Retired Principal Tales

Taking One Day at a Time

Tag: family

  • Those Teen Years

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    As my granddaughters enter the teen years, I pray for my daughter and daughter-in-law. I remember all too well how trying those times are. One minute, they are happy, and they love you so much. The next minute, you are the worst, and they are saying, “You hate me!” —and, worse, “I hate you!” Big…

  • God Help Our Society

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    In all of my years on Earth, I feel that our society is at an all-time low. I worry about this world for my kids and grandchildren. I wish they could grow up in the sixties like I did. Times seemed so innocent on the country farm as a child, but I know the times…

  • First Day

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    The first day of school is just not the same. I miss it. I can’t wait for the kids to come home and tell me about their day. Of course, I will ask them what they learned, and they will say the infamous “nothing”. I always laugh when they tell me that because I know…

  • And Insurance Companies Know Best…NOT

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    After three attempts, my daughter finally had low enough glucose readings to be able to complete the PET scan. The test did not show what we wanted. She still will have to go back for more treatment, even though much progress was made and the size of the areas in question have shrunk a significant…

  • Tough Days

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    Autism is a blessing and a curse all at the same time. I have lived with this over forty years with my daughter before the word “autism” was even a common diagnosis. We have good days most of the time, but today is one of the tough days. Her sugar levels are up which makes…

  • Personalities

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    Being a principal was sometimes challenging due to dealing with different personalities. Knowing how to address each personality was key to being successful. For a comprehensive look at the principalship and how to manage various personalities, I recommend reading Shifting the Monkey by Tod Whitaker. This was THE most helpful book I read during my…

  • Learning Lessons

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    My new pup has many lessons to learn, although she has come a long way from the day she came to live here. Of course, potty training has been a significant focus. Unbelievably, she has picked up on this most critical skill quickly. She only gets up once during the night and alerts me that…

  • “I Do Not Care Club” Retirement Version

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    I have been watching TikTok lately. I enjoy the musings of the We Do Not Care Club, where millions of women going through menopause share what they no longer care about. I certainly can relate as a retired principal, mother, and grandma who has already been through that change of life. I literally laugh aloud…

  • The Life Cycle

    —

    by

    Susan Congrove
    in

    Life is funny and full of surprises. Babies are born and need constant care from their caregivers. They are dependent on others. Gradually, they become adults and grow more independent throughout life. As adults reach their sixties, the life cycle appears to begin to reverse. This may not be true of everyone sixty and older,…