New beginnings!!!

Such an amazing first day of school for both William and me! He already likes his new teachers and classmates. They were even gushing about how he LOVES books, which is music to this English teacher's ears. He cried a bit off and on, but I'm sure this is part of the natural adjustment to something very new!

My first day with the students rocked too. We already have a teacher out on medical leave, so I got to teach 2 math classes. Tomorrow, I tackle some Alternative Ed. classes! No, my highly impacted and ever-interesting school never fails to keep me busy and learning constantly. I am grateful for that!

Another win? No staff meeting after school (probably the only Monday this school year where that happens!), so I was able to leave by 3:45 (with some external motivation from my office mate) and hit the trails to run with a work friend. Yes, it was the hottest part of the day, but it felt a heck of a lot better under the trees in the trails!

Hoping to get more restful sleep tonight. I NEVER sleep well the night before the first day of school! Hope you've started your week off right too, fabulous warrior women!

#newbeginnings #teacherproblems #ilovemyjob #familyfirst 

#notnecessary

Wow. I had the most amazing weekend with my boys and feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and much more balanced heading into the official first full week of the new school year! 

I am committed to staying this way and already made some good decisions today to ensure that happens (ie: choosing to catch up on sleep and spend a busy, awesome day with my boys rather than going into my school, where many of my colleagues worked for 5 hours today). I still got some work done remotely but was proud of myself for saying NO to fully working on a Sunday. That sets the wrong precedent and unnecessarily robs me of quality family time I very much needed. #nothankyou

Here's to teachers near and far. Your students are counting on you to show up, give them your all, and guide them to creating and living their best lives possible. Teaching is truly the greatest -- and most noble -- profession in the world. Let's make the 2015-16 school year the BEST yet!!!

#highercalling #putkidsfirst #buildingabettertomorrow 

Gratitude

My gratitude list for today:

1. Finally deciding to distance myself from my regular Facebook page for the time being to focus on what is REALLY important.

2. Will's sheer determination in maneuvering his walker around every curb and sidewalk in the neighborhood.

3. Impromptu family time in the park to appreciate the clouds, wind, and beauty of the day.

4. Catching up with a fellow warrior woman, Molly, who is a true example of someone following her passions and living her best life.

5. Getting to devote several hours this afternoon to completely cleaning out and re-organizing our pantry. There's nothing like the feeling of organizing and purging of unneeded "stuff" to excite this girl! 😊

It's the little things that can make a big difference in your stress levels and well-being, right?

#gratitude #liveyourbestlife #youdoYOU 😁😁😁

Teachers matter...

Today was a very emotional and bittersweet day for this warrior woman. William is changing schools, so today was his last day at Watch Me Grow Child Development Center, where he has been since last September. The teachers and staff there have been so wonderful to him over the past year and truly have helped him learn, grow, and develop his positive attitude and bubbling personality even more. 

One teacher in particular really took William under her wing. Ms. Roseanne loves Will like her own child and really developed a special bond with him. She even gave him a very thoughtful, personalized book and insisted on coming into work early this morning to make Will a yummy pancake breakfast. Talk about hard shoes to fill!!

For the first time, I understand what it's like to be a parent and have to say goodbye to such a loving, influential, and supportive teacher like Ms. Roseanne. It sucks. Big time.

I am so grateful to have had her in our lives, along with the other caring teachers. I hope William connects with his new teachers just as well, though I know we will always hold a special place in our hearts for the teachers who helped make his first 14+ months of life so wonderful. 

Teachers matter. Make sure you take time to appreciate -- and even thank -- one who's meant the world to you and/or your child. 

And thank you, Ms. Roseanne, for all you've done for our son. We look forward to staying in touch as Will grows up and taking you up on your offer to baby-sit. We will never forget you.💞💞💞

#gratitude #soblessed #makeadifferenceinthelifeofachild 

Choose YOUR best path!

My Strengths Finder 2.0 assessment confirmed that I am an Achiever two years ago. #shocker ;)

Recently, I've been wondering -- who am I achieving FOR? Myself? My family? My health? My career? Or, is it just to please others?

All too often, throughout my life, I have tried to please everyone and be everyone's friend. This is particularly dangerous for me as a Staff Development Teacher at my Title 1 middle school, where everyone needs you for something and there simply are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Combine that with motherhood, being a dedicated wife, and numerous other outside commitments, and it's easy for me to put myself last. Sound familiar?

