Tag: not so much a working mama

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Coming Full Circle in Four Years

This week I found myself sitting in on the volunteer training session for kindergarten. In addition to a background check, parents who would like to volunteer have to also attend a short training seminar. I was mildly amused by the whole thing.

Why?

Well, four years ago I would have been the teacher advising the volunteers. I would have been the one coming up with ways for parents to be involved. I would have been the one reminding parents the importance of being punctual.

Funny how four years can change all that.

Four years ago I was teaching preschool and kindergarten.

Three years ago I was forced to reinvent myself, mostly while hanging out with my two year old.

Two years ago we settled into a groove with a new career, a preschooler and a first grader.

The groove was a good one, so we’ve stayed there. Only now with a kindergartner and a third grader, there’s less driving and I’m able to do things.

Like volunteer in kindergarten.

It’s not a bad place to be. Not a bad place to be at all.

What were you doing four years ago? Are you doing it today? Clearly, Andrew has grown and changed!

AndrewAugustCollage

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Stolen Moments

So week two of school-for-MaM-no-school-for-me has come to a close. Jr and are getting into a good routine, and I will be the first to admit: I LOVE IT. It’s by far the very best part of our most recent life changes.

I’ve conferred with my friends who all have or have had children in school and just one young one at home, and it’s official: having your child load reduced for a few hours each day, it’s like a vacation. Not the fruity-drinks-on-the-Lido-deck kind, but more like a nice hike in a State Park kind. You’re still going to break a sweat, you’re still going to work a bit, but it sure as heck isn’t like having all (or you know, both) your children around all the live long day.

So what have we been doing?

We’ve been going to library story hour.

We’ve been meeting friends for coffee and lunch.

We’ve been hosting friends.

We’ve been playing a bizarre version of tennis where we use a tennis raquet like a hockey puck and hit a wiffle ball down the driveway.

We’ve been grocery shopping.

We’ve been watching Sesame Street every day at 10:30, and Word World every day at 11:30.

We do some secret things we don’t talk about with MaM , like steal away to the Children’s Museum with friends who are visiting for the day!

He’d like to start motorcycle riding lessons next week, but I think we’ll be holding off at least for a few more months…..

Want to learn more about the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis? See my post at the SavvySource City Guide!

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Date Night: Sponsored By…..(Alternate Title: Cupcakes, Candy, Cream Ale & Camaros)

Today was a random day in so many ways.

We went into MaM’s classroom at the little school to celebrate her birthday. 7 of the 12 students in the room? Were my former students. MaM introduced us as, “Mrs. McNally & L___”. We went through her timeline, we watched her walk around the sun five times, we ate yummy fairy cupcakes. I got the question, “Are you still a teacher here?”

When we got home, I was met in the driveway by FedEx with my prize fromi the 1-800 Flowers drawing at BlogHer. I was thrilled to sort through the yummies included in the Arbor Afternoon basket.

As I was looking at the treats, I joined a conference call with Marcie and an event planner–go to Grown In My Heart to see what we are cooking up ( there’s a question, a giveaway and an announcement!).

Then, finally, Date Night. Also known as Indy’s Social Media Happy Hour. We dropped the kids off at our friends’ house and jetted off……in a 2010 Camaro, compliments of Hare Chevy.

I am not a fast-car kind of girl, but DAMN. The car was hot & so much fun to drive. Everyone who drives a minivan every day should go take a test drive. SUCH a rush!

Hare was sponsoring a kickoff party for Blog Indiana, which just happened to be held at Sun King Brewery, and featuring West Coast Tacos (the taco truck was parked in their warehouse, the taco truck taking Indy by storm). The night was filled with catching up with online friends in person (Angie, Robby, & Stephanie to name a few) and meeting new ones. (I count myself as coming out ahead if my night doesn’t include cutting someone else’s meat, pouring milk or negotiating how many bites are left to take)

Not bad for a Thursday.