Working Full Time....Again

 

If you have been reading my previous posts, I have mentioned that come Term 4, I will be working full time again, for two weeks. Strictly speaking, for eight days.

I am now on my third year as a casual primary school teacher amd this year, I had the chance to do my first teaching block.

I was ecstatic when one school offered me this block. It was one big and great opportunity for me, not only financially but also career wise. So I really grabbed the opportunity even if it meant missing my usual Monday and Tuesday routine with Sam.

Today was my last day and throughout those two weeks I had a lot of realizations.

First, I cannot work full time again, in the next two or three years. Full time as I define it here is working five days a week, from Term 1 to Term 4. Why, you ask? Because of the following reasons: it's unfair for Sammie. When Sam was Liam's age two years ago, I was only working part time, that's why natutukan ko siya. Modesty aside, I think it has done wonders for my son. So I plan to do the same with Sam.

Next, I've observed that Sam became more clingy when I left her at childcare for four consecutive days. When I leave her, my heart breaks when she cries. When I pick her up, she doesn't let go off me until she's already asleep at night.  As a result of her being so clingy, I've become impatient and grumpy, since I cannot do other house chores.

Lastly, I'm breaking our usual mama-Sammie dates every Monday and Tuesday for her swimming and Gymbaroo lessons. It's our bonding time and I plan to respect that.

Now back to my other reasons. I can't leave early at work because I have to finish some pending tasks. I also have to go to work early to prepare for the day's plan and activities. Again, family time being sacrificed.

It's physically tiring, not only in school but also at home. At school it's work and 29 students. At home, it's the house chores and my two children.

It's not all bad. Like what I've mentioned, working again everyday, was an affirmation that I'm really cut for teaching.

Luckily, the class I handled was a lovely class. There were bad days but overall they were okay :)
I'm proud to say that I did well as a class teacher. I still have the magic when it comes to class management.

Of course, I ended my stint with a bang. I'm pretty sure other casuals don't usually do what I just did, but it's just the way I am especially at work. I went and  did the extra mile even if the teacher I was replacing didn't ask me too.

Here is one of the many extras I did even when not asked to --fix the bulletin board with the kids' outputs. It took a lot if my time, but it's just me at work :)

Overall, it was a great experience. Yes it was tiring and challenging, but at the end if the day, I'm just thankful, as always :)

Religion outputs

Science outputs - collage

Creative arts - visual arts, paper tearing art

Telling time for Maths

Area for Maths

Literacy outputs: lifecycle of an anpple and butterfly

A Time for Everything

I told you I will have the time for all the things that I plan to do, one of which is to write another blog entry ;)

This week has been quite busy since I worked for four days. I had to let go of some things in favour of the more important ones. I had my first two-week teaching block and I can say that it was an affirmation that indeed, I am cut for teaching.

Monday was a bit chaotic but I got to get back on track as soon as I figured out and settled the things that needed to be settled. It was a chance for me to see that I haven't lost my magic inside the classroom ;) One week down, one more to go.

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Sammie has been a bit clingy to me the past two days. I have been leaving her for two extra days at Yogies. I know that it was a change from our usual routine of swimming lessons every Mondays  and Gymbaroo lessons every Tuesdays. I thank her for her understanding. She has grown over the past weeks and has achieved a lot of developmental milestones. Her vocabulary continues to improve, she can now answer us in complete sentences and even give remarks like "hurry up mama."  Her present addiction is watching Hi5 and Despicable Me.

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Liam started with his Kindy transition classes today, Friday. He was had some apprehensions at the beginning, asking me a lot of questions, but he was okay with me leaving him at the room with the other kids. When I came back to pick him up, the first thing that he told me:"Mama, I like this!" Happy that he seems to enjoy going to school. Speaking of which, his reading has greatly improved over the weeks. His Math skills as well has improved a lot. He can now add single digit numbers without regrouping. He started with his tennis lessons again and his coach has started teaching him to do service. He needs to work double time on his service hehehe.

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Funny how you can overlook the mess at home and choose the mess you will fix if you are really busy with more pressing things like, work and catching up with the kids.
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Weeee! I called my mom this afternoon and she told me that the results of their visa application will be delivered today. Need I say more? I'm so happy and excited because our family will be complete after almost 8 years!,,, happy, very happy Christmas!

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Sammie's party is all ready to go! Thankful that I finished most of the preps over the school holidays. Food has been ordered and plan has been given to the venue coordinator ;) now we wait :)

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All is set too with our holidays. I haven't started packing clothes but with the IT and tickets, all have already been purchased. I'd allot more time with this after Sammie's party ;)

There are still so many things to write about but I have to save it for now because it might take me forever to finish!

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Happy weekend everyone!

The Glass is Half Full

We are seeing the glass as half full.

