Educational Update

Last year I completed a Masters of Science in Education with an emphasis on Reading. In other words, I got a masters in reading. It was a big accomplishment as a mom of five working full time. I'm usually not one to brag about my accomplishments, though I did share my feelings on this blog. That was a year ago and I'm still proud of my degree.

Well today came the cherry on top. In order to received a state endorsement as a Reading Specialist, not only did I need to complete the masters program but also two years of full-time teaching. Since I started the program while working as a substitute teacher and finished it during my first year of teaching, I had to wait an additional year in order to meet the years of teaching requirement. Last month I finished my second year of teaching. Yesterday I went to the university and turned in my paperwork. Today I got an email from them saying they entered the information on the state's website, and all I had left to do was go online and pay the fee.

After doing just that, I sat and stared at "Reading Specialist" that was now included in my list of endorsements. My hubby came by and I said, "Look! I'm officially a Reading Specialist!" with tears streaming down my face.

There were so many times I wanted to give up. More times than I'd like to admit. I'm thankful for my husband, my children, my classmates, professors, friends, coworkers, and even sometimes strangers for encouraging me on my journey. It wasn't easy, but it was definitely worth it!

I did it! #gradschoolmama now #mastersmama

On May 15th, I received a Master of Science in Education with a major in Reading. This was after three years of hard work, lots of tears, and many sleepless nights. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of myself!

My family has been my biggest cheerleaders during this time. Their understanding, support, and encouragement kept me going when I wanted to give up. They told me that I was capable when I felt like I was going to fail. I honestly didn't know how I was going to make it through this last semester. With their love and gentle shoves to keep going, I not only graduated, but I did so with straight As! Yes, I earned every point of that 4.0 GPA!

The DOC (diabetes online community) has been a constant support during this time as well. I found out that the hashtag #youcandothis is not just relevant to diabetes management, but all parts of my life. When I felt discouraged, I knew that there were others facing obstacles, too. Many were far more challenging. If they could do it, so could I.

What's next? For starters, this summer will be dedicated to my family. I will not be taking classes or tutoring. We will be hanging out, gardening, reading, and just relaxing together. Of course I will be attending MasterLab in July, but they're understanding and supportive of my diabetes advocacy work. In August I will be setting up my classroom for the year, something I'm looking forward to doing (and some of my kids have asked to help).  I have decided that I will wait a year before even considering the idea of taking anymore graduate level classes. I'm not sure what I want to do next, but for now I'm going to enjoy where I am.

My blog has also been neglected, so I plan to start posting again on a more regular basis. Stay tuned!

Homework Saturday

Yes, this is me today.

This week, I've been dealing with other schoolwork, my daytime job, 

tutoring, my own children, housework...

So today I have a research paper, quiz, and a report on group work participation.

I'm also dealing with an ear ache.

I also have a large family who enjoy doing things on Saturdays.

Like listening to Christmas music while baking cookies.

Like watching Star Wars DVDs.

Guess grad school mama will be heading to the library to at least get my quiz done.

The paper may take me to another quiet location after dinner.

Taking it one step at a time.

(I'm kind of liking this format for today's blog.)

Edited to add: And sometimes illness causes you not to get done what you intended to do.

And you deal with what comes and move on.

Here We Go Again

Next week is full of transitions.  It's the last week of school for my younger four.  Also the last days of substitute teaching for the school year.  Monday starts the summer session at the university.  I'll be taking seven hours - two classes.  One classes is research methods.  Three semester hours in four weeks!  The other class is on middle school education.  The last class I need for my middle school endorsement.  Four semester hours in eight weeks.

Add in my work schedule at the Y plus tutoring and spending time with my five kids and husband.  There you have a busy summer schedule!  I'm a little nervous but also very excited!

My hope is also to get into an exercise routine.  My goal is to get my next A1c below 6%.  Going to the Y or just for walks around the neighborhood needs to be part of my daily routine.  We have a dog who needs to lose some weight, so I think she'll be joining me on some of those walks (she's a little wider than this picture).  She had a herniated disc in Spring 2012, so it's important that she keep her weight down.

I often feel like I've failed, but I try to recommit to my goals (like exercise, watching my carbs, blogging, etc.) even if it feels like the 100th time.  I refuse to give up! What are some goals that you have?  Do you also sometimes feel you're needing to recommit to the same goals over and over?

When Life Gets Busy

I feel bad that I didn't finish off the WEGO Health HAWMC.  I got 22 days in a row before life got busy, and I had to put my blog off to the side.  Right now I have three papers and a quiz in the works.  I do plan to finish the posts for the blog challenge from April, but they'll have to wait.

One skill I've had to work on as a mom of five is to prioritize my time.  Right now, school needs to be my writing priority.  Thank you for understanding!

Image source: here

Sleep is Overrated!

When I list off all that I do (full-time substitute teacher, part-time nursery worker at the YMCA, own a home-based craft business, graduate student, and mom of five kids), I usually end it with, "Sleep is overrated!"

Last night I worked on a paper for school until after midnight.  I got to sleep around 1:00 am and awake by 6:00 am.

I am tired!

Thankfully I am a substitute teacher, so I was able to stay home today.  Although I have a long to-do list, "take a nap" needs to be a priority.  I might even make it a morning nap instead of the typical afternoon nap.  Looking at my afternoon schedule (lunch, pick up college student, pick up public school kids), I don't think a nap would be possible.

Of course stress on the body can mess with my glucose levels.  Lack of sleep can become a cause of such stress.  So by taking a nap, I'm actually practicing good diabetes management, right?

Yeah, let's go with that!  Sweet dreams!

Here I Go!

There are some days when I can easily make a decision.  Do I really need to eat breakfast?  *tummy grumble*  Yup! I sure do!  However some days it isn't so easy.  What do I want to wear today?  *looks in closet full of clothes*  I have nothing to wear!

