Tidying Up My Life

I once again find myself in the midst of tidying up my work life. 

Five years ago I threw a curve in my previously straight-lined career trajectory. I made the decision to step down from my school administration job and return to the classroom.

A few years earlier, with a young baby at home, I’d accepted a promotion at work. I poured myself into my work, with the hopes of advancing in my career and finding fulfillment and success. The majority of my job responsibilities were reactive. The process of anticipating when or where the next problem would occur left me in an anxious spiral, and mentally and emotionally drained. For several years I’d held on to hope that the job would get better, or I would get better at the job. But it didn’t happen

After standing on the sidewalk while walking to work and contemplating whether it would be better to just walk into traffic than to confront the pain that I felt, I got help. Something had to change. 

I had to admit to family, friends, and colleagues that I was struggling. I entered therapy, and sat down with my therapist every Monday afternoon for the next three years. I unpacked my stream of thoughts and feelings. I realized that what at first had felt like a huge admission of failure, was in turn a gentle curve that led me towards greater change in my life. (Here’s more about that time in my life.)

What’s Next: Four Days

This June, I’m finishing up my 15th year of working in schools. It’s been 5 years back in the classroom since stepping down from my school administration job. In January of this school year I started negotiations with my principal and school to reduce my teaching load from five full days down to four full days (with a reduction to 80% pay as well). As I close out the school year, I am pleased to share that I have officially been approved to teach for four days next school year.

In many ways, I’m throwing another gentle curve into my career trajectory. But this time, there’s less fear and more excitement. 

Next school year is the first time my school administrators have allowed teachers the option of a reduced teaching load. My request for a reduced schedule came from a desire to have more time to care for my family and for myself, and also to make more space for writing and “Tidy Dad”. 

For the past four years, Emily and I have been working together on “Tidy Dad.” I love sharing our family’s journey with tidy, simple, joyful living, and my perspective on life as a modern father. But with “Tidy Dad” also comes work. It is work that both Emily and I love, but even work that you enjoy takes time. With a full-time job, that time for me has been found in the early mornings, late evenings, and on the weekends.

A “Tidy Dad” Book?

Since I was a kid, I’ve always enjoyed writing. I’ve recently submitted a “Tidy Dad” book proposal to my literary agents, who will in turn try to sell it to publishers this summer. It is a 65-page book proposal, complete with an introduction, overview, three sample chapters, and an annotated table of contents.

Getting a book published is difficult, and it’s a long and slow process. It has felt like a long and slow process just to get to the point of completing the book proposal. If the book proposal is sold, and a publisher wants me to write an entire book, I’ll need the time next school year to make that happen. 

A New Season

But whether the book proposal gets sold or not, having a reduced schedule for next school year is really important to me. All three girls will be in school together for the first time. That still feels so incredibly strange to say. Mabel will be in 3rd grade, Matilda will be in 1st grade, and Margaret will start 3K which is FREE to families in New York City.  

Emily and I are closing out an incredibly exhausting season of working while having babies, toddlers, and children who are at home full-time. In a way, we are both on a journey to tidy up our lives as we enter this new phase. We’re excited to see what this next year will look like for our family.

Four days. Just writing that feels liberating. 

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