A Day's Work

I have been called in to work a few times in the last two weeks, much to my surprise. I was quite sure that September would be a rather empty month. Yesterday I had my first full day of teaching, in a grade one class. It went quite well, although I was exhausted at the end of the day. Sick, overworked and under-slept Rodney ended up making me dinner because I couldn’t quite get off the floor, where I had sat to “quickly fold the laundry” before dinner.

As always, there are stories from the teaching day. I sent kids to the principal’s office for the first time in my career. I also received a hug at the end of the day, these two little arms wrapped around my thighs...which made me melt like butter. I think my favourite, though, was when I wasn’t actually present, but heard in the lunch room afterward. The teacher who was covering during my planning time took my class to the gym. Sweet, adorable, long-lashed O, who has a conscience in continuous over-drive was sitting behind a girl in his squad. He came to the teacher and said in a whisper “I just saw a girl’s privates.” The teacher looked around, wondering who or what could have offended the boy at the ripe age of 6. She finally spotted the culprit: the girl’s pants were riding a teensy bit low. O continued, “I know I’m not supposed to look. But, I think I kind of liked it!”

Beyond the take –home stories, it has been a neat experience to get back in the classroom. In many ways it seems strange: I have been out of it for so long that it is a whole new world again. In many other ways, it is just a complete privilege: the whole process of undergrad, life experience, faculty of ed applications, acceptance, interview applications and acceptance (that in itself was truly a miracle), daycare provision, etc. etc. It has been encouraging to look back and see the way that it has and is working. The idea that on some days I get to be a stay-at-home mom, and other days I get to be a “career woman” is also quite amazing. I should probably note – to myself and to you – that I say this in September, when everything is new, exciting and rosy. Hopefully that perspective will continue. As will the stories.