I took a job, a very, very part-time job.  I haven't had a on-the-payroll-must-be-on-time-need-to-look-profe ssional job in 4 years. 

So the kiddo and I have been running around like maniacs trying to get all my employment paperwork taken care of.  We've made multiple rounds to offices.  I've been using the word "paperwork" several times a day.  When the kiddo asks, "What's that (pile of papers) for?" and I explain, "It's for Mommy's new job," she just looks at me quizzically.  Yeah.  She doesn't quite get it.  I tell her I'm going to teach a class, and she asks, "At my school?"  Funny.  But I must say that she's been a trooper as I haul her around in the heat to complete all the preliminary employment stuff.

Returning to the classroom is both strange and familiar.  Familiar in the sense that I will always be a teacher.  I'm looking forward to being back in a classroom.  I'm looking forward to interacting with students.  I'm looking forward to watching students succeed.  I've been going through pages of notes on phonics, phonemes, morphemes, text analysis, reading comprehension, and I enjoy every moment, sometimes even stopping to just run my hand over the pages.  But it is strange in the sense that I'm not going back to my classroom.  I'm working with new administrators.  I'm on a new campus.  I haven't even seen my room. I'm working with new curriculum and assessment tools.  So much new stuff - it's just wonderfully different.

And did I mention how this all came together?  The hubby and I had been discussing my going back to work - a discussion that had been on and off the table several times in the last year.  We both agreed that it couldn't disrupt our current commitments.  My working is important, but not worth sacrificing our values.  We also knew child care was an issue (isn't it always?).  The job would have to pay enough to make paying for child care worth it.   We contemplated several ideas, and a few possibilities were seriously considered.  But nothing worked out - either the hours weren't quite right, or the pay was too little, or we'd have to change preschools, or . . . fill in the blank.  But then a friend mentioned this new position in her district - a position most teachers wouldn't want because they need full time work, or they work full time already.  I went down to the administrator's office, and they were ready to hire me (guess I have a few good references in the district - thanks to my former colleagues!).   The pay was decent.  The hours were ideal - Monday through Friday, 3-5 p.m.  The work itself is what I enjoy.  The work place is downtown which is what the hubby and I had hoped for.  And child care fell into place - family members offered to help, and we found a wonderful babysitter (Thanks, Kevin!  Thanks, RB, for creating this site where parents can connect!).  Everything, I mean EVERYTHING, has worked out.

In a week I'll be walking into the classroom.  Not sure what it's going to look like, but that's okay.  What I do know is this:  I'm going in there and teaching people to read.  And I'm going to love it.