Time vs. Money

This week I started getting up earlier every day, not just on Tuesdays and Thursdays when I *have* to get up earlier than usual. On Tuesday I woke up way too early (3AM) and then when I was still awake at 4AM decided it was better to get up and get something done than just lie awake in bed. I wrote most of my narrative for my performance review. It's due next week. I hadn't written once since 2007 because I had earned tenure in 2008. Tuesday night when I got home at 7:40pm for the first time since we left home at 6:35am, I was only up for about 30 minutes before I went to bed. This meant I went to bed even before Nadia or Ian that night. Wednesday night I went to bed as soon as I got home from choir rehearsal. Thursday night I decided I should stay up a little bit later as my goal was to be in bed by 9:30 each night not before 9pm. I didn't really see Paul for more than one minute on Tuesday or Wednesday. He got home at 8pm on Thursday so we did have a little time to talk that night. Last night he got home at 9pm but by the time he came down from taking his shower and such it was 9:30, and I headed straight to bed. So one downside of me going to bed earlier and getting up earlier is that I will have fewer opportunities to have a conversation with my husband, but this will just be for the next two months. I have no idea how Paul functions on the limited amount of sleep he gets. He got home at 9pm last night, went to bed sometime after I was asleep (no idea when), and then he left at 2AM to go back to work.

Last week I set a goal of exercising for 15-20 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Last week I achieved that goal on Monday and Wednesday and then that plan went by the wayside for ten days until I got back on the elliptical again this morning. Hopefully next week I will do a better job. I really intended to exercise on Monday, and because of that I didn't take my shower in the morning as I usually do because I was going to take it after I exercised. When Paul came home that evening it hit me I had never exercised or even showered that day. He was also surprised to find out that evening I didn't know about the shooting in Las Vegas, but I hadn't been listening to the radio, watching tv (I only watch it once a week - football), or even checking my email or anything like that so I was oblivious. The moral of the story is that I just need to exercise in the morning, even if it means our homeschooling starts a tad later than usual (we usually start at 8:00), or everything else on my to do list will take precedence over exercising.

I definitely was never bored over the past 5 years that I was a stay-at-home mom. I already felt like my schedule was busy enough, but now I've added a FT job and there's a bit too much on my plate. I could give up Bible study and/or choir and use that time to get work done, but I don't want to do that. I keep telling myself it's just for two more months. If I wasn't still working on preparing two new courses, the load would be much more manageable. My first request for next semester didn't involve any new classes, but I ended up agreeing to teach one new class next semester because it fit well with the other two courses. Since I have far more advance notice this time around, I am certain I can have the course preparation completed before the spring semester starts. It looks like I'll be teaching 3 courses from 3:30-7:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two of the classes I've taught before (math methods and an assessment course), and one will be a new one for me (Home, school, and family partnerships). I will also have five student teachers. Because I will be teaching what is technically four different courses (and faculty are only to teach 3 different courses), I'll be paid a little bit more for being on "preparation overload." I plan to drop the kids off at Tab's house at 1pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which means I will be able to do most (or possibly all) of their homeschooling with them those days. Paul will pick them up from the babysitter those two days. The unknown is exactly what days/times I'll do my student teaching observations. Thankfully there is a lot of flexibility with those! When I schedule them will partially depend on where they are located geographically.

I have also struggled to complete my Bible study homework and Sunday School homework. I've been getting it done at the last minute, which is not my preference. Last Saturday I brought my Bible study homework in the van thinking I would do it during the flag football games as that's one of my rare moments of "down time" each week, but then I decided not to do that. Today I brought my Sunday School workbook instead and worked on my homework during half-time. That seems like a good plan. I brought my iPad with me when I took the kids to the Crazy Chemistry program at the Children's Museum on Wednesday and to their gym class on Friday. I did get some grading done both days, but I also talked some to other moms. The other Fridays I had stayed out of the gym and sat in the coffee house instead. I got a lot more work done that way, but it was also nice to chat with other homeschooling moms.

Naturally me taking on a FT job has meant giving up some things. I really don't miss Facebook, and I'm reading so many books to prepare my new lectures that I don't miss reading fiction (although that was far more relaxing). I still play a tiny bit of Boggle so I am okay with giving up Words With Friends (Scrabble). I miss having time to play with the kids. I really haven't played with them the past several weeks. I also haven't been reading picture books. I must find a way to get that back into our schedule as poor Oliver is getting the short end of the stick. We read LOTS of books from the library related to what we're studying in science and social studies (which would mean insects and the Romans right now), and we're still reading chapter books during meals (although not as much as usual on Tuesdays and Thursdays since we don't eat breakfast or lunch together those days). I miss field trips. The kids and I had a very enjoyable one this afternoon. We spent two hours at a historical festival less than 10 minutes from our house. The military reenactment was a little scary for Oliver (he thought the soldiers were really dying), but otherwise we had a great time. It's not that we aren't going on any field trips, but we're going on far fewer than usual. I also miss taking the kids' pictures. I sometimes go a full week without picking up my camera. I really miss getting fresh air. Aside from flag football, I'm usually inside all the time. I used to walk the kids to the playground regularly. I really miss that. I went back to work because we needed the money and because I love being a professor. It's been wonderful to have the financial strain taken away, but now the commodity I'm lacking the most is time.

Making horseradish

Paul met us at the football field. He stayed awake for all of Nadia's game, but he slept through part of the boys' game. The sleep deprivation does catch up to him now and then! We only had 2.5 hours with him today because then he went home and then drove to Harrisburg (almost 2 hours away) for his cousin's wedding reception. He was struggling to stay awake on the drive there in the afternoon, but thankfully he made it home safely at 9:30 tonight. I will say that I think in Upward basketball and AYSO soccer the coaches did a better job of letting all the kids touch the ball than in Upward flag football. I know it's their first season, but I admit it was discouraging today (game #6) that still none of our three kids have pulled the flag from a ball carrier. I don't mind that Oliver hasn't been given the ball. The only time he touched it this season was the one game he played center for a few snaps. He basically just stands like a statue on the field so he doesn't deserve the ball in my opinion. But I wish the coaches would give Ian and Nadia at least one play each game where they have the ball. The last two games neither of them had that chance. In the six games thus far Ian was given the ball once on offence (he ran for a few yards before his flag was pulled), and Nadia has been given the ball three times (twice in one game) in six games. The football pics below are from last Saturday. I'll post the ones from today next week.

Making a corn husk doll

Making rope