New Beginnings

Well, here it is...Labour Day weekend. For many of us this signals the end of summer, or the beginning of Fall. It generally depends on your perspective, I think!

I am embarking this year (actually, my entire family is embarking!!) on a new journey. A journey that I will call "Mommy Goes Back to School and the Whole of Life Seems to Change". That's right...I started school last week! I am one of 65 students at the Peel Site of the Faculty of Ed at York University. I can't believe that I'm already one week down, but it was fun! I actually really liked it!

Day One was hard - like the first day of school for everyone! I realized how insecure I was as I prepared for that first day of school. What should I wear? Will I be cool, or old and nerdy like I feel? Will people think I'm nice, or will they turn the other way for the younger, hipper friends? What if I choose to wear something that is the same as someone else - or worse, what if I wear the same thing as my teacher???? Yikes. But, everything turned out fine. I made good friends right away with another "forty-ish" Mom of 2 boys (the same ages as my Matt and Eric). I think we found solice in each other; she was a God-send, I'm sure. We sat together all day, had lunch together, and talked of our fears and concerns, and excitement about the coming year.

Day Two was challenging - more stuff piled on the load introduced the first day. Assignments, deadlines, drafts, presentations, group work, etc. It was good, but a lot to think about! We started a new class on Models of Education and it is very philosophical. "What is education? Can we create education? Why do we educate young children? What is young? Why educate?..." This one will be a challenge for me, I know that already. Paper done though...and it's not due until Sept 13!!

Day Three presented a challenge only in that I was exhausted already! When I say next what I am going to say, I am in no way being racist, prejudiced, or judgemental. I sit at a table with 5 other women...3 Muslims, 1 East Indian, 1 Black woman, and myself. And I only mention that because it has been a wonderful - and eye-opening, I should add - experience to truly BE the minority. My table is so representative of Mississauga and it is good for me! I love these women. I know that God placed me with them for a reason. And it is my prayer that there are no boundaries between us, but rather that we develop great and trusting friendships that transcend the lines of culture and religion. I pray that I am protected by Christ and am able to shine His light, and that by loving them with His love, we become supporters and encouragers of each other. They are young and fun, and I have a lot to learn from them!

Day Four was spent at York U campus, getting textbooks and getting acquainted with the many other campuses of Yorks Faculty of Ed. It was a great orientation to be a teacher. What a great calling - I am so excited to continue this journey!!

Day Five was TGIF!! The great and fantastic thing about Friday was that I met my Principal and Mentor Teacher for my practicum teaching. They are wonderful people! My newly made, forty-ish girlfriend (I'll call her Nina here) is also placed at the same school, so we are together again! I am so glad. There are actually 5 student teachers from York at my school together. It will be a great teaching and learning time!

I am planning on enjoying my last day of "freedom" as we wrap up the final long weekend of the summer. I enjoyed last week. I know that the coming weeks will be challenging, growing, changing, and frustrating at times! My kids have been great, my husband fantastic. It was hard to suddenly, after being "home" for 12 years, to be "not home" for a whole week. I missed my boys, that's for sure. I am hoping to find routine soon enough, for the benefit of us all.

For now, I am trusting that God is in control, that He knows what is best for us all. I am looking forward to being a teacher - to coming out the other side of this!