Mixed Feelings...

Well, yesterday was my last day of my nine week long-term substitute job for kindergarten. I finished up last night at 7:30 with my last parent-teacher conference. The room mothers for the AM and PM classes surprised me yesterday and brought me flowers and a gift basket with treats and gift certificates. They tricked me out of the room and had all the kids sign a card for me. I was so surprised!!! I have become a little attached to the kids and the classroom, and had mixed emotions about being done. But Miss Kanz is ready and excited to get back and the kids are WAY excited. We have been hyping it up and counting down the days til she returns, to make the transition easier for the kids. We made a big 'welcome back' sign for her and a poem, and hung balloons. When the morning class left to go home, one little boy just burst into tears and could not quit saying how much he was going to miss me. Then, last night he came with his parents to parent teacher conferences and started to cry again. It was so sweet and broke my heart!!

I sure have appreciated the opportunity to do this job. It got me back in the classroom to give myself an idea of how I feel about teaching again. And let me know the things I need to brush up on to be a more effective teacher one day. I asked the principal to observe me, and she was great to give me honest, helpful feedback. The subbing will go towards helping renew my teaching license. No plans for now. I will substitute here and there for the younger grades, only at our school. My ideal would be to work half time next year....but that ideal job may not come up. If not, I'm not sure if I would accept a full-time position. As much as I love the success I feel in the classroom, and feel like it is what I am good at....my own kids need me 100% after school.

One thing I have learned this past nine weeks is that....teaching two classes of kindergartners, and doing a pretty good job of it, is WAY EASIER for me than parenting my own two children. It has also forced me to use my time more wisely and actually spend more quality time with the kids---maybe out of guilt for being more busy, I don't know. It has been a good experience for our little family. It was so great to have Darin's full support and so fun to go with the kids to and from school every day. I will miss being "near" them all day, seeing them on the playground, etc.

Here is a photo of our "hall wall" during October. I can't post pictures of the students, so thought I'd post this to remember this experience.

Now for all the free time I will have...what to do?? What to do??