Well, today wraps up my first week of work.  I can say that it has been an easier transition than I had hoped for.  Thank you Kellie for creating an in-home daycare that my kids love so much today they could barely manage to say good-bye to me.  Oh wait…today they didn’t even say good-bye they just took off playing leaving me there holding their bag and feeling foolish that I worried about what they would do without me.  I guess I should have been worried about what I would do without them. 

On Monday, I picked them up after their first day and asked Noah how it went.  He replied–“Good, but I had to stand in the corner.”  She uses a time-out corner.  But Noah was also happy to report that he only had to do it once and that he listened the rest of the day.  I have to admit that this is so good for them, as I am not really a disciplinarian.  I let a lot of stuff go that won’t be let go at school, etc.; therefore, this is such a good thing for them and they will learn much better about listening and sharing, etc.  I am also glad that they are in a small home environment as the lessons that can be taught/learned are more easily dealt with because there aren’t so many kids to manage.  Both of them have done great at quiet time–I thought for sure Noah would lie awake for those two hours and really get himself in trouble.  He falls a asleep quickly and needs to be woken up when it’s over.  So, they are doing great. 

And, while I miss them tremendously, I also feel fortunate enough to not feel as though I am missing out on anything.  Am I?  Sure Zo will start talking, etc.  But what I am gaining is greater.  I had lost the appreciation I had for being a parent.  It was starting to wear on me more than I knew.  Plus I still get Friday’s to have fun with the kiddos.  I am happier and more tired than I have been in a long time. 

I have to say though, OMG how do people handle sitting in a cube all day working?  I don’t know how people do it without going slightly crazy.  I am fortunate that our cube has a window so I can look out at trees and cars driving by, but seriously, sitting in front of a computer all day in a cube is hard.  At least I have a partner in crime to talk to/work with, but it still sucks.  This is certainly very different than anything I have done before or any job that I have had.  I am use to be up and moving and teaching.  This is just something I know that I will get use to. 

I hate to say this–I am more tired working than I was when I was staying home.  I know it’s a different kind of tired and there are extenuating circumstances–like waking up at 5:30 to get to the gym by 6am so I can be home by 7am.  This has me in bed each night by 9pm and asleep. I can hardly keep my eyes open at night and that makes it a little hard for hubby–because he doesn’t get to see me much.  I guess that’s what weekend are for–I forgot about weekends.  I now love weekends.  Before they were just another day that I had to be mom.  Now, I can’t wait to get to be mom. 

The job itself is tough–there is so much to learn and it amazing the position of power we are in as charter school sponsors.  There is so much to improve and I know have the perfect stomping ground for my dissertation as one of our schools in underperforming and really wants to invite university researchers in.  This job may give me more than I originially hoped it might.