We decided on a 4-day week for homeschooling so that The Kid could have a 3-day weekend with his dad. I'm not worried about it because I know how much wasted time there is in a 5-day week at school. It also gives me more planning time, homework time for myself (grad school started back up this week!), and time to focus on the baby.
I think the first week went well. The Kid is having a hard time adjusting to the fact that he isn't sitting at a desk doing busy work for hours on end, so I guess we are still in the "deschooling" stage. Tuesday we went to a local park for a homeschooling playdate I had heard about with boys closer to his age. He got super shy when we arrived and sat and waited for the people we knew to get there. As soon as they arrived and he was introduced they were off and running, playing basketball, sharks and minnows, etc. As we were leaving he exclaimed, "This is way more social than regular school....You get to play with kids of different ages." This led to a discussion of the curious fact that school is pretty much the only time in your life you will be expected to socialize only with people your age. It also reminded me why I was doing this.
So far I've had pretty good responses as word of the homeschooling has gotten out. We got a call from the mother of one of The Kid's school friends, because they were worried we had moved. We made plans to get the boys together, which allayed a fear that I think we both had. The Kid's dad and I also discussed switching his schedule around once a month so that he is here over a weekend which should also help him be able to spend more time with the school friends he is missing.
Last night was the first night of my classes, and the longest amount of time that I've left the baby alone. I was worried that I hadn't pumped enough milk for him, but when I got home he was playing happily. Apparently he slept until an hour before I got home. Go baby!
Showing posts with label grad school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grad school. Show all posts
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
episode 1, season 2
oh my! it's been an action-packed three months since i updated. a lot has changed. we moved into the new house and are settling into the routine of 2 adults + 1 kid in the house. it's a huge change from what we are all used to, and i must say, i think we are all adjusting very nicely.
i have a full year of grad school under my belt and as i enter year 2 i'm also doing my practicum as as a guardian ad litem for kids that have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. it's only just started, and i've already learned a lot about myself, the system, the kids, and a lot more. i don't know that child welfare is necessarily where i want to put the MSW to use, but i'm getting a lot out of it.
i'm still working with the boyfriend, but i'm also applying for part-time jobs in the social service field. i have an interview monday, in fact, so we'll see. i don't mind the retail but i want to be building my resume and i need to make more money. the irony of looking to the social service sector for "more money" is not lost on me.
the kid has started fifth grade, has his first broken bone (his wrist, a minor fracture), and is now part of the "safety patrol" at his school. he comes home from school and goes straight to a friend's house around the corner. he loves it. 10 is a good age and fifth grade is looking to be awesome. the other day, i got in the car after ga$$ing up and he was perusing the owner's manual of my car. when i asked what he was doing he said, "just finding out what lies within." it was awesome. have i mentioned that i love my kid?
the house is shaping up quite nicely, but we have had no time to work in the yard. we need to build a patio and we're formulating a plan but nothing has happened beyond that. i'm getting antsy.
now i need to go scare up some lunch.
i have a full year of grad school under my belt and as i enter year 2 i'm also doing my practicum as as a guardian ad litem for kids that have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. it's only just started, and i've already learned a lot about myself, the system, the kids, and a lot more. i don't know that child welfare is necessarily where i want to put the MSW to use, but i'm getting a lot out of it.
i'm still working with the boyfriend, but i'm also applying for part-time jobs in the social service field. i have an interview monday, in fact, so we'll see. i don't mind the retail but i want to be building my resume and i need to make more money. the irony of looking to the social service sector for "more money" is not lost on me.
the kid has started fifth grade, has his first broken bone (his wrist, a minor fracture), and is now part of the "safety patrol" at his school. he comes home from school and goes straight to a friend's house around the corner. he loves it. 10 is a good age and fifth grade is looking to be awesome. the other day, i got in the car after ga$$ing up and he was perusing the owner's manual of my car. when i asked what he was doing he said, "just finding out what lies within." it was awesome. have i mentioned that i love my kid?
the house is shaping up quite nicely, but we have had no time to work in the yard. we need to build a patio and we're formulating a plan but nothing has happened beyond that. i'm getting antsy.
now i need to go scare up some lunch.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
community
Tonight I started my first summer school class and already my mind is racing with ideas. I'm taking a Communities and Organizations class and it is really addressing a lot of things I've already had rolling around my brain for a long time. I just needed an outlet. I'm also involved in a conversation in my favorite online community about living "off the grid" and the feasability of that idea vs the hip ways to "live green" that are marketed to us now.
