Keeping My Fingers Crossed

Let us rewind the hands of the clock a bit.

Way back in Manila, when I was just starting my career as a teacher, I had this crazy idea: I have thought of putting up my own pre-school when I am already of age and retired (or even earlier, funds permitting). After a few months, I started my Master's degree on Basic Education and found it a bit boring (Sorry, but it was like I was taking my undergrad courses again). I looked at my other options. I remembered my crazy idea. Put the pieces of the puzzle together. The end-result? I'll put up my own pre-school when I retire so I needed to change my grad course if I was dead serious with it. I was so into it because I never had the inkling that I will be migrating someday. I shifted my Masteral Degree from Basic Education to Educational Administration to prepare me for that big day.

Then, fate stepped in. Our migration happened.

Slowly, I forgot this crazy idea.

I forgot about this dream.

And then something hit me just last week. Yes, last week, when I was a bit bored, doing some reflecting: it hit me: why not study again? I was open to studying again, but what course?

I had my first call last Wednesday. Thursday, I had none. I went to the daycare and had a little chat with the directress. Then a vision came to me.

Hey, hey, hey. I can be like her.

Then slowly, things fell into place, like pieces of a puzzle fitting in perfectly.

I will pursue that dream again.

Why not? When here in Sydney, you will always have an assured clientele for daycare centres.
When now, there are more and more Filipinos migrating.

I am not even thinking of how I am going to fund for that daycare -- you know, purhcasing the land, the contsruction, the permits, etc. I will all deal with it if it's time. All I know NOW is I need to do the first BIG step .

I read and researched.

I really need to study. That is the first step.

Too bad though that I have to start everything from Certificate III on Children's Services before I can enroll and pursue a Diploma Course on Children's Services. The Diploma course is the required degree to run a daycare.

Too bad as well because even if my undergrad and grad degrees are in the field of Education they are not going to be credited.

No short cuts for me then.

Surprisingly, my spirit to accomplish this hasn't been dampened by these recent discoveries.

Focusing on the good news:

First, I can do it online.

Second, I can fast track things. First step (Cert 3 course) takes 24 months. But it depends on how fast I can pass the requirements, I can finish it in a year! (I also need job placement to complete the Cert 3 course). I know I can do these especially after juggling my two-year course with career and family duties :-) If I did it before, I know I can do it again :-)

Third, it is not as expensive as I thought it would be. Roughly $47 per week for 48 months.

Lastly, and more importantly, hubby is with me, 100%.

So will I start anytime soon?

That is now the big question. I want to start now while I'm still doing casual work, and at least I won't be too old to do childcare when I have my job placement. But, hubby, even if he is with me 100% suggests that we wait some more.

Hehehe.

I feel good about this.

I will keep you posted.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Back to Yogies

Today I am writing my blog in peace.

Liam is back to daycare. The big difference is, Sam is now with him.

I have no substitution call today so I am alone in the house.

The past three days, Liam has been hinting every now and then how he will miss me when he goes back to Yogies.

Sam last night was a bit uneasy in her sleep. I don't know what time it was but she kept on waking up calling out for either me or her Papa. She even woke up as soon as I finished taking a bath (around 6am).

I don't know if they can feel the uneasiness inside me. The fear and the worry inside me.

It's really very hard leaving your kids to somebocy else's care. Part of me feels guilty, but another part says I shouldn't. Why would I when there are millions of moms out there who either leave their kids in childcare or with nannies, right? Sundays to Wednesdays I am a full-time mum to them. When they are not in daycare, I am the one who personally takes care of them. And it hasn't reached that point when they prefer their teachers/carers over me!

I also think I need this break every now and then. It recharges me and I am pretty sure it will make me less (or not at all!) grumpy to my kids and my hubby when they get home. I can take care of them better, right?

We have prayed for this so I know that we are on the right path. I should not worry because it is now that FAITH comes in.

I can only pray and hope that my kids are ok (with the trained childcare workers); that their carers/teachers will help us, help them hone their God-given talent and skills,and lastly, won't have any bad effects on their development. I know they are in a good centre. They did a good job with Liam so I am less worried about how they are going to take care of Sam. In addition to the old and veteran teachers who took care of Liam before, a new carer in the centre happens to be a kababayan.

So I really shouldn't worry, right?

Am I convincing you or myself?

Probably just convincing myself. :)

P.S.

I have called their daycare twice and good to hear that Liam is doing well and Sam is too.

It was funny because when I left them Sam didn't cry! (I was the one who cried back in the car!) :)

A mum will always be a mum.

Counting my Blessings

I took a short break from writing because I found myself flooded with a lot of to-do lists and errands. It's a matter of choosing which comes first. Obviously, even if I love writing and sharing myself through my blogs, it has to, it had to take a back seat. It seems that it has been so long since I last wrote. A lot of things has happened already. I finally passed my driving test. I finally got my accreditation letters from NSW Institute of Teachers as well as in Catholic Education Office. Alvin and I have decided to enrol Liam on a child care every Mondays and Tuesdays just to prepare him in the event that I find a full-time teaching job. Liam has made a big progress in terms of increasing his vocabulary. We have started his weekly classes in Gymbaroo. The Math textbook I finished writing last March was published already. My family has been to two BESA gatherings in a span of one month. This is my last week to prepare for my IELTS exam scheduled next weekend. I am busy as a bee. My hands are always full. There is no dull moment at home. There is always something waiting to be done, be it the laundry, the clothes to be ironed, the home to be cleaned, the bin to be emptied, a new dish to be cooked.  Tiring. Yes. Definitely. But I am not complaining. Sometimes I am on the verge of complaining, I am after all human. But looking all of these things on the other end of the spectrum -- considering all of these as blessings -- gives a whole new meaning to it. I am counting my blessings. Rather than complaining I am actually thankful. First on my list is of course the gift of life. How many of us actually go to bed at night thinking that tomorrow will be just another day to do our usual routine? Of course, it all starts after waking up. That is if we wake up. Admittedly, many of us always take this reality for granted. Death is real. We won't know when our time is up. So I am thankful that I get to wake up each day to do a lot of things including the time I get to spend with my loved ones. Second is the gift of good health. This is another thing that is usually taken for granted. I am thankful because aside from being alive, I am physically fit to do the things I need and  want to do. Third, the material blessings that I get from His generosity. The financial provisions He continues to give me and my family,  allow us to have a home, dishes to cook,  food on our tables, clothes to wear, books to feed our brains, a car to drive and the means to travel. In short, we get to enjoy some luxuries every now and then. Winter is almost over and Spring is almost here. Time will fly again. The weekend is almost over and soon it'll be a start of another busy week. Another week of  to-do lists. Another week of errands. Another week of being thankful. Another week to count my blessings.