Back in the Saddle Again

A few weeks ago I decided to try something I have been thinking about for years but haven't had the courage to do. Some of it was the timing was wrong but by and large I was a little afraid. True it was something I had been trained to do! It was something I had done for 6 years! It was something that I had been successful at! But after not doing it for 2x as long as I had done it I was scared and quite honestly had lost my confidence.

I had been thinking about trying to find a part time job that I could walk in to without any preparation, that would fit within school hours so I didn't have to have childcare, that would be flexible, and that I would enjoy! I considered quite a few things- office work, retail, and a local testing center. As I was discussing it with Jeff he suggested that I try subbing! No way was my response! I had no desire to be back in the classroom or at least thought I had no desire for it. Jeff said it totally fit my criteria that I was looking for and would be using gifts that God had given me and in his words was "something I could do in my sleep"!

I started praying about it and then decided to follow Jeff's advice. I apprehensively applied to sub at my kids school. About 5 weeks later I finally got through all the paper work and was given some dates to sub. I began to wonder could I do this? Should I do this? What if I hated it? What if I couldn't do it? I talked to the principal I had taught for a lifetime ago and he was very encouraging. He basically said the same things Jeff did but for whatever reason I believed him over Jeff.

I started 2 weeks ago and amazingly was not a nervous wreck! I thought I would be but had been praying about it and had my small group as well as my accountability group praying for me and had so much peace about it. It could only come from God's hand.

I absolutely have loved it! It has given me the best of both worlds. The fun of teaching without all the other stuff (the prep, the grading and the parents). I can walk in and do my thing and walk out!

Last week I was in Jackson's art class which totally embarrassed him. I seem to be doing that a lot to him this year. His class evidently gives the art teacher fits. So I stayed on top of them and when the teacher came back in told me that I had gotten better work out of them than she had the entire quarter.

Yesterday I was in an 8th grade social studies class and really liked it. Middle School has a tough reputation so I wasn't sure what to expect. But was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. One kid says to me "So, like were you a teacher before?" Me-"Yes, why?" Him "Cuz like you act like a teacher. I mean, you act like you know what you are doing not just being a sub." Me- "I'll take that as a compliment." Him- (turning red) "Yeah, I guess it was."

Not sure I want to be back in the classroom full time but am enjoying using the gifts God has given me. And am loving being back in the saddle again, even if it is on a part-time part-time basis!