Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
I woke up this morning with no voice. Not even a grovel. Just a whisper, which my toddler starting mimicking, much my and my husband’s amusement.
Still, I wondered, could I go in? It wasn’t a heavy day. I could just have a kid come close and have them project what I wanted to say outward to the class. Or mime what I wanted them to do. Or…
Oh. My. Gosh. Take a dang sick day.
But I can’t! I was out last Monday for a PD. There’s no one there to cover me. I can be an adult supervising body. I don’t feel that bad. I can make it.
I know you know these debates, teachers.
Ultimately, sanity prevailed and I am at home, on the couch, sipping on hot tea, honey, and lemon. And I am still noticing and letting go of feelings of guilt that wash over me as I care for myself and am on the receiving end of an email about my class being unsupervised, am I there today? (No! I did tell you this!)
Our bodies speak to us. If your voice literally gives out, that means you need to take a break from talking. If you wake up and you cannot open your eyes, you need more sleep. If you crying and stretched to the breaking point, don’t go in that morning. Make yourself some tea. Get under your blanket. Rest deeply.
Your class can last a day without you. Your school will figure it out. We must take care.