Ever Challenging, Ever Productive

A few weeks ago, I was working with a kindergartner and my frustration level was quickly rising. He was very wiggly and whiny, and it seemed as though we had been working on the same thing for DAYS without much progress.

As the irritation mounted, I took a moment to check myself. My feelings were valid, but they certainly weren't going to be helpful in improving this student's skills. It dawned on me that there will almost never be a day of teaching that is not challenging. There will always be obstacles to overcome and conflicts to subdue. That is the nature of the professional. In that moment of clarity, I decided to reframe those challenges.

Each of those challenges is an opportunity to do your best work as an educator; to persevere despite the frustration because you can and because you want to. Recognizing that those moments are to be expected takes some of the edge off of them when they arrive. It makes doing the important work of teaching a little bit easier.

This moment of pause was part of how I chose my guiding word for 2018. I really hate how cliche that sounds, but I'm really excited about living my year UNAPOLOGETICALLY. I will unapologetically feel the frustration that comes with my profession because I am aware of its inevitability and the hope that comes with it. Yes, you read that correctly. The HOPE that comes with frustration. I wouldn't be frustrated if I didn't care about my work. And I do care about my work. And in that statement alone there is hope.

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