Back to Work and Truly BLESSED!!!!

I don't know if I have shared with the blogging world but for some time now I have been feeling an itch to teach again. I could never teach full time again because I have been so blessed with the opportunity to stay home with Aubrey for over two years. I know that being home with my kids will always be my full-time job, but I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a kid (only after my dream to be the first professional female football player). For the past two years we have paid a ridiculously high amount each month for health benefits. We talked about how neat it would be if I could teach a tiny bit and use what I made working to cover the cost of medical benefits. We decided that working 1-2 days a week would be the max that would be suitable for our family, but in reality we didn't really think there would be a way for it to actually happen.

I have a very close friend who was actually my "master" teacher when I student teaching about 6 years ago. We ended up teaching at the same school for several years and we have stayed close friends over the years. She always talked about how fun it would be to share a contract with me when I had kids one day and how I am am one of the only teachers she could partner with. We always talked about it but never really did much about it…well, this year we chatted a lot and decided that we would be willing to share a contract, but it would be an 80/20 contract. She would work four days and I would work one day. There are several hoops to jump through to get a shared contract approved and an 80/20 almost never gets approved.

Nervously, Ginger took our proposal to her principal (who has NEVER approved a shared contract in her career as a principal). I have never worked with this principal, but I was lucky enough to have her as my professor in one of my administrative credential classes, so she knew who I was. She took a few seconds to think about the situation and almost immediately said yes! She said we are the only teachers she would ever approve this contract because she knew we would do an amazing job. I was so flattered that she felt this way about us. Soon enough, the paperwork was sent to the district and it was approved! I work every Monday and Ginger works Tuesday-Friday. The best part of all...the one day a week I work covers full medical, dental and vision for my whole family, plus Aubrey gets to hang out with her Grandma Burton every Monday and she loves it!

I have to admit that I have a sweet set up. Not many people can say they work one day a week for benefits for a whole family. I am truly blessed because I get to do what I love but I don't have to deal with all the politics and unpleasant business of being a teacher. I show up one day a week VERY prepared, I give 200%, then I pack up and go home for my "6 day weekend" and if I don't end up enjoying it I don't HAVE to do it next year.

My first day back was Monday and it was super draining! I have 32 first graders and I haven't taught in over 2 years so I quickly forgot the difficulty of the first few months of first grade. However, in all that came with the first day of school, I was happy…Happy to be able to have an impact on the lives of 32 young children, happy to be working with one of my dearest friends, happy that I don't HAVE to work, and happy that I get to do what I love! I am blessed!