Finding balance as an educator is an ongoing challenge. All the time spent prepping, assessing, meeting, and learning are the things that make great educators but they also affect life’s balance between work and family.
For my wife and I, these next few months will be the most exciting, challenging, and joyous times of our lives as we are expecting twins in November/December. As these children will be our first-borns, I want to make sure that I alter my life in such a way that my family is always the priority.
Education will always be ONE of my passions but it will never come close to the passion I have for spending time with family. The main goal for me in the next year will be: BALANCE. I want to be the parent that my parents were to me. I want to be there to play, watch, teach, learn, read, coach, share, and love.
Although I have heard this song many times, I have never really listened to the lyrics. As I am now approaching fatherhood, this song brought tears to my eyes as it developed a whole new meaning to me. Please have a listen and reflect on the balance in your life.
The saddest part of all this is that Chapin died 7 years later… and never got to see his children grow up.
I need to find the balance to be there for the many special moments with my children. I never want to answer the question, “When you comin’ home dad?” with “I don’t know when“.
Thank you to presenter and ex-principal Denis Harrigan of Victoria for introducing this to me. Thank you to my parents for always being there.