Will life ever slow down?

I’m beginning to think the answer to that question is a big, resounding NO!  Remember that post about graduate school ending and the chunk of time I was sure I would have, but also sure would be filled in no time flat?  Yeah, that chunk of time never appeared, and here’s the story behind its absence.

I submitted the final draft of my 40-page written project, about giftedness and its impact on childhood development and adult success, on Monday, December 3, 2018 and on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 I received a text from an instructor at the local community college asking me if I would be willing to teach one of her classes during winter quarter.  That’s right, approximately 24 hours after technically completing my graduate work, I was offered a job teaching which is exactly what I wanted to do once I finished my education, albeit not that soon.

After a very busy and very enjoyable holiday season, I met with the social sciences department chair, Jessica Breidinger, and began preparing to teach Psychology 202, the middle quarter of introduction to Psychology.  My preparations were a bit sporadic and naive, as I really did not know what was expected of me.  My position is as an adjunct with the understanding that the full-time professor will return to teaching as soon as some medical issues are resolved.  Now, I am three weeks into this job, and today I’m tired.

Teaching twice a week at community college has been challenging for me and for my family.  Actually, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are all hectic around here since I teach Tuesday and Thursday and have Young Women’s on Wednesday night.  Thankfully, winter is the slowest time of year for Mr. Rancher and he has REALLY stepped up his home-making and parenting game.  He hurries out the door each morning to feed the cows, then does whatever other work needs doing on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday or comes home to tend kiddos and keep laundry/dishes/meals under control.  There is absolutely no way I could be teaching without his full support at home.

Teaching is…. a lot harder than I anticipated.  It’s also very fun.  I am grateful for this chance to learn how to teach effectively (nothing like hands-on learning, huh?) and to be mentored by Jessica.  I am trying to better my lectures, examples, quizzes, and classroom interactions every day and feel like this week has been better than the past two.  At the same time, I am feeling very tired by all the demands on my time right now.  I know everyone is busy, but I do feel like this job has tipped my scales of energy vs. exhaustion in favor of exhaustion.  Who knows what the future will bring, but I do think I am going to transition to online adjunct work, which will allow me to work from home and eliminate commute time, in the future.

Shoot, right now all I want to do is curl up and take a nap.  Maybe when Spring Break rolls around.

Until then, I’ll try to get pictures updated from the last two/almost three months.  Happy New Year!