Wednesday, January 9, 2013

living in the present...

As an extremely Type-A, planner-freak, on-top-of-everything-before-it-evens-starts, individual and human being - it is that much harder for me to let go, stop worrying, stop planning and living for the future, and to relax and bask in the present.

One once said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."  This quote is a little cheesy (okay, a lot) but truly - it's genius.  Seriously. I mean, come on.  This simple sentence says so much and I constantly need to be reminded of it.

I am currently nannying the most precious 11 month old baby girl named, Eva (pronounced Ava).  She will be one year old next month and I am so looking forward to celebrating her special day with her!  I spent all summer interviewing with the Howard County Board of Education and then onto the Ho.Co. public school system.  I interviewed at three schools and was offered a job as a 4th grade classroom teacher at one of the schools.  To begin with, I am so much more of a K-2 person that 3-5.  Now now, that doesn't mean I'm completely turned off by grades 3-5 but they're just not my first choice (for sure).  Not only was this a 4th grade position but after walking around the school and doing a lot of research on it, it just didn't feel like a good fit for me.  Months later, I am still glad I did not take the job.  I do not regret it one bit.

I decided I would begin interviewing for nannying positions early August once summer was coming to a close and school was about to begin (I waited as long as possible to hear from the school systems in case somebody last minute dropped a position, etc).  I interviewed with 2 or 3 families and the same situations occurred.  Nothing felt like the right thing.  I prayed and prayed.  Waited (sometimes patiently, other times not so much).  I committed to a family with 8 children mid-August and - well, thank goodness that ended up falling through at the last minute....I waited and waited some more and in October, I met Eva's family.  I was walking Noe in the neighborhood and ran into Eva's Mom.  They live in our courtyard of townhouses (just 4 doors down).  After interviewing and much correspondence, I began working as Eva's nanny in late October.  I absolutely LOVE it.  I look forward to work.  I can walk home whenever throughout the day if I forget something or need something.  I take Noe on a couple walks during the day with Eva.  It truly is a dream job.

So for now...I am not stressing about whether or not I'm going to teach next year or when I will for that matter.  I am living in the present and enjoying it.  I am currently so happy, loving life as a wife, enjoying the flexibility, using my degree every day with Eva to help her grow developmentally/cognitively, and am not stressed a bit (well - okay, on some days I am - but NOTHING compared to the life of a teacher).  Trust me - being a stay at home mom (or pseudo-stay-at-home-mom) is not for everyone - and is no joke.  It requires CONSTANT work - sometimes gets lonely - sometimes you want to pull your hair out - sometimes you feel like you'd do anything for some adult interaction.  But - overall, it is so amazing and rewarding and I feel so cut out for it.

For now - I am living in the present.  Soaking up every minute, day, and week.  I encourage you to do the same.  Stop worrying, stop regretting, just live where you are.


And not even 30 minutes after writing this post, Clair sent me an amazing article that ties in with enjoying nanny/mommy-hood and it's significance and importance!  Enjoy! http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2013/01/07/32225/

Thanks for walking with us,
JL


3 comments:

  1. Because comments become a love language for bloggers,
    and because I am so proud of the 14 year old girl that I once knew turned into 23 year old married woman....

    - loving these glimpses into your world!

    - so true that nannying/mommyhood is no joke! I found the first few months quite lonely as I learned my new group of "colleagues" and got used to much less adult interaction. Biggest hurdle of first 6 months of mommyhood (and nannying in an unknown city, I'm sure), loneliness in my opinion. Wouldn't change it, though!

    - And, always need a reminder to live in the Now. Don't wish away the pleasures of Now for the what-if's of tomorrow. This planner can struggle with that too!

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  2. I love this post! I feel the exact same way. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say "I want to be a wife and mother." It is not always smiled upon in today's society, but it is the most important job out there! Up until we found out we would be having one of our own, I was in the process of looking for a nannying job.

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    1. It is so true. Soon people will see that education (and being highly educated with degrees, etc) and mothering go hand in hand. It's not one or the other! I am SO excited for you and ryan! Can't wait to watch your family come to be!

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