Cha-cha-cha-changes.

I thought my first year of school was the hardest year ever. My second got a little easier, as did my third, fourth. My fifth, last year, was my best year yet, my most confident year yet.

I am terrified of this upcoming year. Leaving the most precious being in the world for 8+ hours a day is all I can think about. How will I cope?! How will I be able to provide for him emotionally and physically when I am 20 miles away from him 5 days a week? What kind of mother am I to leave him. When he needs me most. I can't answer these questions now. I hope I can answer them in a few weeks.

While I am at work, my one concern is pumping. I originally hoped to breastfeed Zeke to 6 months. We've both become quite good at it, I am proud to report! Now, I'd like to go for a year. That means I must pump 2x a day to replace the milk he is consuming while I'm gone. Our 10 day rotating schedule will make that complicated, and I hope I can come up with some sort of reasonable solution.

There are so many changes afoot at the Irving. They are exciting, but the width and breadth of these changes are so grand, and I want them to go grandly. I will be the 7th grade ELA teacher again, and am adding Theatre Arts back into my ingredient list. I am so lucky to get to combine the best of both my worlds, and I look forward to what it brings.

My room is wonderful. Big, on the cooler side of the building, and surround by my friends and biggest supporters: the 7th grade cluster. I am so grateful I get to continue working with them. I have become so close with many of them so quickly. For the first time in my life I feel like I can be totally honest and open with a group of people knowing that we can share a difference of opinion like adults! It is so refreshing and freeing!

So. Here's to SY 2010-2011.
Gulp.