Snow Days Cause Havoc!

Normally, school staff are just as excited about snow days as their students are. This time, I found myself hoping that the snow would melt.

We have had 5 days of very wintery weather.  The snow started Thursday at about noon.  As the snow continued to fall, heavily, I decided that I had better prepare.  In case we didn't have school on Friday, I would need to be prepared for Monday.  Monday would be my last day at my current school and I wanted it to be a smooth sail.  I pulled all my books for my lessons.  I made sure all the returned books were shelved.  I cleared off my desk so I could see what the heck was going on! Then, I went home and watched the snow fall.

Sure enough, school was cancelled for Friday. The snow was beautiful but we didn't get to enjoy it.  Kaden had a gymnastics meet in Tacoma.  Jim was supposed to take him and I was staying to get work done.  Since I had the day off, I decided to go also.  We were a little worried about the snow and the trip up was a little dicey for the first part.  We got there and enjoyed the meet.  All during the meet my sister was texting me and telling me about all the snow that was falling in Portland.  We had originally planned to stay the night and come home Saturday but we looked at the weather reports and decided it would be better to come home Friday night.  The trip back was slow but otherwise uneventful.

Saturday was fun.  The kids and Jim went sledding, I took the dog for a walk in the snow.  I read a ton of my book and we just hung out and watched the snow.  By the end of the day we had about 8 inches of snow.  Then the freezing rain started.  When we woke up on Sunday morning, we had 8 inches of snow, topped by 1/2" of ice.  Driving was treacherous.  there wound up being no school on Monday either.

Unfortunately, Monday was supposed to be my last day and was supposed to be the day I trained my replacement.  That wasn't going to work!  I ended up working Tuesday at my old school, they had a sub at my new school and my replacement was able to be with me for most of Tuesday afternoon.  I don't feel like I trained her well at all, but at lease she got to see how I do things. 

I Knew This Day Would Come

Today was not a good day.  I started telling kids about my leaving yesterday.  I told them about the opening at O (Tyler, it isn't really important what she died of), about the kids needing someone good to take care of them and their library (Yes Jane, they probably could get someone else) , I told them I would still be around training the new person (No, Suzy, I don't know who she is yet.), how I am keeping my Sun School job, and just how much I was going to miss them all (No Peter, I'm not leaving because I don't like you guys). I tried to walk them through what to expect in the next few days and weeks.  I ended each explanation with telling them how awesome they are and how much I have loved getting to know them and read to them and talk to them.  The first class was 6th graders.  I have worked with these kids since they were in first grade.  These kids were my son's classmates before he changed grades. I know these kids well.  I like these kids. I did very well until the very end when I said I would miss them and I started crying. It hit me that I won't see these guys go to middle school or have them come back and visit once they do (our elementary school is right next door to the middle school and kids come in the say hi all the time.).   I also thought, "Oh no, I have 8 classes today, if I cry with every one I'm going to be a mess!"

I pulled it together and didn't cry again.  Yesterday.  Today, a different story.  I started with the first class and almost lost it with every class (I had 9 classes today).  The worst was the staff though.

I knew that people at my current job would be sad that I was leaving.  I've been there awhile.  I like to think I'm pretty good at my job and that my co-workers appreciate that.  I get that they would be sad.  What I wasn't expecting was the anger.  Not everyone mind you. But some. One in particular.  He had me in tears at lunch. I left and cried it out in the bathroom.

I really am very excited to go to my new job but I'm going to miss these people an incredible amount.