Are you Married to a Teacher? Take this quiz.

This post is dedicated to all of those brave souls who are married to a teacher. To all those supportive, patient, and thoughtful partners who provide the backbone to hold us up and the rock on which we stand.

If you think you might be married to a teacher, take this quiz and find out.

Give yourself one point for each item you’ve done in the past 12 months, 2 points if you’ve done it more than once:

• Cut out bulletin board decorations, pre- or post-lamination.
• Learned a little something about algebra or cell division while your spouse was remote teaching.
• Observed your spouse get recognized by a student or student’s parent in the grocery store. Extra points if he or she stopped to chat.
• Listened supportively while your partner vented about a student, a parent, or an administrator.
• Been shocked at the speed your partner gulps coffee.
• Given up your dining room table so your partner could spread out his or her home “classroom.”
• Poured wine for your partner while listening to him or her on the phone with a parent at 6:00 on a Friday night.
• Lost an argument about who had the more difficult day.
• Learned that your spouse spent money on kids that aren’t yours.
• Saved toilet paper rolls, bottle caps, cereal boxes, or other detritus for a project.
• Woken up on a Saturday at 6am to the clicking of computer keys.
• Netflix and chilled with your partner while he or she was grading papers.
• Driven to the craft store, teacher supply store, grocery store, or Target for something urgent and last minute that was essential to tomorrow’s lesson
• Added school supplies to your grocery list.
• Cheered for a high school football/lacrosse/baseball/volleyball/hockey team your children don’t attend.
• Watched your spouse dress for a prom you weren’t going to.
• Tried to have a romantic dinner and have your partner spend the entire time either working or talking about work.
• Tripped over a pile of things your partner needs for school tomorrow.
• Opened your trunk and found white boards, bulletin board paper, and a case of wine.
• Been amazed by how much love your spouse is capable of giving to his or her students.
• Been at an event and watched your spouse become instant best friends with a stranger who also happens to be a teacher.

Scoring your quiz:

0-4 points – Your spouse is probably doing more of these things than you realize. Pay attention.

5-15 points – You are an important support person for someone who is doing one of the most important jobs in the world. The entire community salutes you and thanks you for your service.

16-20 points – Welcome to the teacher spouse  club. The rewards are plenty. It almost feels like a cult, doesn’t it?

21 or more – I know my spouse scored more than 21 points. Actually, I’m not sure my spouse had time to take this quiz because he’s cutting out bulletin board decorations for me right now. I love you, Darling.