IT'S OK TO NOT BE OK
Check on single people. They’re not ok.
Check on people with kids at home. They’re not ok.
Check on extroverts. They’re not ok.
Check on introverts. They’re not ok. This moment is literally what they were built for…but everyone else is home with them!
In all seriousness, I hope you’re all doing ok in the midst of this storm. I felt compelled to write this because there are days when I’m not ok. As a leader, I struggle because I can’t be face-to-face with my team. I’m a relational leader and I love to find connections with my staff. I love to walk by their desks and chat…on my way to the snack drawer. I love hearing about what they did over the weekend, how their pets or kids are doing, or an update on a home project. I can’t get that type of authentic connection or help keep morale up over Zoom. I try, but I miss that human connection with my brilliant and witty staff that I lovingly dubbed my STEM Squad.
As a working mom, I’m not ok. I am not in the running for the Mom of the Year Award. I’m working while my 8th grader is trying to do his continued learning online. At the beginning of the quarantine, we had a schedule and I checked his work religiously. I even fed him breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. That schedule lasted two whole days. Almost 3 months later, I’m pretty “meh” about schedules. If my son gets up before 11 am on school days, I count that as a win. Hot pockets are now a gourmet meal in Mom’s Cafeteria, but always with a portion of fruit (so I feel better about myself). During the five minute window between Zoom meetings I’m running to the bathroom yelling, “Did you do any school today? What did you eat? Please eat more than chips! I love you, but I have another call.” I honestly don’t know if my kid actually showers. I’m so lucky he loves me.
BUT…my kid is alive and my organization is still doing well during a pretty trying time in our history. So, I’m ok right now with not being ok. I’m ok with having great days and I’m ok with having “meh” days. As we navigate this pandemic, it’s ok for you to sit on the couch and watch every show available on Netflix. And, it’s ok when you have those days where you’re crushing your goals. I was pretty happy to finish planting my vegetable garden and then I spent the next four days watching every movie the Hallmark Channel ever made.
This is not my new normal. It’s a pandemic kind of day. And, I’m ok with not being ok.
@CEOARJ
“Empowered by ancestral hustle and warrior soul.”
*All statements expressed in this blog are my personal views and not a representation of Washington STEM.
