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Tonight I will sleep.
I will forget
about school,
papers to grade,
lessons to plan.
I will not wake up
thinking of a plan
to save those students --
that young woman,
that young man.
I will close my eyes and drift away
from the event I forgot to pencil in,
the chores I omitted from the to-do list,
the calls I missed.
I will fall asleep before my prayer is through.
Tonight I will …
--Stacey Carter
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It was a Saturday morning. I was doing small chores around the house, and I had to go to the bathroom. But I kept holding it. I was home alone, so there was no need to wait for a family member to get out of the bathroom. And I wasn't expecting anyone to knock on the door.
I just kept delaying. I threw in a load of laundry. I put some shoes in their boxes in the closest. I even vacuumed a room. I knew I had to go, but I figured I'd get a few things done and then go.
Why was I holding it? What sense did that make?
I realized that I have conditioned myself to not use the bathroom when I need to. I have had years of practicing this awful habit. And I am not alone. I suspect that the majority of the more than 4 million American school teachers are used to holding it, too.
We teachers simply don’t tinkle whenever we need to. Our jobs and workdays are not designed to accommodate it. Some of us hold it for hours. And going number two ... who has time for that? We complain about it to each other. We commiserate. But when it's all said and done, not being able to go to the bathroom when we need to is chalked up as part of the job.
We need to change this. We need to normalize using the bathroom when necessary.
"Holding it" is what we do. We’ve been doing it for years. What can we do about it?
Just go, you say. Sounds logical enough. But it's not that easy. No teacher wants to leave students in a classroom unattended, although I must admit that I've done it a handful of times over the years. Those potty runs are stressful in themselves. I've been in the bathroom thinking, "Please, God, don't let there be a fire alarm or lock-down while I'm away from my kids."
One solution is for teachers to recruit a bathroom buddy who would be willing to check in with them during their planning period and cover their class during a brief bathroom run, if necessary.
Some female teachers preach the virtues of period panties. Others simply wait until they get home to hydrate.
Still others recommend Kegel exercises (contracting and relaxing pelvic muscles) to avoid team Teachers with Bladder Problems. Kegels at the ringing of each bell would be quite the workout!
In advocating for teacher well-being, it’s crucial that educators take an active role in promoting their own health and wellness.
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Joining or forming teacher unions can also provide collective bargaining power to address these issues on a larger scale, ensuring that policies are in place to support teacher health.
Additionally, educators can encourage their colleagues to share their experiences and advocate together, creating a unified voice for the well-being of all teachers.
By working together, teachers can create a culture of care and respect within schools, where their health is seen as just as important as the work they do for their students.
Below are some helpful resources that can provide additional support and guidance for teachers advocating for their health and well-being in the classroom.
Comment below with your ideas on how to deal with having to go on the job. And if you’ve had any experience advocating for self-care in the workplace, please share.
