Maybe next year

Just a little pick-me-up...for me anyhow.

Last year, just before my breast cancer diagnosis hit, I was offered a really great part-time job teaching middle school students again. Obviously, I had to quit before I even got started.

Now I had already decided that this year that I was not going to return to work. With all the reconstruction I was going to have done, and just a newfound peace about staying at home and not working, I was actually quite content with my decision. Something in the back of my mind (ha, ha) just clicked and I realized that being with my kids right now was just what I needed to do. Obviously, God was preparing my heart and mind for what was to come.

But yesterday, the principal contacted me again to see if I'd be interested in returning this year. Of course my answer is no, and I would have said No with or without my new tumor, but it did lift my spirits to know that professionally, I'm still wanted. Well, maybe. I think possibly a prerequisite for teaching adolescents is to have a full brain!

My own performance review

One of the most difficult things about being a Stay-at-home Mom, after having the experience of a career, is the lack of recognition you receive. When you work at a job, people see what you do. You get praised, you get "thank you's", you may even get a raise. At the very least, you get a paycheck. Something tangible to show the results of your labor.

When you're a stay at home mom, most of the time no one sees what you do. No one recognizes the daily dishwasher unloading, no one notices the spills you're constantly cleaning up, no one pays attention to the driving back and forth to the kids' various functions.

And that's fine. I've come to realize that the screams for attention, the need for too many kisses to prolong bedtime and my kids' begging me to push them higher on their swings is my reward...whether anyone recognizes my work or not.

But today, I just need a little recognition. Because on a BEAUTIFUL summer day like today, I spent a few hours doing work that I will NEVER get recognition for. So I'm just going to pat myself on the back for all the time I spent cleaning out my junk drawers/cabinets that have cluttered up my kitchen for way too long! (Since I'm a packrat, this is a HUGE accomplishment on my part...parting with 3 grocery bags full of crap!).

And since none of you had the privilege of being a part of this cleaning extravaganza, I'll post some pictures for you to enjoy! Ha. Ha.

Now please, take this time to post a comment, recognizing yourself for some unnoticable chore you did today!

Not meant to be

The library assistant job has been filled....by someone else.

Oh well. I tried.

Interview Blues

You know why I like to write....because I can EDIT!

Which is why I don't really like speaking so much...especially when you're put on the spot and expected to come up with intelligent answers...like in an interview...because you can't go back and change anything.

All you can do is play over and over again in your mind all your dumb answers and what you should have said instead.

Obviously, the interview didn't go as well as I would have liked. It wasn't really bad, but I just felt that I fumbled over a lot of my answers and I just didn't feel prepared for such in depth questions for a library assistant. I've always come out of my teaching interviews feeling incredibly good and confident....once I've landed the interview, I've always gotten the job...but I didn't feel that sense of victory this time around.

Oh well, I'll find out Thursday, when the middle school director is supposed to call me.

Interview tomorrow

As most of you know, last year, after 3 years of taking off to stay home with my kiddos, I was all ready to return to work. I had a part time job, teaching middle school language arts at a nearby school district. After my very first day of district training, I received the phone call from my doctor that I had breast cancer. Needless to say, I didn't return to work that year.

I decided last year that in addition to getting through all my treatments, I'd take the next year off as well, since I'd still be having extensive reconstructive surgery that I'd need some recovery time for, as well as many doctor appointments. Plus, because of my diagnosis, I've had this nagging feeling in my mind that God didn't want me to have that job, so maybe returning to work isn't what I should be doing (but that is a post for another day).

However, no matter what my gut feeling has been, each week I look in the paper at the classifieds....partly out of habit, partly to see what's out there, and partly in hopes that the perfect job, one that will allow me time for my family as well as giving me the opportunity to actually use my degree, would be posted that given week. I haven't actively persued anything. I haven't searched the website/newspaper in the other Twin City that contains more jobs. I haven't looked at individual district's sites that posts more jobs than the newspapers reveal. I just quickly glance through the 2 to 3 columns of jobs to see if any pertain to me. None has.

Until 2 weeks ago.

