Saturday, September 18, 2010
A new morning! A surprise!
We woke up this morning, almost 10am (which was great because I got 4 1/2 hours of sleep and worked 9 hours yesterday), to Jocelyn calling for me and coming into bed with me & Evvie (whom I just had nursed next to me). Then, my guitar-practicing husband immediately got Jocelyn dressed and took her to a "surprise" place for an errand, leaving me to nurse (AGAIN!) my six week old. He also told me not to make any coffee. How cute. And sweet.
Yesterday, I substitute taught for the music teacher that will be leaving the job I was interviewed for. Apparently, I did well, because the principal came in after class and said "we want you." I was also told that one of the paras that was in class with me (the teachers plan during music, but the paras stay with the classes and continue to help their students, not to mention me) told the principal, "we need her. She was wonderful." That was the Preschool para, too, and I thought I was off my game when I taught them, mostly because I didn't understand (like?) the lesson, but also because it was right after lunch and I was a little unprepared compared to the morning lessons.
Anyway, I was offered the job. Not much money... less than what Charlie makes serving two nights a week, probably, or about the same. But I'm only gone 3 days instead of 5, I'm creating a band program, and I'm teaching 10 grade levels (preK-8th). All good things. I'm also using the degree I spent 4 1/2 years of my life getting (not even including the year and a half I was at a different college for philosophy), and I'm keeping my chops up, so to speak, in the teaching arena. I was worried if I didn't use my knowledge and skills soon, it would be for naught and I'd have to do more training and classes to get back up there; not to mention I would be unmarketable. (The "why haven't you been working?" factor for employers.)
I think I will take it. There are definite benefits... but there are some drawbacks as well. However, Charlie would probably just tell me I'm a little nervous about it, or scared, and that's why I'm not saying "yes" immediately. Which is true! But they are valid points, these drawbacks, so I want to consider them. For instance, what to do with the 7th graders. Ayayay.
I had been worried about how Evvie would deal with not nursing during the day, and she was more than fine. I was worried Jocie would be sad about mama not being home all day. She didn't want me to pick her up from grandma's! It was great that my family was so "supportive" in their own way of my returning to work. I just wish it could wait a couple of weeks. Evvie is still only 6 weeks old!! I wanted to stay home with her a little while longer... *sigh*
-Meredith
Yesterday, I substitute taught for the music teacher that will be leaving the job I was interviewed for. Apparently, I did well, because the principal came in after class and said "we want you." I was also told that one of the paras that was in class with me (the teachers plan during music, but the paras stay with the classes and continue to help their students, not to mention me) told the principal, "we need her. She was wonderful." That was the Preschool para, too, and I thought I was off my game when I taught them, mostly because I didn't understand (like?) the lesson, but also because it was right after lunch and I was a little unprepared compared to the morning lessons.
Anyway, I was offered the job. Not much money... less than what Charlie makes serving two nights a week, probably, or about the same. But I'm only gone 3 days instead of 5, I'm creating a band program, and I'm teaching 10 grade levels (preK-8th). All good things. I'm also using the degree I spent 4 1/2 years of my life getting (not even including the year and a half I was at a different college for philosophy), and I'm keeping my chops up, so to speak, in the teaching arena. I was worried if I didn't use my knowledge and skills soon, it would be for naught and I'd have to do more training and classes to get back up there; not to mention I would be unmarketable. (The "why haven't you been working?" factor for employers.)
I think I will take it. There are definite benefits... but there are some drawbacks as well. However, Charlie would probably just tell me I'm a little nervous about it, or scared, and that's why I'm not saying "yes" immediately. Which is true! But they are valid points, these drawbacks, so I want to consider them. For instance, what to do with the 7th graders. Ayayay.
I had been worried about how Evvie would deal with not nursing during the day, and she was more than fine. I was worried Jocie would be sad about mama not being home all day. She didn't want me to pick her up from grandma's! It was great that my family was so "supportive" in their own way of my returning to work. I just wish it could wait a couple of weeks. Evvie is still only 6 weeks old!! I wanted to stay home with her a little while longer... *sigh*
-Meredith
Thursday, September 16, 2010
job possibilities... a change
I had my second interview for a teaching job yesterday, and I think it went quite well! I'd be gone 3 days a week, teaching general/vocal music two days a week, PreK-8th grade, and one day teaching violin, guitar, and band instruments. It's going to be hard to figure out what to do with the kids. Charlie will pretty much be around whenever Jocelyn is, but Evelyn is a different story. We don't have any childcare set up for her. What we need is Tuesday morning, from 7:00 to noon, and Thursday from about 9 until 11:30 or noon, then Fridays I won't be off duty until 4:00, and he has to be at work by then, so ... it'd be just an hour or so. It would be a pain in the butt to put her into a daycare that isn't the same as Jocelyn's preschool, but in the infant room there, you're supposed to pay for full time or not at all... full time infant care is almost $1,000 a month, defeating the main purpose of the job.
So we're trying to figure out if we can do this. The school actually called and asked me to sub for their music teacher tomorrow... but I don't know if I can! We don't know what to do with the kids for that extra hour or so.
This will be a big change for many reasons. I won't be home to do a lot of the "house" work... Charlie will be doing some of this, making lunches etc. Also, I won't be home to breastfeed Evelyn... and will most likely not have much time for pumping during the day, which means that the days I am home, I will still not be able to breastfeed exclusively any longer. It really is more convenient to just pop down in a chair with her when she's hungry, and she really enjoys the one-on-one cuddle time... it's a good way to get her to calm her fussiness down, even if she's not completely hungry.
Finally, I'll be getting up at 6 or so 3 days a week, which means I'll want to get up before 8 every day, which is fine, but our entire house's schedule starts much later than that, typically. Even Evelyn deep sleeps better in the a.m. than she does before 1 in the morning. She usually has a deep sleep from about 6:30 to about 9:00 or 9:30.
I know, these are all simple things that will possibly be changing... but it makes a big difference to the family, and will be a big adjustment. Also, for Jocelyn, who is now used to having "mama" around all the time when she's not at preschool... it will most likely be a hard transition. Not to mention the baby, who is very rarely away from me period up to this point.
So, that's the hubub in this fam!! Here are some pictures, lol:
So we're trying to figure out if we can do this. The school actually called and asked me to sub for their music teacher tomorrow... but I don't know if I can! We don't know what to do with the kids for that extra hour or so.
This will be a big change for many reasons. I won't be home to do a lot of the "house" work... Charlie will be doing some of this, making lunches etc. Also, I won't be home to breastfeed Evelyn... and will most likely not have much time for pumping during the day, which means that the days I am home, I will still not be able to breastfeed exclusively any longer. It really is more convenient to just pop down in a chair with her when she's hungry, and she really enjoys the one-on-one cuddle time... it's a good way to get her to calm her fussiness down, even if she's not completely hungry.
Finally, I'll be getting up at 6 or so 3 days a week, which means I'll want to get up before 8 every day, which is fine, but our entire house's schedule starts much later than that, typically. Even Evelyn deep sleeps better in the a.m. than she does before 1 in the morning. She usually has a deep sleep from about 6:30 to about 9:00 or 9:30.
I know, these are all simple things that will possibly be changing... but it makes a big difference to the family, and will be a big adjustment. Also, for Jocelyn, who is now used to having "mama" around all the time when she's not at preschool... it will most likely be a hard transition. Not to mention the baby, who is very rarely away from me period up to this point.
So, that's the hubub in this fam!! Here are some pictures, lol:
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| My sister put a sticker on me! |
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| Charlie... & his mustache! |
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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