Dear Lower School Parents,
These days it is very common to find articles and books on the quest for work–life balance. There is no magic formula for the hours that we can work, spend time with our family, and nurture ourselves and the relationships of those we love the most. However, it feels as if there is an uncanny pressure to do more with the hours of the day than is humanly possible. During these winter months, perhaps it would behoove us to take time to recalibrate; determine our primary goals for our family, prioritize how we want to spend our time, and weed out the extra and unnecessary in our lives.
As each year comes to a close, it is natural for us to reflect on our year and make resolutions for the year that is about to begin. Compared to the slow days of our childhood, we now know that time may be one of the most, if not the most, precious commodities. We are warned frequently as new parents to not blink because your newborn is going to grow up so fast. Even armed with that knowledge, it is still impossible to believe how quickly children change and grow up right before our eyes. The students in my first fifth grade class at Holton are now juniors in the Upper School. Their parents and I watch in disbelief as these poised and mature girls embark on their transition to independence. It is very easy to get so caught up in our day to day, rushing from place to place, going from activity to activity, that we can forget about the big picture. Holiday breaks not only give us precious extra moments to spend with our family, but they also afford us a moment to step back and examine our daily life. Long road trips or rare quiet moments allow us time to engage in conversations beyond logistics and ponder broader questions; what are your family values and how do you make them priorities with your limited time? Now that your children are getting older, you may find it fruitful to engage them in these conversations. How do they enjoy spending time with the family? What do they think are the family’s priorities and values? What would they take out of the day to day to help them have time for these priorities? You may be surprised by your children’s responses. Insightful and thoughtful, children often have a way of making things that initially seem very complicated become quite simple.
Teachers take advantage of certain times of the year to recalibrate as well. As we prepare report cards, we reflect deeply on the amazing growth of each student and examine how we will guide each individual as well as the class as a whole in attaining our next set of goals for them. We are blessed to be part of an incredibly rich program with access to abundant resources in and out of our school. Yet, access to so much means we must constantly prioritize, and re-prioritize, the lessons and experiences that will be most meaningful and fruitful for our students. We value each of our students and make sure that their goals are reflected in our own priorities.
Taking charge of our time with a clear road map based on what we value allows us to remain in the driver’s seat. As you enjoy the festivities of this holiday season, I hope you can sneak a few moments to reflect on what truly makes you feel merry and bright and create goals to make these priorities your main focus throughout the year.
Christy Diefenderfer
Assistant Director of Lower School
