Sunday, June 26, 2011

I got a job!!

And I'm pretty sure it's because this girl ....

.... made this for me, for 'good luck' while interviewing.  It's a monkey in a boat, with tissue smoke coming out of the boat's smokestack.

And this girl ....

.... made this for me.  It's 'modern art' and the heart in the middle is for love : )


Coming off leave and finding a teaching position was more time-consuming and stressful than I thought it was going to be.  Even though I was guaranteed a job I could have been placed at any school, in any grade-level that I was licensed to teach (my license is Kindergarten-6th grade), so I wanted to interview and hopefully be chosen by a principal because he/she wanted me at their school, rather than be placed.  It was also very disappointing to learn being on a leave of absence from a school district (which is all about kids and families) would put me at such a deficit.  But after learning A LOT about my district (which is more political than I thought) and hearing things like:  'it was a really hard decision, you interviewed very well', 'we went back and forth between you and the one we offered the job to', 'if we had a kindergarten opening it would have been yours', I was offered three positions in one day, one right as I was leaving for another interview.  Crazy timing.

After talking with Tom quite a bit and feeling more nervous than I thought I would trying to make sure I accepted the 'right' job (at that point we narrowed it down to two), I made the call to my new principal and accepted her position.

So this Fall, when the girls are spending their days in All-Day Kindergarten at Falcon Heights Elementary School, I will be teaching All-Day Kindergarten at the St. Paul Music Academy.  I am really excited to head back to Kindergarten, the school I'll be at is quite close to our house, one of my funniest friends teaches there, I really like the principal a lot, I am so grateful I have a job --- and I'm DONE with the interview process!!

I did have my breakdown moment though.  Last Friday night it all hit me.  Not only will my time with Zoe and Ella change a lot (and I have huge up and down feelings on all of that, even though I know they are at the age where they're supposed to experience more independence from me and the timing is good on all of that, it still makes my heart hurt), but now that I have a job I'm actually going to have to pull it all together and teach again : )  Seriously though, teaching was challenging enough before I had the girls and so much has changed in my district over the past years, so I needed time to process.  But poor Tom, he didn't know what to say to me.  He tried four different times until he finally told me he thought I just needed to cry and get some good sleep.  He was right : )

So now the list-making has begun.  Still lots of nerves and apprehension at times, but also a lot of excitement.  I truly love teaching and am excited for the new adventures that are in store for our family.

Five years out --- half a decade, and now I have my own Kindergarten classroom again : )

And my girls.  Being home with Ella and Zoe has been such a gift, I can't even begin to find all the right words to describe my feelings about the past 5+ years.  But I know when I'm 85 years old these past years will be the best in my life in many, many ways.  Honestly though, I didn't think time would really fly by so quickly .....

13 comments:

MandyE (Twin Trials and Triumphs) said...

Wow...congrats on your new job!!! I'm about three years away from where you are now, but I know these next few years will fly by just as quickly as the first two.

I can only imagine the magnitude of emotions you must be feeling, too. I'm thinking of you as you process through everything! :)

And I can only imagine how being at home with E&Z will have made you an even more compassionate teacher.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer to its fullest! :) :)

Andrea said...

I am crying for you and I went back to work after mine were 14 weeks old. I can't imagine after 5 years what it would be like. This is just a question, but if a position was available at the girls school would you or could you work there? Of course I know you couldn't be their teacher, but I wasn't sure about being at the same school. Congratulations on your new position! So very exciting!

Mama Hen said...

Oh goodness, this is wonderfulo and hard at the same time. I know it is a tough point for moms when our children are geting ready to go to school full time. Inwish you all the best with your new job! Congratulations!

Mama Hen

Anonymous said...

Hi~ I'm new to your blog. I think you are a wonderful and loving mother to your children and congratulations on your new job! I was just wondering whether Ella and Zoe would feel weird that their mom is teaching kindergarten at a different school?
Julie :)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Congratulations! Very exciting! I hope you enjoy it and the transition is smooth :-)

Sandra said...

Congrats on the job. I think it's great that you are pursuing your career though. As someone who stayed at home with my children for 13 years, I unfortunately had to endure many situations I would not have had to had I known I had a job I was qualified for.
Oh, and I also have a Zoe!

Taylor said...

Congrats on the new job, that's so wonderful!! Love your goodluck gifts.

I am so nervous for this fall. Taylor starts JK and she will only be 3 and a quarter!! I really hope she doesn't feel behind, since she will almost be a year younger than some.

Grama Dianne said...

There are some wonderful and fun challenges and changes for your family in the next few months.....Just remember that everything that everyone does should be a journey, not a race:)---so enjoy the continued journey.

CityHouseStudio said...

I'm so happy for you!
Mrs. Olson quoted Dr. Seuss for us on the last day of our girls kindergarten -- "don't be sad that it's over, be glad that it happened!" I love this phrase - it definitely helps!

I'm feeling the need to make something for your new kindergarten room . . . . you MUST have something lovely and handmade there . . . something bright and cheery . . . what do you think?!

Annie said...

Congratulations, again dear!!! I know is hard but everything is going to be fine. If you need me please, don't forget to email me I'm going to be always with you, no matter the distance.

XOXOXO

Jeremi said...

thank you ALL for the sweet, nice and supportive comments! i know once we get in our new routine we're all going to do fine : ) i just wish i could wiggle my nose and have all my prep work done ... there is SO much to get ready, sort through, learn, etc., and SO much i want to do with the the girls before school starts. plus i still like to sleep : )

anonymous, ella and zoe think it's really neat that we're all going to 'be in kindergarten', and they love that i have my own classroom and school. i don't think it's even been a thought for them that i could teach at their school : ) so so far so good on that one!

Taylor said...

Hi again,
Taylor will start at a local preschool this coming Monday and then she will be starting Junior Kindergarden at her public school this September. I'm so nervous but so excited for her.

SouthernDogwoods said...

Yay!!!! Congratulations on your new job. That is wonderful! I know you are so excited. It had to be stressful interviewing but it paid off. I love love love the girls good luck gifts.