Rest? Rest? What is this rest of which you speak?
That’s how I feel often! There is no rest for the weary, and I am very weary!
I learned of a twenty-five-year study earlier this month that showed that at least seven hours of sleep are needed a night to rid the brain of toxins and set the memories of the day. Without it, toxins remain (which might explain dementia) and memories are lost. I’ve been endeavoring to get at least seven hours of sleep now. That’s a good start of rest.
How important must rest be for God Himself to make getting rest a commandment?! That was a good idea because workaholics like myself would feel guilty every time we weren’t busily working. This gives us a reason for an occasional break!
I feel you shaking your head right now. I haven’t always been this busy, not do I plan to stay this busy. It’s a season through which every business owner goes while building the business. Already I am feeling relief in some areas. I have been able to attend two choir concerts without working even one bit of them. I’ve just come and enjoyed. And they both were great!
I can think of no better occupation than teaching for getting the required rest. Sure, we run like a jack rabbit right up till the last day of school. But then, we get at least a couple of months to plan leisurely our next ten months of running like a jack rabbit. It is a mandatory rest break, and teachers absolutely need it. We teachers could get so much more done if students would just stay home, but that kind of defeats the purpose! So, we get massive amounts done during the summer. Only, we’re watching television while we do it, or we’re working at the school but without the constant “Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Smith.” Getting to actually plan ahead and be caught up on grading is probably my favorite rest there is. There’s an accomplished feeling in being “done.”
I feel sorry for the people who work year-round. I guess that’s where “casual Fridays” came from. The weekend is great, but there is a better rest that comes from knowing all of your ducks are in a row at the end of the week before you come back to work on Monday. Casual Fridays could almost be considered a necessary-must for having good rest.
Your kids need rest, too. I can understand the parent who allows his child to stay up later on the weekends. What I don’t understand is parents who allow their teens to go nocturnal all summer. Do you know how long it takes to get them back on the correct schedule? I can tell my recently nocturnal teens because they are asleep on the couches and chairs in the lobby at all breaks!
Be careful that you don’t plan so much on vacations, as well, that your kids come back and need Monday off to rest from being so busy. We teachers always shake our heads at that one. You need a vacation from your vacation? Give me a break.
It is important that we teach our children to value stillness. Give them a place outside to read, make a garden and seat for them to watch insects and such. Designate one room in the house in which any family member can go for up to 30 minutes and have complete silence and no interruptions. There are so many ways to practice and to teach our kids rest.
Speaking of which, this is our last TriOpinion entry for this school year. We will be back about August 8. Have a restful summer!
- Michelle