Well, this is my THIRD attempt at keeping a blog... Each time I promise to update it regularly. Each time, I fail! This time, however, I think I'll have more success since I spend a lot more time at home without much adult interaction! So, there's much to say to whoever chooses to read :) I can't promise to be politically correct, or provide solid evidence to back up my opinions, so please don't crucify me if you don't agree!! I will do my best to use correct spelling and grammar - I can't stand bad grammar!! I don't care if it is the internet, that's no excuse. If you can't communicate effectively, step away from the keyboard.... Also, I have a tendency to ramble off course with whatever idea pops into my head. I'm blaming that on baby brain ;)
I've decided to name my new blog The Spicks & The Specks of My Life for a few reasons. First, if I ever get around to recording a covers album, it would be of songs that have influenced my life and I'd call it "(the spicks & the specks) Of My Life". Second, this is going to be a blog of all sorts of things that happen in my life and make me Me. Third, one of my all time favourite tv shows, which is no longer running, and last, bloody great song!
Ok, so, since my last attempt at blogging quite a lot has happened. I've left my first teaching job, got engaged, taught in 2 more schools, moved house twice, given up on teaching (for now), bought 2 cars, got married, became part time permanent at Target, and had a baby! I've also lost all my baby weight and a bit more!! When I list it all, it really is a lot of achievements :D
I'll start with the teaching thing since that what my lost blog started about. Cast your mind back to September 2008.... I'd just finished uni and started my first teaching job. Well, getting grade 7 at the end of the year is hardly easy for a new teacher. Add to the fact that I'm not overly confident and had pretty much NOTHING to work from, and you get one highly stressed, traumatised Cathee O.O Also the teacher I was sharing a room with, who was meant to be helping me, turned out to be a backstabbing selfish so and so. It wasn't a very nice place to work, and I was struggling severely, so was given the choice to resign or be put on some 'under performing teacher program'. Option 2 didn't sound very nice or complimentary to my career, so for my own sanity I chose to leave. I don't think of myself as someone who gives up but at 24 years old and calling my mum in tears several times a week it was the best decision for me. So maybe it wasn't 'giving up' but letting go...
After that debacle, I went back to Target casually (pretty much full time given it was nearly Christmas) for the rest of the year. I always felt appreciated and needed and valued there. Matthew and I got engaged in Nov 08 after he was going to move to Brisbane for a job. I told him I wasn't moving so he said he stay if we got married. Not a particularly romantic proposal, but honest and meaningful. I was worth staying for! The next month our landlord of 3yrs decided he was selling all his rental properties. We had 3 weeks to find a new place and move!! THREE WEEKS! Over Christmas & New Year. In wet season!!! Unsurprisingly, we didn't find a new place.... all our stuff went into storage and we ended up staying in a spare room under my friend's house for a month. Finally in Feb 2009 we moved into a small unit. It had many flaws so after only 18 months we moved to the house we're currently living in.
2009 I was offered a part time contract doing relief teaching 4 days a week. It was a really nice school with friendly, helpful staff members and I didn't have the stress of having to prepare lessons and write reports!! I found it a bit of a confidence boost because I was able to work on a few elements of the job rather than EVERYTHING at once! I knew that I only had to survive each class for 2 days at a time, and if it didn't go according to plan it wasn't the end of the world. Thankfully most of the classes were really great and accepted me as 'their teacher' whenever I was in their class :)
Towards the end of term one I was offered a part time music teaching contract at a different school. It was initially for 3wks but had opportunity for extension. While I was really enjoying the job I was doing, the potential long term employment was alluring and won me over. I ended up with the music job from March to August and I got to really enjoy it and gained some confidence back. It was a really tough school, and music teachers are not high on the people to respect list of school kids... The reason I left was a new Principal having 'someone else in mind' for the job!! Given that I was only on a contract and not a permanent EQ staff member I had to cop it on the chin. Not to worry, good old Target took me back. Well, I'd still been there on weekends, so they just gave me more hours. I haven't done any teaching since then. At this stage I'm not in the frame of mind to go back, but one day I'd like to do something with kids and development.
Anyway, this is getting rather long, and I should spend some time with Matthew now he's home from work. I'll continue my condensed version of the last 4 years tomorrow, hopefully!!
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