The Workplace Part 1

After I was diagnosed, I decided to take a week off of work. Obviously, I just needed some time. The administrators at my school let the staff members know what was going on - I didn't have the strength to deal with everyone else's emotions when I returned. Delivering the news was a difficult thing to do for both my principal and my assistant principal. I will always be grateful to them for making sure I would return to a somewhat normal environment. Fortunately, it was not normal.

The first day I returned was very difficult. It was extremely hard for me not to mess with people. I was at a point where I was ready to joke around, but I knew they weren’t. The staff had been told not to bring up any questions or offer any extra support until after the kids had gone home. Their actions followed directions, but their eyes did not. They gave me that look that said “You’re sick and it breaks my heart”. I had an extremely difficult time keeping myself from looking at them and saying “Omg, are you okay? Who died!?”

That would have been HILARIOUS for me- but I knew that I couldn’t do that to them first day back. So instead I made my usual dad jokes, laughed, and stayed positive. I hope it helped.

My work family needs me to be strong sometimes. Little do they know, the care and support they show gives me the strength that we all need. It’s a beautiful cycle.