What If We Can't Make It through This Week?

So this morning, I'm sitting in my 10:00 a.m. writing class, and this text come in from Shulamith: "Mom, what if we can't make it through this week?"

Ack!

"Don't say that," I quickly text back. "We just have to make it."

With so many in our family directly involved in education (either as students or teachers), we find this week to be a bit sketchy. We are tired. We are stressed. For each of us, the pressure is on, in one way or another, to somehow endure to the end of this week, so that we might relax a bit and enjoy this glorious season.

For Shulamith, it's a matter of keeping 22 excited kindergartners busy and on task, when in reality, they are far more interested in speculating about what Santa might be loading onto his sleigh than remembering what sounds the blend "fl" or the diagraph "sh" make. Anyone who's ever taught children this age knows they are crazy hyper the week before Christmas vacation. And Shulamith? Well, she's just tired. And pregnant. And very ready for a break.

For Isaiah, this week involves a major oral presentation, demonstrating his computer-generated Lego robot. His partner built the robot, and Isaiah programmed it. In addition, he has one other semester project to complete and a trigonometry final exam. Along with all this, he receives constant requests for last-minute tutoring sessions from the first-year computer science students, who need his help to finish off their own semester projects and prepare for finals.

For Eli, this week means the conclusion of his first semester of college. He has done well. College was a bit of a shock for Eli. "You mean I have to study? Really?" But he has risen to the occasion throughout, and now just needs to prepare for one last final (math), and he'll be done. Finish strong, Eli. You can do it!

For Mathew, I am not as specifically informed about the content of his week as I am for my own children, but I'm pretty sure he has a final or two at the very least.

Lastly, for me, this week means essays, essays, and more essays, all of which need to be graded and returned to students. Is it possible to drown in essays? This is a serious question. And even once they are all graded (it will happen!), there is always the sadness for those students who, for whatever reason, didn't do their jobs. I don't grieve over the ones who dropped out early in the semester, but those who continue to attend but don't hold up their end of things sufficiently to meet the standard and earn a passing grade leave me feeling helpless. Was there something more I could have done to ensure their success? Probably not. But still.

My eyes are sore from reading papers. My neck and back are sore from carrying my backpack full of papers. My brain is sore from processing papers. And Shulamith says, "What if we don't make it through the week?"

Oh my dear daughter and friend, we will make it. We absolutely will. And when Friday finally comes, let the party begin!