I really think that a lot of it has to do with the community mindset (or lack thereof) in this country. I mean, we are where we are, the grid is here yadda yadda. it just isn't feasible for me to ditch my car, maintain my own vegetable garden, make my own laundry detergent, all those other things i want to do and still, you know, work, get my master's, etc.
So, I've been thinking a lot about how we could really minimize our dependence on "the grid" and I think the answer really lies in taking on more of a community mindset. I can't do all of those things but I can put in time on a lot of them.
I know there are co-ops out there, CSAs, etc, but they are few and far between. I'd have to drive 45 miles one way to participate in one. Is the tradeoff in gas worth it? Would it make more sense to get together with some neighbors, one who has a big yard for a garden, one who works near me, both who want to use the laundry detergent i made a big batch of? (hypotherically and just pulling those examples out of the air).
Maybe some of you live in communities where this is happening but community gardens are rare to nonexistent around here. And I think this is really a big part of the answer. I don't think any of us can get off the grid alone but working in groups it is much more possible.
I am a big believer in community. I know that my son and I would have been lost without a community of friends and family surrounding us with love and support. In the predominant white culture, the focus is on individual success, hard work, bootstrapping. But that doesn't bear out. It doesn't work unless you make enough money, which is rarely connected to how hard you work.
I've worked hard over the past few years to build a community I can draw from and contribute to, but I think I'm ready to take it further. Maybe this is where I'm heading with my degree.
I really think that a lot of it has to do with the community mindset (or lack thereof) in this country. I mean, we are where we are, the grid is here yadda yadda. it just isn't feasible for me to ditch my car, maintain my own vegetable garden, make my own laundry detergent, all those other things i want to do and still, you know, work, get my master's, etc.
So, I've been thinking a lot about how we could really minimize our dependence on "the grid" and I think the answer really lies in taking on more of a community mindset. I can't do all of those things but I can put in time on a lot of them.
I know there are co-ops out there, CSAs, etc, but they are few and far between. I'd have to drive 45 miles one way to participate in one. Is the tradeoff in gas worth it? Would it make more sense to get together with some neighbors, one who has a big yard for a garden, one who works near me, both who want to use the laundry detergent i made a big batch of? (hypotherically and just pulling those examples out of the air).
Maybe some of you live in communities where this is happening but community gardens are rare to nonexistent around here. And I think this is really a big part of the answer. I don't think any of us can get off the grid alone but working in groups it is much more possible.
I am a big believer in community. I know that my son and I would have been lost without a community of friends and family surrounding us with love and support. In the predominant white culture, the focus is on individual success, hard work, bootstrapping. But that doesn't bear out. It doesn't work unless you make enough money, which is rarely connected to how hard you work.
I've worked hard over the past few years to build a community I can draw from and contribute to, but I think I'm ready to take it further. Maybe this is where I'm heading with my degree.
Monday, May 12, 2008
catching my breath
Lots going on. My laptop died and spent a week in the shop. A week and a new hard drive later I'm back up and running. Ever since my desktop died I've only been on the laptop. I've been thinking long and hard about investing in another home computer. It would definitely mean no digital camera, but The Boyfriend has been talking about getting one so maybe I'll just borrow his.
Speaking of, it looks like The Kid and I will be making room for another adult in our little household. It's been just the two of us for 5 years now. The Boyfriend has been practically living here for a good while not, but making it official seems more.....daunting. I'm definitely excited, but more than a little nervous as well. I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not the easiest person in the world to live with.
The teaching gig is winding down. In the midst of that, I've started my new job at WEPCO, which also happens to be The Boyfriend's place of employment. (We just can't get enough of each other!) I trained Wednesday thru Friday nights, and while utterly exhausting doing the two-job thing, it was also really.....fun. Who knew? I know most of my new co-workers and I wasn't completely stressed at the end of the night.
Last week was also the initial interview with my field placement for the fall. I'll be a court-appointed advocate for children entering the foster system. I'm really excited. I get to do all of my research and report-writing from home which makes my life a million times easier.
What else? The Kid has started walking all the way home as opposed to a couple blocks to a friend's house. He has 3 friends who live in the neighborhood so he isn't alone for the walk. He's feeling very mature these days. He also has a journal that he won't let out of his sight, introducing every mother's quandary of "Do I read it while he sleeps, or not?" Bonus points if you can figure out which side I fall on.
Speaking of, it looks like The Kid and I will be making room for another adult in our little household. It's been just the two of us for 5 years now. The Boyfriend has been practically living here for a good while not, but making it official seems more.....daunting. I'm definitely excited, but more than a little nervous as well. I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not the easiest person in the world to live with.
