Interview

Ever since the kids were born, the plan has always been for me to return to work once they started kindergarten. The plan had been for me to apply as an Instructional Assistant (IA), which is basically the same thing as a teacher's aid, but our district calls it an IA for some reason. I followed the district webpage for job postings all last year and beginning of this summer. I had started to get stressed about it, because there wasn't really any jobs opening up that I would be interested in.

After talking with an acquaintance who has been working as a sub in the district for the past few years, I decided that I would go that route instead. My understanding, from talking to numerous people, was that I could basically work every day as a sub if I wanted to. Subs actually make pretty good money; they just don't get the benefits that full time employees get. Tony and I thought this might be the perfect way to transition back into work. As a sub, I would have the flexibility to not work if one of the twins gets sick, or to go to dentist appointments, etc. Softball season would be so much easier if I am only working as a sub. I could choose to work when I want, but could also choose not to work on days I have a lot of softball stuff to take care of. It would also get my foot in the door, paving the way into a full time position down the road. Okay, decision made. I would be a sub.

A few weeks ago, I started working on my subbing application and updating my resume. Then last weekend, I was notified that an IA position was opening up at the kids' school! Ackkkk! So much for my decision being made. Being a sub sounded ideal, but.... this is basically the job I had been hoping for all along! But am I ready to take the plunge?

I have spent the last three nights staying up WAY too late working on my application, resume, and cover letter. Whether I was applying as a sub or as an IA, it all still needed to be done asap, with school starting just around the corner. I spent all day yesterday weighing the pros and cons of each. I talked with a friend, and then last night Tony and I talked about it.

As much as being a sub sounds appealing, I'm not sure I would enjoy having every day being such an unknown. I would have to get up every day at 5:30 to find out if anyone needs a sub that day. As an IA, I would know what my job is. For the most part, I would be working with the same kids everyday. The best part is that I would be working at the same school the kids' are attending. It is the ideal spot in our school district for me to be working, at least for the next few years. Who knows if an opening will come up again any time soon?

Decision made. I got my ducks in a row: online application complete, college transcripts ordered and delivered, resume done, cover letter written, letters of recommendations collected. This morning I hit the submit button and it was official. My application for the IA position was in. Shockingly, I got a phone call only an hour later to set up an interview! I'm not surprised I got an interview, but I definitely am surprised to get a call and have it be for Monday already, because the application deadline is also Monday! They'll still be accepting applications through Monday, so I assumed interviews wouldn't start until after that.

My days as a stay at home mom are numbered. I hope that this job is meant to be and I get hired, and I hope that we can settle into a new routine with the kids going to school full time and me joining the work force.

Right Now: August Edition

Reading: Ironically, my answer to this question in the last Right Now post I did in February is my same answer today! We just tonight finished reading the Captain Underpants books they got for their birthday for the second time. They aren't my personal favorite, but the kids have enjoyed them enough to want to read them again! As stated in my previous post earlier this week, I have not read anything for myself. I need to do that.

Watching: Tony and I have been watching Veronica Mars. I never watched it when it came originally, and Tony had only seen the first season and the movie. We are currently half way through season 2, working our way up to the 4th season that just came out! I've also been watching So You Think You Can Dance.

Listening: I've been listening to the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking while out on my walks/runs. It's not the most uplifting, feel good thing to listen to, but it is very engaging and keeps my attention. I've struggled to find podcasts that keep my attention and make me want to extend my workouts, but the stories on this podcast have me walking an extra few blocks at the end of my workouts just so I can listen to the entire episode. I'm also currently, at this very moment, listening to an annoying fly buzz around our living room.

Drinking: Water and sparkling water. I recently purchased a blackberry vanilla sparkling water. It's just okay. Not great.

Eating: We purchased a new barbecue last month. We haven't had one in over 20 years and we are very excited about our new purchase! We have been bbq cheeseburgers about once/week and bbq chicken once or twice/week since we got it. We are also enjoying all the summer fruit: peaches, blueberries, plums, watermelon, etc. And then there's the chocolate coconut covered almonds I found at Costco. I'm eating too many of those. Oops.

Wearing: I am currently wearing my orange homemade (by my mil) Oregon State shorts and a turquoise v-neck t-shirt. They don't go together at all, but I really don't care if I match in whatever I wear to bed.

Loving: That Rylee and Ayden are enjoying their swim lessons so much! They are currently learning how to tread water and how to flip over from a back float to a front float. Tonight they jumped into the pool and were able to swim to the wall with very minimal help. We also recently had photos taken of the twins, and I am loving the end result! I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how to get them downloaded, but as soon as I get that done, I will be sharing here. In the meantime...

After swimming lessons yesterday.

Anticipating: Our sister visit at the end of this month! Little Sis and her family will be coming for our annual visit (4th year running) for the last week before school starts. I'm looking forward to the new memories we will be making.

Hoping: For a smooth transition into kindergarten. For them to make lots of new friends and to have an amazing teacher.

Following: Job postings for the school district. Even though we have decided that I will start out subbing (hopefully), I do check the job postings regularly. It's become a habit since the original plan was for me to hopefully get a full time job within the school district as soon as the kids started kindergarten. 

Wondering: Who their teacher will be. I've heard that all the kindergarten teachers at their elementary school are pretty amazing, so I'm not really worried about that. We know one of the teachers personally, so it will be interesting to find out if the kids are placed in her class. We are also crossing our fingers that one of their preschool buddies will be in their class. There are three (public) elementary schools in our area, and he is the only friend we know of that will be going to the same school. Side note: this same boy tells his mom almost daily that he is going to marry Rylee when he grows up. It will be fun to watch them grow up and see how that pans out. lol

Trying: To get myself prepared for the Hood to Coast race coming up very, very soon. I ran/walked (I do intervals) 3.5 miles on Tuesday while the kids were at a Superhero Dance Camp, but that's been my longest one so far. I need to up that and be going 4-5 miles consistently and I am running out of time.

Worrying: That I won't be healthy for the Hood to Coast race. My knees and achilles have been bothering me recently. No full on injury, but very tight calf muscles that have been affecting my achilles. I struggled with that last year right before Hood to Coast as well, but I made it through. My knees have also been aching off and on as well, but that is something I've struggled with a lot over the  years. Overall, my body has been feeling very stiff and sore recently. I'm worried I may not be able to pull my load in the relay, which would mean somebody else would have to run my legs, and I'll be damned if I make someone else have to run their own in addition to mine!

Planning: The kids ask me CON.STANT.LY what we will be doing. "What are we doing today? What are we doing tomorrow?" And when I answer them, they respond with "what are we doing after that? and then what?" And on and on and on. It's exhausting. I don't always have an answer because I don't always have the days planned out to the T. Sometimes I just want to fricken NOT HAVE PLANS! Gah!

Contemplating: Hmmmm. At this exact moment, I'm contemplating going to bed. No, actually I AM going to bed! It's way too late, but I wanted to get this post done. Good night!