Do the Hard Things In Public
Give your community a chance to step up for you. They’re more willing to help than you might think.
It was an obnoxiously warm May evening, and I was wrestling two kids, a stroller, a hot casserole dish of mashed potatoes, and a chocolate cake into an elevator. As my two-year-old yelled at my four-year-old for pushing the “down” button before he had a chance to do so, I reflected on my life and all the choices that had led me here.
Just kidding, I didn’t have time to do that. I was too busy struggling.
At the end of the school year, the English as a Second Language (ESL) program for which I am a teacher hosts an International Dinner to celebrate all the students and teachers’ hard work. Everyone brings a dish from their country or culture, we review highlights from the year, and we meet each others’ families. It’s the family part that was the sticking point for me. My husband works long hours, and if I want to attend a weeknight event with my kids, it’s all on me.
