Where did January go?!

Wow, 2013 has really gotten away from me! 

It's mid-February and I'm JUST beginning my first blog post for the New Year. The year isn't even NEW anymore, for Pete’s sake!

Honestly, after a very busy December, I haven’t really felt like doing much. At the end of the year, I began contemplating going back to work in the Fall. Building is going slow, mainly because we’re paying for it with cash {instead of a nasty loan we would regret}. So a second income would give us a great push in the right direction.

There are lots of inner conflicts going on with the decision right now. The idea of getting back into the classroom thrills me. I love being at school, working with my colleagues, and spending important time with the kiddos, sharing in the learning experience—I could go on and on. But being a teacher is a double-edged sword.

Let’s not forget that on top of making an impact in your students’ lives, you’re also making a huge impact on your own. Teaching is not a 9-5 job. You never “clock out.” You’re not given the luxury others receive—clocking out, checking out, and going home to your home life. When you’re a teacher, you’re one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Contrary to what others believe, having summers off and scattered 3-4 day weekends off throughout your calendar doesn’t mean that teachers are these tranquil beings who pamper themselves with pedicures twice monthly and sport healthy blood pressures. As a matter of fact, it’s the exact, extreme opposite. Being a teacher isn’t one’s profession: if one tells you that, they’re either a) lying to themselves or b) not really meant to be a teacher.

Just a few weeks ago, I was speaking to my mom about the potentional of getting a position at my niece’s school. I could pick them up and drop them off at her home, while she watches Wyatt during the day. In conversation it came up that I would be bringing them home after student dismissal, as I would have office hours and meetings to attend. She was shocked to find out that teachers are expected to work even after the kids leave. For my old school, we were required to work 7:30-4:00 every day, and then days we had morning duties we were to be there at 7:15. Needless to say, the old images of teachers hitting the parking lot as the busses fill up are urban myths. That never happens.

As for going back to work, I think it is still up in the air. Colt is adamant that if I’m only doing it for the money—and not some intrinsic motivation {ie. work completes me}—then I shouldn’t do it. We both think Wyatt is more important than that.

For me, I guess the biggest battle is if I choose to stay home another year, I need to find some playmates for Wyatt to meet up with a few times a week. I think he’s missing out on the group play he would get at a daycare. I also battle with the idea that if I’m going to stay home another year, we might as well start trying for another baby.

I know it sounds horrible/cruel/rude/insensitive, but if I’m going to take another year off, I might as well knock that 2^nd kid out, get it over with, check #2 off my list of life to-do’s. Colt says that we should finish the house first, but I would hate to take another year off, go back to work when Wyatt is 3ish, then have to push having another baby by a few years (to gain tenure at a new school), and end up feeling guilty for not taking time off to be with the new baby, or postponing my career with another 2 year hiatus.

I think the best moral you can take from this blogpost is this: being a grown up is hard, being a parent is difficult, and—most importantly—making the best decision is arduous.

|MrsG

At the end of December {Faux-Christmas-Day at the Geer household!} Uncle Matt finally put a ring on it, thereby earning himself the official-forever-title "Uncle Matt."

 

The wedding is still to-be-announced, but I'm thinking these crazy kids'll make it. ;-)

Wyatt and Mack have slowly become playmates in crime.

We bought a new truck. 2002 Ford Excursion 4x4, Colt loves it, and surprisingly, so do I! It has space GALORE, with 3 rows of seats, seats a whopping 8 people COMFORTABLY, has new leather seats and seat warmers! It has the towing capacity to easily haul materials with our trailer, plus it can pull our RV for those rare instances we take it somewhere.

Somehow, against my better judgement, I began having blunt-bang-envy of sister-Kimberley, Sherry {from over at younghouselove.com}, Beth-- my hairstylist, and the ever-perfect Zooey Deschanel. I don't hate them, but I don't think I love them either. It's too hit-and-miss on whether or not they are going to look normal everyday. My good ole' side bangs were tried and true.

Wyatt had nap-envy of Mack, as he can takes the most comfortable looking naps while basking in the heat of direct sunlight.

Papa came to visit from Florida! And we finally got a really good snow-- although it was fleeting. Wyatt has so.much.fun. pulling a sleigh around Auntie's yard!

First time playing in the snow.