This past week I made a decision about my graduate program that was a mix of easy and hard.  The reading program has two emphasis choices: reading teacher or reading specialist.  The teacher emphasis only requires 24 credit hours and does not require a masters degree.  However, the program is for Kdg-Grade 4, Grades 5-8, or Grades 9-12.  The specialist program is 33 credit hours, requires a masters degree, and is for Kdg-Grade 12.  Since I have caught the "reading interventionist" bug from the experiences I've had substituting for them, I decided I'd take the leap and change my emphasis.

The only problem: reading specialists also require two years teaching experience to get the endorsement.  I don't have that (went from student teacher to stay-at-home mom to substitute teacher).

Ok, that could be a really big problem.  However thanks to the help of a professor in the program who is fielding questions while my advisor is on sabbatical, I no longer need to worry about that dilemma.   If I don't have the two years experience before I finish the program, I will have a reading teacher endorsement until I get that experience.  At that time the endorsement will change to reading specialist.  That is something I will make sure to note on my resume if it comes up.

Of course my hope is to get a full-time teaching job soon so that's a non-issue.  Just in case I am planning out two possible course plans:  one class per semester if I have a teaching position and two classes per semester if I'm still subbing full-time.  Although the first plan is my hope, due to the number of qualified candidates the second one is more likely.  (Being honest with myself here!)

That's ok.  Really it is.  Although I really, really, really (really!) want a full-time teaching job now, I know the right position will come along at the right time.  Not my time.  His time.  God has a plan for me.  He will find when it's the right time to put me in a position that is not only right for me, but where I will be a good fit for the school and the children I serve.

Don't Give Up (#dblog)

There are many times I've wanted to give up when things have gotten frustrating.  This applies mainly to two parts of my life:  diabetes and grad school.

Going back to school 20 yrs after completing my undergrad and adding a husband, five kids, and two jobs into the mix - it's challenging!  My house isn't the quiet study place that I often need.  I'm not happy to admit that I get frustrated.  Sometimes I jump up from my computer and say, "I don't know why I'm doing this. I should just give up now."  Oh I don't really mean it.  I know deep down that I can do this, but at times it's hard for me to see.

Diabetes is also something I know deep down that I can do.  Just like with school, obstacles come up that feel impossible.  I want to throw up my hands and say, "I don't know why I'm doing this.  I should just give up now."  Then I look at my husband and children.  Just like with school, I see in their eyes my inspiration to keep going.  They are the reason I'm doing this.  They are the reason I won't give up.  I can fight this monster and win!

Photo source:  Facebook

How I Feel Sometimes...

As a mom of five, wife to a wonderful man, substitute teacher (basically a full-time job), part-time YMCA worker, home-based craft business owner, and graduate student, this is how I feel sometimes.

Picture source: Facebook

My Very Lonely Blog

Yes, I have neglected my blog lately. It really bothers me, because I do enjoy blogging. However, my outside life has taken away a lot of the free time I used to spend writing. Now most of my computer time is spent with my online graduate course or decompressing on Facebook or Pinterest. Oh, yes, I've gotten sucked in to Pinterest!

This week is Thanksgiving. My oldest, a sophomore at the university, has the week off. My other children only have school two days this week. I am really looking forward to some extra time with my husband and children. Even though I will have a project to work on for school, I will be home most of the week. My substitute teaching job follows the same schedule as my children.

Maybe during this time off (after I finish my homework), I can work on pre-writing some blog posts. In the mean time, I'm thinking of my blessings and all I have to be thankful for this year. It's been a tough year with all the business, but I am thankful nonetheless. My family is, of course, my biggest blessing.

Nervous Beginning, Wonderful Support

Today is the beginning of my journey into graduate school.  I have received my first two assignments.  Thankfully I'm almost done with the first one already.

Although I know my family is very supportive, sometimes it helps to know there are others cheering me on as well.

Yesterday I was having some quiet time, trying to calm my nervousness. When I looked down, I saw the bracelets on my left wrist.

Red: ADA, White: You Can Do This Project, Silver: Diabetes, Blue: Living Vertical

It's like my left wrist was a DOC bulletin board, reminding me of all the people out there rooting for me. Not just encouraging me in my diabetes management, but life in general. Ever since I decided to apply for graduate school, I have received so much encouragement from people I have never met, brought together by diabetes.

Thank you to my family and my "family" in the DOC! I love you all!!!

So Busy

Saying life as a mom of five is busy... well, that would be an understatement. Summer doesn't seem to slow things down much. Summer camps, mission trip, swimming lessons, part time job, craft business, driver's ed hours, etc. On top of that I'm looking into starting graduate school this fall. How do I find time for *me*?

It's not always easy. I've learned to love the term "pockets of time." As I type, hubby and #4 are in the kitchen making dinner. I'm letting them have the time together while I sneak into my room, using the Blogger app on my phone. It's not the easiest way to type, but it's peaceful.

Finding time here and there for reading or blogging has gotten easier as the kids have gotten older. From my lack of recent blog posts, I guess I've done more reading than blogging. Blame my new Kindle Fire for the renewed reading addiction.

I still need to work on finding time for exercise. Yard work, housework, and running kids around have been most of my "exercise". I did mow the front yard this week. It's a job I rarely do, but I wanted some exercise and it sounded good at the time. Unfortunately we're now experiencing a heat wave which limits my time outside. Going to the Y is difficult with the kids' schedules. Ok, I am realizing that I'm good at excuses.

Is there anyone out there who would like to join me, taking advantage of those pockets of time, and stepping up the exercise routine or even starting one? Comment below. All comments need approval, so let me know if you want your comment to remain private.