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The Substitute

I have been attending alternative certification classes for teaching since the beginning of February. I started with a mixture of apprehensiveness and excitement. Then I started substitute teaching. All freshman. Do I really need to elaborate how much this has dampened my enthusiasm? Don't get me wrong, I have some good kids, but I also have several kids that come to class on drugs, kids that no matter how many 2nd chances I give continue to do next to nothing while they are here, and basically, my classes are beginning to exhaust all my remaining goodwill.

I also promised myself when I had my daughter that I would not become one of those mothers who enroll their kids in everything under the sun, and be forced to run them from activity to activity everyday of the week. Here is our schedule looks currently:

Monday - Softball 5:30-6:45
Tuesday - Softball Game 6:30-8
Wednesday Gymnastics 4:20-5:30 and Softball 5:30-6:45 Church Choir 6:30-7:00
Thursday - Art 5:30-6:30
Friday - Who knows, but I am guessing softball

Now, most of you are sitting there telling yourself that this is a problem very easily solved. Most of you don't know Alex. She loves art. She loves church choir. She really likes gymnastics. She apparantly now loves softball.
How do you make life more manageable for a 7 YEAR OLD without the ensuing tears and dissapointment at dropping an activity (or two?)

Suggestions? Anybody? Anyone?

My first blog

I have been very resistant to blogging. However, anyone who knows me, knows that I am 100%, completely and totally addicted to facebook. So, I thought, what the heck, why not blog? So here goes....

Today, my sweet son woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Well, actually he was turned upside down and laying on his face, but what's the difference? I got a call that his speech therapy was going very well. He said his first long sentence today. "I do not want to eat cereal." For Carter, that is amazing. It makes me so happy that he is beginning to articulate his thoughts. Bravo to Easter Seals and their amazing organization!

Yesterday, my daughter asked me why I was in such a good mood. I know she thinks that I am a total grouch in the morning, and that is okay, because I am. I always have been, and I doubt this will ever change. Why both of my children like to get up at the crack of dawn every single weekday and weekend is beyond me. Luckily, Chris takes over most early a.m. duties. Truthfully, I was in a good mood because I went to bed early the night before, after a fun evening with two good friends, went for a long run, and came home to find my children eating lunch. That's right....It had a lot to do with me time, which I constantly long for.

Finally, today I have a job interview. It is for a job that I am well-qualified for, and it doesn't pay as well as my last job since it is a support position. However, if I do well, the payoff down the road should be very lucrative. I had been hoping to teach marketing, but that job has not yet materialized, and I am beginning to wonder if I am holding on to false hope.

As some of you know, I have been unemployed since January. Through the kindness of a very good friend, I have been working at my old high school as a substitute teacher since the end of January. I work with all freshmen. About half of my students are great. I generally pray that the other half skip my class, and try to digest the thought that these kids will be sucking off the hardworking members of society for the rest of their lives.

I am glad my friends had a good time over the weekend at SPI! I was sad to not be able to come, but glad everyone made it home safe and sound. Next up...Tracy V's birthday! What to do....what to do???