Like last year, my slices will be daily things, but I’ll also be taking from Mike Krzyzewski’s book titled, Beyond Basketball: Coach K’s Keywords for Success.
Today’s word is balance, so I noticed the things around me that dealt with balance. First, I know that my school to home to family balance is better, but not where I’d want it to be because school invades home at every opportunity. I don’t do school work on Saturday, I try my hardest to keep that day free for family things. But then I feel guilty when I don’t respond back to emails or hop into discussions.
Last week, we had parent teacher conferences, followed by a T.I.N.A. meeting (Teachers In Need of Assistance), something we’ve really gotten away from because of my daughter’s marching band and swimming schedule, along with my 8th grade basketball team’s practice schedule. During our meeting, I was given “permission” to end the basketball season. We started before the varsity, ended after the varsity, and the girls really wanted to keep practicing. I was told, “It’s been a good season, but it’s time to be done.” That’s all I needed. We had two snow days this week, and I canceled practice Wednesday because of travel concerns, and told the girls we were done. It was sad, but freeing as I felt a sense of balance return. On the flip side, the end of the quarter is coming, and I’m procrastinating, avoiding the monster pile of papers to correct. No balance there, let me tell you what!
I have students who are so over scheduled, it’s crazy. They go from activity to activity to activity, all in the course of one night! Where is the balance there? Why do parents feel the need to over schedule so much that their child is stressing over things?
The last sentence in this chapter says:
Balance can put things into perspective, can bring you joy even when you are down, and can allow you to be at your best in all aspects of your life.
#how
That’s the million dollar question, and if I had that answer, more than 11 people would be reading my blog. How do we find that balance where ALL aspects of our lives are working in harmony with each other? Even right now, after school, I don’t feel balance because I have to drive to the high school for one, possibly two meetings, one about a trip were taking with the band and choir next week, the second about cell phones in school.
#Ugh
Do we scratch out time for our wives, husbands, significant others, working all the time (because teacher could easily work hours at night, every night!)? Do we avoid working at home, setting our teaching up to be more an 8 – 5 kind of job? And then there’s the coaching, the before/after school meetings, the work on the weekends, and it goes on. I’m not sure how much balance a teacher, a good teacher, can expect any more in this time of fewer teachers rights.
And me? I’m sitting here, blogging about something near and dear to my heart because I know I’m not good at finding balance, listening to a podcast from Deep House Cat, letting the deep bass get into my bones and drive me forward. This is balance, right, for another 5 minutes. 🙂
This has gotten a bit rambly, so I’ll shut it down. My point: we as educators work ourselves to the bone between students, data, family, and everything in between. We need to find that balance to keep our sanity, but most importantly, so we can be there for all involved!
Sometimes, balance in possible. Most of the time, no. 🙂
March 8, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Honestly, I never felt like I achieved perfect balance in all the years I taught. One side always tipped the balance. There were years my family needed more of me than the classroom did. In the last years, I felt my school kids needed me more. All I could do was try. Saturdays became the day my husband and I did something fun, Sundays were for school work. School nights depended. But never Thursdays, because that was Grey’s Anatomy night. I just had to set my own boundaries and do my best to stay within them.
March 8, 2018 at 10:27 pm
> I just had to set my own boundaries and do my best to stay within them.<
Boundaries seems to be the name of the game, along with doing our best to stay within them! I appreciate your words, Deb! I'm glad you are still writing and mentoring us still in the profession! 🙂
March 8, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Balance is such a difficult thing to achieve, especially–and this might be just me–if one is convinced that the world will probably just end if he or she isn’t giving 100 percent. So much of what a teacher does is critical in the education of students; there’s no doubt about that. That said, I’ve let a lot go over the years, and it turns out that doing so didn’t prove detrimental to anyone. Doing so, however, helped me get just a little bit closer to balance. Thanks for your post!
March 8, 2018 at 10:26 pm
>I’ve let a lot go over the years, and it turns out that doing so didn’t prove detrimental to anyone.<
And that's the thing, with age, I've learned as well. Sometimes, things have to be let go or you go a little more crazy! Not a bad thing, to learn with age! 🙂
March 8, 2018 at 6:15 pm
I wonder if balance is possible when you teach. Students want that assignment graded yesterday, the house has needs (at least mine does, so messy) the children and spouse want time and then there is time for me. NO, I do not think balance is possible, but what a nice thing to strive for.
March 8, 2018 at 10:24 pm
>I wonder if balance is possible when you teach. <
Well, that's always the issue, isn't it? 🙂 The balance that we'd love to have, but never seem to find.
March 8, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Ah, balance is something we all seek and it’s so darned elusive! I find that I’ve leaned more into my personal interests, especially writing, but I feel guilty that I’m not doing as much school work outside of school. I also find I’m running a bit ragged at school, trying to do it all without that extra home time. Sigh…It’s a process.
March 8, 2018 at 10:18 pm
>It’s a process.<
That's it in a nutshell, the process! 🙂
March 8, 2018 at 7:32 pm
As a first year teacher the word balance is non-existent in my vocabulary.
March 8, 2018 at 10:18 pm
I can tell you at almost 24 years, it’s part of my vocabulary, but apparently I have problems with my comprehension skills, because I often forget the meaning! 🙂
March 8, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Absolutely possible! And an ongoing practice, of course. I’ve found with myself and my clients that the biggest obstacles are setting boundaries and clarifying priorities.
You simply can’t do it all, nor should you 😉
March 8, 2018 at 10:16 pm
Setting boundaries is an issue for certain! But, I’d agree, I can’t do it all, nor do I want to! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
March 9, 2018 at 6:11 am
Ahhh the elusive balance. Sometimes I think I’m better staying a little later and bringing nothing home. Then a snow day comes and I’m completely unproductive for an entire day.
March 9, 2018 at 7:30 am
Thankfully, no one is in my room yet, because that was a big laugh, because it’s true! I stay late one day, the next, I’m given a bunch of time, and I waste it on Minecraft! Priorities, I say, priorities! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!