Almost back to normal

There are only two days left in my long term assignment.  I am going to miss the little first graders so much that I could almost cry about it.  But at the same time, I am well aware of the fact that my three favorite "little" people in the world are right here at home with me, and I'm (hopefully) going to get to be a better mother now that I'm not working full time.  Understand, I know that MOST families deal with two full time parents every day.  But I've also known that I'm not one of them who would handle that well.  And it isn't just the guilt.  Being a teacher is NEVER (in spite of how most people feel) an eight hour job.  The eight hours I could deal with...it was the part where I STILL had to bring things home.  And I've also known that I'm a person that, if I'm going to do a job, I'm going to completely devote myself and do the best job I can, which is why I feel as though I've missed the last eight weeks of my children's lives.  The money has been very nice and will be handy at Christmas, but I'm so looking forward to pleasant and relaxing evenings again!

At the same time, fall baseball has also come to an end.  Robert was really starting to hit the ball well and I'm pretty sure that he is disappointed that the season has ended.  He'll most likely be going back to karate next week, as will the other two.  Thomas has been taking an after school enrichment program patterned after the Magic Tree House books and he's loved that.  Catherine has joined the tone chime choir at school and practices after school once a week for that.  And of course everyone still has scouts and Andrew is taking one of his final classes for his principal's license.  But I am so very grateful that as we head into the holidays, our lives are almost back to normal...whatever that is with three growing children!