We are back in the grind of our school year. My oldest daughter is in 5th grade, my stepdaughter is in 1st grade, and my husband is back to work at a local elementary school, but this year I'm not heading back to school. It's the first time I haven't had my own classroom in 7 years.

I loved being a teacher. I enjoyed my years teaching kindergarten, first, and second grades. It was odd for me this year not stocking up on the school supplies and other new items for my classroom. I always loved the first day of school and meeting my class of fresh new faces. I loved heading out to the playground and seeing my students from the previous years and how they had grown. I enjoyed creating lessons and watching children learn, but this year I'm the teacher of my own children.

I gave up the job I loved to do the very important job of mothering two little guys and two older girls. It is scary giving up a job (especially during the time of state budget cuts), but each day I wake up and I thank God that I am able to be home. Each day I'm looking for one thing that I am thankful I was able to do that day. On the first day of the school year I was thankful that I was able to take my 5th grader to school. It was my first time ever being able to take her to school on the first day! Another day I was thankful that I was able to watch my 2 year old son entertain himself with a box for almost an hour! 

Many days it will be the simple things that I am thankful for being able to see because I am home. I love being able to see my infant smile. Other times it may be the BIG events like seeing my youngest roll over for the first time or crawl for the first time. Then, there are days, like yesterday, when both of my little guys were wrecks. They cried and whined and my day seemed SOOO LONG. But yes I was thankful that I was the one comforting their cries. Someday I will go back to the classroom, but until then I am going to treasure each day I have at home.