Busy Busy

I don't have any photos to post right now, but I did want to write a little or a lot.

I started working. I recently got a job at a charter school teaching Spanish part-time to students from 7-12 grade. I found out about the job through a teachers' website. I submitted my application and as I was dropping off my resume at the school I was interviewed by the principal. About a week and a half later, a Saturday morning, I found out I was offered the job and I needed to report that Monday for training, etc. Then, it was all crazy. I had to scramble around trying to find someone to take care of the kids that upcoming week. Luckily, the girls in my ward hadn't started school, so they watched my children. Then, the following week (last week) I got some things ready for my classes and then school would be in session that Thursday. It has been crazy. Really. Not only did I need to find someone to watch my kids for those two weeks, but for the remainder of the school year. Also, being new at the teaching thing, I've had to put lesson plans and a thing called a curriculum (for the entire school year), while trying to get my classroom ready, since it was practically empty, and balance life as a mommy. I've been feeling a bit stressed out. It's partially because I'm a stinkin' perfectionist and I want to do all things right. I've been spending a lot of time reading and planning. Thank goodness for quiet and nap time.
It's been a week now and I'm finally starting to feel like things are coming together. I'm starting to get the feel for what I need to plan for a class in order to teach in a timely manner. I'm still working on getting my room to look nice, but hopefully in a week it'll look the way I planned it to look like. I am excited to be teaching. There are moments I feel inadequate and a little desperate, like "what did I get myself into?" I enjoy my students. I have really nice students and my classes are tiny. I like that adult interaction with my co-workers, who are pretty nice. Plus, I feel like I'm being stretched to a new limit. I feel like I'm growing and progressing. Recently, I felt a bit stuck. I like being around my children more. Since I'm not with them for about 3.5 hours a day, I miss them and I feel like Arden and I are getting along a bit better. My principal is great. I can go home right after I'm done and do my planning at home. So I've been spending a lot of time on the computer trying to enter grades, plan lessons, etc. Yet, I get to be at home with my children.
I'm not going to lie, last Sunday I had a little panic moment. How am I going to balance mommy, children, career, a somewhat clean house, cooking, driving the kids, showing up to teach on time, remembering to pack the stuff my children need, what to do if they are sick, if the people who take care of them can't? Etc. Etc.
Newel with his wisdom helped me pull myself together. He reminded me that I wasn't doing this alone. He would be there to help me out. If it was going to be too much for me, it was okay to quit. Going back to work and school (next semester, hopefully) is my choice. After taking a nap, I could see he was right. I just need time to adjust to all of this and he was there to help me too.

Arden starts Kindergarten next week. He's excited and that makes me happy. We have been reading books on Kindergarten. He likes his teacher and I like her too. She's way nice. I think he's ready to start school. I'm not sure how well he'll do. I feel a bit nervous about that, but I know he'll enjoy socializing and playing. I'm also a bit sad I am going to miss his first day of school...well, at least dropping him off. Daddy will have that honor. But, I will be there, at the bus stop with a smile, waiting for him.
And so, life goes on.