The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it. October 19, 2007
This? Has not been my best week.
I am in the middle of two fairly serious conflicts at work, both with kids and their parents. This is my first real experience with this kind of thing. I’ve always been a volunteer, so the final resolution always came from the main youth person. Now I am the main youth person. And I am struggling.
I wish I could walk around with a sign around my neck that says, “I REALLY ONLY HALFWAY KNOW WHAT I’M DOING. PLEASE BE PATIENT.”
I’m just overwhelmed. I want to fix the problems and make changes and do it right. But I am struggling with my desires to yell at people and do things my own way just to show them I can. Even though I know it’s got to be a collaboration. Even though I am losing confidence in the idea that I am able to do it at all.
At least when I had crazy stress at Reba, in the back of my head I knew it was over things that didn’t really really matter. But this stuff? Matters. How do I balance the teaching with the logistics with the relationship building with the church politics with the overbearing parents with the event planning with the big issues with the volunteer recruiting with the discipling? I have no idea.
![[caedmonscall.net]](http://rmfo-blogs.com/images/ccneticon.jpg "The quasi-official fan site of Caedmon’s Call.")
![[derekwebb.net]](http://rmfo-blogs.com/images/dwneticon.jpg "The quasi-official fan site of Derek Webb")
![[rocksmyfaceoff.net] Forum](http://rmfo-blogs.com/images/forumicon.jpg "The Web forum of the [rocksmyfaceoff.net] community.")
Being the daughter of a high school pastor, I know too well the demands of your position, and I’m sorry that you’re having a hard time balancing them… I can’t imagine how hard that must be.. especially when you’re working for a CHURCH and are supposed to be a spiritual role model… it’s tough.
I’d say don’t let parent overwhelm or bully you, but try to weigh their concerns objectively. If they have a valid point, work with it. If they don’t have a valid point, then don’t let them change the way you do things. I’ve seen how badly that can turn out.
Thanks, y’all. It’s just the learning curve of the job and trying to figure out how to deal with different personalities. It helps to put my complaints out in the universe.