My Twelve Year Vacation

It isn't like I held a vital part in the work force before I had kids, but I have been unemployed since before Rachel was born.  I sold Pampered Chef for six months when Aaron was a baby to get all the free stuff, I did home daycare for a period of time and I briefly helped in the church daycare in Indiana, but for all practical purposes tomorrow is the first day in twelve years that I will be returning to work.  (Not that birthing three children, raising them, moving eight times and countless hours of volunteering wasn't work!!)

I have taken a position at our church preschool in the two year old classroom.  It will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30-1:00.  This week I am also working on Monday helping to get the classroom set up.  The perfect hours to work around my kids' schedules.  I will still drop them off at school and pick them up. 

Using my best counseling skills, if the situation were reversed, I would ask, "And how does that make you feel?" Hmmm? Excited, sad, scared, nervous. What if I have no idea what I am doing? What if the director (who happens to be a friend and hired me) realizes I am totally unqualified? I know it is preschool and I have three kids who were more than ready for kindergarten thanks to my "mad teaching the ABCs and 123s skills," but still.

I guess most people probably still won't think I am a vital part of the work force.  I won't be bringing home a lot of money.  Pocket change...fun money.  However, it is the beginning of another new season in our life. 

I will still be volunteering at the kids' schools.  I've already signed up to be the room mom in Aaron's class.  I know the mom who signed up to be the room mom in Hannah's class and she asked if I wanted to be the co-room mom.  I told her I would do whatever she needs me to do, but I would just lead Aaron's class.  It is his last year needing a room parent and if he is like Rachel, once he hits middle school he won't be excited to see me walk in the building.  I am going to milk this year for everything it is worth.  I guess that is another blog topic.  I will also volunteer in the Media Center at their school.  Shelving those books is very therapeutic.

I guess the biggest change will be that the dog will have to entertain herself a bit more during the day.

I don't like being the new kid on the block in any situation and that includes showing up at the preschool tomorrow morning.  I am looking forward to building on a newish friendship.  One of the other teachers attends our church and she is great!  Of course, she may figure out that my "mad teaching ABCs and 123s skills" isn't up to par and shop for friendship elsewhere.  I'm off to worry about that one for a while.