Back in the Saddle

I don't know if I have posted about this yet on here!  I think maybe somehow in the crazy times of the past few weeks I overlooked it.  The news is very exciting, and I'm anticipating it eagerly, especially after today!

I'm starting full time work again in the fall.  I've been dabbling this year.  I work as a teacher on call in several schools, I am teaching Spanish 12 online, and I also have started an eight week Spanish for Adults type of course.  It's all just dabbling, nothing too concrete.  The online course has been the closest thing to regular teaching that I have done in close to two years.

I love being a teacher.  Working with students makes me come alive.  I really love working with high school students.  I love how they are on the cusp of greatness.  The things they say can totally crack me up, but can also really make me think the very next second.  As a teacher of high school students, you have this amazing opportunity to catch a glimpse, just a peek, of the amazing adult that they are about to become.  I love the conversations that I have with them.  I really enjoy seeing them finally have the light come on for that thing they just couldn't get.  Teaching is such a rewarding career.

I enjoy building relationships with staff.  I love the give and take that comes between the staff of a school, especially a small one.  There is such a wonderful feeling of helpfulness and comaraderie.  We are in this together!  We love to help one another, joke with one another, and just be there for each other.  It's enjoyable to hear how your colleague's family is, what funny thing so and so's son did last night.  It's just a joy. 

I'm going to be part of all of this again next year.  The last two years have been spent doing exactly what I should be doing, taking care of my son first and foremost.  Working as a substitute has really given me flexibility to be there for my son when he needs me.  It has given us numerous chances to visit and be with my family.  (Rusty has already flown five times and he's not even two!)  It has allowed me to form an amazing bond with my sweet boy and he is now comfortable in our relationship.  These days, when we leave him somewhere new, he is usually happy to be with the other kids.  He used to cry when we dropped him off at church nursery, now he usually just smiles and runs to his favorite toy.  He is confident in our relationship, and that brings me joy.  It also tells me he is ready for more.

Starting in September, I will be working for a nearby school teaching English and many other great subjects.  What I won't be teaching?  Spanish.  That's a change!  My entire career for the last five years has been nothing but Spanish.  I love the language, but I'm also really looking forward to getting back to my first love, which was English.  I was an English major in university and loved teaching it to my students years ago.  I can't wait to open their eyes to the different literature that I love so much.  I look forward to the fun projects we will do.  I can't wait to have that give and take in the classroom again.  Today I was at the school and discussing next year with another teacher.  I have to admit, my heart leapt a little bit at realizing that I get to be a part of a staff again!

I feel this excitement because I know Rusty will be okay.  We think we have already found a daycare for him, and I think it is one in which he will thrive.  I love the staff, they are all so sweet and they all are incredibly qualified.  They have a great routine for the day, and routine is something that Rusty loves!  He loves it so much that the other night when I didn't take him to his BEDROOM to take off his clothes for his bath and took them off in the living room instead he freaked!  We had to take him to his bedroom, put him on his change table, and let him throw his clothes into his basket.  I think that the art, preschoolish routine will be so great for him.  I also love that teaching, as a career, allows more time with family than other jobs might.

Yep, I will be back in the saddle again!  I can't wait to teach and to experience managing my own classroom again.  Check back in the fall, I'm sure I will have some funny stories to tell!