The teaching gig is winding down. In the midst of that, I've started my new job at WEPCO, which also happens to be The Boyfriend's place of employment. (We just can't get enough of each other!) I trained Wednesday thru Friday nights, and while utterly exhausting doing the two-job thing, it was also really.....fun. Who knew? I know most of my new co-workers and I wasn't completely stressed at the end of the night.
Last week was also the initial interview with my field placement for the fall. I'll be a court-appointed advocate for children entering the foster system. I'm really excited. I get to do all of my research and report-writing from home which makes my life a million times easier.
What else? The Kid has started walking all the way home as opposed to a couple blocks to a friend's house. He has 3 friends who live in the neighborhood so he isn't alone for the walk. He's feeling very mature these days. He also has a journal that he won't let out of his sight, introducing every mother's quandary of "Do I read it while he sleeps, or not?" Bonus points if you can figure out which side I fall on.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
saturday evening cheers
I got my grade for my policy class on Wednesday. I got an A. That means, pending my cultural competency grade, I have maintained my 4.0 gpa. That's just so.....weird. I think back to my undergrad days and how that wasn't even a thought in my head until the last couple of years. I had a lot of digging to do once I started taking school seriously. So I'm pretty proud that I've kept that up while working a fulltime job.
In other news, I was offered a job at the store the boyfriend works at. I'm kind of excited because it is a store that has pretty good ethics and treats its employees pretty well even if the pay isn't great. I know most of my coworkers already so that part should be easy. Right now my big concern is juggling my training with work and now having the boy fulltime during the week. I had been hoping for the month of May off from anything but wrapping up work, but it looks like that won't happen.
The boyfriend and I spent the day at a local fair, drinking margaritas, and running into people we haven't seen in ages. As we were walking out the door I was wishing I'd already gotten my tax rebate check, because I'm buying a compact digital camera with it. My refund will go straight into savings, but I'll be doing the economy some good with the rebate check.
Now I'm chilling at home while the boyfriend is mountain biking with his outdoors class. I think we'll be having a quiet evening in when he gets home. Right now I'm going to enjoy a nice, cold beer.
In other news, I was offered a job at the store the boyfriend works at. I'm kind of excited because it is a store that has pretty good ethics and treats its employees pretty well even if the pay isn't great. I know most of my coworkers already so that part should be easy. Right now my big concern is juggling my training with work and now having the boy fulltime during the week. I had been hoping for the month of May off from anything but wrapping up work, but it looks like that won't happen.
The boyfriend and I spent the day at a local fair, drinking margaritas, and running into people we haven't seen in ages. As we were walking out the door I was wishing I'd already gotten my tax rebate check, because I'm buying a compact digital camera with it. My refund will go straight into savings, but I'll be doing the economy some good with the rebate check.
Now I'm chilling at home while the boyfriend is mountain biking with his outdoors class. I think we'll be having a quiet evening in when he gets home. Right now I'm going to enjoy a nice, cold beer.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
happy hump day!
i'm giving up any illusion that i might update this regularly. i don't know that i have many regular readers anyway, so i don't see anyone being very disappointed. i'm in the last hurried days of my second semester, and i don't know if the 4.0 will be maintained but i'll be close. this was a very stressful semester.
i have turned in my resignation and in about 6 weeks my life as a teacher will be over. i'm feeling a mix of emotions over that, but relief seems to be winning out. from here i'll be doing odd writing/editing jobs, some retail work (hopefully), and probably some substitute teaching. my internship will start in the fall. i have an interview with a child advocacy program in a couple of weeks, and with any luck i'll be working with kids aging out of the foster system. how exciting!
right now i'm just counting the days (44) until summer vacation. i'll be taking 1 summer-long course and one 5-week course in the second half of the summer. otherwise, i plan to work around my house, spend a lot of time in the water, and become a more sane mother and girlfriend. those two guys have put up with a lot of stress and craziness out of me and they definitely deserve a break.
i have turned in my resignation and in about 6 weeks my life as a teacher will be over. i'm feeling a mix of emotions over that, but relief seems to be winning out. from here i'll be doing odd writing/editing jobs, some retail work (hopefully), and probably some substitute teaching. my internship will start in the fall. i have an interview with a child advocacy program in a couple of weeks, and with any luck i'll be working with kids aging out of the foster system. how exciting!
right now i'm just counting the days (44) until summer vacation. i'll be taking 1 summer-long course and one 5-week course in the second half of the summer. otherwise, i plan to work around my house, spend a lot of time in the water, and become a more sane mother and girlfriend. those two guys have put up with a lot of stress and craziness out of me and they definitely deserve a break.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
testing the waters
has it really been 4.5 months since i wrote in this thing? jeesh. go figure. so, i finished my first semester of grad school (4.0 gpa thankyouverymuch) and the second semester is officially underway. in fact, i'm procrastinating on homework right now! i'm also in my last semester at my current job and i'm already counting down the days. i'm digging deep to get a new attitude but it is proving difficult.
