I walked into the dining room, purposefully avoiding the rest of my family sitting at the kitchen island eating dinner. I placed my bowl on the otherwise empty table as my tears threatened to spill over. After a long day at work, a faculty meeting, waiting for kids to finish dance class, and then coming home to multiple messes made by the dog and kids…I was grateful to finally be home, my family together. Cue the tween who must have also had a long day…and decided to take it out on me, and in all fairness, everyone else. The icing on the cake.
As I sat, staring at my bowl, I racked my brain for something positive from the day, a last-ditch effort to prevent the negativity from settling in. My mind went way back to before my school day really got started. I was walking through our school library, retrieving papers from the printer. I got to chatting with Peter, who works in the library. Somehow, we started talking about writing. “I took your idea and am working on putting my camp stories into a collection…” He went on to tell me about editing and binding as we walked towards the front of the library.
When we got to the circulation desk, in a move that appeared like magic, Peter produced a copy of the book he had been talking about. He handed it to me, a proud look on his face, as I thumbed through the pages and admired the cover art. We talked a bit more about the process. I told him I thought my dad would enjoy his stories…along with Ralph Fletcher.
As I handed the book back to Peter and got ready to embark on the day ahead of me, I turned back to Peter and said, “I’m glad you shared that with me. You made my day.”
I couldn’t help but think about nudging Peter to join the Tuesday Slice of Life writing all those years ago-how I’ve come to know him through his writing and being writers together. This was just the thing I needed to come back to tonight.
Where There Is Joy 
Writers together always! This is so fantastic. I remember the moment you nudged him to join! We’re all better because of that nudge. Hope Ralph Fletcher gets his eyes on it (me, too)! Glad you found a moment to celebrate!
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This is such wise advise: “I racked my brain for something positive from the day, a last-ditch effort to prevent the negativity from settling in”. This line will stick with me, especially on hard days. Thanks for sharing your process at the end of a long day. And what a positive story to end the day on!!
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You’ve cultivated a beautiful relationship as writers with many of your colleagues, Peter included! How wonderful that you have such a strong teacher-as-writer community at your school!
BTW: Our teen was has been in a mood off and on lately so I completely relate to being the object of teenage (or in your case, tweenage) discontent.
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This is so important – the idea of really racking your brain for something positive from the day. … I have been so tired at the end of the day, that sometimes it takes me the first half of my dog walk to just go through the day to remember all the joyful moments .. .and what you focus on grows, so yay!
I love that you have a writing connection to bring you that joy!
(Also — My teens often add their moods to the end of the day. It can be so hard!)
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(I tried to comment but I think it just disappeared into the world wide superhighway…)
I think this idea of searching for joy is so important. Sometimes I’m so tired it takes me half of my dog walk to try to remember all the joyful moments .. but doing it helps me focus on the joy… and what you focus on grows. (Fingers crossed!)
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I love that you found your positive way back at the beginning – and via a writing connection, too. Sorry the rest of the day was crummy – but Peter’s pretty good for a pick-me-up. 🙂
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Glad you were able to find the slice of happiness in an otherwise hectic day!
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