So I wonder if I haven't been blogging because I've run out of blog material, or perhaps brain matter, or maybe energy.
Or more likely, it may be that blogging is a winter sport and I'll be picking it up more when I'm not so busy outside running marathons and creating an award-winning garden and laying out by the pool in my bikini for hours on end.
And if you believe any of that, you've clearly never read my blog before.
I've been working full-time for the first time in 13 years, and everything I had thought about how hard it must be to work AND have four kids AND be a wife AND have ministry stuff AND take care of a house AND a rotten puppy is true. It is exhausting.
For the past 6+ weeks I have been teaching first grade in a long-term sub position. It has been amazing and incredible and so much fun and SO. VERY. TIRING. It has been more than I thought it would be. I have typically been at work for 8-9 hours a day and then have had 1-2 hours of work at home.
As tiring as it has been, it has been even more FUN! I only have two more weeks left until the teacher's maternity leave is over, and I am very sad. I will miss the kids so much, and I will miss the being the teacher of those 21 sweet faces. I love the building and the staff; it has all been a fabulous experience. It makes me want to try to get a real teaching job in the next year or two!
Things I have learned over the last six weeks:
*If I ever get a full-time teaching job, our pizza budget will have to increase. Dramatically.
*Too many kids have really sad lives.
*Teachers have WAY too much paperwork.
*Cafeteria pizza is not in a rectangle.
*Parent helpers in the classroom are straight from God.
*Getting a paycheck is a very, very, very good thing. I got new furniture I have been eyeing for two years (cheap-o and from Big Lots, but still...), we are renting a cabin in the mountains for fall break, AND I was able to pay to have our septic system cleaned out. WOHOO! (Yes, my paycheck went down the drain.)
*Indoor recess is just not as fun.
*Tons of little-people-hugs every day are life-giving.
*Previous mom experience helps one anticipate the vomit. Caught it twice in a trashcan, thankyouverymuch.
I have missed my bloggy peeps. I have missed reading blogs. And I have missed writing; missed recording the fun little things of life like tonight's favorite quote:
"I think you are a great mother. Even when you are mean to me. Which [shrug] is what moms do."
Or one of my favorite quotes from a first grader:
"Mrs. Newland, do you like my new shirt? I got it at the feed store!"
To blog or not to blog....Hmm...I'm not sure I'm ready to quit entirely, but it may become only slightly more frequent than my bikini wearing days.
Monday, October 12, 2009
To Blog or Not to Blog, That is the Question
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23 comments:
I miss what felt like frequent conversations back in the day when we were all blogging regularly. But yeah, the time just isn't there anymore and i miss the outlet. Sad.
In my imagination you would be the funnest elementary teacher ever! So calm and patient and bubbly. Those kids are lucky to have you.
I'm new to your blog and loved reading through your old posts -- I hope you'll continue, even if it's only every once in awhile!
And I'm TOTALLY jealous of your paycheck ;)
I hear ya' girl. I like to blame my blog's bikini demise on facebook. :-)
We'll take what we can get. :)
look who popped up in my feedreader. facebook is just not the same. i don't get all this stuff from you in facebook.
I think those little kids are going to cry when you go:( I learned quickly when Sean started teaching not to expect ANYTHING fun on Friday nights. He's normally in a coma by 9pm and if he's not, he certainly doesn't want to say another word. Talked out.
Congrats on your couch and the cabin and a toilet that flushes. Where are you going on Fall Break?
Missed ya, funny girl... Please come back soon!
You look great in a bikini (even if you untagged yourself) -- and your voice needs to be heard, even if it is less frequently. Love you, Friend!! When are you coming to Florida so we can relive our younger days??? ;0
You can't possibly quit because I would miss you too much! You always make me laugh out loud!
Bravo for the vomit catching!
I'm a school speech therapist so I can totally relate to much of your list. LOVE the kids, HATE the paperwork! You are also right that so many kids have very sad and scary lives. It makes me realize that I am in exactly the right place. School is often the only place these kiddos are warm, fed, loved and nurtured.
I love reading your blog! I hope you don't have to hang it up, even though I can understand that you don't have time to blog right now. Keep us posted on your life when you can!
No quitting entirely! Because then we'd miss posts like this, which was great. Not only did you share your life experience, but I picked up some things to apply to my own life, as well. So just pace yourself and post when you want. But don't quit all together!
I think it is normal for blogging to go in spurts. I don't know how some of my favorite blogs do it every day with such amazing stories, photos and content.
I've personally narrowed down the blogging to 2-3 times a week. Helps my sanity and no "pressure" to blog.
And I have to ask...if cafeteria pizza is not a rectangle, what is it now? I always loved that pizza as a kid! : )
Too funny about the paycheck going down the drain. . . :o) Smiles about your new career!! I hope you enjoy it. . but come back to the bloggy world. I took a month off and and now looking forward to being back!! Love your posts!
All I can just say is that I love ya, girlie! Stay healthy...
I miss your blogging, but understand. I worked for a month straight and it WAS hard!!! I applaud your vomit catching skills! I was just getting my file together to reapply for my Early Childhood teaching license, and was thinking about how parenthood and homeschooling has made me better at teaching. Take care my friend!
Your paycheck down the drain. tee hee
Sigh....that's the Cindy humor I have so missed. ;)
Love ya',
K :)
Let me make this easy for you:
Don't STOP.
I love reading your words even when they are few and far between!
Love to you!
Glad you are loving teaching so very much!!!
I heard someone say once that if you're not out living life, you'll have nothing to write about! So, for now, you're just storing the treasures in your heart until you have a quiet moment.
Miss your face....
Where has all the blogging gone? Long time passing...
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time ago-o...
Gone to Facebook, everyone...
That will sound even more depressing if you actually sing it out loud.
Ha!
Blog... please.
Hm. So I've been working full-time again (teaching) and I have WAY less time to blog. I have thought about quitting a few times.
But I've come to a total peace about blogging when I want to - Even if it's once a week...or once a month.
I started blogging for me. When I feel pressured to write for the people who read my blog - I lose the motivation completely.
Those are my random, scattered thoughts, my friend.
love you
jess
Glad you are enjoying it. I have been subbing for a few weeks myself but in a 3rd grade class I have one more week before it ends(maybe it might be two weeks teacher had back surgery) But ITA with you on how hard it is to work full time and care for the 4 kids. I have been so hit and miss with my blog it is sad. But then when this sub job is over I'm going to be missing that paycheck and I don't know if I'll know what to do with myself. My youngest will be starting kindergarten next year so it might be time to start looking at going full time and not just subbing.
You are a good blogger and I miss your blogs. But blogging is so 2005! You should be a more active Twitter!
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