I was recently part of a very large group that was collectively contributing to a picnic that would feed around 75 people. Emails were flying fast and furious with people identifying that they were going to make brownies, pasta salad, mac 'n cheese, etc. There was one email that stood out. It said,
"Life is crazy right now I can't make anything. Let me know if you need me to buy something."
I thought "Wow! How amazing that this woman expressed her true situation without apology," especially in a culture where it is common to keep doing and going as if one has unlimited reserves of emotional and physical energy.
As you might guess, there was an abundance of food -- we could have fed twice the number planned -- and my sense was that there were others who might have preferred to prepare something less elaborate or who would have been relieved to have chosen to pick something up at the store.
So the next time that "Life is crazy right now," consider what you might choose not to do.
All the best in your relationship with your student, -Kay
