With apologies to Bill Martin Jr.  and Eric Carle. (Photo from Barnes and Noble)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear…

What Do You See?

I See Francesca Looking At Me!

Sorry for the bad photo, that’s actually a reflection of Francesca in the window.  The bear walked right up to the window to get a better view.  Not sure who was looking at who.

It has been a busy week for back to school this week.  We had been looking forward to Ross’ first day of Kindergarten today, but we were pleasantly surprised with the turn of events for other family members.  I went back to school on Tuesday, with a cohort program that will earn me my MATC, a Masters in Education Degree and Teaching Certificate.  Ashley also signed herself up for school by registering for her first class towards her undergraduate degree.  We are quite the scholarly family this week.  And while I do not have photos of Ashley’s first day or mine, I do have some of Ross’.

Ross and Francesca before firstbell.

What does a boy do when you tell him it’s too heavy?  He tries to prove you wrong.  Look at his face.  This lasted a few seconds before he finally turned over the backpack full of school supplies.

A hug for her brother, the Kindergartner, after his very first day of school.  It was a good first day for the class, no tears from any of the children.  I can’t say the same for the moms.

I am in a state of flux.  It’s been a while since I posted.  I’ve been doing nothing and I’ve been doing everything.  School starts soon for Ross.  I can’t believe he will be in Kindergarten.  School may or may not start soon for me too.

I still look for jobs.  I look all the time for jobs and there really is not much out there.  And what is out there isn’t great - and for all that “not great”ness, there are hundreds of people hoping to get an interview.

I’ve thought alot about going back to school in the last year and a half.  Switching careers entirely.  I’ve always wanted to teach.  With the kids being young and in 3 years Francesca will enter school too, timing might be good.  By then I could be done with my Graduate degree and have my teaching certificate.  And I can be home in the summer with them, as well as Spring and Christmas break and other holidays.  I’ve really enjoyed being home with them and it seems to be the blending of both worlds, the work and home worlds.

I might have found a program that would allow me to do that and still manage my home life and family obligations.  I just need to decide quickly.  Classes start in less than 2 weeks.  Fortunately I do not need to take the GRE as my grade point average was well above the 3.0 designation.  3.94 in fact.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  I would need to take the basic skills test and order official transcripts from my two schools/degrees.  And fill out the application and psych myself up for school - as in NOW.

I have some questions about this program and need to get adequate answers before I pursue this option.  I’m actually very excited about the possibility of going back to school.  I could be teaching in 2 years and only 4 classes shy of my master’s Degree.  It’s a very disciplined program similar to the Elmhurst Management Program I took in the late 90’s.  There is no break taking or lessening of schedules for 2 years.  It would be too hard to catch up and recover.  It’s funny how such a chain reaction comes about from job loss or other events not orchestrated by ourselves.  I likely would never have quit my job to make a career change.    

If this program does not work out for me, I am left to look at programs beginning next fall based on application deadlines.  Not the end of the world but a while for a dream deferred.  Although I can use that time to take any additional undergrad classes / gen. eds. I may need for my teaching certificate.  In the meantime I have an application for Substitute teaching.  We used to laugh and say “Change is Good” at work when there was yet another policy or procedural change or shift in focus, which seemed to happen all the time.  We were being facetious, of course.  This time, I really mean it.  Change is good.