Running on the Teeter-Totter

I was struck by something this past week. I guess it is not a huge thing, but I just thought about all of the things that I would like to do and how I just can't get to them. I always have a tasks list that is longer than my ability to do them. I am sure that most of you feel this way. The problem is that I truly have a desire to do some different things in my job such as having lunch with students, getting into more classrooms, talking with teachers, helping teachers collaborate, and many other things. But, the reality seems to always be that there is a report to complete, a meeting to attend, a plan that needs to be documented, POs and budgets to be managed, conference requests to review, discipline that needs attention, and all of the other tasks that go along with the job. Please don't think that I am complaining. I like what I do. I believe that I am pretty efficient. I just think I could be more effective if I could do some of the things that I would like to do. It seems like more and more is required of us. Probably every generation of administrators felt that way. I have always thought that if I could just get a little farther ahead, I could get to some of the other plans that I would like to follow. But, just when I think I am getting close, something comes up and my stack rises to a level that puts me behind again. I guess it is a matter of priority, but it all takes time. I feel the same way at home. There are projects that I have planned to do since our house was built four and half years ago. There are household plans and family plans that get squeezed out by the lawn, snowy driveway, the trash, the bills, etc. I am sure that you can all relate to that. The trouble is that I feel such an internal struggle because I know I could get farther ahead at school if I took more time here, but I am sure my family believes that I already spend too much time doing school work. I know that if I can be home more, I can get farther ahead at home, but then I get farther behind at work. It is a tough balance. It reminds me of standing in the middle of a teeter-totter with someone throwing work responsibilities on one end that makes be run to the other end to balance. Just when I get far enough down the teeter-totter to balance the work responsibilities, more home responsibilities are thrown on the other end. So, I run back and forth trying to keep balance. With all of the that running, you would think I would be a little thinner! I hope you are able to keep balance.


Maybe trying to keep balanced is why I like to travel so much!
Honeymoon Trip July 7, 1996