There is all kinds of firsts going on today!
First No. 1} My granddaughter is going to have her first day ever of school. She's been excited about starting school happy about it. But my daughter is having a hard time with it (only child) and there was this Get to Know Your Teacher dinner at the school - with all the people there, and the general sense of excitement I think my grand-kinder became a little overwhelmed and started to cry, then my daughter started to over-react, then dad started telling the girl that people wouldn't want to play with whiners....I wish that had been handled differently, but it's not good to correct parents in front of your grandchildren. Big no-no. Later, I mentioned to my granddaughter that probably the other kids at her class would be a little nervous also, so it would be nice if she tried out some smiles on them the first day of school. Then, even if she was nervous, smiling at other kids would make them feel better, they would hopefully smile back at her, and everyone would feel better. My hope is that even if she feels a little nervous, she might think about her table mates and be too busy "helping" them to be overwhelmed herself. Then again- I reminded her that soon she would be so used to school that things would go well.
First No. 2} my daughter will be starting a new job helping out at the same school her daughter will be attending - and coincidentally - the same school I work in as a library tech. She'll be watching the kinders during the breakfast time, as well as helping with lunch supervision - good to know I'll have a dependable worker for lunch and I will now be...
First No. 3} the lead lunch duty supervisor - which isn't a huge promotion - it's a difference of a couple dollars an hour, and means I'll be the decisions of when the kids will be eating outside or inside - etc. Not a big deal for me, since I've been kind of doing this unofficially for a few years anyway - taking up the slack when needed - again, not a big deal, but it makes a huge difference if the kids have consistancy during lunch recess rather than being left with anarchy lunchtime. I'm also going to be working my first day as....
First No. 4} child care instructional aide - in place of working as a coordinator for an afterschool program for five hours a day, I've been placed in a child care program for four hours a day, with a $2 cut in pay per hour. The positive thing about this new job is that it's at the same school my granddaughter will be going to, the same school I already work in for lunch duty and library tech, and because I'll be working, I get free childcare in the program. I'm a little nervous about this job. I won't be in charge, and I have to admit I'm a little relieved about this. I've been in charge of afterschool programs for about 16 years, and for 16 years have been the one that has to deal with behaviour, suspensions, rude parents, sad parents, and teachers/principals who expect miracles from staff in the three hours a day that we had the children. It's a tough job with it's own rewards (definitely not about the money, that's for sure*g*)
bottom line - big day tomorrow for quite a few of us!
{oh, and my car broke down...:(, well, hopefully with the help of my son's friends, it'll be working soon - not holding my breath though *g* }
I know tomorrow will end up okay - it's just going to be weird, exciting, fun, worrisome, and precious all the same day....wow.
Time now for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey - we discuss books, which books we've read and finished, which books we're currently reading, and sometimes which books we plan on reading. I've decided not to plan on future books, since I always change my mind - from one day to the next.
I finished reading:
Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews - a part of the Kate Daniels world, but features another main character - Andrea Nash. Good novel - as always with Ilona Andrews.
Marsbound by Joe Haldeman - a SciFi by a prolific SciFi novelist. I enjoyed the story, but I think it's a very good example of passive voice - a term I only recently learned from a writerly friend.
I'm currently reading:
This is the first novel by Steifvater that I've read, and so far, I'm finding the reading enjoyable. Don't you love the cover? this is a good cover - a horse, a rider, silhouette, and reflection of the picture.
That's it for now - I feel the need to relax with a book before I fall asleep for the LONG DAY ahead of me tomorrow. At least I'll see my granddaughter there! :)
