March 2025 SOLC–Day 12
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http://www.twowritingteachers.org
The e-mail arrived at 7:08 am.
“What time is O. available for testing?” the sender queried.
I quickly hit reply and started typing, stating I’d work around whatever she figured out. I know how hard it is for testers to schedule their time with students. Then I added the specific (and limited) amount of time that O. is in my classroom. I suggested that she reach out to touch base with the Special Ed. teacher about the times when he receives SDI, but also noted those times and the times when he receives small group support with Ed Techs. Finally, I listed when we have morning recess, recess/lunch and Specials, and clicked send.
It was 7:15 am and I felt very efficient.
Fast forward to 1:46 and another e-mail from the same person. “I guess the easiest thing is if you can tell me what times I CANNOT test O. Ex – snack, lunch, recess, specials.”
“But I already did that!” I wanted to wail. I double checked my first response, and sure enough, the information was there. I know the writer is a lovely person and VERY busy, but for some reason this irritated the heck out of me. Probably unreasonably. Or maybe a teeny bit reasonably, since I now had to respond with the same information, and who has time for that?
I sat down to compose my response, probably hitting the keys with a bit more fervor than necessary.
If you had read my last e-mail…
Ugh…I couldn’t write that. Delete. Delete. Delete.
Like I wrote in response to your first e-mail…
No, that definitely didn’t work either. Delete. Delete. Delete.
I struggled with needing to write some form of I DID THAT ALREADY AND DID YOU EVEN READ MY E-MAIL! until I finally soundly chided myself for overreacting (Isn’t it all too easy to go from pseudo-calm to psych these days?!), talked myself off that limb and composed a very grounded, polite list of the requested times. Then I clicked send and sent it on its way. I guess, ultimately, I’d rather be thought of as inept than thought of as defensive or “rhymes with witchy.” (Although after reading this petty slice, you may have your own opinion on that now! lol)
Addendum: After sending the e-mail, I opened the door to my colleague’s room and said in a rush, “I just need you to know that I already sent the information in my first e-mail response but I can’t say that in my response now or I sound like a jerk. I know you have no idea what I’m talking about, but I feel the need to make sure someone knows.”
I expected her to laugh at me, but instead she jumped right on board.
“Yes!” she practically shouted. “I just had something similar happen. There’s so much to do already, and then something that needs to be addressed pops up and we know that ALREADY DID it but we have to do it AGAIN! And it sounds ridiculous and defensive to explain how and when we already did do that! UGH!”
She shared her example.
I elaborated on mine.
We commiserated.
We both felt seen.
And now as I finish up typing this, I feel more than a bit ridiculous for my overreaction (even though I managed to curb its outward manifestation).
Is anyone else finding it harder to stay level these days?
Nix the comfort zone 
Yes! I a relate to this. Everyone has to do their part!
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I still feel like I overreacted, lol. I was so glad my colleague could jump right on board with me for a small time vent.
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I think we ALL can relate to this. No one needs an extra thing to do, and I would have resent your morning email with the note that the answer was already sent. You were more than nice!
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I would have loved to have sent back my original e-mail, but I just couldn’t do it!
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You’re writing with such a vulnerability lately that I just love! I laughed out loud when you said “I guess, ultimately, “I’d rather be thought of as inept than thought of as defensive or “rhymes with witchy.”!!!!!!! What are we doing that we’d rather feel like we’re the problem? But I do I feel the same way. So often I’m writing emails and hit delete delete delete when I’m over apologizing. I’m so with you on this!
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“What are we doing that we’d rather feel like we’re the problem?” You raise an important question!!!
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Your voice is all over this. I wish I had been your neighbor you commiserated with.
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I was glad I had a neighbor to commiserate with!
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I don’t even know what got into me on Monday (probably PMS hahaha), but I had a flip from “pseudo-calm to psych” in front of a few students who were begrudgingly asking me for help during math. 😂😂
I felt a big connection to this slice!! Not petty! 🤙🏼
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It’s nice to know that I’m not alone!
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Oh, I can hear it, see it, feel it, friend! I have that colleague to spout off to also about the things that we need to say in real words, not professional ones. One day, she came around the cubicle opening smiling big. “Did you know that you can type whatever you feel like saying into Chat GPT and tell it to take the Bi#@$ out…..and it will???” Game changer. Try it.
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Wow! My mind is blown! I am fascinated by the fact that Chat GPT can do this! I will definitely check it out!!!
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Super proud of you for pulling yourself off that limb. If only our elected (not by us) officials had the same self-regulation skills…
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If only!
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Rats! Yes. I do relate. Way, way, way too much!
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I’m glad to know that I’m not alone.
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I enjoyed this because you do such a great job of writing what you wanted to say, AND elaborating on what is going through your mind with a great balance.
I hope it all worked out; glad you found someone to talk it out.
Now, me being petty, would have screenshot the first email and sent that along with “as per the first email…” but I am petty. I also know how busy everyone is (and, in education, we easily get ‘stuck’ in our personal experiences, and it’s hard to be outside of that). But good for you for being the bigger person!
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It was really hard to be “bigger” in that moment! I’m happy with the path I chose though. Thanks for the support!
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Yes! Thank you!
I do, too, feel so seen.
It’s tough to bring ourselves back from tha edge. I’ll think of you the next time it happens to me and I’ll imagine you are calming down with me 😄
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Deep breaths! lol
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Well done. I respect and applaud your candor. Very relatable. The real meaning of co-misserate shines in this slice: you & your colleague, you & your readers.
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I was a little leery of posting this, as I really don’t think it was my finest hour.
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Yup, relatable. I hope today was better!
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The day was fine, really, it was just that particular e-mail that pushed me into a negative zone. I’m glad I recovered!
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You are so lucky you had someone to vent to! It’s the worst to feel like you have to do a somewhat tedious job AGAIN! And yes, it definitely feels harder to stay level these days–our government is not helping!
Kim
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Having safe to vent to is so important. I do blame our current government for my struggle to stay calm and reasonable. They certainly aren’t modeling it for me!
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