Last Friday, as school was letting out for winter break, one of Kathryn’s teachers sent out an email reminding students and parents about an assignment she’d given them to do over the break.

I wanted to write back:

Dear Teacher,

Thanks for the note. I’m not making Kathryn do this assignment. I’m hoping she does nothing over the break but hang out, rest and enjoy the time off from the constant pressure of school.  I hope the same for you. I hope you don’t pick up anything to grade or do any planning. Hang out, rest and enjoy your time off.

Love,

Ellen

Obviously I didn’t send any note and Kathryn will do the assignment on her own. I’m not going to ask about it. I sincerely believe that no teacher should give homework over the break. It’s a time kids will be traveling or spending time with family. They need a break. After all, there seem to be assignments almost every weekend. Can’t we have one week where the kids get a chance to be a kid? Is that too much to ask? And before my teacher friends get offended, I truly wish the same for you. A break. Just like what the school calendar says, a winter break. You need it too, right?

With only one more year before Kathryn is out of high school, I won’t be getting all crazy  and storming the School Board or anything, but, it would be nice if as a collective group of adults who care about the kids, we thought more about balance in their lives instead of always pushing them. Cause just like us adults, kids are a lot more lovable when they aren’t stressed to the maxed or overworked. Practicing work/life balance – that’s an assignment I can agree with working on over break.