Well, it has been an interesting, challenging and thought provoking few weeks, some of which I feel is worth sharing with you! During my short stay in hospital earlier this month, I met three fascinating people, each of whom taught me something very different but equally important. One of these people was a medics, the other two were fellow patients.
The first was a junior doctor who tore onto the ward as if he was just about to miss the closing doors of the underground train. His first words to me, without looking at me at all, were, "We must get these forms filled in quickly, then you will be ready for theatre." I said nothing but waited for him to shuffle his papers for a couple of minutes, talk to himself a little and then look at me; it was here I smiled at him and simply said "Hello". At which point he breathed and said "Well I got that all wrong, didn't?" An interesting conversation resulted as he explained to me the pressure he felt under to achieve and get to the top to be 'just like his brother'. I have to admit that I said very little as this highly charged young man shared is fear of failure. My reply to him was very simple..."You have to be true to yourself and never try to be what others want you to be." That too was when I first consciously thought of the children at school feeling a huge sense of deeply wanting that for them too!
Secondly I met two amazing ladies who would never consider themselves as such, Rosie and Clare. Rosie was an older lady who had been in hospital since August, following several surgical procedures following the loss of her lower leg in the summer. I first spoke to her as she came round the ward offering us cakes she had made as part of her very slow rehabilitation. Since the loss of her leg, this one time headteacher told me how her confidence had completely gone and the most difficult thing she was finding was to work hard to restore the 'tiger that had helped her transform schools'. Daily I saw her struggle to get up, dressed and ready to face the day. Tears of determination could be quietly heard as the once simple things had become a huge challenge. She was having to re-learn things all over again and it was taking genuine determination. So back to school. Often learning new things can be really difficult and as part of our journey to becoming an outstanding school, I want the children to learn to be determined as they try out new things, new learning and new ways of working. Giving up at the first hurdle never really got anyone anywhere!
Clare was waiting for similar surgery to Rosie's, having just two weeks before been told of the need to lose her right leg at the age of 24 and just 3 weeks after her wedding to Rob. "Well life will be a bit different from now", Clare said with an infectious grin. "I am so lucky to have learnt early in my life, to relish, celebrate and enjoy every day and every opportunity I will be given." And 'yes' I would love to see that quality in our children too!
Since being home, getting mobile again is proving to be a real struggle and far from a 'breeze'. My legs appears to be defiant in refusing to follow the instructions from the brain, but I am sure we will get there. There is much to get back to and enjoy in the new year, all of which I will share with you in my next blog, before the end of term which will, I assure you, be entirely school focused!
Many thanks for all your very welcome good wishes
Joy Waelend
