Career Opportunities

I've recently been exploring my options for next school year.  There is always the slim possibility that the principals in this town will WAKE UP and realize they are missing a fundamental member for their teams (uh-hum, that would be ME), but on the off chance that this does not happen, I am preparing myself.

I know after these past few weeks that I cannot be a stay at home mom if I'm not actually mommying.  I know ... I'm awful.  Many of my mom friends revel in the joys of motherhood, perfectly content to volunteer at the school or do other mommy-type things while their children are at school.  Sorry, but it's just not in me.  I thought I could do it.  And while I have loved being able to do all these things with Kendall and Tanner this year, I'm just not sure I can handle the off-days on my own.  The freelance work has kept me pretty busy, and there's always work to do around this house, but I just don't think I can keep my days filled with it.  I know many SAHM's take the time while their kids are at school to take care of themselves, as well.  Lunch dates with friends, hair appointments and doctor's appointments.  It is prime time to do many of the things that become nearly impossible once you have small children.  But I feel incredibly guilty when I spend money if I'm on my own and there's no true reason for it.  I feel guilty about spending money Tim is working so hard to provide when I'm not contributing to the family purse.

So, with that in mind, added to the fact that I'm pretty sure I've forgotten how to interact with adults in a work situation, I've been making a mental list of possible careers for next year.  Some are more serious than others; but all are viable options.

1)  Day-to-day substitute -- I was going to get on the sub list for Cherokee County this year, but I was planning to have Big B all year, so we planned around it.  We enrolled Tanner in 9-1 school and I never had my fingerprints done to get on the list.  Now, here we are with no Big B (and no real income), a 4 year-old in private preschool, and crazy hours that keep me unable to get a "real" job (because being a Mommy isn't a REAL job, right?).  So next year, I have the option of going through the motions again, filling out the application (which, mind you, is the same application as the teaching application), getting my fingerprints done, and waiting.  We all know how subbing isn't guaranteed, but I do know enough people that work in Cherokee County schools to keep myself busy if they need me.  Subbing has its perks -- no lesson plans, no grading, great hours.

2) Homeschooling -- I know, it sounds crazy.  And, at first, I thought, "No freakin' way."  I certainly am not interested in homeschooling my own.  They are thriving at school away from me. But I was having a discussion with a friend of mine at dinner a few weeks back about the possibility of homeschooling other people's children in my home.  Think about it -- there are tons of people out there who would love to homeschool but don't have the know-how or have other jobs and can't do it.  If I offered my services, they could pay me to homeschool their kids.  Some people would likely pay boo-coo's of money to have their kids homeschooled.  If I had a small class of 3-5 kids, each paying $100 a week (or whatever), that would be perfect!  Top it off with the parents purchasing all the books needed, and it's a viable option.

3) Teaching at Child's Play -- I had a chance to substitute at Tanner's school last Thursday and Friday and it was so much fun.  I was in a small 4-5 year old class, and we played and colored and traced letters.  We read stories and looked for acorns on the playground.  I was there at 8:40 and out by 1:30.  Sounds prime for me.  And it pays just enough to help out with the bills.  I'm going to make sure the director knows I'm interested with a capital I about working for her next year.

4) Writer -- This one is constantly floating around in the back of my head.  You guys (the people who read my blog) are always telling me how I should write a book with all these crazy stories.  And I probably could write a book if I knew I had someone to publish it.  But I have no idea how to go about doing such a thing.  I have been looking at some more writing opportunities through the Freelancer site, but they just don't pay for how much time I'd have to put into it right now.  When the kids are both at school next year, maybe; but not right now.  But if you hear of any opportunities, let me know.

5) Boosterthon Cheerleader -- This is probably the most far-fetched, but it's my favorite option.  Last month, Kendall had the Boosterthon at her school.  Most of you have heard about it, or seen pictures, and I have to tell you, this is right up my alley.  Of course, I have no idea how it really works.  All I know is that this group travels around to the schools and puts on these big pep rallies for the kids to kick off their Fun Run fundraiser.  I thought it looked fun in kindergarten, but this year I actually asked one of the guys about it.  When Tornado Taylor (yes, they all have fun names like that ... ) came up to say hi and thank us for taking part in the fun run, I asked, "Why aren't there any girls on your team?"  You see, the Fun Run cheerleaders are all boys.  Young-ish, thin, bouncy boys.  He told me that there are, in fact, girls on the team, but they just weren't part of HSES's team. Then I asked how I could do it.  I figured he would look at me like, "Who is this old lady asking to take my job?" But he was very nice about it and said all I have to do is apply online.  It seriously looks like tons of fun.  And I cheered for so long ... I think I could hang if I lost a little weight.  And the real kicker ?  They have cool shoes.  Cool, one-of-a-kind shoes and a nickname?  Sounds perfect. :)

So there are a few of my options.  We'll see how it all pans out next year.  But I need to start planning for something.  This $.10 per 100 words proofreading isn't paying at all ...

