28
As I write this, that is currently the days left remaining until I adventure into this whole 'stay-at-home' Mama type life.
I love my teaching job. And the people I work with. I've been blessed with amazing bosses as I've journeyed through this career, and I've learned a lot. But it took one particularly rough day recently and a whole bunch of co-workers asking, "Have you started your count down?!" Up until that point, I hadn't. I thought, "Well, heck, may as well!"
Christmas break 2015 I sat across the couch from my husband. I was all cuddled up in my fleece blanket and sipping something warm. The reflection from the Christmas tree lights were sparkling off my mug as we reminisced about days gone by with our babies, and how excited we were to see their faces Christmas morning. We talked about how they would be in school in no time, and that these 'little years' really did seem fleeting.
"Remember how I used to say I wanted to stay home with the kids before Pierson starts school?" I said. "I still want to do that."
My husband responded, "You know next year is his last year at home, right...?"
I remember the way my heart dropped. I mean, obviously I KNOW when my kids will start school, but how did he only have a YEAR left?!
"Well! Then I have to quit my job!" I exclaimed.
He looked at me and said, "Okay, then we'll figure it out."
Did I actually think that was going to happen? Not really. But I felt so motivated and dedicated to finding out how and if I could make this a reality. He did the numbers, told me exactly how much I would need to make a month, explained that I would need to defer my student loans and get more photo gigs. When the wedding inquiries began to trickle in, I booked them. When clients wanted family sessions, I did them. And since January, we've saved almost every single penny so that I could do this. I've e-mailed the family leave center, printed out every e-mail and have them saved in a binder, (ha, YES, I'm nervous!) and come January, that's it: my time "off" begins.
I'm returning to my classroom the very last week of school in May, and a lot of people ask what I'm doing the following school year. My response: Let me have this portion of time off first and then figure it out. Right now? I have no clue! I am a creative person, constantly dreaming and scheming of ways to make money, reaching out to businesses and working with brands that I believe in; I love photography and have a real passion for inspiring sessions. But for the next year and beyond, I just don't know.
There is one thing that I DO know though...that I need this time with my kids. With my son going to kindergarten August 2017, I know that I will be so thankful for these next few months. We aren't sure when our daughter will start school, as our school district just changed the date and age kids need to be when they enroll; so as of now, she may start the year right after him, or she may have to wait two years. Regardless of what happens, if I go back to work full time, part time, or WHATEVER, having these coming months to focus more on being MOM, sounds so wonderful.
During this time I hope to write more, book more sessions, dig deeper with this blog and find out really, what I want to do when I grow up. That's funny isn't it? It just dawned on me that I am 28-years old, have 28 days remaining of a Monday-Friday job, and I'm PUMPED because I know that God is good and has a plan! I have LOTS of dreams...but for the moment, I'm going to sit in this one for a while, and be grateful that I have these days TO count down.
