An Unrelenting Headache
I had a challenging start to my week and I thought it would never end. I had a killer headache — the type that just won’t quit. I tried to do all the right things: I drank lots of water, watched my salt intake, took my vitamins and tried to get some rest. However, my headache had decided it was here to stay. My headache and I had a conversation.
“Look you need to be with someone who can spend time with you, love you, cuddle in a nice warm bed with your, listen to your and give you what you need.” I told it. “I am not the one.” I’m not the nurturing type, at least not to headaches. It is a challenge for me to focus for more than an hour these days, and this headache was demanding not just hours but what felt like days.
If you’ve ever had a headache like this one, you know that the only thing that usually woks for it is rest and ibuprofen. But if you find yourself with these headaches often, it begs the question: how can we create a life with lower levels of stress?
Like so many educators during this pandemic, I’ve been reflecting on why I teach. Pre-pandemic, I loved teaching. I loved connecting with students and having meaningful conversations. I loved being creative in the classroom and watching their lightbulbs go off. I enjoyed creating creative learning experiences for students like crime scene investigation units for Shakespeare’s plays or discussions on contemporary issues using literature. The authentic learning that was happening was what I lived for.
I would leave my classes feeling invigorated and challenged. The conversation alone were something I looked forward to. In the thick of the pandemic, I found myself trying to pull as many of my tricks into a virtual classroom space. I stressed over my students and their quality of education but then I was forced to come to a new realization. My students couldn’t learn because they were drowning in stress and depression. My students, even though they were home, were stressed out and drained from the pandemic. I worried about them.
Today as I look at these pandemic learners, I am finding that each of them requires more of me, more of my attention and assistance. But unlike the headache I grappled with earlier, I like them. They make me smile and if they are the cause of my headache, well bring it on buddy. I am ready for the pain. What do they say, “NO Pain, no Gain!” This is the kind of pain that is worth it because my pain is my students’ gains. I am all about the gains. So Mr. Headache bring it on buddy, bring it on!