Wearing Many Hats

I have really enjoyed wearing many hats lately! I wear my mom hat, my wife hat, my starting-up-a-new-business hat, my maid hat, my chef hat...and today I began wearing my substitute hat. WHEW! The past few weeks has been everything that I have ever dreamed of. All I've ever wanted is to be at my child's and husband's beckon call and I LOVE IT!

I'm so thankful that I have one AMAZING husband that works so hard to provide for us and that has allowed me to stay at home. Since I wasn't getting a classroom ready this year, I was able to enjoy the mom stuff of Brooke's first day of school. Getting to go to Meet the Teacher, taking Brooke to her class on the first day of school and getting to pick her up was all new to me and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Those are all things I've never been able to experience, because I've had to BE the teacher that everyone meets, BE in the classroom that all the parents bring their kids to on the first day and BE the teacher giving the kids to their parents at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong, I loved playing the teacher role, but being able to play the parent role was a new experience that built many memories for me. It makes me even more appreciate of teachers and their roles in our children's lives. Thank you teachers for sacrificing your own memories to make ours special!

Along with getting to wear my mom hat on the first day, I got to wear my stay-at-home-mom hat and do something special for the teachers. I called a few days ahead of time and asked how many were on the staff. They said that there were about 35, so I got busy on my thoughts. After gathering some ideas from former co-workers and a very creative PTA mom, I came up with a neat idea. I made flower pens for each staff member out of a Bic pen, colored electrical tape, hot glue and a fake flower. So cute! I then painted flower pots white and filled with pinto beans. I placed the pens in the beans and it turned out really cute! I also wanted to have something cool and yummy for them to eat. From experience, most teachers don't even get to eat the first day of school, because of the paperwork or making sure that each child has a correct ride home. I decided to make a Yogurt Parfait Bar for the staff in the lounge. I bought vanilla yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, white/chocolate chips and granola. Placed on a table with mini-cups and spoons and the flower pens for decorations. So cute! I had lots of compliments and will definitely try to keep it an annual event.

Today I began wearing my substitute hat. I accepted the job yesterday and I had butterflies right up until I walked into the school. It was definitely weird going from my own classroom, rules and kids for three years to being a nobody. Fortunately, it was the BEST experience I could have ever asked for! I was a sub for Special Ed for one of the local high schools. First of all, I've NEVER stepped foot in a high school classroom nor have I been so involved with Special Ed. I've always had Special Ed students in my classroom and through my experience today, I think that every teacher needs to experience it prior to teaching. WOW!

Let me back up a bit. I walked into the high school attendance office and was introduced to the sub cooridnator. I feel the Lord specifically placed her in my life today. Not that he doesn't everything else, just maybe today my eyes were opened. She was so nice and welcoming! After chatting a bit, I found out that she sews and makes things to sell as well. Loved making that connection!

My first assignment was to sit in on an English class. The teacher was very welcoming, as was every staff member that I came in contact with, and said that I may need to help some students with brain storming. After a short lesson, she allowed the students to write a fictional story based off of a couple of pictures she provided as inspiration. I had 5 students I was working with and really just let them do most of the work. It was so neat to see that things I was teaching in 2nd grade, they are learning in high school, just on a deeper level. Today's lesson was about setting, plot, characters and conflict. I was worried that I wouldn't know how to interact, but my 2nd grade lessons kicked in and I got busy. I LOVED IT! At the end of class, I thanked the teacher and told her I had an enjoyable time. She complimented me with, "You were really good. I hope to see you back again soon." That's exactly what I needed to hear :)

I then went to a World Geography class, which there wasn't anything to me to do. I learned a lot though! After World Geography was Algebra. OH BOY! Let's just say...hmmm, I don't know how I passed high school algebra. I had to apologize to the teacher afterwards, because I sure wasn't much help! Just for the record, I've never had to figure out what x and y mean in the real world :) My final class of the day was Biology. I pulled a small group of kids at the back of the classroom and helped them complete some work that wasn't completed the previous day. I really enjoyed it and I think I got more out of it than the kids did!

Overall, I had a FANTASTIC day! My eyes were opened and it really made me think that maybe I want to take my 8-12 test to broaden my horizons. Who knows what the Lord has in store for me, but I'm definitely reminded that HE is the one in charge.

"For I know the plans I have for you..."  Jeremiah 29:11