13 May 2012

Jobs and Applications, Mother's Day!

I hate cover letters.  I really, sincerely do not like cover letters and dont see the need for them.  I also hate asking and re-asking for references, it feels like I am bothering people.  I know linkedin is supposed to be the place where you can put your resume online and then get jobs based on that, but it doesnt quite work for the education field as well as it does for the business field.  I am just so tired of applying to places.  It also doesnt help that the job-getting process is a whole waiting game.  Most schools dont know who they can hire until June so I wont know anything until probably July!  Patience is a virtue that I am not that strong in. :)

However, I did get a permanent substitute position working at my Mom's school.  It has been a lot of fun and re-affirmed that teaching is what I want to do for the foreseeable future. 7- and 8-year olds are ridiculous and tell the most random stories.  They also make very honest and innocent mistakes like abbreviating assistant to ass without realizing what they did.  Or writing "Im doing it in slow motion" as a sentence for their spelling word 'motion.'  You know, completely innocent things like that, where as my adult-twisted mind transforms it into something hilarious.

It has been wonderful to work and back on to a schedule.  I definitely had too much thinking time on my hands when I came back from traveling.  Although, I feel as though I have aged 10 years being back to work in the classroom.  I happily go to bed at 830 or 9 because I am so exhausted from working.  I use my Sundays to lesson plan and prepare for the work week ahead.  I mentally plan out my clothes because I have more than one pair of pants to choose from.  I make leftovers or sandwiches for lunch and make sure to have my bag packed the night before.  I drink coffee in the morning and not for the joy of coffee but because I am not sure how I would function without it.  Yes, I have become that person. I am working now and as hesitant as I was to fall back in to a routine, I am liking the stability.  I am also liking the paycheck and actually making money instead of just spending savings.  But this will only last until the beginning of June and then I need to figure out my next paychecks. 

I am still looking forward to my next adventure and my next step.  I wish I knew when or where that was to but time will tell.  I will find out soon enough.  I have enjoyed living with my parents but I am ready to move on my own again.  The next place I move will be where I start my own home, which is very weird to think about.  Every time I have 'flown' from the nest, I always had a room/storage place at my parents house.  I also knew that I would probably be back home, either as a layover or a place to regroup and go out again.  Leaving for college, I knew I would be back before I went in to Peace Corps.  After Peace Corps, I knew I would use home as a place to regroup before leaving again.  Now, the next time I leave it will be because I have a job, a life to start and if I come home again it will be because something didnt work out.  I wont use home as a base anymore, I will be making my base somewhere else. It is overwhelming, scary and intimidating.  At the same time, it is exciting, challenging and I am ready for it!

I feel like most people do this at the age of 20 or so, but I am doing it at the wonderful age of 27 and I dont feel wrong about it.  I dont feel old or like I am off the path.  This is the way my life has worked out and I am happy to be where I am.  :)

With that, I want to write a little about my amazing mother!  It is Mother's Day after all!  She is probably one of the only people that reads this thing anyways...

I want to thank you, Mom, for helping me, listening to me, comforting me, pushing me, challenging me, cooking with me, and above all consistently loving me for who I am even when I might not have deserved all of it!  You are an inspiring role model and one of the most understanding and accepting people I know.  If more people were like you, this world would be a lot better!  Keep being amazing!  Thanks for being the best friend anyone could ask for!

And to all those Mom-like figures out there, my Aunts, Grandmothers, Friends, and my friend's Moms, you all have done something amazing! You inspire, you support, you teach, and you unconditionally love those in your life.  Thank you!

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day and make sure you send your thanks to your own Mom and to those Moms in your life!

Love.