Really? August 10, 2009

 

I didn’t think ‘unexcelled’ was a word. I checked with m-w.com and they backed me up. Even if it is a word, doesn’t it mean service UN-“better than others?”

Before I had Andrew, I would have been able to knock this one out of the park without breaking a sweat. Now it’s all I can do to string two jokes together in one post and remember to change my sheets when they get a bit of baby poop on them (don’t ask.) So, I’ll save my righteous indignation until after someone smart (like Rachel) confirms my suspicions.

The last week

This is my last week of summer vacation. I’m anxious to get back to work in some respects. It’s just like when you were a student–you wanted to see everyone after the break, you looked forward to a new year. New class, new teacher. Shrink-wrapped notebook paper and crisp folders. Unsharpened pencils and functioning glue sticks.

Setting up my room and planning for the new year is something I really enjoy. I like to arrange desks and construct perfectly straight bulletin boards. I like to look back on the previous year and think about what I want to do differently. This year especially, after reading a great new book (The Book Whisperer). But, I’m leaving the classroom. I just got the official word that I’ll be an Instructional Specialist. My ultimate goal is to be a reading specialist, working with struggling readers to help them learn to love reading and be successful at it. Since that position doesn’t exist in my district and I’m happy at my school, that goal is a ways off. As an IS I’ll be a step removed from the kids and will focus on helping teachers. It’s a fairly bureaucratic position and truth be told I don’t know if it’s the right job for me. It opens the door to new opportunities (provided I don’t suck at it) and new challenges. Overall I’m looking forward to it, and if it doesn’t work out I can always go back to the classroom next year.

So I’ll be taking Andrew to daycare twice this week so I can go clean out my room. I have no idea what to do with all of my stuff. I don’t want to get rid of it in case I discover the classroom is my passion. I don’t want to store it at my house because holy cow, y’all, babies take up a lot of room with their exersaucers and high chairs and pack n plays and whatnot.

Monday I’m back full-time. Where did the summer go? I feel like we just got into a good rhythm. Andrew is sleeping through the night consistently (THANK YOU GODS OF SNOOZE) and taking great naps. We have a routine and I love it. When I think about someone else taking care of him during the day, seeing his smiles and playing with him when he’s most active  it breaks my heart. He takes a late nap from 5:00-6:00 and goes to bed around 7:00 so I won’ t have much time with him at all during the week.

We’ll make it work, I’m just a mess of emotions. Excited, nervous, sad, anxious, content…It’s time for a cookie.