The Supervisor Who Never Stops Helping
Tanya manages a team of caretakers at a senior living community. She started as a caretaker herself and worked her way up through years of steady commitment. Even now, she often steps in to fill in gaps when someone calls out or when a resident needs extra attention. Her team admires her hands-on approach, but she rarely takes breaks and tends to put herself last.
Last month, she promised her teenage son she would attend his school performance. But the day before, a colleague asked if she could cover for a sick employee. She agreed without hesitation, and the performance came and went without her. Her son said it was okay, but she sensed his disappointment and felt the weight of that choice long after.
Since then, she’s been reflecting on how she allocates her time and energy. Her staff relies on her, the residents depend on her, and now her family quietly relies on her too. She’s beginning to question whether she’s trying to be everything to everyone — and whether that expectation is sustainable in the long run.
List all unfamiliar words and phrases.
Review them before paraphrasing the story.
Discuss the following phrases and idioms:
worked her way up
steps in
fill in gaps
calls out
hands-on approach
put herself last
cover for
without hesitation
weight of that choice
allocates her time and energy
everything to everyone
sustainable in the long run
Explain the story in the present tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Explain the story in the past tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Explain the story in the future tense.
Change the entire story into this tense or paraphrase your response.
Your Thoughts:
Why do some people feel responsible for holding everything together at work?
How can repeated small sacrifices affect personal relationships over time?
At what point does being dependable turn into being overextended?