i've been reading a lot of blogs on simplifying my life and spending habits lately, and it has really got me thinking. i'll be leaving a nice salary in august and reenter the world of scraping together money for the bills every month. i opened a savings account a few weeks ago and plan to direct deposit part of my paycheck into it every month. but i know i need to do more. or, really, i need to do less. less buying clothes i don't need. less eating out.
at the same time, i am really striving to live a more green life. the composting is second nature, as is recycling every bit i can. the difference in the amount of trash i put out in the alley is amazing. i've also started really paying attention to how much packaging my products use. in my diet i am eating as close to the source as possible. cutting out convenience foods has really been a lot easier than i thought, too.
i don't mean to give the impression that this has all been easy. my schedule makes it difficult to prepare meals 2 nights a week and that translates into scrambling for lunch 2 mornings a week. food planning is difficult for me because i eat according to cravings often and those are hard to predict.
well, the homework won't do itself so i suppose i should dive back in.
i've been reading a lot of blogs on simplifying my life and spending habits lately, and it has really got me thinking. i'll be leaving a nice salary in august and reenter the world of scraping together money for the bills every month. i opened a savings account a few weeks ago and plan to direct deposit part of my paycheck into it every month. but i know i need to do more. or, really, i need to do less. less buying clothes i don't need. less eating out.
at the same time, i am really striving to live a more green life. the composting is second nature, as is recycling every bit i can. the difference in the amount of trash i put out in the alley is amazing. i've also started really paying attention to how much packaging my products use. in my diet i am eating as close to the source as possible. cutting out convenience foods has really been a lot easier than i thought, too.
i don't mean to give the impression that this has all been easy. my schedule makes it difficult to prepare meals 2 nights a week and that translates into scrambling for lunch 2 mornings a week. food planning is difficult for me because i eat according to cravings often and those are hard to predict.
well, the homework won't do itself so i suppose i should dive back in.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
and so it begins
I am officially back at work, stress and all. Today I moved most of my belongings into a different portable than the one I moved into three weeks before the end of last school year. It was hot and muggy and I was dressed, well, like a teacher. It wasn't a pretty sight. I feel very unsteady because I haven't yet been trained in the Inclusion model we will be using this year. I don't like change very much. That seems to surprise a lot of people about me. I hate change and I hate moving. I guess this year is going to be all about pushing myself.
When I got home from work today I bought my parking permit for grad school and then went to buy my textbooks. Between that, rent, and groceries half of my paycheck is gone. I got paid yesterday. For the month. I usually have a couple of nights of sleeplessness over finances, but this month I will have the pleasure all. month. long. Yay me!
The boychild has been with his dad since Thursday. He'll be home when I get off of work tomorrow and then on Thursday he is headed south to visit my dad and grandparents with my sister. Unless, of course, Hurricane Dean decides to take a turn north. Thankfully, even if that happens she'll watch him while I work Thursday and Friday. One less thing I have to worry about.
The boyfriend is working late late tonight so I have a silent house. I just spend over an hour reading one chapter in my social work research book. My undergraduate degree is in English and I can devour a novel in no time at all. This is a completely different experience for me. I was taking notes the entire time on terms and ideas that I need to go research. I have three more chapters to read before my first class on Tuesday. My professor already sent us our syllabus which is nice because I can start to schedule trips to the library for our big research project.
God. I'm back in school. Am I completely crazy or only a little bit?
When I got home from work today I bought my parking permit for grad school and then went to buy my textbooks. Between that, rent, and groceries half of my paycheck is gone. I got paid yesterday. For the month. I usually have a couple of nights of sleeplessness over finances, but this month I will have the pleasure all. month. long. Yay me!
The boychild has been with his dad since Thursday. He'll be home when I get off of work tomorrow and then on Thursday he is headed south to visit my dad and grandparents with my sister. Unless, of course, Hurricane Dean decides to take a turn north. Thankfully, even if that happens she'll watch him while I work Thursday and Friday. One less thing I have to worry about.
The boyfriend is working late late tonight so I have a silent house. I just spend over an hour reading one chapter in my social work research book. My undergraduate degree is in English and I can devour a novel in no time at all. This is a completely different experience for me. I was taking notes the entire time on terms and ideas that I need to go research. I have three more chapters to read before my first class on Tuesday. My professor already sent us our syllabus which is nice because I can start to schedule trips to the library for our big research project.
God. I'm back in school. Am I completely crazy or only a little bit?
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