Many people don't know this but teachers do quite a bit of work off the clock. For example, throughout the month of August you will see a trickle of teachers returning to their classrooms to dust off bookshelves, put up bulletin boards and plan for the first few weeks. We stock the students' desks, rearrange the classroom and even meet up with families. I was on my way to school on a Saturday for just one of these off the clock work sessions when I got a call from my mother. She said, "I know you have a lot of work to do today, but please take a break for yourself." And although the request was completely rational and kind-hearted, I couldn't help but get defensive. What's a break? True, I just finished a summer "off" but then why was my house even messier now at the end of August than it had been in June? Even though I wasn't working all summer, I wouldn't exactly say I was on "break". Whether you're a mom, a teacher or any number of other jobs and particularly if you are both, there's really no rest for the weary.
What exactly did my well-meaning mother think I would be doing if not back at school? Would I be at a spa getting a pedicure? Not since the morning of my wedding. Would I be at lunch with a friend? Only if we both had our kids with us, distracting them from misbehaving by giving them extra syrup on their pancakes. Would I be exercising? Only if by exercising you mean Liam sitting on my butt while I try to do downward facing dog while Joshua pulls my hair. No; a break from school for me would just mean being back at home wondering how it's possible that the kids mess up the house faster than I can clean it and me trying to get work done (like making those cute desk name tags) while Joshua sits on the final product.
Actually for the time being- in late summer and early fall- school is actually a break for me. A predictable order of events (until those unpredictable kids show up)!
These days I'll settle for just about any form of a break. Today I went to get my haircut. My last haircut was in March. It's not too far fetched for someone to relax while getting their hair washed, true, but I actually also look forward to dentist appointments because they give me a chance to recline and relax. Hey, if I have a cavity, it's even more time off. I'll even close my eyes. I knew I really needed a break when I felt relaxed while having my eyebrows waxed. And I did have a break just before school started... at my allergy testing appointment. Hey, I didn't have the share the remote or anything. And they gave me a great pillow to rest my arms on. So what if I was a little bit itchy! And earlier this week I had yet another break (seriously, do I ever get work done?) when I went, by myself, to vote and afterwards stop off at the pharmacy for Caladryl for Liam's bug bites. It was like going on a date... with myself.
Truly being a mom is rewarding and I do admit, it's quite relaxing in those moments when I'm able to set aside my own work to just watch my kids play together. Family events too can be relaxing. Picking apples, going to a fair, having a picnic in the park- all of this can be relaxing if I'm in the right mind-set. But really being a mom requires that we find creative ways to relax. Whether or not your mother tells you to relax, you can probably find time to schedule another dentist appointment. And when you do, ask them if they wouldn't mind reclining your chair a little further back and putting on some soothing music.
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