When I first started teaching I remember being overwhelmed with lesson planning and figuring out what I was going to do with my students every day. I started out teaching three different classes -- Oral Communications, 7th grade English and 8th grade English. If you don't know what you are going to do with 28 7th graders for 49 minutes, you will be doomed. :)
Every week I would make the plan for what was to come and we'd make it through and I'd make a new plan. I made notes about what to change and add on the next time and before I knew it, the year was over. The beautiful thing about year number two? I had a rough sketch of what to do. I could look back at the plans from the year before and go with it. This was great considering I was in grad school, coaching volleyball and had added on another class to teach.
By the time last year rolled around, I was a pro. I had a rough idea of what every week would look like months in advance. I still added new things every year, but having one brand new unit after two older ones was no problem. In fact, I like to add on the new things because it kept me fresh as a teacher.
And while I thought my "lesson planning" days were put on hold for awhile, I'm finding the opposite to be true. Being a stay-at-home mom means you are constantly "lesson planning" -- for life. The only thing is, I can't just write down what Vera and I did today and then do the same thing a year from now. Because a year from now she'll be a year older. She probably won't need to practice crawling. She may not be as interested in reading her newspapers. Watching me build towers may not carry the same appeal. And then of course there's the day when we have another baby.
Let's not talk about that quite yet though. ;)
I've realized that I am a much more social person that I thought. I've always loved getting into comfy clothes on a Friday or Saturday night and curling up on the couch to watch a movie. When Derek and I first got married we loved having Saturday mornings to make breakfast and just relax. But what I didn't realize until recently is that during the week I interacted with a lot of people. A LOT. I taught roughly 150 kids a day. I would probably talk to five or six adults at school a day too. I had a lot of time to be around people and have conversations and be social. When weekends rolled around I needed that time to debrief but I didn't realize how much the weeks fueled me until I didn't have them.
I love being home with Vera but if I'm honest, I get lonely. A lot. Adding in seeing kids in the hallways, I used to see 200 people a day, like really see them. Now most days I see 2. And they are, by far, my favorite two people, but one of them isn't quite a conversationalist yet ;) I remember days when I would guzzle water because I was talking so much. Days when my voice would get a little raspy from so much speaking. I talk as much as I can to Vera, but sometimes those one-sided conversations can be tricky.
I didn't anticipate being lonely. I didn't anticipate how much a "no nap day" could completely change my day. I didn't anticipate how much of an adjustment everything would really be. I didn't anticipate how hard it would be to make new friends with other stay-at-home moms. While I learned I'm more social than I thought, I'm still shy at first.
But I guess if we could anticipate everything that would happen then life wouldn't be quite so exciting would it? How would we learn and grow from things if we always knew how they would go?
I'm trying not to get my hopes too high, because I don't want them completely dashed, but I'm really putting a lot of pressure on Spring to get here. I think that the ability to go on more walks and get outside will help change things. I'm going to look into some community ed stuff too -- Eagan has a puppet wagon that travels around each day during the summer. Vera and I might just attend every single show.
Until that snow melts and those puppets start their show I guess I better fill up those lesson books :) As long as Vera and I have at least one thing planned each day we're pretty good. Who wants to hang out with a cute baby (and her mom)?
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
a year of firsts
I am wrapped up in a year of firsts. Watching Vera grow and change every day is such a joy and is of course filled with new and exciting things. Since July 16th our family has had more "firsts" than we can count:
*Our first time as parents
*Our first sleepless night
*Vera's first vacation
*Vera's first trip to Dairy Queen
*Vera's first smile
*Vera's first laugh
*Vera's first Halloween
*Our first time going on a date without Vera
*Vera's first time sleeping through the night
*Vera's first time rolling over
*Vera's first Thanksgiving
*Vera's first time sitting up
*Vera's first Christmas
*Our first experience with teething
*Vera's first tooth
*Vera's first cold
*My first time getting sick as a mom
*Our first night away from Vera
The list could go on and on. I just love my little daughter :)
But this year has also brought another list of "firsts" for me:
*My first time in 25 years to not go back to school after labor day
*My first time to not have Christmas break
*My first time to not have a snow day
*My first time to not have spring break
Now, I know that all of these are teaching related and I know that they pretty much all relate to breaks from school too. I do understand that I also have had the first time in 7 years that I haven't had to grade 75 4-page research papers. I also understand what a great privilege it is to be home with Vera every day and I would not trade that for anything. But, this week when nearly all of my teacher friends got a snow day I was just slightly jealous because it was the first snow day where it didn't affect me at all. It was just a normal Tuesday for us, folding laundry, doing Tae-Bo and dusting. And now spring breaks start too. I wouldn't say that it was normal for me to go anywhere over spring break, but it at least brought a small change to life. Not this year though.
