screamed at me, or just general frustrating behavior, and I usually am able to keep a calm voice. I believe I developed this gift from having twin brothers who were 5 years younger than me. I was also a book worm, and learned to ignore behavior intended to get my attention in order to continue to read my books. I also learned that sometimes if you get angry with 4 year old twins it doesn't help anything, so you might as well remain calm. And I learned logic rarely works in the middle of a fit.

This ability has a drawback however, which I believes leads to one of my greatest weaknesses as a teacher. My frustration doesn't come out at the children, but instead festers inside looking for something to attach itself to. I know I am putting all of my frustration for the situation on the wrong objects (like the toyota dealership that made me pay a lot of money tonight). I don't hold grudges and this frustration never lasts long, but I realize that I do it and it is not ok.

At home I have an imaginary housekeeper. She gets blamed for the dishes that don't get done before I get home, the laundry still sitting in the machine, and the dust bunnies behind the bookshelves. Poor woman. Sometimes I feel sorry for her since I will say rather mean things about her and her inability to get her work done. Still, there is nothing like muttering under your breath at someone who doesn't actually exist, while you do a task you've been putting off forever. What does she think we pay her for anyway? To sit around and watch the soaps? Seriously!

I think I should take this strategy and create an imaginary being to give my frustration to at school. The pesky house elf always riling up the kids right when I settle them down? Any other ideas for imaginary creatures?