When I sigh and say to myself, or when I hear one of my peers utter the phrase, “it’s been one of those days,” the refrain from the 1961 Top Ten hit “Mama Said,’ by The Shirelles instantly begins to echo in my head.
“Mama said, there’ll be days like this.
There’ll be days like this Mama said
(Mama said, Mama said)”
“What days,” you might ask. The days when you oversleep, your car won’t start, and/or you leave your wallet at home. The days when, although you “just” did laundry, you can’t seem to find a thing to wear. Or better yet, you get dressed only to spill coffee on yourself, you lose a button, or you damage your clothing in some way. Or, my personal favorite, you get in the car or, even reach your destination, only to discover that you are wearing two different shoes! Everyone has had experiences such as these. They are a part of life. What’s most important is how you respond to these situations. Do you take these events in stride and continue life as usual, as best you can? Or, do you completely "lose it” and fall prey to your circumstances?
Although this song is about the throes of a romance, love lost, and love yet to be found, there is a different, but no less significant, meaning for teachers. “Mama said, there’ll be days like this.” From the perspective of teachers, what days? The days when you want to scream, pull your hair out, or both. Yeah, you know the ones. The days when everything that could go wrong, goes wrong. The days when your technology, whether it’s your laptop, Starboard, and/or any other critical piece of instructional equipment, goes on the fritz. The days when your presentation, handout, foldable, and/or any other essential instructional document will not download or open. The days when the school’s wi-fi is inoperable or the website you intended to use is “not responding.” The days when the well-planned lesson that you “knew” was going to be a success, flops. The days when you question your career choice, your sanity, and possibly your mere existence. These are the days that build our character, our stamina, and our educator fortitude. It is days like these that ensure that we remain humble, focused, and true to the teaching profession.
Take comfort in knowing that days like these are inevitable and that you will survive. Keep in mind, the old teacher’s adage, “monitor and adjust,” and continue striving and moving forward, even when everything around you seems to be falling apart. “Mama Said” urges listeners “not to worry,” and likewise, I implore you, my fellow teachers, to neither fret, nor despair, but instead, delight in the challenges you face, knowing that those obstacles are only temporary, and that you will be better for having gone through them.
There will indeed be days like these days, but it’s definitely okay. Tomorrow is a new day and with it comes renewed opportunities for greatness, grandeur, and student success.
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