Comments on: It’s All a Pretty Big, Jumbled Up Mess & I’m Okay with It

By: Steve J. Moore

Steve J. Moore — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:47:43 +0000

I can relate to the physical removal that still maintains digital connection. When I visit my in-laws lake house in rural Southern Missouri near the Arkansas border, I still have wi-fi and my iPhone (sometimes). However, when we’re skimming a ten foot river in a fishing boat at 35 mph, it’s just me and the breeze. I have a hard time meditating on separation from people unless I am removed from my digital self. I’m going to keep thinking about your “balance” principle though Bud. Thank you.

By: JanieG

JanieG — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:49:47 +0000

Thanks for sharing your insight on balancing the technology-driven world and your personal time with your family. I always remind myself that the web is always awake (24-7), yet quality time spent with our children isn’t. I take pride in setting certain times for each.

By: Paul Wozney

Paul Wozney — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:43:10 +0000

I thought your use of the word blending was a good one- sometimes I think blurring fits really well too. I taught in a program this year where the focus was on explicit post-secondary connections for students, and where the teacher (me, in this case) was mandated to be a close advocate and mentor, to be very connected to students’ lives, to meet and build relationship with their families. At times you wondered where the “line” was, but it was an unbelievable year, and I will miss that dynamic as I transition to a different teaching role in the fall.

As for teaching being who I am, I disagree with that notion. Teaching is what I do for a living- it’s not my identity. I would still be me if I worked in another field, and I would not be diminished. That’s one reason why I think so many colleagues have a hard time with relaxing, because they can’t or won’t unplug from their job and be themselves in another frame. Never being able to disconnect from your job is workaholicism, not dedication, and it negatively impacts your life, your family and definitely your teaching.

I love what I do (I’m crazy about it!), but it doesn’t define me. The moments you had with your kids is the real stuff of life- that’s the place you are irreplaceable, and those are the times that charge my batteries. Hope you get to savour tons of those on vacation Bud- thanks for the post!

By: Fran Bullington

Fran Bullington — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:54:49 +0000

Sounds like you had an absolutely perfect vacation – doing the things that you chose to do. Like Chris Stanley (above comment) I have never stopped being a teacher; summer is a respite from the bells and paperwork, but it doesn’t separate me from who I am: I am a teacher and lifelong learner. As such, I have always looked at things through “teacher glasses” – how could I use this in the classroom?

I, too, was on a South Carolina beach vacation in June (Surfside Beach) and took not only books but my laptop. My world is no longer a small speck on the map, but a globe that I can access anytime day or night (as long as there is Internet access!).

My daughter, son-in-law, and grandson left late yesterday to go to Myrtle Beach. When I opened Tweetdeck this morning, I noticed that within an hour or so of getting there, they each posted to their Facebook page – after working all day and then driving 4.5 hours. Are they obsessed with Facebook? No, it is just a part of their world. They couldn’t call family and friends 1 am when they arrived at the beach, so instead chose to let others know they had arrived safely by posting on Facebook.

My comment is all over the place – but that is because your post appealed to me on several different levels. Thanks for sharing.

Fran Bullingtons last blog post..Save the Words!

By: Twitted by karlfisch

Twitted by karlfisch — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:34:09 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by karlfisch [...]

By: Chris Stanley

Chris Stanley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:53:00 +0000

It seems like we have a lot in common here. I just got back from vacationing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in a rental home. Like you, we were sitting in front of the most beautiful water and the options of relaxation were endless. Do I read a book? Go swimming? Take a nap an hour after waking up? I decided to do neither and hop on my laptop and look at edublogs. Only two weeks into summer and I’m looking for ways to become a better teacher. What is wrong with us? The balance is important, but the passion for our sport never ends! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I will continue reading…

By: monika hardy

monika hardy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:00:04 +0000

this post was a delight bud. very refreshing in lieu of all the web takeover debate.

look for the good.
balance.

thank you for sharing your insight.

By: sarah

sarah — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:41:24 +0000

I can relate. I bring a bit of teacher guilt everywhere I go during the summer. I should be… and yet I’m… Now that I have GREATER access to the world through this little little machine (that I will now take everywhere I go) I feel the same. I texted my friends a picture of my feet dangling over the ocean a few weeks ago. And they loved it. They weren’t there, but it was my way of sending a postcard.

I think vacations are important, but vacation is a state of mind. If you feel like you can be on vacation in Ft Fun watching the girls play in the sandbox, it is just as regenerating as a trip to the finest beach in the world. And then you get to send these little postcards. Maybe the root of teacher guilt is that you are always “on call” in one way or another. It is a hard balance, but shows your dedication to both your job and your family. You have good balance.