The Universe Has Been Evesdropping

It seems a lot of us are in a funk. Maybe it's February ... post holiday let down or something. Cold, dreariness. I haven't been on top of things, to say the least.

And I'd be fine with showering occasionally, wearing out my pajamas, and letting my kids scrounge the carpet for snacks, but that stupid, painful mother's guilt always gets a hold of my conscience and tells me I need to be better, do more.

A few weeks ago I said:

I just wish I could do something where I can teach preschool and take my kids with me and it would all be organized and I just show up. Why can't it be easy?

And a million coincidences fell into place, taking me to yesterday.

Greg and I have been talking about putting Canon in pre-school. He needs extra stimulation and I have been a poopy head. I have always been attracted to the Montessori method of teaching, especially for younger children. Canon is a very tactile and active; and I worried about sticking in a more traditional educational situation, the sit-down-be-quiet-and-listen kind. I called a couple Montessori schools and set up a time to visit one with Canon to see if we liked it.

When I showed up, there was a room of about a dozen kids. Half were sitting with a teacher working on some math, some were playing with puzzles, on was straightening shelves, one few were working with letters, building words. It was pretty quiet (some of the little ones were upstairs napping). The director initially mistook me for a woman who was looking for a job teaching the preschool.

"So you are interested in teaching preschool?"

I'm awkward when I haven't prepared my thoughts, this caught me off guard.

"Uh ... I just came to see if Canon would like to come here for pre-school, but I really love the Montessori philosophies for education and it's been my plan, when my kids were older, to teach, so I guess, technically, yeah, I am kind of interested." (or something to that effect.)

He showed us around to the various areas (Canon was pretty stoked about the water play area) and then the guy asked if I'd like to apply for the pre-school teaching position.

I explained that I don't have a degree yet, but just have one more class to complete it. He said it wouldn't be a problem and they could help me get Montessori certified as well. He said I was welcome to bring Canon and Sagan, that they could both participate at a significantly discounted tuition. He said a lot of nice things about being able to tell that I had the right disposition for a Montessori teacher. Very flattering. Maybe he was just really desperate to fill the spot.

I'm fine, either way.

So, Saturday I have a training session and Monday I will start a two-week probationary/extended interview period. I may end up just being a parent helper, but if things work out, maybe I'll have an actual marketable skill!!! They say Montessori certified teachers are in high demand (shoulder shrug).