When Is My Turn ?

When is it too late to start over ? I suppose because I have regrets, I can maybe help someone to get out of teaching before it really damages you. It seemed easier years ago. I feel I connected better to co-workers who were older than me. I respected them. I couldn't wait for my turn to be the older, wiser confidant that I sought advice and approval from. Many of them were true friends and I know I could contact them right now and we could pick up where we left off. When they spoke at meetings, everyone listened. If our administrator had a delicate topic to discuss he often asked these women to gently bring it up to us. These women (and men) were loved and trusted.

This school year I found myself in a position where it was necessary to discuss two separate topics with two separate colleagues. No big issues. Our union asks us to be professional and "go to" our colleagues and talk instead of going to admin to complain. So I did. I was the one that got called in to admin. What I did is called "micromanaging" and "checking up on people".

I did not explain my side of the story, but rather explained what happened. It was surprising and lovely to get an apology from admin.

I am working on accepting that my last years of teaching are not going to be what I imagined them to be.