"I am a bone-weary post-pandemic-isolation parent of teenagers with a well-established social life and more excellent friends than I can keep up with. And yet, here we are."
Yes. I see you. I feel you. Thank you for putting this in words.
"A few years ago, we would drive past the school playground on our way to a hike or a museum and I would think, “Glad it’s not us.” (Actually, I probably thought, “So long, suckers!” Or possibly, “Why on earth would anyone want to do that?”)"
Embarrassingly relatable.
"It’s a serious mind f*ck that I’m going to be processing for a long, long time."
Thank you for the smiles today. I was chuckling away and sharing with my boys. I love, love, love the critical thinking you've encouraged in your children. I can only imagine what they were thinking as they are processing what their teachers' were saying on the first day, and already disagreeing. So glad they know that they can, and dare I say "should", disagree!!! Yay for them, Yay for you!
Courage for you as you "play the game" until you feel like you can be more yourself. You, the real you, all of you, are so amazing and once they figure that out, they will be so grateful for someone to show them the way to authenticity. And again, in the mean time, courage to you.
The laughing makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing in the jokes - and I know you get it. 😂
Re authenticity, far and away the feeling I get from people responding to my blogging is “I’m so glad you said that out loud.” Im working on more out loud living and will be interested to see how I choose to do that in the school parent setting - and how it is responded to.
"People like engaged me more than unengaged me. " The truth in a nutshell for so many of us. The implied value of being liked is not missed.
Keep writing and sharing your process. I love your voice and your vulnerability and honesty. Oh, and well done for all! What a HUGE transition. Extra excited about the multiple wins for critical thinking. xoxo
The implied value of being liked is definitely something that was trying to pull me out from center.
On reflection, I’d like to change that to, “people RESPOND to engaged me more than unengaged me.” That feels more accurate to what I was noticing in interactions.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ted Lasso and Dr. Sharon. Remember how he comes in to meet her and she sits back and observes his method of connecting? I’ve become my own Dr Sharon, haha.
I have many thoughts -- I am so grateful for my experiences as both a public school & private school student and parent. It definitely helps to have an outsider perspective at times.
Also, I remember when our oldest went to LSA for high school. All before while he was in public school, I happily donated extra supplies or paid extra for school trips because I knew there were families that couldn't (or wouldn't) contribute. But once I felt like I was being nickeled and dimed by all of the "extras" at private school, I contributed the bare minimum.
So glad this is a positive experience so far. Yay for your kids for their critical thinking skills.
"I am a bone-weary post-pandemic-isolation parent of teenagers with a well-established social life and more excellent friends than I can keep up with. And yet, here we are."
Yes. I see you. I feel you. Thank you for putting this in words.
I know you do, thank you for that.
"A few years ago, we would drive past the school playground on our way to a hike or a museum and I would think, “Glad it’s not us.” (Actually, I probably thought, “So long, suckers!” Or possibly, “Why on earth would anyone want to do that?”)"
Embarrassingly relatable.
"It’s a serious mind f*ck that I’m going to be processing for a long, long time."
I want to hear more.
I love that it’s relatable!
Thank you for the smiles today. I was chuckling away and sharing with my boys. I love, love, love the critical thinking you've encouraged in your children. I can only imagine what they were thinking as they are processing what their teachers' were saying on the first day, and already disagreeing. So glad they know that they can, and dare I say "should", disagree!!! Yay for them, Yay for you!
Courage for you as you "play the game" until you feel like you can be more yourself. You, the real you, all of you, are so amazing and once they figure that out, they will be so grateful for someone to show them the way to authenticity. And again, in the mean time, courage to you.
The laughing makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing in the jokes - and I know you get it. 😂
Re authenticity, far and away the feeling I get from people responding to my blogging is “I’m so glad you said that out loud.” Im working on more out loud living and will be interested to see how I choose to do that in the school parent setting - and how it is responded to.
"People like engaged me more than unengaged me. " The truth in a nutshell for so many of us. The implied value of being liked is not missed.
Keep writing and sharing your process. I love your voice and your vulnerability and honesty. Oh, and well done for all! What a HUGE transition. Extra excited about the multiple wins for critical thinking. xoxo
The implied value of being liked is definitely something that was trying to pull me out from center.
On reflection, I’d like to change that to, “people RESPOND to engaged me more than unengaged me.” That feels more accurate to what I was noticing in interactions.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ted Lasso and Dr. Sharon. Remember how he comes in to meet her and she sits back and observes his method of connecting? I’ve become my own Dr Sharon, haha.
I have many thoughts -- I am so grateful for my experiences as both a public school & private school student and parent. It definitely helps to have an outsider perspective at times.
Also, I remember when our oldest went to LSA for high school. All before while he was in public school, I happily donated extra supplies or paid extra for school trips because I knew there were families that couldn't (or wouldn't) contribute. But once I felt like I was being nickeled and dimed by all of the "extras" at private school, I contributed the bare minimum.
So glad this is a positive experience so far. Yay for your kids for their critical thinking skills.
That’s human nature right there. From an business point of view, taking that sort of psychology into account is important!
The phrase “nickeled and dimed “ keeps coming back to me - thanks for that one.
Thinking of Zack’s good experience transferring in has helped me in moments of panic.