Thursday, May 14, 2015

back to work

I am officially a working mama.

I have all types of feelings about this.

I am missing my little girl so much. I try to keep the texts to mom to check on Roo to only once every two hours, but that is hard. I find myself counting down the minutes until she comes for lunch, then again until the day is over. My heart is anxious, leaving her all day.

Having finished one full day back at work though, I have to say, seeing her at lunch makes it all so much easier. Even if she sleeps the entire time I am trying to nurse her.



I have missed my students more than I thought. I am not surprised by this, it is just that I was so obsessed, in love, and distracted with Roo that I didn't have a chance to really think about them. It is fun to be back with them, though we are mostly working on state testing right now. They have not been embarrassed to let me know how much they have missed me - which just fills my heart with happiness.

Then to top it all off, a parent of a student I had 5 years ago left me the sweetest note on facebook. She reminded me of all the amazing bonds I have made with students and their families over my last six years of teaching. She reminded me of why I got into special education, why I absolutely love my career. But she also let me know that it is ok that the thing I want most, the thing that matters most, is my precious Rooney. It was good to be reminded that I matter, the work I have put into my classrooms has mattered, and I have forever friends through teaching.

My students have invited me to baptisms and birthday parties. Some have invited me to soccer games and to watch them compete in the Special Olympics. Many of them have supported me and my family by coming to Porter's fundraiser and my wedding. It is the sweetest.


I haven't said this publicly yet, but this is my last year teaching (at least for a bit, I think) and I am pretty torn about it. As this school year is getting close to an end, I can't help but reflect. The last six years of teaching has helped me grow so much, taught me to love, reminded me of our potential and how much our Heavenly Father loves us, and taken me on some of the most wonderful adventures.


I started my adventures in special education during my sophomore year of high school. Since then, I have worked with more than 100 students, some through Best Buddies, some while I was a para educator, most of them have been my students. But all of them have a piece of my heart.


So to all of those who have let me into their lives through their most special kids - Thank you! It has been the greatest adventure. You are raising some of my very favorite people in the whole world. They have made me a better person, in fact, I often tell people that I am my best self when I am in my classroom and it is because of your precious children.

We have giggled through wii just dance, put together the most amazing talent shows, developed new social, behavioral, and life skills, become better readers, increased our academic knowledge, put on amazing talent shows, gone on countless field trips, sat in too many IEP's to count, and most importantly, grown to love one another.

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