Scott and I were talking with Scott H at lunch today and somehow the conversation came around to what he wanted to be when he grew up.  When he was three…it was a trashman….at five it was a superhero….at seven it was a race car driver.  Today he said he doesn’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer…or the president…..he wants to be a teacher!  I told him that was exactly what I wanted to be at his age…to which he said…”Uh, Mom, you are a teacher”.  DUH….he’s right!  I took the long way here, but I am doing what I wanted to do for most of my life…and I am loving it!

     It was a long road to get here, but I am here.  Maybe not exactly the way that I wanted to…I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher….and maybe I am not a certified one…but I am a teacher nonetheless.  Our school calls all the staff, full and part time, teachers.  I am a part of my class just as the two full time teachers are.  My name goes on all the paperwork sent home, my “Duck” picture is in the school bus on the wall in our room, my birthdate is hung on the wall with all the other “Ducklings”….I am a teacher!  

     From the time I was small I wanted to be a nurse or a teacher…my Gran was a nurse and I loved taking care of people too so I thought it would be a good fit for me too  As I grew, I decided that teaching was what I wanted to do with my life.  When I registered in college, that was what I planned on majoring in…then during orientation, they talked about Social Work and I thought that would be fun.  The more I thought about it though, I decided that wasn’t for me, I was way too emotional to handle that job…seeing kids in situations that they shouldn’t be in would have totally had me burnt out in no time.  So it was back to wanting to teach.  Then I was stupid and dropped out of college after a year and a half.  After that came marriage and kids and my wants got pushed aside to raise the kids and put food on the table.

     I worked so many years in retail…a job I despised.  I did my job, and did it well, but I hated it.  When the opportunity to work in the school lunchroom (a second job for me) I jumped at it.  It was a few hours a day, my kids went to school there, and since it was working with kids, I knew I would enjoy it.  It was easy work for the extra money.  After a few years of working both jobs, the store I worked in closed down and I just had the job at the school.  I went to night school to learn Medical Coding but no one would hire anyone with no experience, even though I aced my courses.  I stayed with the school though and I gradually worked my way up to Food Service Director for the school district and stayed there until I became separated from my ex and my older kids were in middle school and high school.  I left when I was moving to live with Scott and was pregnant with Scott H.  By then I was sick and tired of the politics of small town schools (my ex worked there too and even though we kept our personal stuff out of work, the administration wouldn’t) and burnt out on all the crap we had to take from the parents.     

     I was glad to stay home with Scott H and Katie (who was in 6th grade at the time and lived with Scott and I)  but once we moved here to Austin and all I had was Scott H to care for, I got bored.  Between Scott’s traveling and then Scott H going to school, I needed something to do with my days so I started volunteering for whatever I could at the school and church.  Getting to know people opened some doors and when an opening in the nursery came up for someone to work a couple of mornings a week, I grabbed it.  That lead to the Sunday morning nursery spot which in turn lead to the afterschool care spot.  By then I was actively seeking a spot in the preschool, but there were others that had more pull than I did.  I was so glad though when the director came to me to see if I wanted the afternoon spot in the new tods class that was starting in January.  Did I?????????  I was doing backflips!  I spent most of the spring semester feeling like I was just the “babysitter” in the afternoons.  I did the clean up of the room, sanitized things, and cared for the kids that stayed until 6.  I never felt like a “teacher”.  Both of the full time teachers always told me that I was the kids’ teacher too and the parents all gave me thank you gifts and cards at the end of the year…but it never felt that way.  My name was never on anything that went home to the parents (we do a weekly newletter in which each class recaps the week and there are upcoming events listed)  and my name wasn’t included in anything that was on the walls in the classroom so I felt like I wasn’t really a teacher.       

     I subbed in so many classes last spring and then this summer I got the be the Co-teacher in the one three year old class.  I got to be included in things that pertained to the class and the lead teacher asked me for my input.  I felt a little more like a teacher, but still not quite there yet.  Being included in the retreat last month made me feel more like I belonged..but the main thing has been that I am included in everything this year.  My name has been on the newsletters, I was there as a teacher the first day of school as well as on Back to School night, the parents know who I am and that I too, teach their kids.  

               I am a teacher!!!  I can’t believe it took my 9 year old son to point it out to me.  

     Speaking of that 9 year old son…he had his birthday last weekend.  It was fun..although not exactly what we’d planned. I spent Friday night in the bathroom, unsure of which end needed to use the toilet more.  Not fun…let me tell you.  His party was at 11 Saturday morning and I still felt like crap…and tired from no sleep and Scott’s brother and family were coming to stay overnight….which was a big change in plans.  We’d invited 12 boys to his party….4 were coming (it was 6 but two had to cancel at the last minute)  4 couldn’t and 4 never responded.  Since we’d reserved space for 12…Scott figured he would call his brother to see if they wanted to come Saturday and stay overnight instead of driving up Sunday as planned.  We didn’t invite them for the friends party at the beginning since we figured they were younger and Scott H would ignore them when his friends were there.  They ended up coming to the party though and it worked out fine.  They older two got to do the Bumper Boats with Scott H and his friends and they loved it.  Our youngest nephew got to use his free ticket for the train ride and was happy as a clam!  

      Since they would be there early, I needed to finish my cleaning before we went to the party.  I planned to do most of it Friday night and then finish it up Saturday after the party, but that plan was KO’ed which meant I had to do it Saturday morning.  I did what had to be done (My dear hubby had already done some of it..at least what he KNEW I wanted done…he is so sweet) and the rest I decided to let go and not stress over it.  Usually I am not the most relaxed person when people are coming to my home.  I panic over everything being perfect..which you know it never is..so I really never enjoy myself.  This time, I sat back and let things happen as they would…and it was so nice.  Our niece and nephews are so rowdy….three of them aging from almost 3, almost 6, to almost 8. My older kids were pretty much the same way when they were all young, but  we are used to Scott H..who we do not think of as quiet…but it is just him and I realized this weekend, he is definitely quiet!     

     He wasn’t this weekend though (it was great seeing him have so much fun with his cousins) and all the kids were racing through the house, remote control cars, trucks and robots were racing through the house..some shooting things..some making noises, legos were strewn from one end of the house to the other along with matchbox cars and Gameboy games….but I just let it all go (unless it was something dangerous or breakable..but then my sister or brother in law spoke up too).  Poor Peaches was a nervous wreck…she slept for two days after they left…but she was good for not being around that sort of thing.  I even was mostly laid back at Scott H’s party too.  Again..I normally stress about it..this time I just talked to the other moms and my sister in law, let the boys have fun..and handed out the game tokens until they were gone.  I ended up taking off work Sunday so we could sleep in a little and Scott took Scott H to Sunday School roundup.  I cooked breakfast tacos for everyone and let my brother and sister in law sleep in a bit too.  They were up before our breakfast was done (I’d even fed the kids first so we could eat in peace) cooking.  All in all it was a great weekend and I was so proud of myself for not stressing about anything at all.     

     I downloaded this PhotoShow thing from Road Runner and had a blast making a slideshow of the pics.  Hopefully the link thing will work and y’all can see it.     Here it is!!   

      With that. I am going to get off here and get some things done around here. Welcome to the new mailing list members!!   Have a good one Y’all!