At last Thanksgiving Break is here…. Time for five days of rest and relaxation… Hmmm.. let’s see, since I’m off, I could get a few things done that the schedule of my principalship won’t allow me to do. Monday, I will take care of the yard work and plant some pansies. Tuesday, I can clean the garage and fix that leaky faucet that the wife’s been nagging about. Wednesday, I have to smoke the family turkey. Of course Thursday is Thanksgiving. And Friday, well that’s the best day to shop and there is no way I’m passing up the opportunity to save money (a survival trait I’ve acquired while squeezing nickels from pennies with the campus budget). I guess I can get some real rest Saturday and Sunday since it appears my week has been consumed before it began.
My superintendent called and I have an important meeting in 15 minutes. How did I miss that email? While headed to the meeting, my secretary sends a text and tells me that I have 2 angry parents headed to the campus to protest their son’s mathematics average of 87 instead of his usual 90+. The Sup’s meeting was brief and while headed to meet the parents, my mother called to chat about Thanksgiving “back home.” As we reflected on how well smoked and flavored the turkey was, I get a text message: Please get here ASAP. I forgot about our kickoff program for the campus reading initiative.
The next day I get out the car and I’m greeted with joyful smiles and “Good morning[s]!” Maybe today will be less hectic than yesterday’s fiasco. I get one foot in the door and I am stopped by a “teacher in need.” Note: I did not say a “needy teacher.” This time, it was the heater in her room that seems to always default to 72 when she prefers it at 74. I get to my office and I have a message saying that the latest report is due ASAP. (And what is the ASAP on everything all about). More importantly, the “latest report” on what? Needless to say, there’s another deadline that must be met. My eyes pop open and I jump up.
It’s Monday morning!!! You mean to tell me that I been asleep and the last 2 crazy days have been my Saturday and Sunday night dreams. Thanksgiving break is officially over and I am as tired as I was the Friday before. In this position, even when we are off, we are still on. So the question is, how do we cope with those 24-hour work days? Answer: Keep Calm and let PIER-R Handle It. Coming soon….