career change

 

This is the first time in 15 years that I didn't experience a "back to school" season.    Zero school for my own children and zero preschool for myself.     In a way, there is SO much relief in that..... especially with all of the crazy regulations and changes due to Covid-19.  I consider myself, and my boys, blessed that we didn't have to navigate all of these changes.   It's been astounding to hear the various stories from friends and families as to what they are having to do for their young children.  It's such a shame for our society and I fear that the younger kids will be picking up the pieces for years to come.

This is also the first time in 23 years that I haven't worked with children.   Be it full time daycare, the 7 years as a stay-at-home mom, or my 13 years at preschool.   My "career" has been kids.  Every day.... kids... in some shape or fashion.   

I always wanted to be a mom.... and I went to school to work with kids.  My entire adult life has revolved around caring for children.

Suddenly I find myself with grown children and working at a fast food restaurant.  
When I applied for the new job, I listed "career change" on the application.    And now it hits me that YES, this is quite the career change.... or better yet.... a life change.

What better time than mid-life to try something new?  Right?!  lol.

I knew going in to the job that I was older and perhaps a bit much slower than the young kids that I work with. I  quickly realized that it would a huge adjustment.  But seriously.... the first week.... I wondered what I had gotten myself in to!  It was much harder than I expected!

On the night of September 10th, I came home after a 9 hours shift.  Greg asked me how my day was.... and it was the FIRST time I was able to say "...... Great!"   
Turns out that September 10th was EXACTLY one month since I had stared on August 10th.    It took me one month to feel comfortable at a new place.  One month to learn faces and names.    One month to be confident with a few of the responsibilites.   There are still SO many things for me to be trained to do, and to learn.... but I am so relieved that I am feeling settled and more confident each day!     
Turns out that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!  

I guess I can call it a win that I have taken everything I've known for my adult life, thrown it out of the window, started fresh, and somehow still manage to feel a bit settled after just one month.   
Not gonna lie.... it has been a HARD month... But I'm hopeful for the time ahead of me. 
We'll see what shakes out.

wanna be housewife

disclaimer:  another obnoxious post about not working.



The snobbery of it.   I couldn't believe my own thoughts!
Yesterday morning, I sat on my "new" patio, Bible in hand, looking out into my yard, listening to the birds chirp, admiring the sunlight......  I took a deep breath, let out a long exhale, and thought to myself, "I am destined to be a housewife."

What?!
My inner being screamed it out, though I'm pretty sure that society would shun me for such a thought.

I would rock being a housewife.
Yesterday was my first full taste of sending the kids off to school and then doing stuff.   I was super productive.   I took a morning walk and ran several errands.  
God was pouring his blessings onto me and I thanked him as I noticed that there was NO line at the post office, NO line at Wal-mart.   Things were going swimmingly well....
until...
 I managed to lock my keys AND my phone in the car.     (Such a humbling moment when you have to ask the clerk at the store if she has a phone you can borrow).   Thankfully Awesome Lisa came to my rescue and I continued my day with shopping and lunch with friends.
Today has been much of the same, except I didn't lock myself out of the car.   That's a bonus.

I have had the time to walk many miles over the past few days and I hope this is a reflection of how my summer will be.    This is my summer to drop the last of my weight.   This is the summer I take time to walk, get exercise, and take care of myself.
Or.... as the neighbor kid would say, "get a sexy body".
I'm feeling healthier and MUCH more energetic.

Imagine how well I could keep up this routine if I were a housewife?!    After the daily exercise, I could run errands, cook, clean, do laundry.  It would be excellent!

I don't need to marry for money.  (though I often joke about finding my 'sugar daddy')   I just need to marry someone who is content to live primarily on one income.
 Thayer and i managed.... and I know that there is some lucky man out there, maybe with some school aged kids who would love to have the mom at home to take care of them after school and during the summer.
Or heck... someone with older teenagers who need vague supervision like my own.
I'd also love the opportunity to volunteer around the community.   I've always thought that it would be fun to help out at the hospital.

I'm currently taking applications for the Mr.

In the meantime I think I'll perfect the housewife gig this summer.    Practice makes perfect!

goodbye friends

This is the time of year when I frolic in joy and excitement about a fun summer, in which I don't work.
This is the post in which everyone with a 'real' job hates me.
I write about how I only have two more days of work, how I have great plans for the summer,  and how I will have the ability to adjust my sleep schedule from 1am-9am.

For all of those above reasons, I am stoked.

