Family
Merriam Webster 3 a: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship b: the staff of a high official (as the President)
Dictionary.com: a group of persons who form a household under one head including parents, children and servants; a group of people who are not generally blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests or goals and frequently live together.
I received distressing news today when I popped into work for a staff meeting that was called “very important.” It was. We were informed that the district was, in effect, tearing our family apart. And we are a family. I have worked with the bulk of these people for at least eight years. We have a powerful school culture and we work together for our students as one united front. Oh, we disagree and argue and bicker. We have Oh, we disagree and argue and bicker. We have that family member who drives us all crazy. We have the younglings who are just taking their place and finding their way. We have the elders who are experienced and who are always there to help us and guide us all.
Just before Christmas, the head of our family, our principal, was notified that the opening of the new middle school next year was going to have devastating results for our school. The district has drawn lines that mean our numbers will drop from over 900 students to about 400. And that means our staff will drop by a commensurate amount. He asked us today to consider volunteering to go to the new school because where people who had five or six years experience are usually safe in number reductions, those of us who have six, seven, eight or nine will also most likely be forced out.
For those who stay things will change drastically. It will no longer be a matter of teaching a specific subject and grade level. They will be teaching multiple subjects and/or multiple grade levels. It all comes down to the stalling growth in our area due to the economy.
I called home and spoke with the SO. We decided that I really don’t have a choice but to request the move to the new school. If I wait and hope that I’ll have a spot at my current school I could end up a.) being assigned to a school I don’t want to go to or b.) without a spot at all.The SO had a hard time with Z while I was gone today. Z has more than a bit of colic and he doesn’t want to go to sleep for anyone except Momma. I got home, gave him a bottle and he went to sleep. I’m sitting here now with the monitor listening to him coo and grunt in his sleep.
I’m so grateful for my family. For both of them and it breaks my heart to think that after this year I’ll have to say goodbye to my work family.
5 comments:
Native American remedy for colic. Chop 1/2 onion finely. Sprinkle with sugar and let set until it produces a syrup. Give one tiny baby spoon of syrup.
Thought my grandmother was crazy, but it works.
That's because the kid is afraid to squall after tasting the remedy. Yikes.
Jae, so sorry about the change up. It puts you in quite an awkward position. Oh I know you'll land on your feet and make a new family, but the transition is still scary. Hugs.
That's a shame about the school. I know how much you loved teaching there, and to leave will be very difficult. If you decide you'd like me to do a reading sometime over the next week or so, drop me an email or send me and IM. You know I'm always happy to do it.
I have to say, Devon never had colic, so I've got no good remedies to share. I hope Z's colic doesn't last long. It can be so frustrating for mommy when she can't quell the crying.
Love the bird pic.
I'm sorry about the split, Jae. That's a tough one.
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