Sometimes you just have to throw up your hands

I have been a teacher for almost 7 years now. I've worked in public schools, private schools, a language center, a four year university, and a 2 year community college. I have encountered students who were incredibly motivated and students who were so lazy that I cancelled classes. I feel like I am at a crossroads with this whole teaching gig, and that this semester will be a make or break. Anyone who believes that old adage Those who can do, and those who can't teach. have NO idea what it is like to face the classroom everyday. Sometimes I want to just throw up my hands and make my living as a working artist. It would surely put me in a hand-to-mouth situation, but at least I would have my sanity. It is not easy bringing home the stress of a long teaching day. The joyful days are becoming fewer and fewer for me, and I'm not really sure what else I can do. I've played games, done group work, done individual instruction, and flat out asked the students what they wanted. With midterm right around the corner I am in a constant state of disbelief at my students' behavior. I still have students coming in to class 10-15 minutes late. I still have students feeling they should be able to make-up major assignments if they forget to do them on time. And I still have students that feel like as long as they give me an answer, it doesn't matter if the answer is correct. And please, don't get me started on cellphones and i-pods. Earbuds have now become my enemy. I want to believe that things will start to look up again. The fact is that most of my students are invested. It is for those students that I have early mornings and late nights. It is for those students that I continue to do this. How long I will continue to do it is yet to be seen.