Retirement Phase Two

Retirement part two has commenced. I'm officially finished with my sub job. 

How did it go? 

Saxon Phonics

I had a class of nine energetic and fun second grade boys. 

These boys are adorable. They quickly adapted to having a new teacher and they were a great help while I learned the routine. 

I've taught 2, 3 and 4 year olds. I've taught 1st, 3rd and 4th grades. 

This was the first time I've spent any time in 2nd grade. 

I have to say that it is fun! 

We studied quite a few interesting topics. 

Homophones, homonyms, synonyms, contractions, biographies, letter writing, pioneers, multiplication and division were a few.  

We talked about Joseph, Abraham and Moses during Bible. 

Pinterest is an amazing resource. Our second day of multiplication was confusing for them. 

Pinterest became a resource with tips on how to teach arrays. 

These kids diagram sentences like high schoolers. 

The Shurley English curriculum is no joke. My co-teacher came the rescue many times. 

The past nine weeks have flown by. 

I was able to keep a handle on things at home. 

We don't do our own yard work but I do all my own inside chores.  

I did a chore or two every morning in order to keep things clean. 

Each work day was about 10,000 steps so I was pretty tired at night. 

Bill helped with the laundry which saved the day. 

I enjoyed having someplace to go and dressing up was fun. 

I got our annuals and seeds planted. I thinned and weeded some of the flower beds. 

There is nothing like the fellowship of other teachers when they get along. I was on a fabulous team. 

 I was able to visit with my old team before a few of them quit at the end of this year. 

It was also a privilege to work along the mom of one of my former students.

 It's something I will always treasure.

Society places a lot of importance on having a career.

At times I felt a little without my bearings when I retired. Upon my return, the parents and the school bestowed appreciation which in turn helped fill an empty spot lurking during this transition phase. 

I have briefly entertained the idea of going to teach at another school. I don't know that I will but it is nice to know that I still love teaching. 

I'm a big believer in the truth that God directs our path. 

Circumstances were leading me to retire last year. I wasn't always sure why it was happening a few years before we had planned. 

This temporary teaching assignment has been something good that came out of something that wasn't ideal. 

I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve these students, parents and my co-teachers. 

My blog has been neglected but I needed a blogging break. 

I can't wait to see what the next weeks and months will bring. 

Thanks for coming by and following along. 

Have a great weekend. 

Katie 

Thoughts About Retirement

You may recall that I retired at the end of the school year last May. 

"How is retirement?" is a question I get asked a lot. 

How is retirement? 

Now that summer is over and we are home from our trip to France, I'm in the midst of my new normal. 

Life is as busy as ever. 

There is housework. 

Food prep and shopping. 

For some strange reason, we like to wear clean clothes everyday. 

Laundry usually takes an entire day. 

I only worked three days a week but it is nice to have the extra time to get my chores done. 

What about the rest of the time? 

 I've struggled a little with feeling like I have value, now that I'm not working. 

Society places a lot of importance on what we are doing and how we are contributing financially to our family units. 

"What do you do all day?" is one of the questions that I've gotten. 

"Do you get out of your pajamas?" 

"You're too young to retire." 

"You will get bored." 

The summer didn't feel any different to me since I'm always home in the summer.

Boredom crept in a little once we got home from France. 

Just FYI - Clothes are worn everyday.

To fill the days, I've been volunteering at my favorite resale shop.

I've gotten a lot of good stuff from there over the years so getting a first hand look at the junk that comes in is a thrill.  

So far I love putting merchandize out and straightening up the floor.

Tagging the clothes isn't my favorite because the racks are a little tall and hard to reach. 

I'm also on the sub list at my old school and they have called a few times. 

It's fun to interact with my former students, get to know new ones, and teach different grade levels. 

Teaching Spanish was a trick since I don't speak Spanish but it was a success, thanks to Google. 

Jr. High was not my best experience.
"I will let you have your phone, if you will just stop talking."
I love getting to see all my former co-workers. 

Bill and I used to go our separate ways on Saturdays. Now we are running errands together. 

There will always be things that pop up. It's great to have the flexibility to take care of people. 

I know that I'm a little young to retire so I'm open to new opportunities that will produce income. 

We are very blessed so we don't need the extra money. I spent money because I was earning a little cash. This is a lifestyle and decor blog so intrinsically it may seem to be very materialistic but I've always been super frugal (cheap) so doing a little spending doesn't have to be expensive. Letting go of the extra spending money from my salary was part of our retirement thought process. So far the extra income isn't missed and my brain doesn't need much reprograming with regard to the value placed on being a homemaker. 

There was a calling placed on my life to teach. 

Getting called away from that took some doing. Many, many things told me that it was time. 

I'm a bit stubborn so it took some clear signs for me to see the writing on the wall. 

I don't know if there is a job in my future. I think it's okay if there isn't. I'll adjust to my new normal.

There will always be ways to fill the hours during the day now that I'm being more proactive and stepping out of my comfort zone.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Katie