Dear Families,
Sunday, November 5 lasted twenty-five hours due to the changing of the clocks. I used that extra hour to sleep longer, much to the disappointment of my dogs.
I often wish for an extra hour in the day for more communication time. In the bustle of a school day with so much to do, conversations with staff and students often rely on speed. I have slowly come to realize that, due to time constraints, my tendency is to focus on solutions rather than process and find myself desiring more time to connect with busy students and staff.
Even as a parent of adult children, it is not easy to commit to the time needed to really catch up, which is important when we’re all in flux and separated by many miles. The time to really communicate with each other brings us closer and helps us understand our ever-changing circumstances. We, as adults, are often “planting seeds” that need time to germinate, sprout, and grow. Conversations that are begun need to continue, and sometimes our roles are reversed and it is our kids who are there for us.
Recently, I learned that one of our student’s grandparents was ill. I asked him about his grandparent and mentioned that my father had recently been in the hospital. When we returned from the weekend, I was struck when the student followed up with me on how my Dad was doing. (He is fine.) I felt a sense of healing just from hearing his concern. I hope he felt the same.
So many of us place so much emphasis on action, doing, and accomplishing that we find we need more time to simply be together and learn about each other. With this in mind, I plan to take some extra time to really watch and hear what goes on around me. In a time where all responses are expected to be immediate, sometimes there is not ample time to pause and reflect.
I hope that all of you are able to pause, reflect, and converse with your families and friends as the year continues.
|
