Dating Chronicles: Educators Date Too Vol.1
Can Educators Have Fulfilling Love Lives?
I let out a sigh of relief when I noticed that it’s time to make the finishing touches on my white board so I’m all set for tomorrow!
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2021
Objective: Students will be able to identify and explain the core principles of the United States government.
Once I finish writing, I walk toward my classroom door and pass my desk with two sets of copies, my students’ class work handout, and their Unit 2 Study sheet. I run into my main classroom where I confirm my water bottle and clip board with tomorrow’s lesson notes are right where I’ll need them in the morning.
I look up at the clock above my classroom door and just as I suspected, the bell rings. It’s finally 3:50PM. The hallways begin to flood with footsteps and thunderous voices. I know I have to move quickly. I kick off my sparkly gray flats, aka my “teacher shoes” and shove them into my desk drawer. I grab my chestnut UGG boots from my classroom closet and hurriedly slip my feet into them. I rush to the threshold of my classroom doorway, Teacher bag in hand, ready to reclaim my “ME TIME” on this Wednesday afternoon.
I make a mad dash for the elevator in an attempt to dodge the droves of students in the hallway. For a moment I imagine that I’m hearing a student’s voice when I realize, this is no imagination.
“Miss! Miss! I was just looking for you!” a teenage voice exclaims making their way toward my classroom. “Remember, I tried to ask you to change my quiz grade!” At this moment I am stunned that somehow, some way our students always find us. I can count on a student to track me down in the hallway before I can count on them to submit their homework in time!
I swing around, “What am I going to say to you?” I inquire.
They roll their eyes to repeat the same mantra they’ve heard in my class many times; “Email you a picture and — ” I interrupt them. “And I’ll change the grade for you in the morning! Enjoy your afternoon, and make safe choices!” I yell behind me, already continuing to make my way toward the elevators.
Before I know it I am out of the elevator and rushing into my apartment. I drop my teacher bag and run straight for the bathroom. Luckily my “date shirt” and my favorite ripped jeans that I wear, specifically for the winter, met me there. I put on my signature shimmery gold makeup look and slicked my hair into a low bun, I am ready. I check my phone and notice two things. The time is 4:47PM and I received a text message: “Are you ready for your Uber? I’m on my way out the door.” I text back “Yes! See you soon!” I slip into my thigh high boots and begin a short walk to my designated Uber meet up spot. I receive a screenshot of the Uber cars information, and put on my AirPods to mentally “check-in” to this next phase in my day! What’s Luv? (feat. Ja-Rule & Ashanti) is the exact throwback song that I need to lull me into my evening. A White 2018 Honda Civic that matches the description in the Uber screenshot I was sent pulls up in front of me. The driver and I are able to confirm my destination, Escapology. An Escape Room sounds like an interesting third date suggestion, which is why I agreed!
On this particular evening I had a lovely date. This was especially obvious as we were actually able to work together and escape in time! Shocking, I know and he even invited me for drinks and appetizers afterward. I noticed by the time we’d arrive at drinks it would be 8PM and because I already had an evening appointment with Grey’s Anatomy Season 5 Reruns on Netflix, I declined and assured him I may have time coming up early next week; with a smile of course.
My enjoying my date this Wednesday evening, while also making time to pour into myself is not the central part of this story; but how did I get there? More importantly, how can you do such things for yourself? I’ll summarize this in one word; intention.
My intention is the reason I had pre-chosen my date outfit, and already planned my hairstyle and makeup look all before getting home from work! I set intentional boundaries with my students that have already been reinforced in the classroom so as to not get wrapped up in doing work when I had my own plans. Being intentional about date logistics and implementing workplace boundaries are two fundamental steps educators must make when deciding it’s time to prioritize their love life.
It’s widely believed that luck is the most important factor when it comes to dating for most people, and especially for educators; but I beg to differ! Was there a pinch of luck in my story? Maybe! I was lucky to have the last period of the school day as a prep so I can complete the necessary tasks to finalize the following day a bit more smoothly. My commute to and from work is also quite short, which definitely came in handy timing-wise! But much more than luck, my intention is what allowed me to fully enjoy my evening, and have my love life AND a fulfilling career as an educator.
The romance that you see for your future is out there, and it is your responsibility to claim it. Intentionally using boundaries to create space for dating, and pre-planning for those necessary and seemingly tedious logistics is the perfect way to open yourself up to fulfilling dating experiences.
Follow @DatingForEducators on Instagram for specific and actionable tips to jumpstart this journey!
