Labor Pains and Waiting

When Mary was pregnant with our first child, we attended the childbirth classes offered by the hospital.  Part of the philosophy was that the husband and wife team were “sharing” the birth experience.  Are you kidding me?  It’s this simple – fellas, unless you are passing a bowling ball or pulling your lip over your head, then it is best to just shut up!  Can I get an “Amen” ladies?   Being a Dad for the first time is surreal.  In a few months, I will be a Grandpa for the first time and this feeling of anticipation for this baby boy is way cool.  I remember that August day in 1983when Andy was born like it was yesterday.  At one point, I believed that three guys with crowns would show up at my door and say, “We saw a star dude.”  As I watched my wife go through labor, I just wanted it to stop for her because of the obvious pain she was experiencing. I did my best to provide comfort, but let’s face it; the pain is more likely to win out.  Labor has no time limits (unless the Doc has plans) and you really don’t know what time your child will be brought into this world. It’s a waiting game. A good representation of our family was in the waiting room waiting for a report. The perspective is on waiting and the waiting room.  Wrong perspective.  It should be on the delivery and the delivery room.

It’s similar with teaching a student or students that just don’t seem to be getting it. The results have not been delivered to the waiting room.  The perspective is on the wrong location.  You have worked hard.  You have tried to speed it up. You have put a time limit on it.  It just isn’t happening. Again, the perspective is on the wrong location. Some “deliveries” are fast and labor is quick and dare I write, easy.  Other deliveries have a long labor; it may be painful and you just wish it would end. Here’s the truth – some kids will take longer than 180 days to get it.  Someone, somewhere and somehow imposed the 180 school day minimum on public education and we are supposed to get it all in in that time frame = the waiting room. The perspective is in the wrong place.   The perspective should be on “delivering” the educational gains; not the place where it occurs or when it needs to be done.   The “baby” will get delivered. Sometimes it takes more time. But when it does, it will take a team of surgeons to remove your smile.  Keep laboring.

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The Browns host the Denver Broncos on the shores of Lake Erie this weekend.  We have a large contingent heading to Cleveland for the weekend as we take part in “Big Jack Tailgate Crazy 8”.  I am hoping for a victory in Mr. B’s honor.