New Beginnings

#9- Today, I'm thankful for my new job. It's certainly been a big transition but in the past two weeks I've started feeling as if my new job is simply routine. For one thing, I'm experiencing flexibility I've never known before. Most of my days begin in an elementary school somewhere in the district. On those days I have to be diligent about arriving on time, but days where I'm just in the "office" are flexible. If I arrive within a certain "window", it's all good. I can also use the restroom anytime I want, if I have to be gone for some reason I have the option to work from home (though this is rare), and I never have to write sub plans. Anyone who is or has been a classroom teacher can understand what a luxury these items are and, truth be told, these were the hardest things for me to get used to. Aside from my new freedoms I'm also finding my new position to be challenging and enjoyable. It's the exact change I hadn't realized I was craving.

#9a- After writing about my job and Mike's job it seems appropriate to take time to state how thankful I am we not only both have jobs, but jobs we truly enjoy. I have to be honest, this is something I take completely for granted. Although the fate of education is always nerve racking, the fact that Mike and I haven't spent more than 4 days worrying about not having a job is truly astounding. On top of this miracle, if we had a rough day, we're never grumpy for long because we believe in what we do, we find great joy in what we do, and we're both pretty good at what we do. I'm not sure it can get any better than that.

One last thing... even though I certainly have tons more to learn, I can state one fact of which I am certain: No one works harder than classroom teachers... no one. Please be kind to them.