Present

This year my one word is present. I think this is a word that I have been wrestling with for a few years. As a principal, husband, father, and for a number of years a student, I have tried and failed to juggle responsibilities and being fully present at home. I often would be thinking of the next thing I needed to take care of on my list and usually that would be work related or something to do with graduate classes. For most of the my marriage and the lives of my daughters I have been in school (Master's degree in Teaching and Learning, a two year ELL endorsement program, second Master's degree, and finally an Ed.D). I have gotten used to always being pulled in different directions and not always feeling fully present at home or at work. 

While in the Ed.D. program I thought I would focus and work hard to finish in a timely matter so that I could than focus on my family. While I was busy for three years in classes and with the dissertation my girls continued to grow. I realized that they are not little girls anymore.

Aleigh is now a 14 year old freshman and Caitlin is 11 and a 6th grader. I only have three years left with Aleigh before she goes off to college and Caitlin has entered the stage where peer relationships are important to her. I need to be fully present with them so that I can really listen to them. I need to understand their hopes and dreams so I can support them. I don't have the pull of classes or a dissertation to finish to be the reasons to not be present.

This word will challenge me this year, but I honestly believe that this word has been placed on my heart. I look at my girls I am so proud of them and who they are becoming. I just don't want to have any regret that I was not always present when I was with them.