Conversations and discouragement

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

In the digital age I guess I am still a dinosaur.  My preferred mode of communication is to speak.  Sure, it’s better when I do all the speaking and everyone else agrees with me but it really is better than having to send an email or a text.  I think things sometimes get lost.

At work I have to do a lot of conversation.   On the rare occasion I am not heard, then I resort to my wonderful letter writing skills.  I prefer that my message get across through conversation but when it doesn’t, I will admit that I do like drafting a good letter to drive the point home.  I’ve had to do some additional driving lately but in the end, that should alleviate driving at a later time.

I spoke with the boss today and she was slightly surprised at how many days I was requesting until I reminded her that because we are being forced to work three days over the break and they are part of my annual leave time, I am entitled to take those days during the summer or at another time during the year.  I’m opting for the summer. 

I explained our situation:  it’s probably the last time we will be able to take a trip like this for some time, the fee is fairly cheap for us to take the baby, and it’s a little longer than we would have planned because we are trying to find the cheapest flights.  I didn’t explain that we had gotten the bug again. 

I’m not so sure she would have cared about that.

She explained to me that people in my position are discouraged from not being there for the start of summer school.  However, I explained that there is another principal who works in our school who would be there and can be there if I am not.  The plan would need to be organized and ready to go (that’s what I do!)  She suggested speaking to my colleague who’s building we will be housed in to ensure that she can assist my AP.  So, more talking will lead to more talking which should lead to a definitive answer by Friday the latest. 

This is what I love about being in a union.  You can discourage me, but you can’t force me not to do it.  They are MY annual leave days that I have earned and should be used according to my need.  Are there potential snags?  Of course, that’s what cell phones were made for.  I am capable of trouble shooting from across the Atlantic Ocean, in a foreign country, and with a 19 month old, right?

New monkey wrench:  I’m starting to drift and wonder what type of effect this will have on the baby being away from home for so long.  He wasn’t terrible or had major issues but I think he was off a bit when we were in Florida and that was only a week or so.  This would be three.

Holy shit!  Can this really be happening?