Monday, June 9, 2014

New School...

After several interviews at various preschools around the area I finally accepted a position at a local preschool as a Pre-K 5 Teacher. I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity that's been given to me. This chance to finally spread my wings and built my experience. I absolutely love love working with kids and being able to experience life with them. Finally getting the chance to expand my experience is really important to me.
I will be in a classroom all to myself, no assistant here. I'm totally fine with that just means I really have to step up my game. I'll have a up to 15, 5 year olds in my care all to myself. Yikes that's a lot'a little ones. Thankfully my classroom is connected by a half wall with the Pre-K 4 classroom and the teacher in there seems to be really great and willing to help me with everything needed. It's always so hard starting over, having to learn new policies and procedures, meet new people, making friends, proving myself and getting the kiddo's to fall for me, learn to trust me and simply have fun with me.
The school is small, much smaller than were I came from at EDS. Its ran completely different as every school is but to come from such a awesome place I can't help but compare. I'm trying not to really I am but its so hard not to.
Another thing I'm having to learn to process and take in every day that I didn't before is "broken families." Believe it or not at the school I worked at before in Cola, there was not but maybe one or two broken families. And there was only two military families that went to the school. So I didn't work with military families or spend my days around children who's parents were away for various reason's. Now don't get me wrong I have worked with military families and their children in Hawaii. But I have never in my life worked with a group of kids that have come from so many broken families, parents that aren't in the picture at all. Children that live with grandparents or even foster care and other relatives. It breaks my heart, why on earth would anyone at all walk out on their child or not do everything in their power to provide a wonderful life for their children. Now don't get me wrong I come from a broken family myself so I am not at all down grading them but to have some of these kiddos tell me "I don't have a mommy," when we are talking about something in class just makes me so sad. I just want to scoop them up and take them home with me.
On the other hand there are a few ever so loving 5 year old's in my class that we refer to as "walking tornado's" and OMG I have to just walk away myself sometimes. I've had one child use multiple curse words in class, another push a chair across the room, kick and hit their friends. Of course they are kids, these things are going to happen but the language is were I drawl the line. Your out the door when you start talking like that.
I'm still learning the routine, the kids, the school, the management, my co-workers, who to talk to and who to watch what I say to as you have to deal with, with every job. It comes with time, time I've got and willing to spare. I'm giving it 100% and putting everything I have into it. My only hope is to leave a lasting impression on these families as I did with my last.
Change is hard, its never easy but I'm embracing it making the most of it!!! But I'd be lying like crazy if I said I didn't miss my EDS family so much. I'll be back, even if its just a visit for now and that's what keeps me going. :)
Oh and well since every girl loves a monogram and we all know I love everything monogrammed, I though I'd share these with yall!!! We have to wear scrubs Monday - Thursday (Friday is bluejeans and our school shirt day) and I'm not all about the prints and patterns on the scrubs so I went with solid colors and MONOGRAMMED them!!!! They turned out perfect and definitely jazzed them up a bit!!!! 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Headed "Home"

After what seemed like the longest month and a half later I was finally on the road headed back to TN. For Good This Time. Well at least for the next few years. I couldn't wait to see my hubbs, I've missed him so much. Some how this seemed like a good idea at the time but the longer the days drug on the more I hated myself for staying. Don't get my wrong I didn't regret it at all, I just missed being able to live life with my love in our new house. I couldn't help but think that if I would have gone when he did then I wouldn't have gotten in that wreck. I was at least grateful that I had gone up in the beginning of May to unpack our house and set it up. One last thing I had to stress over  and deal with when I got home.
I ended my last day at EDS (for now, I hope to be back one day) Said my "see you soon's"and headed home to pack up my things. Cory took me to get my car, finally I couldn't wait to have my own car back again. We transferred everything over and I was on my way, well for a short moment that was. I made one last stop to say "see you soon" get hugs and kisses from the Sweet R family. They were the last ones I saw in the South before I left. I couldn't leave with out one last hug!!! These two have my heart and its in a million pieces knowing I'm not going to be able to see them for a while. 
Blowing Kisses as I drove away, breaks my heart. 
Here's to the next 7 hours, just me and the highway. I left much later than I had wanted to but none the less I was on the road headed "home". 
It was a long grueling drive, mainly through the night but I finally made it home around 2am and couldn't of been happier. I was so tired I didn't even take a single thing inside. I had a interview in 8 hours and had to be up in 6 hours so I was fast asleep as soon as I laid down. 
I loved coming home to a house that was set up, decorated and I could just pick right up. Our house felt like home but Tennessee most defiantly did not. Driving around later the next day I had a lump in my throat the whole time. How am I suppose to do this, starting over, finding a job I love as much as my last, finding friends, building new memories and favorite places to go to. I know it all comes with time and I'll get there but for now I still miss home. I'll always miss home. South Carolina that is. I NEVER in my wildest dreams would have though that I could have loved life in Cola as much as a I did. I was not crazy about it when we moved there at all. But that changed with time. I'm not saying I don't like it here in TN, I haven't been here long enough to give it a chance. I'm sure I'll grow to love it and enjoy it our time. We will make wonderful memories that I'll love and cherish forever! It just takes time and patients. I'm trying just sometimes easier said than done. 

I'll start here…….

We have a large covered deck off the back of our house so I picked up this lovely set before I left Cola. I absolutely love it!!! We've never had a nice patio set (just the cheap plastic one from the PX) but not this time. I splurged and couldn't be happier with it. I'm all about saving money and going with the basics of things but this time was different. I for see us having many meals out here, drinks with friends, watching the pups run around and play and seeing the lightening bugs fly through the night. Or in case's like today breakfast on the patio, peach tea, toast with homemade strawberry jam made by yours truly. 
I'm trying over here, and that's all I can do. One day at a time, One foot in front of the other.