The Latest News

• Last Thursday the boys and I were out front when I noticed a kid riding a ripstick out in front of our house.  I didn't recognize him, so I asked Eli if he knew him.  He didn't.  So he walked over, introduced himself and started chatting.  Turns out he just moved in around the corner, arrived here from Germany, he is going into the 6th grade, at the same middle school as Eli.  Eli asked how he was going to school, the friend said "walking", they decided to walk together.
• Today I had a meeting with the principal of my school.  I needed to ask her to adjust my schedule a little to allow for me to drop G off in the morning.  I was nervous because I really didn't know what I would do if she said "no".  I went in to her office, chatted a bit about summer and then dropped the bomb shell on her.  I need to work from 8:10-3:10 in order to drop my son off at school.  As I spoke I was trying to read her reaction.  What happened was so unexpected, my mind was blown.  She said "thank you!" quite loudly.  Then she hollered to her secretary who sits outside her office and said "good news, she isn't quitting".  They were all so ecstatic that I wasn't quitting, I think I could have asked for a raise and been granted one.  After the excitement died down she said "what did you work last year?"  We had a conversation about what my schedule was last year and what would need to be different this year.  In the end she was not only glad I wasn't quitting, but she was happy to adjust my schedule to 8:15-3:15 so that I could help monitor student release.  I guess a few employees notified her at the last minute that they were not returning for this school year.  This sent her into a panic to start interviewing and hire before next week!  She told me that she had been stressing over this meeting today since the day before when she heard I was coming in to see her.  She said she was hoping that I was pregnant, not quitting.  I made a deal with her: she won't hope I am pregnant ever again and I promise I will never quit a week before school starts.
• While I was in the office with the principal who was giddy that I am still going to work there, I decided it was a perfect time to tell her that G would be taking the TAG shuttle to the school and would be waiting there for me to bring him home.  She shrugged it off, commented how he will be sitting there with the other shuttle kids and said he would be supervised with everyone else.
• Eli needs to see an orthodontist for some preventative/phase 1 corrective work.  I love my dentist and really trust his opinion.  Shocking for me.  I usually hate and largely distrust dentists.  So I was super happy when my dentist recommended an orthodontist who accepts Matt's insurance.  I was doubly happy when I found out today that I have my own dental/orthodontist insurance and therefore will likely be able to dramatically decrease out of pocket fees for his teeth issues.

Loose ends, minor concerns, little pieces to the puzzle all have come together quite nicely in the last few days.  There have been a few moments this summer that I questioned whether I should be working.  I hate that I can't be at every school event, field trip, or just pop in for lunch with the kids.  I hate that Eli is not going to be dropped off at school by Matt or I.  I dislike that my responsibility has shifted from only the home and all that comes with that, to home and work.  On the other hand, before I started working I was feeling like I was a wee bit useless.  All day while the kids were at school I sat at home feeling like I lost my purpose.
As the little pieces have come together I feel more and more confident that I am where I should be, where God has carved out a little place for me.  The benefits from working are far greater than pay and dental insurance.  I feel challenged.  It is a challenge for me to do my job at work and then come home, cook dinner and make time to hang out with my boys.  I am challenged to make better use of my time, because there is less of it.  I am challenged to be the teacheresque person who shows these little rascals love and understanding and encourages them to press on when it gets tough.  I am challenged to show my boys that we are a team, we are all working together for the good of our family.  With my job comes some sacrifice and teamwork, but there will also be rewards - like we may actually, some day, decide it is worth the money to go to Great Wolf Lodge.  Probably not anytime soon, but some day.