I celebrate that I am still sane and happy after the first full week of distance learning. I had a moment on Thursday evening and yesterday when I thought I would fall apart. As a leadership team member I had a chance to see the parent feedback responses, and no matter how many times I saw the appreciation lines, the following "but" wiped away the positive. With taking a compassionate perspective at the stress that the parents are going through, and using positive self-talk and self-compassion, I held myself together. I celebrate the fabulous slices of life my children wrote, the creative plans they have for teaching each other about matter, and interesting personal "My Growth as A Reader" reflections. I enjoyed the individual meetings with each child and the whole class meetings in the mornings and afternoons. I celebrate that I continued slicing every day.
My plan for this week was to take care of myself. I walked three times every day and took little stretching breaks after each Google Meet. My back and eyes still complain about the screen-time. I also had a writing plan for this week - I had a traditional book pile poem, right now post, and a birthday slice to write. Wrote each three. On other days I was too tired to create very thoughtful traditional slices. I have learned that it's ok to listen to the thoughts that arrive and let them to represent the life as it is at the moment.
I appreciate the birthday wishes I received yesterday. I appreciate the different slicers who inspire, bring different perspectives, push my thinking, and leave me at awe with their beautiful words. I appreciate how the comments to my slices make me feel that I have been noticed and heard and lifted up.
Wishing you space and time where and when you feel peace of mind and heart.
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| Greetings from my living room sofa! This is me yesterday before a Google meet with my class. |
This is hard, isn't it? We are planning for online learning to launch in a week...your post sent solidarity and positivity while acknowledging the challenges that keep me awake at night. I really appreciate your slice.
ReplyDeleteI found myself nodding along as I read your slice, agreeing with so much of what you wrote and appreciating how clearly you explained it. I keep thinking how much we're learning about ourselves during this time. How we need to be so adaptable and flexible as things change at such a rapid pace. Overall, I suppose what we need most right now is resiliency. The ability to try, fail and try again. Getting up to take a walk, stretching, then going back to it. Wiping tears away, breathing deeply, then getting done what needs to be done. Or at least trying again. Simply doing the best we can and changing what that looks like over and over again. Not so simple at all really. Take care and happy belated birthday. This line made me smile: "Any day starts well when you have had a good night sleep and have left over birthday cake for breakfast."
ReplyDeleteSo happy you had that well-deserved sleep-in. Loved "birthday cake for breakfast" and these two sentences:"I celebrate that I am still sane and happy after the first full week of distance learning...I celebrate that I continued slicing every day." And could parents just leave out the "buts" for now?
ReplyDeleteThat one little word "but" can have such destructive power. So true. Yes - first priority for each of us at present is "taking care of myself." In so doing, we are taking better care of others; we will have more to give, in whatever ways we can. Your self-care plan was wise - this line is my favorite, for its important truth: "I have learned that it's ok to listen to the thoughts that arrive and let them to represent the life as it is at the moment." Sometimes these writings are the most moving and profound, when writing leans in to whisper in our ears, stirring the mind, the heart. And: Happy belated birthday. :)
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing is a new learning experience for everyone, teachers, students, and parents. I don't think some people know how to say something without adding a "but". I learned that it is OK to take those comments with a grain of salt.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Terje! I can relate to your comment, "no matter how many times I saw the appreciation lines, the following "but" wiped away the positive." We are dealing with some very vocal parents complaining about our efforts-it even made our local paper headline. It was discouraging, but we know we are doing our best. I'm so glad you are taking care of yourself and recognize how important that is. Hope you continue your birthday celebration all weekend.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday. I took a break from socil media yesterday so the wishes are today! We are not allowed to meet with our students online although my team did record a hello and an introduction video for our first week on e-learning that begins next week. I hope to "confer" with my students this week, and I am sure I will experience that tiredness you speak of. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! You look fantastic! This is a great thing to celebrate: "I celebrate that I am still sane and happy after the first full week of distance learning." There are times that I have felt so unsettled with distance learning, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you continue to take care of yourself!