So.... I'm going back to work. Not that I didn't "work" this past year. But now I'm gonna get PAID! :)
In all seriousness, however, this past year being a "stay at home" mommy was...well, an experience. I loved it some days. I didn't love it some days. There was a definite transition time last fall (that included a doctor visit and borderline high blood pressure... when I was NOT working, huh?) I think a lot of my anxiety stemmed from the guilt I had for not loving being home... ALL. THE. TIME. (I blogged about it a bit last year here) I know so, so many of my mommy friends who would love to have the opportunity to stay home, and here I was, NOT necessarily thinking it was all that. The grass is always greener, I guess... but, on the flip side, I was so, so blessed to have the year to do a lot of things I always wanted to do, but couldn't because I was working. I volunteered in Lucy's classroom each week and was able to be the "room parent" for her 4K class. I was able to teach a 1st grade Faith Formation class at our church. I got to help with Lucy's Good Shepherd group. I got to take Hattie to storytime at the library, meet Lucy's bus each day after school, and nap my girls AT HOME every afternoon and have dinner on the table every (well, almost) evening.
So... as we were gearing up for school this year, I was halfway looking for a part-time position in our school district. I knew I didn't want full-time, and I still had my subbing to fill in if all else failed. Plus, with both the bigger girls in school full days this fall, I was kind of excited to have a little more freedom in my day. But... I really, reallly missed teaching. So... Monday evening I was looking through local job postings for our district. There was a part-time 4K job in the same building as Maggie and Lucy (NOT the same school. however. Their charter school shares a building with another elementary school) The hours were perfect. The location was amazing. And... all the pieces just seemed to fit... so I applied on Tuesday. Fast forward to Thursday morning. I recieved a call from the school, asking if I would come interview. I double-checked with the secretary that it was, in fact, a morning 4K position, and she confirmed. I scrambled to find a sitter (thank God for great friends!) and headed off to interview.
Let me preface the next part by saying, I felt like I wasn't going to interview well. The first (and only) interview I've ever had for a teaching position (besides subbing) was a phone interview... which I did in my pajamas... from my dorm room. So, I was a little nervous. Plus, I haven't actually had a "classroom" position in three years (I did intervention work the last two years I worked), so I was feeling a little rusty on top of it all... Oh, and I've never taught 4K, either. So..... deep breath. It went fantastic! The principal was great and in our conversation, she had worked many years ago with the principal that had hired me out of college. We had some great conversation, lots of laughs, and overall, it was fairly laid back and she made me feel really comfortable. At the end, she said, "Well, let me tell you a little bit about the position... " and proceeded to rattle off about the number of students, the classroom... and the fact that it was an AFTERNOON position. She must have sensed something, because she said, "You want a morning position, don't you?" and I mentioned that when I called, I was told it WAS a morning position. She sighed and explained because of some of the students enrolled, they had to change it to an afternoon class... which had happened in the hour before I interviewed. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. For reasons too numerous to list here, an afternoon position was just not feasible for our family. Again, the principal was amazing. She was just as frustrated as I was, I think. As I apologized, and got up to leave, she said, "You interviewed really, really well. I would hate for such a strong candidate to go to waste. Do you mind if I call and share your name with the department head? I know she was interviewing today for some other positions." I said sure... but in my heart was so disappointed that my "dream position" had fallen through.
I got in my car and drove home (about a 2 minute drive, tops) By the time I kicked my shoes off, my phone was ringing. The head of the Early Childhood department was calling me and wanted to know if I was interested in meeting with her. So, off I went... to interview #2 in an hour's time. Same questions, different interview team.
The next morning I was getting coffee in the McDonald's drive-through when my cell phone rang. It was the head of the Early Childhood department, and this is how she started the conversation, "Sarah, I'd like to talk to you about your interview yesterday." Um... OK?
Without going into all the crazy details, I guess she was really impressed with my confidence and experience (not too shabby for someone who doesn't interiew well, huh?) Because of all that, she felt confident she could place me in one of her more "problematic" settings. Heck, I'm always up for a challenge! She rattled off three different settings, listing pros and cons of each one, and asked which one seemed most appealing. I made my selection, and she said "Good. That's the placement I would have chosen if I hadn't gotten in touch with you today." So...I think I made the right choice. I start on Tuesday, and (THANK GOD) don't have students starting until Monday, 9/8. I have a few days to get my head on straight, get a classroom in order, and figure out daycare for Hattie. One of the perks of this position is that it is housed in a daycare center, not a school, which could work out perfectly for Hattie. My parents have offered to watch her this week until I get a "feel" for the center and make some decisions.
So... I'm excited, scared, nervous, thrilled, exhausted, and anxious. BUT- I think it will be worth it. Besides just the monetary benefit, I think Hattie is at a great age to benefit socially from being with some other children her age. I feel like I am still keeping one foot in the door of my profession and entering into the district I ultimately want to retire from. And, I will still be home each afternoon to nap my kid, make our dinner, and pick my big girls up from school. What's not to love?
