I survived spring break. Barely. By the end of the week, I had read 38 True crime novels on my kindle and went over my Amazon monthly book budget by about $200…because Kindle unlimited sometimes just doesn’t cut it. True crime probably wasn’t the best choice because I didn’t really need all that darkness after three weeks of social distancing, three weeks of hit and miss (mostly miss) weather, and three weeks of hit and miss (mostly miss) exercise (I NEEEEED my endorphins), and to much to overthink. Oh, and quarantine 15….yeah. That’s not a joke. See the part about missing work outs, sitting on butt, and then throw in anxiety eating….
Week three of working from home was exciting and busy. I got to see people…via zoom, but better than nothing. At least this is what I told myself. And then the fourth zoom meeting of the day would roll around, someone would ask a question (that was already answered), and I would forget that people could see me too. Neutral face….neutral face…neutral face. But….once again, my life had purpose! That sounds terrible coming from a wife and a mother, but those two jobs don’t mean the same stuff, or have meaning in the same way. (I was NOT cut out to be a housewife. I love my children and my husband….but I NEED to work). I need to feel like I am contributing…and wifing and mothering doesn’t give me that feeling.
It was great to get back to collaboration, planing, preparation and meaningful work to prepare for student learning. We had our work cut out for us making sure that the plans met the criteria the state and the ISD laid out for us, but would also be manageable for the teachers, and something that could be equitably applied across our very diverse school population.We also needed to be conscientious about how these plans affect the parents, some of whom are out of work, and some are essential employees and still at work. No matter which way we look at it though, all of our families have extra stress with managing day to day life during a pandemic, and then we add education to the mix. We had to find a win-win.
And then we roll into week four of working from home where I actually got to go to my office for a few hours each week. Wearing a mask, but still back to work, with my work wife (administrative assistant, but next to my spouse nobody has my back like her, and nobody anticipates what I want and need like her) there to bust out the work with me. And bust out the work we did. We have teachers on a schedule for coming in the building, plans for online and virtual learning, plans for mailings, plans for communication, and while the learning curve is steep, plans for keeping the building Covid 19 free. I have a rock star staff that is making it work, trying new things, experimenting, and being life long learners. Still, a large portion of my work is taking place in my home office/classroom/kitchen. Maybe now that the residents of the house are also students in the same space..it will be cleaner? Maybe?
And then we get to week one of teaching from home. Mind you, I am not the teacher, more the manager of assignments. I have 14 different teachers sending us work for my freshman and sophomore. I have two very diverse learners with very different needs. I. am. overwhelmed. And I’m an educator. I can’t imagine what some of my families must be feeling right now. And here is the thing…We are all doing the best we can. I have to keep reminding my too type A for my own good self (Used to be recovering Type A, but that was out the window three weeks ago) that it is going to be fine. We are all going to survive this time. My kids , your kids, the kids will be fine. Like The Little Engine That Could…this is my mantra…we will be fine.
When your mom is the principal…
So this my friends is where the school and home partnership has been tilted. This is where all the memes about how hard teachers work, how under appreciated they are, and how parents are ‘drinking on the job’ and ‘suspending’ their kids come to mind. This is the time when we as educators need to say, “thank you for your words of appreciation”, make sure you take that appreciation to the ballot box with you the next time you vote. Make sure you are electing politicians who are protecting the interests of schools, students, and ultimately parents who rely on schools to help them raise productive, contributing members of society.
In the here and now…it’s going to be fine.