But in a rare turn of events, I'm actually sad to see the end of preschool this week!
(I know, I know.... Did Jill just grow a heart?!)

Now, before I continue, let me make it clear that all of my previous classes have been lovely.   Over the past 8 years, I have met some amazing kids.   Many have made me laugh.   Many have challenged me.  Many have tugged at my heart.
But also over the past eight years there have been those kids in our classroom.  Let's just say that every class has been unique.

Every year I look back and see how I, myself, have changed as I work with kids.
I am aware that the year Thayer died, and probably a few years following.... I was not the best I could be.   I'd hope to think that my clarity and attitude have evolved over the past few years.
(I'm not sure that my lead teacher, Elaine, would agree!)  ;)
I do notice that as my own kids get older, I have gained the ability to look at the 5 year-olds and appreciate their precious hearts and their innocence.   (...they will grow so fast)

Anywho.
Back to THIS year.
 This year!  It has been a blessing.    This class, in particular, has captured my heart and melted it...just a little.
Teachers aren't supposed to have 'favorites'.... (even though all teachers do).   And I can honestly say that this class is full of my 'favorites'!
My favorite kids, my favorite families.   They have all been so amazing.   I am sad to see them move on.
In some cases, preschool families have been around for several years, and Elaine and I have had the privilege to teach sets of siblings.     It's always a bit sad to see families go.
But such is the business of preschool.    We socialize and equip these kids for Kindergarten and send them off with smiles.

This year, I'll smile.   I'll smile for many reasons.  It's also possible that some of my melted heart might leak out of my eye during our little graduation ceremony.
I love these kids.  I'm gonna miss them.

random stuff on my mind

Lucas will be 12 years old on Thursday!  wow.
We had an early celebration tonight at a local Mexican restaurant... simply because a mariachi band was scheduled to play.
Lucas loves this particular restaurant... and we go ALL of the time.  It was extra special tonight as we shared a meal with our family and Lucas was serenaded by the band.
Cake and ice cream followed at our house.
This should totally have been a Friday.

This week, after having several groups of people back in my house, I realize how much I enjoy having company.    It often feels like I have a rotating door.    And the 'extra' chairs that we bring up from the basement never seem to make it back downstairs.   We go through spurts of time when those chairs are filled for several days.    And then they linger in the kitchen until the next people arrive.

I think I took the summer off from hosting much... because the chairs were left in the basement for quite a while.   But now they are back.
I am thrilled to be hosting our LifeGroup again this fall.    And I hope that I can revive my Sunday night crew as well.
 I look forward to getting my peeps together.  
Even though I love my summer sleep schedule, the truth is that I thrive on routine.   Our 'school' routine work for us.  As well as the regular scheduled meetings, etc.  

My preschool class is beyond amazing this year.    I have enjoyed every minute.
Ask me about my job sometime :)

I'm looking forward to the arrival of fall.   And pumpkins.  And Halloween.

goodbye summer. hello routine.

Wow.  Where have we been?!

The boys just started their third week of school!  

I went back to work last week, and my preschoolers came to their first day of Pre-K today.    It looks like lady Elaine and I have an awesome class this year!   

Rewind to Sunday August 17th.  
I received a phone call from my Brother-in-law, Thad, to say that he was IN TOWN and wanted to surprise my boys.    This was huge.    He showed up at 6:30am on Monday morning and woke them up for their first day of school!   A great surprise.

It turns out that Thad was in town for several days.    It seemed like it would be a long visit.... but it was over way too quickly.    The boys enjoyed some much needed time with their uncle.

  On  Wednesday Thad and I hiked back to the spot where we had scattered Thayer's ashes.    Great day, beautiful mountains.

That week, we also went out to eat with my family for (what would have been) Thayer's 44th birthday.   Not much pomp and circumstance this year.

At the end of the week we said our goodbyes to Thad and I delivered my kids to Comfort Zone Camp.
Daniel wasn't too keen on attending this year.... but by the time I picked them up on Sunday, both boys were ready to get signed up for next year's camp!    I am so thankful for CZC and the safe environment that they provide for kids like mine!!

While the boys were at camp, I enjoyed a great weekend catching up with my friends in Richmond.

Then.... it was back to reality for all three of us as we started back to school and work on the following Monday.

We are getting back into the routine of things.   And would you believe that my boys put themselves to bed by 9pm each night?!     And I'm not usually far behind.  
I've had some sweet dreams the last few weeks.

