here we go. (deep breath...)

I feel like life is about to be thrown upside down. I found a school one mile away (4 minute drive) that was looking for a preschool teacher. Their biggest perk? Teachers get to enroll their children in the center for free. I guess that's why I never did go back to teaching after Emmalee arrived. It didn't make sense to pay someone to care for Emmalee while I was paid to care for someone else's children. Nor was it affordable.

So I looked into it, and sure enough, one thing leads to another, and I start tomorrow. Emmalee and I spent some time in the toddler class (2-3 year olds) this morning. She had fun exploring and having 'staring contests' with a few other toddlers. She also did a couple of art projects with them.

But me? I'm nervous, to say the least. Is it wrong for me to think Emmalee deserves more than being one child in a sea of a dozen other snot-faced toddlers? (Literally. There were 2 or 3 kids with snot running down their faces). It's not that they were over-ratio or anything, there were 3 teachers in the room most of the time. but I am still afraid that Emmalee will be 'overlooked' in a way, and not get the attention she might need if she was to feel scared or get hurt. So I guess, in a perfect world, she'd be in a class with 5 other kids. I have a couple of other concerns, but basically I think i'll feel better if she doesn't have to spend LONG hours there at a time. Of course we'll be under the same roof, but not together most of the day.

Though it seems that they need me 40 hours/wk, we'll probably be doing 3-6 hour days Monday through Friday and more hours when (and IF) we get used to this new change. I think it's a great opportunity for ME to get back into teaching and it COULD even be good for her as well, but it's a big change and it's been two years since i've been 'in the business', so i'm nervous. Going to give it a shot though! The staff seems nice! Cross your fingers for us, and PRAY that naptime goes smoothly for Emmalee there ~ i'm definitely scared of how that's going to go!





...And so this isn't a total photoless blog, here's one of Emmalee napping:

... and her new cup: