It’s that time of year. The first day of Winter break is upon us! Educators, holy crap, we made it (please know this is being said with the same sentiment and dad energy as I would say “any landing you can walk away from is a good landing” after white knuckling a mid tier regional airline flight in a turbulent tropical climate). It was touch and go, and to be honest the odds were stacked against us. But we did it. We’re here. Time to collapse and get some sleep.
But also as a dad, educator, husband of an educator, and holiday procastinator in general, Winter break is when the season officially starts for me. I know Thanksgiving already happened. And my wife already put up the tree. And yeah, the lights are up. But today is the day. T-minus 8 to get everything written, bought, wrapped, and sent. Time to text everyone and ask, “Address?” Time to reach out and see when friends can meet up for coffee. Wait. Wow. Typing that last sentence made me feel old. I do not meet up at bars with friends on a random Monday, Thursday, or xmas eve anymore. I go out for coffee. I’m so grown. It’s for the better and all, but what a long time ago those winter nights out were! I guess I’m older and some things are changing. I mean, I still see 5AM. It’s just at the beginning of the day now. Not the end.
Something else that has changed. I don’t want to buy things for my friends and relatives or have things bought for me by them. I want to talk. I want to share time and experiences with them. Let’s sit and break bread. I saw some quote the other day (I can no longer find but I’ll do my best to paraphrase) about how 25-45 is your least happy years because that’s when it gets really real. Kids, mortgages, work stress, and dad bod kicks in. But the 25 years on both sides of it are some of the happiest. For two very different reasons of course. When you’re young you have less responsibility and know much less of the crap the world can deal you (hopefully). And, after you’ve gotten through the really real years, you realize what actually makes you happy and you’ve put in the work to get there (again, hopefully). Well, I’m 44 so I’m pretty close. And what I know is I ain’t buying y’all nothing. And I don’t want y’all buying me nothing. That doesn’t make me happy. Instead, here are some holiday wishes to some groups that made my life better this year. I hope they make you happy too.
Other dads, my wish for y’all is when your kids are opening their presents, may your Christmas morning poker faces be ever so well played. Don’t get caught being surprised when they open the remote control Millenium Falcon. Only your partner knows you had no clue what was in the box. Play it cool. Remember, you’ll have time to play with it too.
Other administrators, my wish for you is to feel these words. I honestly can’t thank you all enough for the love, support, time, and advice you have given me. And at the same time yell at you for not warning me what I was getting myself into! Y’all told me it was gonna be hard, but did y’all tell me?! Did you?! My goodness y’all, in the year of our lord 2022, in the United States of America, being an admin in a public middle school is tough. I never thought I would look back on my business days and remember with fondness getting yelled at in a boardroom in front of my whole team and think, how quaint. How cute. Those were the days. But anyone that has seen, felt, or heard the wrath and disrespect of an 8th grade girl wrapped up tightly in allllll the drama, knows exactly what I am talking about. I shudder folks. I shudder. Anyway, admin get some peace and quiet over the break and you know I love all of you!
Teachers, my wish for you is rest, rest, more rest, and a quick but temporary short term memory loss. Listen, be sure to sleep in. Use the mugs (yes mugs, that plural is not a typo, we know you got multiple) your students gave you for late morning coffee. Eat all the treats your bestie staff friends gave you before the break. But also, forget about school. Don’t think about it. It will be there when you get back. The last day before break we all know the memories will come flooding back in a sweaty terror induced panic anyway. So, why worry about it now. Take a break. You need it. You deserve it.
Everyone else, I wish for you the gift of being with those whom you want to. Holidays, however and whichever ones you celebrate, come and go way too fast. It’s important to make the most of them. Be with people you care about, and care about you. It’s taken me a while, but that’s what I’ve learned about this time of year. I’m too old to waste it. And I can’t buy it. Happy holidays y’all.