Swim Lessons

We are taking swim lessons this Fall.

Very exciting.

We have been looking forward to them for weeks and today was the day we would start.

We got ready. Put on our suits, got our towels, looked up the combination for our lock and headed off to do some errands before the lesson. After our errands we went to the Firstenburg Center and checked in. We gathered with the other parents and kids and listened to our instructor go over the rules. Once the rules were over (and Ella was crying to get in the pool to play with the toys that were in the bin sitting on the edge of the pool and I was sweating profusely) it was finally time to get in the pool.

We were two seconds from getting in the pool when the tweets from the whistles started. Everyone had to get out of the pool! What happened? Well someone pooped in the pool. No I am not kidding. Two minutes into the swim lesson and there was a floater and that was the end of our lesson. The pool had to be cleared and we were not getting in for our lesson.

So we will try again on Thursday. Hopefully everyone will go to the bathroom before and we will have a lesson.

Just for fun I have included pictures of Ella in her swimsuit . So cute.

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school and I am not there. It is strange to not be going to work today, tomorrow or any day this year. I am so happy to be staying home with Ella this year. I look forward to be able to have play dates, go to the library's reading hour, meet Ben for the random lunch in the park, and number of other things staying home allows me to do. But at the same time I will miss school.

I will miss the students, the routine, the events, my colleagues, teaching history, seeing students "get it", discussions about education, holidays in school, special breaks, and the list goes on.

I will not miss grading, getting up early, tests, complaints, fire drills, emails, state requirements, waiting for the buses, students misbehaving, or the like.

I am surprised by my lack of complete and utter joy over staying home. I am so happy to stay home with Ella, to have this time with her and to support Ben in his preparation for his Doctorate. But at the same time I will miss the classroom. I am going to cherish this season in life though. I will not wish one day away while I am home because I know that this season is short. Before I know it I will be back in the classroom and Ella will not be a little girl anymore. She already has grown so fast. She is no longer a baby. I have a toddler. So with that in mind I will embrace this season. I will soak it all up and treasure it.