Teach in Sickness and in Health?

Catching something from your students is as easy as catching flies with honey, but teachers often feel they can't afford to take time off. Here's why you should!

I am the first to admit that I hate planning for a substitute. Not that I didn't do a good job, because all of my subs left me positive notes about how my instructions were clear and they had plenty to do. That's because I spent and entire day writing the sub plans, hoping that I covered every minute detail that needed attention. My sub plans were often ten pages long! In short, having a day off was more exhausting and required more planning than just showing up at school myself to teach. So it was very tempting to work through every cold, virus, flu or other condition I experienced. Then I learned my lesson, and decided that taking time to heal myself was more important than I thought. Here's what happened.

It was the last day of school before Christmas break, and I felt terrible. Fever, chills, sore throat, exhaustion and just a general sense that my body was retaliating against me. But there were so many special events planned for that day that I didn't feel comfortable leaving the day up to a sub. So I went, with the mantra "just make it through today" repeating in my head. I did make it, and at the end of the day went straight home and collapsed on the couch. I don't even remember driving home...which is scary! The next day, I woke up feeling a little better after a night of feverish sleep. I went off to Walmart to finish my holiday shopping, since Christmas was days away. To make a long story short: I remember everything up until I reached the checkout. I blacked out then, although I somehow managed to load my items on the belt and pay the cashier. Then I pushed my cart towards the exit and collapsed on the rug. I woke up in the ambulance as it rushed me to the hospital. I was diagnosed with strep throat and ordered to take it easy. I spent the next several days doing what I should have done to begin with: taking care of myself.

Whether you are a teacher, school staff member, parent or an adult that works with children in another capacity, don't forget the importance of keeping yourself healthy. If you're sick, rest. Go to the doctor, drink lots of fluids, sleep more, do whatever is required of you so that you can return to your kids in tip-top shape. They rely on you, yes, but on a healthy you, not a sick you. Plus, it's important for kids to see adults taking care of themselves and practising what they preach. If you expect your children to take it easy when they are sick, expect yourself to as well!