Emily, right there with ya. Middle school students are the toughest, I think. I remember when my dad agreed to take on an 8th grade class after years of teaching high school, and came home looking shell-shocked: "They ate the library paste." He did it one year and swore never again.
You are doing a Good Thing, though, and you've got the Buffistas at your back.
I brought 3 Corb Lund albums into work for the office stereo today. Viral marketing.
I'll probably xpost this with LJ at some point, but it's vague and formless and I'm just sort of talking it out now: Did my taxes last night (I have to pay my own as an IC throughout the year), and figured out that my take-home pay is $3.65/hour.
I've never made that little. Even in high school I made $4/hour, and that was a long time ago! (And it went farther, as food didn't cost as much).
My nanny makes $11/hour. This means if I miss any work but have the nanny (if I'm sick or have to, say, go get a biopsy), I actually lose money.
The DH is kind of making noise like I should quit working, because it's not really worth it, but (and he understands this) it's the only place I get adult contact. Plus I am keeping my security clearance valid (worth its weight in gold for future employment in DC or overseas) and networking for future jobs.
But $3.65/hour? When I could be home playing with Mal and working on art projects?
Not sure what to do. I've broached the idea of sharing nannies with a couple other folks who work FT, so that might be an answer. Or, being the right-wing types they are, they might think it smacks of socialism.
Way to welcome the new guy. But I am guessing you know him.
Yeah, I've known him for quite a few years.
So you are saying that he's used to perverse, wildly disturbing humor? That works.
Way to welcome the new guy. But I am guessing you know him. Her. I swear I read the profile... Did I mention the dazed and confused?
I'm a him, but no big.
Oops, I should hello as well. Hi, SonusExMachina.
Hi Cass! Wasabi? (What's up?)
So you are saying that he's used to perverse, wildly disturbing humor? That works.
One could say that I'm used to it. The question to NoiseDesign is, of course, where are the penguins right now? And the nun? >)
Good night all!
Are you saying that ended with the end of school?
Alas, no. Drew's still quite patient with my as-yet-unmedicated tigger-ness. Thanks. Cheers to you, too!
Oh, dear, Em. Sorry I went to bed early and wasn't available last night. Poor you! I hope today is better.
Raq, I have no good advice, but I get the whole need to have adult contact, and I think that outweighs the money issue. Have you made a pros/cons list? I mean, it sounds like you have, at least in your head. But, sometimes seeing it on paper helps.
I should be writing my piece for writing workshop that's in a couple hours. But, I don't feel like it.
Raq, is working part time an option at all? Not a solution, exactly, but might alleviate some of the stress?
Raq, I go back and forth between working at home and working at the office. I find that when I work home there is less incentive to get dressed, or even shower some days. Going outside to work gives a bit more structure to my day. That whole adult contact is good too.
We did without an outside office for several years. Everyone enjoyed it for a while. Then even my most non-social programmer said he felt a bit like a hermit. We have more of a flexible system now. We mostly go to the office, but stay home when we need to for whatever reason.
Nanny sharing is good for the kids. Don't hesitate to bring up the subject with other families.
{{Emily}} I don't envy you. For the record, whenever I visited Brendon's classroom it appeared to me to be wildly out of control. Kids laughing and talking and walking around. The gifted team seemed to strive for a balance. Most of the time they gave the class a lot of freedom, but when they were lecturing or testing they cracked the whip. A time for being more relaxed and a time for being serious.
You will find your own way. There is no shortcut to experience. What works for one teacher won't work for another. How lucky we all are to have our support system here.
I treasured my 1st real math teacher. 7th grade. Sister Miriam Anthony. She made the mystery fun. I tried without success to contact her as an adult. Teachers rock.
School sucks.
The Bursar's office "changed" their system this year on paying excess checks. It used to be that on the first day of classes you'd get a $750 check to put towards books and living expenses till the excess checks were cut several weeks later. Well, they're not doing that anymore. Now you just have to wait till excess checks are cut. Oh, but you can go pick up a "book card" that you can use in the school bookstore to buy your books. That's not helpful if you're trying to save money by buying your books elsewhere. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
I mean, it's fine. I'll get all the money eventually. But, it's a good thing I wasn't counting on that money.
