Change

School started September 4th.  Jose started a new job September 6th.  We are all commuting 45 minutes (if there is no construction or traffic) to Detroit.  All sense of normalcy has been tossed out the window, and we are trying to reconstruct what the new normal looks like. 

 

I have to make a stronger committment to not letting my work life taking over my entire life.  As a teacher this is a hard balance to strike.  There always is something to do, plan, think about.  This is compounded by the fact that our school is part of a brand new system and that system hasn't totally got their stuff together yet.  And our kids come from tough places and are way behind academically. 

 

I've never taught and parented, and it's hard.  Turo has been on the iPad way more than he should.  We've had dinner at places like Cotsco and Target.  I made dinner one night last week and was proud of myself.  I haven't worked out since the start of August (although I'm on my feet all day, so that counts for something right?). 

 

 It's hard, yet there is something that draws me to these kiddos.  To the possibility of changing their educational outcomes.  

 

Sunrise over Detroit 

 

 

iPad time

 

Dinner at Costco

 

Things that turn my heart to mush...

Post dinner snuggle...

Two weeks in

After two weeks:

- I think I am really going to dig my new job. It's going to be hard, but has amazing potential for doing great work with kids.

- It has been surprisingly awesome to spend the day thinking and planning.  After three years in which my planning revolved around child rearing and housekeeping, it is nice to be engaged in some adult level thinking again.

- I remembered to put on deodorant  8 out of 10 days.  Seriously, how do you forget this crucial step in the morning routine?  Somehow I did. Twice.

- Trying to balance the needs of Turo at night is hard.  He's used to having my attention most of the day.  We played a lot.  Now we have to cram fun, dinner, clean-up & the bedtime routine into about 2.5 hours.  Evening has been hard for everyone.  Hopefully, we'll get into a flow and it won't seem so tough.

- Jose is has been a rock star.  He has really embraced this dual working parent thing and is jumping in to get stuff done.

- Even so, I have no idea when everything will happen.  Full laundry baskets wait to be emptied.  The floor needs to be mopped.  I've worked out once in the last two weeks.

- I think I'll be asleep by 10 tonight.  

Going back to work

I headed back to the working world this week. I'm now a middle school social studies teacher in Detroit.  Today was my 3rd day.  It's a bit overwhelming but in an exciting way. Luckily we have a month of professional development before we actually have to do any teaching.  I feel like that is helping me ease back into things.  I'll want to share more but will have to do so when I'm less sleepy.  This (former) night owl needs to go to bed. I'd forgotten what it's like to wake up in the dark.  

Where the magic will happen...  

Grandpa!

We spent almost two weeks in Colorado with Grandpa Jim, Alison and Uncle Nick. The whirlwind that is Turo swept in and thought everyone wanted to play with him.  All. The. Time.  

I love watching Turo and my dad together.  Turo adores his Grandpa.  One day Turo even told me I should stay at home because it was "Grandpa and Turo time."  

Things that turn my heart to mush

When the plane begins to accelerate at take-off, Turo reaches for my hand.  Carefully lacing his fingers with mine, he watches out the window and doesn’t let go until we reach the clouds.  

The 30 second artist

Jose bought Turo an easel for Christmas.  I made a whole art corner - paints, crayons, markers, stickers. Turo has shown mild interest in this part of the playroom.  He'd rather be moving, running, jumping.  But upon occassion he'll wander over and ask to get the paints out.