But this is all okay. Because I am really excited for all the "firsts" yet to come. Our first walk outside in the spring. Our first trip to the playground. Our first time playing in the backyard. Vera's cute little smile, her contagious laughter and her big eyes will trump any snow day.
*Our first time as parents
*Our first sleepless night
*Vera's first vacation
*Vera's first trip to Dairy Queen
*Vera's first smile
*Vera's first laugh
*Vera's first Halloween
*Our first time going on a date without Vera
*Vera's first time sleeping through the night
*Vera's first time rolling over
*Vera's first Thanksgiving
*Vera's first time sitting up
*Vera's first Christmas
*Our first experience with teething
*Vera's first tooth
*Vera's first cold
*My first time getting sick as a mom
*Our first night away from Vera
The list could go on and on. I just love my little daughter :)
But this year has also brought another list of "firsts" for me:
*My first time in 25 years to not go back to school after labor day
*My first time to not have Christmas break
*My first time to not have a snow day
*My first time to not have spring break
Now, I know that all of these are teaching related and I know that they pretty much all relate to breaks from school too. I do understand that I also have had the first time in 7 years that I haven't had to grade 75 4-page research papers. I also understand what a great privilege it is to be home with Vera every day and I would not trade that for anything. But, this week when nearly all of my teacher friends got a snow day I was just slightly jealous because it was the first snow day where it didn't affect me at all. It was just a normal Tuesday for us, folding laundry, doing Tae-Bo and dusting. And now spring breaks start too. I wouldn't say that it was normal for me to go anywhere over spring break, but it at least brought a small change to life. Not this year though.
But this is all okay. Because I am really excited for all the "firsts" yet to come. Our first walk outside in the spring. Our first trip to the playground. Our first time playing in the backyard. Vera's cute little smile, her contagious laughter and her big eyes will trump any snow day.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
tae-bo
When I was in high school the Tae-Bo craze began. I remember watching the infomercial one Saturday morning and deciding that Tae-Bo would be the best thing ever and convinced my mom to get it. The four VHS tapes got played a lot in the old VCR and I loved it. I had the regular 28 minute workout nearly memorized. My sisters used to watch me as I worked out with Billy Blanks. It was great.
As I work on exercising again I really would love to use my old Tae-Bo but alas, we do not have a VCR. So what did I do? Found a great deal on a Tae-Bo DVD! It was only $9 and it has 8 10-minute workouts. I was so excited to try this DVD. And it has taught me two things:
Tae-Bo is hard. And I am out of shape.
I know it's been a little while since I have worked out on a regular basis, but seriously, these workouts are hard. I know they are only 10 minutes, but he really packs it in. I have done five of the eight workouts so far and there is at least one thing done in each workout where I stare at the screen for a brief moment in disbelief. They expect me to do that? They want me to punch even faster? I can't kick any harder than that. Nothing has made me feel more out of shape.
But here's the good thing. Every workout I complete makes me believe that next time I can punch a little faster or kick a little harder. It makes me believe that next time maybe I will be able to do sit ups and spin in a circle at the same time. (Yes, that is a real thing)
And because the workouts are only 10 minutes, Vera is able to sit and watch and play while I workout. So great.
As I work on exercising again I really would love to use my old Tae-Bo but alas, we do not have a VCR. So what did I do? Found a great deal on a Tae-Bo DVD! It was only $9 and it has 8 10-minute workouts. I was so excited to try this DVD. And it has taught me two things:
Tae-Bo is hard. And I am out of shape.
I know it's been a little while since I have worked out on a regular basis, but seriously, these workouts are hard. I know they are only 10 minutes, but he really packs it in. I have done five of the eight workouts so far and there is at least one thing done in each workout where I stare at the screen for a brief moment in disbelief. They expect me to do that? They want me to punch even faster? I can't kick any harder than that. Nothing has made me feel more out of shape.
But here's the good thing. Every workout I complete makes me believe that next time I can punch a little faster or kick a little harder. It makes me believe that next time maybe I will be able to do sit ups and spin in a circle at the same time. (Yes, that is a real thing)
And because the workouts are only 10 minutes, Vera is able to sit and watch and play while I workout. So great.
who do i call for a sub?
