Reading Specialist?

Dear Life,

About a month ago or maybe a little more, Jordan and I had a conversation about me returning to work. Well... actually we've had about 63 conversations about me returning to work, but this one stands out in my mind for several reasons. We had been praying through what it would look like if I returned to work and what that would mean for our family. Remember that time I told you about the book we were reading? {Living With Less So Your Family Has More} Well... it is easy to forget those things at times... and it's even easier to forget that the Lord has called us to put family first. Always. But anywho - I am off topic.

So we had this conversation about a month ago and said, "let's just dream." So we started dreaming... what would be the ideal situation/job if I were to return to work? And we came up with these criteria:

1. It would have to be half-time. It is simply not realistic to think that I could work full-time. I would never see Jordan with his schedule being completely opposite of mine. Unhealthy.

2. It would have to be mornings. This way we wouldn't have to put Emberly in daycare. That would be very cool.

3. It would have to be a non-classroom job. But still a professional position in a school.

4. It should be something I didn't actively over-pursue. Maybe this is a weird one... but I just needed to know it isn't something that I "made work" into these criteria. You see, I checked the Fargo and West Fargo Public School webpage for job availability almost every day. And I thought about applying for things like "adult education teacher" or a pre-kindergarten readiness program coordinator. Um... so.not.me.

SO... all that to say...

When we were in Duluth I got a phone call from the Reading Coordinator in West Fargo. She wondered if I'd be interested in coming in for an interview. For a half-time position. To be a reading interventionist. At Osgood Kindergarten Center. The job had flexible hours. Probably mornings. They were willing to see what worked for me. It was a job I had not applied for or known anything about.

And I interviewed yesterday. And they offered it to me last night. And I accepted. :)

And can I just say that I am super duper excited? It is a contracted position - my very first. When I taught first grade it was just a one-year contract to fill in for someone's leave of absense. But this job is sticking around.

And I get to teach reading to struggling readers every.single.day. Which is about 12 kinds of exciting to me. But the best part is that I still get to be a mom and a wife and I'll only be gone 3 1/2 hours during the day.

Now, I'd be lying if I didn't say that with change comes some anxiety and nervousness too. Will I be taking on too much? Will I be a good fit for the position? Will I still be able to have enough quality time with my husband and daughter? Will I like Kindergarteners? Do I have what it takes to teach struggling readers?

But I can rest confident in the fact that we feel incredible peace about this position and the Lord will provide. If it isn't good for my family, I will reevaluate. And thanks to some fantastic advice from a dear mentor and friend, I have realized that I don't have to "camp out" with an "all or nothing" mentality in regards to being a stay-at-home mama or not. My family's circumstance is different from anyone elses, and their needs are the only ones I need to prioritize. And I don't need to explain that to anyone else. Because I am not a people-pleaser. I am a God pleaser. (Or... at least I'm trying to be.) :)

Sincerely Yours,
Molly