That's when a job for a library assistant appeared before my eyes....at a very prestigious and expensive private school where I would love for my kids to attend. Now except for my love of adolescent literature and many research projects I've developed with my students, I don't have any "formal" library training. But this job listing didn't require a library science degree. Just someone who had some library experience and an interest in working with middle school and high school students.

Key to this job is that it's parttime. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...full days. But the rest of the week I'd have off.

The pay is crap, compared to what I'd get paid if I was teaching. However, I wouldn't have work to "take home" like a teaching job, and the job comes with benefits. Now I'm not sure what the benefits are, but I'm hoping, praying, that they involve something around tuition reduction if your child attends their school. Now that would be the ultimate benefit.

I had a very brief phone interview with the middle school director. It was kinda funny because one of his questions basically asked me why, with my advanced degree and all the teaching jobs out there that I'm qualified for, why would I just want to be a library assistant. I kinda laughed and told him that I'm looking for a job that allows me to tap into my interest in adolescent literature and to work with middle school and high school students, without the full time committment that a teaching job requires.

I'm actually kinda nervous about my interview. Because I have never interviewed for a library position before, I have no clue what they're going to ask me, and I don't have a prepared portfolio to use to help show my talents for the position. I'm afraid they're going to ask me about a bunch of books I'd suggest, and I'll just go blank under pressure. I don't have a huge amount of experience with high school book suggestions, especially for advanced high school students, so that worries me as well.

I guess instead of writing about my worries, I really should be preparing for this interview. And praying that God helps me through this ordeal and makes it clear the path that I should follow by way of a fulfilling job.

There may also be some childcare issues and surgery recovery issues that I'll have to figure out if I get the job. But I figure that I'll shoot for getting an offer first, and deal with the other issues later.

So right now, a toast of red wine...and then I think I better go figure out who exactly I'm interviewing with. Would be nice if I knew the guy's name when I go into the school office, don't ya think?

Scanning the want ads.

I have a job interview on the 22nd for a parttime position in a school.

Here we go again.

Didn't I do this last year?

Rock the Vote!

It started out as an interview, and soon turned into a job. One class a day, English to 7th graders. Just right for me and for my family.

But on Friday I was presented with an option.

My principal referred a principal of another middle school in the district to me. His school also needs an English teacher to teach just one class. It's one the way to my new school. I could teach 5th period at one school, and then 7th period at the next school.

Except it's two different courses...8th English and 7th English.

I initially turned the offer down, because that means preparing for a completely different class. Which means a lot more work. But this weekend I've been battling my decision. And the principal told me to think about it over the weekend and call on Monday if I change my mind.

I'm starting to change my mind.

--I know I'm in a very fortunate situation.

--I don't need the money, so I don't have to take the extra class for financial reasons.
Although I'd like to justify a little more having a nanny. By teaching two classes I would be able to pay for Max's preschool and contribute to our nanny's salary. This actually means something to me.

--But I also feel like I'm being put up on a pedestal. Honestly, my new principal is bragging about me all over the place, when really, she doesn't know anything about me except what's on paper. What if I disappoint?

--This district wants us to use the textbook...the BORING textbook .....80% of the time. I did not realize this when I took the job...because I am NOT a textbook teacher. I use it as a resource, along with many other resources at my disposal, but never as the sole source of information.

--Also, when I turned down the principal, he seemed so disappointed, and I feel bad about this. He's really hoping I change my mind this weekend. That pleasing issue I have...haunts me all the time.

--And working in two schools is somewhat inintriguing to me. They're different demographics, so that in itself would make it interesting to compare how things are run. And then I'd have an "in" at 2 schools, in case I'd like to do more in the future. But then it's also a lot of rushing around to get things in order for each class, and then dealing with meetings and conferences and such for each school.

So what's your vote? Should I take the extra position or drop it? Let your voice be heard!

The Verdict is In

Thanks to this outfit (shown on the size zero Ann Taylor Loft model...not me!).... just an hour and a half after the interview....I was offered the job.

Okay, maybe my portfolio, experience, education, references etc. helped a little as well.

More info to follow tomorrow, when I actually talk to the principal about the offer (I wasn't home when she called, so she left a message).

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, positive vibes and well wishes!