Giving it another go

So again one of my friends has issued a challenge to blog each day in October. I may not blog a long post every day, but I am going to write more. So here goes . . . Wish me luck . . .

Teachers are part-time people

Anyone out there read the Sunday comics? I don't always, but I caught them last Sunday. In "Baby Blues," the youngest child is hiding from his teacher - who he has spied in the mall. His mom and sister try to explain to him that teachers actually leave their houses and go places when school isn't in --- the ending punch line has the boy saying, "So teachers are part-time people?"

(I wish I could scan in a pic of the comic, but I am not that tech savvy on this blog yet.)

Wow. What truth in that comic. I do love my job, but here are some things I have experienced over the last 16 years: going to a restaurant and having the server sit down with me at the table to talk to me for a minimum of 20 mins(even though my family was right there having a meal), having a student find and call your home phone number, having students email me questions about papers at all hours, having to have a kid I teach ring up personal items at the store (pregnancy tests, tampons, etc,) - and the list could go on. There is no anonymity in this job - and I am sure that teaching HIGH SCHOOL makes that even truer. I do love my job, though.

And even on bed rest I am still facing the role of being a "part time person." I guess I should not read or respond to these, but I am still getting emails from my students. And not emails where they say, "hope you are doing ok." More like, "where are my papers you were supposed to grade?" "how do I do this assignment?" "when will you be back at school?" And I am still doing lesson plans and grading papers. Again, I still love my job.

The thing about teaching as a career is that it isn't just a career. It is a life, an identity, a force sometimes so big you can't figure it all out. And it would be nice if there were a real vacation from it, but I am not sure such an animal exists. Sure, we get those summer breaks and the winter breaks and etc. that everyone always writes about (and begrudges us), but we are never "not a teacher." In the heart of your summer break, there will always be a kid or parent to run into, and there might even be a phone call from the school about your schedule. It is the job and life I love, but sometimes I wish I could be a full-time person.

Perhaps the best thing about bed rest

(And I know I have not written in two days - sorry! )

I think I know the best thing about this bed rest. Normally I have to leave for work at 6:30 or so. At my daughter's insistence, my husband gets her up right before I leave so that I can fix her hair and kiss her goodbye. But that is never enough time. Mornings are so good - none of the sleepy attitude from the night before- just a sweet little girly.

So our routine now is that he puts her in bed with me before he leaves for work - about 6:30. She and I don't get up until about 7, so we have a blissful 30 mins to talk about whatever and snuggle. And then we have about 30 mins after that to get her ready, which is plenty of time since all I do to myself is put on some sweats, wash my face, and brush my teeth.

Maybe everyone needs a little bed rest every now and then - to make the world slow down.

My favorite time of the year ;(

The doc placed me on bed rest effective Tuesday of last week. This is hard for many reasons, not the least of which are:
1. I still have 8 weeks until the baby should arrive.
2. I had a sub set up - but only for the month of Dec.
3. I had lesson plans figured out for a sub - but only for the month of Dec.
4. I still have things left to do in the nursery.

But here's what I have decided is the most difficult part of it all: Fall.
Very strange that my bed rest has coincided almost exactly with the change of the seasons. Mid-week last week was when it cooled off around here. And I am supposed to be on bed rest. Inside.

Things I love about Fall (most of which I will miss this year):
1. Cooler weather - without being cold weather. I mean, Fall in GA means you can still wear flip flops and sandals, but you might want to do so with long pants and a long sleeve shirt on. I love that.
2. Lane Packing and other outdoor venues for Fall fun. Last year we had the most fun going to Lane for a trip through the corn maze (not as creepy as it sounds), time in the pumpkin patch, and a chance for Jena to play in the cornbox (like a sandbox but filled with corn). And then there was the Pumpkin Patch at Christ UMC. We had fun walking around picking our pumpkin and coming home to carve it.
3. Halloween. I say ppppfffttt! to those who consider Halloween a holiday for heathens. We love the holiday, and most years we all dress up. Jena loves that. She especially reminisces about the year she was 2 when she and I both were Minnie Mouse. Our fav thing to do as a family: head to Forsyth for Trick-or-Treating on the square. Love it. Good people. The chance to eat at Jonah's. Much fun for all.

I really think this list could go on and on. There are lots of things I could add - like chili on Friday nights and hot chocolate after football games (contrary to popular beliefs amongst my friends, I do enjoy a high school game - particularly when I don't have to sweat through the game!). I could also add the masquerade party John and I usually attend (without Jena) - that s a good time with old friends, and we will miss that this year. I would include Thanksgiving, but the baby should be here by then, so I won't really consider that "missing out."

Anyway, I guess this is a bit of a pity party. But I LOVE FALL and am sad to be observing it from a window in my house this year. It will be worth it in the end - I know that is true.

Haven't posted in a while, but here goes

I, like many others, have allowed my internet musings to be taken over by facebook. So I have not been on here in years.

But two things happened recently:
1. I was put on bed rest before the birth of my second child. 8 weeks of bed rest to be exact. More on that at another time.
2. A friend of mine held a sign up for people who would write at least a post a day for the month of October. So here is my first. (I was a day late in signing up - if you can't tell).

So for now, that is it. I have been battling it out with gmail, trying to figure out my old, old username and password, so I think that will be all for now.

vacation and all that stuff

I know this won't be a "real blog" but I am at home with a sick child and a crazy dog -- so if you want to read about our vacation, check out John's blog http://belyal.livejournal.com/74656.html?#cutid1

great dads

Sun. is, of course, Father's Day. So in light of that, I want to make a couple of remarks - shout outs, maybe. I think this was inspired because I *accidentally* listened to a couple of radio hooligans taking phone calls this morning from people who were thanking their father figures. Several people called in and talked about the hard lessons they had learned from their dads - some lessons not taught in the nicest or kindest kinds of ways. And others called in and talked about stepfathers and other men who had stepped in and mentored them - and those sort of non-typical father figures became the focus of the program. I am not writing this to discount those non-typical dads. On the contrary, I am very glad those kinds of men are out there (to step up and be there when others don't). I just, for an instant, thought that I should call and mention the very typical dads who are a part of my life - the "normal" dads - the "storybook" dads - the "urban myth' dads -

The first dad is most obviously - my Dad. He and Mom have been married for right around 40 years. He has worked hard to provide for his family and really wants very little for himself. Mainly a 44 ounce drink, a big ole hamburger, and perhaps a really bad movie on TNT or the Lifetime network. But seriously, I think the main thing he wants is to see those he loves secure and content and provided for. He is the "Father Knows Best" Dad - as my husband has said time and again, taking a step into his house is like "straight up 1950s." I struggled with that at times (when I was a teenager), but now I see nothing wrong with that. My Dad is not perfect, though he would really like to be. His desire for perfection, though, is not so that he could claim greatness or lord himself over anyone - as I mentioned above, his desire for perfection hinges on his desire to see that those he loves are content and well-cared for. For that I love him so - so much.

The second dad is probably obvious to those who know me - my husband. He may be a "Father in the making" but at times I wonder how he can know so much. When I am worried and afraid that I have handled something wrongly (something that, I am sure, does not surprise those who know me), he is always there to reassure. And he IS reassuring. He loves this parenting stuff, I think, almost more than I do. And I did not think that was possible. Tonight he was really not feeling well, but he held on until we had her down for bed because, as he first said, "he wanted to help me out" and as he later said, "I would miss it too." And what would he miss? The child walking around the house with my sunglasses on, bringing us books to read, kissing the dog, splashing in the tub.

Yes, two "typical" (non-typical?) dads - definitely worthy of praise. I love you and am thankful for you both.