Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Ch-Ch-Changes

Wow! It's been a long time since I've been here. Sorry my dear blog. Interestingly enough my last post coincides with when my life changed as I returned to work part time in September. This was a major step for me, one that I wasn't overly confident with nor was I feeling physically prepared for it. After all the stress and frustration that have been a part of my battle to regain my health over the last few years, I finally stopped listening to all the nay-sayers and decided to take my life back - or at least see if I could manage it anyway. It has never been a matter of whether or not I wanted to return to work -- I've been fighting to do that since this battle began -- it was a matter of being able to manage the requirements of teaching on a daily basis, while coping with the fatigue and pain that are a part of my life on a constant basis. On the plus side I have always loved being a teacher and been proud of what I do, being a teacher is an important part of who I am, and I was returning to a school that I consider to be like "home" to me.

While I returned to the school that I love and to a supportive staff, I had to leave behind the grades I have taught for most of my career and my beloved Primary division to take on the challenge of a new grade level, a split class, and my first real experience in the Junior division. My ability to cope with change has been seriously affected by my illness, so these challenges were not easy ones for me. Thankfully I had the support and encouragement of my family, my dear friends, and my co-workers who welcomed me back with open arms.

Returning to work, even on a part-time basis, meant that there were changes in other areas of my life as well. One of those changes was that I let this blog lapse. I'm hoping to change that and revive it by sharing the projects I have created since my last post (but not all at once).

So I am blowing the dust off and bringing Simply Me back into the light. I hope you will join me on the next leg of my journey -- wherever it may take me.