5 years

The five year mark has come and gone.   And ya know what?   I made our lives so busy that I think I missed it.   
I didn't miss thinking about Thayer.  I didn't miss thinking about that night that changed our lives.  I didn't miss the thought that 'five years' has been a long time.   I didn't miss thinking about how so many people were impacted by his death.   I didn't miss contemplating, in detail, that fateful day.
But I did miss crying about it this year.

I knew that I was planning lots of activity so that I wouldn't sit at home and be sad.   But it appears that I planned SO much activity that I am exhausted!!

Prior to the death anniversary, we had Thayer's grandmother come to stay for eleven days.    It was nice to have her here and we enjoyed looking through all of my photo albums and remembering 'back then'.   The visit was nice, but also tiring for all of us.

Then, the boys and I spent a long day in c-ville visiting with our friends and catching up.   I love being up there with many of my favorite people.... especially those who knew, and loved, Thayer.

On the eve of the anniversary, we went camping with my family.   (Interesting how much I enjoy camping, yet we don't do it often enough).  We spent August 16th at the lake with my parents, my sisters and their families.     My parents had balloons for the kids to release in memory of Thayer.    

We returned home that night to spend time with family friends, (Thayer's bestie), who stayed with us for several days.   That weekend included a girl's night out with other 'out of town' friends and many fun filled moments with friends.

This past week, we jumped right into registration and school stuff and then hit the road for a long weekend in Williamsburg.   One last fling before reality hits.
We made it back to town just in time to gather with our lifegroup and pray for the kids and their upcoming school year.  

Laundry is brewing and I thought it would be a good idea to debrief a bit before I wipe our summer slate clean.
Tomorrow is the first day of school and work.

I'm actually looking forward to sending the boys away in the morning, regaining a sense of routine, and having some 'down' time in the afternoons.   I'm thinking it will be nice to have a vacation from the vacation.
Although I'm already missing my summer sleep schedule :(

lifestyle changes

I started back to work today. The first day is usually fine.... anticipation of seeing my co-workers and the newness of it all- gets me out of bed- with the first melody of the alarm clock.
I know that I'll soon implement the 'press snooze twice' plan.

I'm actually trying to get off to a good start this year. My summer sleep schedule of 1am-9am will now need to be altered to 10pm-6:30am. And I really need to stick to it. I will need to discipline myself. If I can make myself have a predictable sleep pattern.... it will be the first time in several years that I might actually stay awake during 'chapel time' at preschool!
 I would consider that a great personal achievement.
I figure that I also need my rest because we have a class of TWELVE boys and three girls this year.

Like most years, I have completely overbooked my first week back to work. I have vet, hair, dentist and orthodontist appointments AND I have to go into work two evenings as well. AND I've scheduled to have a group of people over on Friday night. It will be interesting to see if I have groceries or clean toilets by Friday. It's looking doubtful.

Anywho.
I'm also trying to make a happy blend of cats in our home. Blueberry has made herself at home, and Mr. Q is tolerating her well. I've been trying to figure out feeding arrangements and sleeping arrangements that make everyone happy.
It's kind of like welcoming an infant into our home.
Except it's a cat... and we can leave it alone or hours at a time.
so... really nothing like an infant. But I feel like a baby mama anyway. For the first few days, Blueberry followed me around and meowed constantly. She was missing her family...

But she is quickly becoming a part of ours. :-)

what I'd be good at...

(Trying to keep my mind off of the pee.   Things are improving... but I'm not 100% yet.)

So...
I've stated many times that I would gladly be a greeter at Walmart when I return to full time work.     Many of you think I'm kidding.  (which I kinda am...)
But you know what? 
I'd be really good at it.
Granted I'm not old, or disabled.... but I know that I could rock that job, if they'd let me.
And I'm pretty sure that people would drive across town to be greeted by me.  :-)

I am a frequent shopper of Walmart.  And I'm serious when I say that I've been greeted 'properly' only a handful of times in the past year. 
Those current greeters look miserable!  Is it really that hard to drum up a smile and say hello to the people who come in the door??     Are the responsibilities too exhausting or demanding?   Do greeters run out of smiles at a certain point in their career? 

So for my own enjoyment...
I greet those greeters EVERY time I enter, with a big smile and a "Hi! how are you today?!"   And when I leave, "Thank you!  have a super afternoon!"  :o)

I'm secretly proud of myself for doing their job... better than they do.

I know.
random.