Favorite Photo Friday

Kendall Leigh

January 2007

Since everyone else has seen her panties. ;0)  This was right after she was potty-trained.  Officially potty-trained. So proud ...

I would go on and on, but I am WHOOPED after a measly 8 hours in the "workforce."  I'm beat ... 

(BTW -- this one won't be up long ... my blog isn't private, and I don't want any creepies looking at my baby ...)

Back in the Saddle

That was so fun!!

I subbed for the first time today at Tanner's school.

I know, right?  Totally out of my element.  I man, I'm used to 11 year old's and pimples and hormones and drama ...

But instead I was surrounded (well, not really, there were only 7 of them) by little 4 year old's.  And they were so sweet and cute.  We did handwriting (the letter of the week is O) and played.  We went outside and read books.  We danced to music.  A few of them even tried to share their lunches with me (I ran out this morning without food, completely unprepared for work ...) at lunch time.  I worried what Tanner would think if he saw me, so we made a game out of sneaking past Tanner's door when we had to go down the hallway.  Of course, I don't know why I worried about it -- Tanner saw me during carpool and he was fine.  he even stayed in his place by the wall with his class -- I figured he'd pitch a fit and try to come down to my classroom.

Anyway, it felt good to be back among the living, even if I was still surrounded by little people!  And when I left, Ms. Sheila asked if I would be on call in case they need me tomorrow.

Who knows -- maybe this will be the start of something new ... a new way for me to bring in some income ...

Worn In, Worn Down, and Worn Out

Completely worn out.

The only way I know to describe how I feel right now.

Blessed ... but completely worn out.

Fall is a trying time for the SAHM species.  School is in session, and fall festivities are taking over all aspects of life.  This is especially true in the Morris house.  It seems that, since I stopped watching Brady, my weeks have been jam packed!  I've had pretty steady freelance work coming in every week, and that takes up a chunk of my mornings while Tanner is at school.  Wednesday is still my full-time-Mommy day, with my mornings at Kendall's school making copies and having lunch, and my afternoons reading to Tanner's class.  But the last two weeks I've been at one or the other EVERY DAY, taking care of Halloween festivities or fundraiser stuff.  It's been crazy!  And I'm pretty sure there have been a few instances when Tim was thinking, "What in the world has happened to this house?"  It's like a bomb went off, and there are now small mini-versions of our dog popping up under all the furniture.  (Picture white fur flying when the doors open ...)

This week has finally calmed down a bit with Halloween being over.  We had our first fun year trick or treating with a little cheerleader and a very scary Venom (with the cutest little tush ever).  I'll be honest and say that it brought a little tear to my eye to see my daughter carrying a set of pom-poms, even if they weren't "real."  I have wanted her to get into cheerleading, but she still wants to continue with dance.  I'm hoping that with the choice of the cheer uniform over the other obvious options (princess, movie star, etc.) will come a request to sign up for cheerleading next season.  She looked like a little pro with her uniform, pigtails, and pom-poms. :)

Now, here I am, unable to keep my hands out of the Halloween buckets, thinking I desperately need to start working out again.  Tim and I were going to start a "diet" again this week, but then the chocolate and laffy taffy moved in, and I noticed that the yummy fall seasonal-flavored beer is back in the stores ... so I'm thinking, "What's the point?"

And just as I start to think I'm just going to settle into my fat little chocolate coma accompanied by a fire built by my hubby, and hibernate through the rest of the season, I get Tanner's calendar for school for the month of November.  Let me preface this by saying that November is pretty full already, and it's only the 3rd!  And I had already arranged to go on Kendall's fall field trip to Cagle's Dairy on the 16th.  Then I got Tanner's schedule, and his Thanksgiving Feast and program are the same day.

Seriously?!

I thought I had at least a few years before school functions started overlapping!

So here I am now, trying to get a refund for my portion of the tickets to Cagle's.  I still really want to go with her, but this is a one-time thing with Tanner.  And it's his first real "school" program.  I think Kendall has a field trip in the spring, and I should be able to go to that one.  I guess I'm just thinking that I may not be able to attend anything for Tanner in "real "school (if I get a J-O-B next year), so I should be there for as much as I can this year.

But darn it if that Mommy guilt didn't creep back in ...