An Appointment with Ourselves

I am taking this week off and carving out some of the time to work on a writing project. I've decided to take Stephen Covey's advice and "make an appointment with myself" by renting out a small space at our local school for the arts.

Like many places now, the school has shut down its services and offerings, but the buildings are still available to rent (and nonprofits can use the money right now).

My two kids joined me last week as I walked the grounds to decide which space could work. "Can we come with you?" they asked.

Part of me wanted to say "yes" right away as I didn't want to disappoint them. I knew they would appreciate something different during these days. But I hesitated, then responded with "I'll think about it."

My hesitation, confirmed by a friend, comes from a place most parents and educators know: a desire to serve others. It's our purpose beyond all others.

Yet it is hard to serve others if we aren't also committing some time to ourselves, to read and to reflect and to write and to do whatever it is that will rejuvenate us and help us be a better version of ourselves. Our energy isn't endless.

So I offered them a deal: if you give me the first two hours of the morning just to myself, you both can come over around 10 A.M.

"And there are rules," I continued. "No Internet, no video games, no shows. You can write on a computer like me, read, or you can make something by hand." They agreed, also understanding that to be here, they had to bike or walk their way over, 3/4 of a mile away.

Time will tell if they decide to join me. At the very least they will see that creating is not some whimsical, off-the-cuff experience. It's a commitment to ourselves and to the process.

Two questions to close: If we as teachers or leaders can make appointments for ourselves, are we also willing to guide and allow for our students and staff to do the same? What time and spaces are we carving out so they can engage in their work? In the newsletter this week, we examine the conditions for literacy engagement.