I work split-shift on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In the morning I’m with the preschoolers, have a two-and-a-half hour break, then I run the after school program. I have a terrible habit of not getting all of my stuff out of the preschool room before I leave for my break. So, I often have to run in at the end of the day and get the rest of my stuff.

Yesterday I left my bag and computer in the room, so at about 2:45 p.m. I went to get them. The lead teacher and the kiddos were playing parachute games. I sneaked in, grabbed my stuff, and went to sneak back out. Just as I reached the door I heard, “Miss Val, you’re not going to join us?”

Suddenly, my copies and other prep became my last priority. For the next ten minutes, we played, and we played hard. There were lots of giggles, smiles, and screams. I may have had my break, but that was the break that sustained me for the rest of the day.