I’m still here… really!

It seems that I have been sorely neglecting this blog. I don’t have any very good excuses. I was very busy for awhile, but things have come to a screeching halt now that school and work are done.

The biggest news around here is that I completed my master’s degree! I have begun looking for a full-time teaching job.  This is going to be an uphill battle given the state of the economy. One of the towns in my neck of the woods just announced that they are laying off 136 teachers this year. That definitely does not bode well for my job search. In the meantime I have a back up gig at my daughter’s preschool that could turn into something permanent. Time will tell.

My lovely ladies are flourishing. The little one will be finishing up her first year of preschool next week and the older one will be finishing Kindergarten. I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that I will be the mother of a first grader. Where does the time go?

Now that school and work are on hold for awhile I need to start focusing on me. Next month will mark the 3-year-mark of single motherhood for me.  While in some ways I’ve made great strides,  in others I seem to be stuck. Namely, my social life.  When you have 2 young children having your own life is difficult. When you have two young children and you’re a single mother with very little support it becomes nearly impossible.

I love my children so very much. They are my greatest joy, without a doubt. But being completely and utterly devoted to them is burning me out.  I need something for myself.  My mother’s graduation gift to me was a check, with a note attached that suggested I use it to pay a babysitter so that I can get out by myself occasionally. At first I thought to myself…  yeah right, that money is going to straight into my savings account . I have given it more thought and realized that I owe this to myself. I need to do something for myself before I completely lose myself.

So I started perusing the Adult ed. classes that are offered in my town. There are few that have piqued my interested. I lined up a babysitter, and I am going to do this. I need to do this.

This summer is going to be pretty low key for us. The girls aren’t going to camp and I’m not working. Our days will be spent either pool side, at the playground or on any random adventure. But in the evenings, after they are tucked in bed, I will finally be making some time for me.