Bookmarks get revisited at half-term. Most get deleted. Occasionally there is a gem in there. First the original – with a few corrections. Then the education adaptation. I share this here, I there are plenty of wonderful mentors, middle leaders, leading staff that may just benefit from have this short story on hand to share.
Original story with correction
I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family.
As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing’s for sure, those troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick ’em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”
We all need a trouble tree.
School version – minor adaptations to the first paragraph.
A new teacher started here at this school last September. After they had just finished a rough day: six periods, where lessons had not gone as prepared, key opportunities were missed, and the teacher before their penultimate lesson had left permanent pen on the board. As we were leaving the car park, we noticed they had a flat tyre – just for good measure and no recovery assistance. So I offered to drive them home.
We all need a trouble tree.
Teaching is a wonderful and complex job. At times we need to remember to be kind to ourselves, especially when new to the profession or a new school. Sometimes we need to be kind to those we go home to also. And rarely are teaching troubles not lessened the following day.