But I know myself all too well at this point. I am a "joiner" and tend to overcommit myself. I overextend myself to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. Many people do not know that I have suffered with major anxiety and clinical depression throughout my life. My worst times have been when I have not taken control of my health and allowed things to spiral out of control until I completely hit rock bottom -- and could be of no use to anyone, let alone myself.

I feel myself getting into that funk again. I feel myself saying "yes" to the wrong things and starting to agree to take on responsibilities that are not aligned to my true priorities -- my health, my family, and my mental and physical well-being. Tonight, I made a decision to say NO. I made a decision to let go of an extra cohort and set of courses this year that I know I would have loved but ultimately do NOT have the time, space, or mental or physical capacity for right now. Since my second top strength is being a LEARNER, this was difficult for me, but I did it. I chose to say YES to my family, YES to more time with them, and NO to something I would like to do but ultimately cannot afford to take on at this time.

My body is telling me something needs to change. I have lost more weight than I should have over the last month (without actively trying to do so), feel sluggish, am not my usual happy myself, and know that I am at a crossroads. I can choose the path I think I SHOULD go down, or I can choose to take the road less traveled.

Yes, I can be a juggler, but even the BEST "Mommy" jugglers will see all of their balls fall quickly to the ground if they take on too heavy of a load or try to balance too many things at once. Warrior women know when it's time to say no and when it's time to say -- enough is enough. I choose me. I choose my family. I choose living my best life, even if that looks a bit different than what I envisioned it to be yesterday. I'm OK, and that's OK. I'm doing the best I can.

#choosejoy #chooseyou #youmatter #alignyourlifewithyourpriorities

Of course, the English teacher in me has to give some "air time" to one of my all-time favorite poems...

The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost
         
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-----

Keep your heads up, Warrior Women. And go ahead, choose YOUR best path.

Screw the haters!

You all are amazing. I truly appreciate your kind words and support throughout the day today -- and always!

This pic pretty much sums up today and my continued (albeit somewhat new) approach to people. If you're a natural people pleaser like me, it's hard to accept that not everyone is going to like you or want you to succeed. Forget them. They don't matter. In fact, giving them any power or control in your life is only counterproductive and ultimately a waste of time. Who needs haters anyway? I know I certainly don't. 

Surround yourself with those who love, support, and cheer you on, no matter what. Strive to be a better person, one who chooses to help people reach their true potential rather than bring them down. You're worth it. As the great Oprah Winfrey once said, "Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher." #hatersgonnahate #toobadforthem #youwin #riseabove

Rise above the naysayers!

Today definitely had its ups and downs. I've found that I've had to make sacrifices as a working mom and that my time is even more precious. I have started to delegate more at work recently and practice facilitative leadership, trying to empower my other school leaders to take center stage and co-facilitate our school and leadership meetings. This is very different from the past two years, where most school meetings and professional development sessions were often the "Kay show." Apparently, some people see this as "checking out" and that I'm "different." For some reason, this really got to me.

Balance is difficult to find as a busy working mom and recovering type A perfectionist. There are simply not enough hours in the day to get everything done or be everything for everyone. It's not realistic -- or healthy! I work hard to find that balance at work and make time for my son, husband, friends, other family members, and ME in the process. It's a shame that others don't seem to see this. Why can't we be kinder to one another? What happened to compassion, empathy, putting things in perspective, and assuming the best (not worst) in people?!!

I wish that those who think I've changed for the worst or are concerned about me in general would have the courage to broach the issue with me directly. I more than welcome courageous conversations, as difficult as they may sometimes me. It's a shame that some adults would rather gossip, make assumptions, or rush to quick conclusions without having the facts or knowledge of everything going on.

That said, I am taking this as a challenge to rise above the naysayers and pessimists. I will continue to give all I've got to work AND my family .... while still taking care of myself. I will continue to practice the Golden Rule and give others the kindness and respect I would want in return. I will continue to be relentless in my fight for equity and opportunity for ALL students, regardless of where they may be from or what the color of their skin is. Through it all, I will continue to stay true to myself and be a warrior woman. 

My son, my husband, and I deserve nothing less. 

On a lighter note, do you like that Will is already flirting with the Starbucks barista? #weareinforit #beyourbestself