Last week I experienced a first as a mom -- being sick. It was quite a week.
I haven't gotten really sick in years and last Monday I was hit hard with the flu. I spent a lot of time throwing up and in bed (no, I'm not pregnant) and even got a fever which really threw me for a loop. I mean I'm 31, who gets a fever anymore? And the biggest change of being sick now? I can't call a sub and stay in bed all day.
But through all of this I became quite thankful for quite a few things. Of course I have forgotten what some of these things are but I will do my best to remember.
*My husband. Hands down, I have the greatest husband. I called him on Monday to let him know I wasn't feeling well but that I thought I would be okay. I then called him back after I threw up the first time and he came home and took care of Vera and me. He still had to work too and was up until about 10:30 getting his work done. He then worked from home on Tuesday to help as well. And when I came down with a fever on Wednesday he once again took such great care of me. So thankful.
*Netflix. Up to this point Derek and I have been very strict when it comes to Vera and tv. She really hasn't watched any unless it's been a football game or a basketball game ;) And even those have been few and far between. When I got sick on Monday though just the thought of sitting on the floor to play with Vera was way beyond what I could do. And so I went to Netflix. I found a program called Art and Music. Essentially it's a program where you watch people draw things set to music. It seemed pretty safe. And it saved my life.
*Facial muscles. I never realized how many muscles I have in my face and how much they work all the time. Whenever I look at Vera I can't help but smile. When I was sick though, no smile could come. I tried. I desperately wanted to smile at my sweet daughter. But the muscles in my face could no do the work. I am so thankful I have use of these muscles.
*Freezie pops. A fever + freezie pops = fantastic. I normally only have freezie pops during one week of the year. Thankfully we have some and they were in the freezer. I had at least four on Wednesday night and they were magically delicious.
*Turtle bread. My sister works at this restaurant and had brought us a delicious loaf of bread a few weeks back. We had put it in the freezer and just took it out to eat the day before I got sick. There were a few days when all I ate was toast and this loaf of bread was so much more delicious than regular bread.
That's all that comes to mind right now. I wish I could say that I am completely better but I've come down with a cold now as well. This is getting a little out of control but a cold seems like a small ordeal compared to last week.
I haven't gotten really sick in years and last Monday I was hit hard with the flu. I spent a lot of time throwing up and in bed (no, I'm not pregnant) and even got a fever which really threw me for a loop. I mean I'm 31, who gets a fever anymore? And the biggest change of being sick now? I can't call a sub and stay in bed all day.
But through all of this I became quite thankful for quite a few things. Of course I have forgotten what some of these things are but I will do my best to remember.
*My husband. Hands down, I have the greatest husband. I called him on Monday to let him know I wasn't feeling well but that I thought I would be okay. I then called him back after I threw up the first time and he came home and took care of Vera and me. He still had to work too and was up until about 10:30 getting his work done. He then worked from home on Tuesday to help as well. And when I came down with a fever on Wednesday he once again took such great care of me. So thankful.
*Netflix. Up to this point Derek and I have been very strict when it comes to Vera and tv. She really hasn't watched any unless it's been a football game or a basketball game ;) And even those have been few and far between. When I got sick on Monday though just the thought of sitting on the floor to play with Vera was way beyond what I could do. And so I went to Netflix. I found a program called Art and Music. Essentially it's a program where you watch people draw things set to music. It seemed pretty safe. And it saved my life.
*Facial muscles. I never realized how many muscles I have in my face and how much they work all the time. Whenever I look at Vera I can't help but smile. When I was sick though, no smile could come. I tried. I desperately wanted to smile at my sweet daughter. But the muscles in my face could no do the work. I am so thankful I have use of these muscles.
*Freezie pops. A fever + freezie pops = fantastic. I normally only have freezie pops during one week of the year. Thankfully we have some and they were in the freezer. I had at least four on Wednesday night and they were magically delicious.
*Turtle bread. My sister works at this restaurant and had brought us a delicious loaf of bread a few weeks back. We had put it in the freezer and just took it out to eat the day before I got sick. There were a few days when all I ate was toast and this loaf of bread was so much more delicious than regular bread.
That's all that comes to mind right now. I wish I could say that I am completely better but I've come down with a cold now as well. This is getting a little out of control but a cold seems like a small ordeal compared to last week.
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