Two weeks ago, hubby brought home some good news. His contract, which was supposedly ending by the end of next month (August), has been extended for another month.

Some might say, why are you so happy, when it has only been extended for a month?

As I have said earlier, we are seeing the glass as half full, not half empty.

Being extended for another 30 days is something to be thankful for.

We are living our lives one day at a time now. Enjoying the now, the present, letting the future worry on it's own. :-)

His offer to be reassigned as an expat to another country is still in place. Anytime from today until August, we will know if its will push through. If it does, we might accept it with open arms. Yes, it will be hard for me and the kids again, but you don't let opportunities like this pass, right? We are letting go, letting God. Whatever He thinks is best for our family, dun kami.

He continues to apply for other work just in case his contract will not be extended anymore, come October. We are affirmed that all is being taken cared of because a day after he submits his application, he gets a call from the agent and his application goes on to the next step. Right now, he has one application which is already nearing the last step. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Yesterday, hubby called from work to tell me that he had another salary increase! Yes, this was aside from the big increase he got last year, the mini-bonus he got early this year. So many things to be thankful for, right?

We are thankful for hubby's work. It continues to be a source of blessing for our family.

I have always been a pessimist -- always seeing the glass as half-empty. I now realize how good it feels to see the glass as half full. I hope to retain this optimism inside of me and later on pass it to my kids.

Thank you, Lord for all the blessings :-)

If Only

If only I could tell the entire story here. But I can't.

It's a story of how hubby has made me proud again! For the nth time! I have never been this proud of hubby.

I can't write it here because hubby requested me so, a humble man that he is.

Given the choice, I would have written the whole story here but I understand where he is coming from. Nothing is definite yet and baka nga maudlot.

More than that what I actually want to write is the affirmation that God is sending us, that He is in control and will take care of us.

Ok just to have an idea, it is about work. I will not write everything but only up to the part why I continue to admire hubby!

Last Friday he was summoned to his boss' boss office. He was surprised. He was more surprised when they told him why he was there. He was gobsmacked during the meeting but that meeting gave him the push and boosted his self-confidence more!

To make the long story short, whatever transpired inside that office and whatever they told him was a reflection of hubby's performance at work. That the quality of work he delivers doesn't go unnoticed! He has been in the company for only two years and doesn't even have a permanent status, and yet.....(sorry, can't!).

On our way to our prayer meeting last Friday, he was teasing me "see, ikaw lang walang bilib sa akin eh!" If only he knew! Well, on the more serious note this time, he said: "Si Lord talaga, when you ask something, He opens a lot of opportunities. Sabay-sabay pa."

We are very much okay even if things don't push through. We are okay with the recognition he got. We know that it will be best for us (we are constantly praying as to where He will lead us). But if ever it does, it will be one whole new adventure, not only for him, but for all four of us!

Nothing is definite yet. Right now, he gave me an assignment to research more on (sorry can't!) We are, after all, still keeping our options open. If this one pushes through though, it will be one whole new ballgame! I'm scared because it will be another adjustment for all four of us, but we will just cross the bridge when we get there.

Right now, I just want to share how hubby makes me proud.

For the longest time, I have had issues on being called Mrs. Balintec (especially that I am a teacher). Admit it, it's not that pleasant to the ears, right?

But now? Your guess is as good as mine.

Way to go Papa, you continue to make me and your kids proud!

Missing Them Already

Last year,my brother's family almost relocated to London for work reasons. Things didn't push thru because they were not able to agree on the package being offered to him. So,he politely said no.

Now, there is a new offer for his family to relocate. Since, it was one of the big bosses that already talked with him, it's like a 70-30 thing. 70% sure, that is. He is just waiting again for the final and details of the package the company is offering him. His stature will be like that of an Expat. The other night, we had a sort of get together at my sister's home and we were able to talk about the big move, if ever, it pushes thru. We were cracking jokes every now and then, but on our way home, reality hit me. And I was sad.

I am happy for my Kuya. After all, this is like a promotion for him, assigning him to a higher post than his present position. But I am sad, because I will miss them. I am sad for my children, who are very close with their cousins. I am pretty sure, they, especially Liam, will be missing his Kuya Lance and Ate Nik. Prior to them migrating here, I was able to personally take care of these two in Manila. Lance and Anika were my first babies. And when we got here, we stayed at their home for 9 months and now that we have a place of our own, they are here almost every day. They are very caring and voting Kuya and Ate to my kids. of course, they still have petty fights, but overall, they get along pretty well. So, the thought of them leaving and staying there for 3-4 years, is really sad. Of course, they will be visiting Sydney every year, but it's still different when they are just there. Just a five-minute drive from our place.

Lance and Anika are not so enthusiastic about it as well. Lance even asked his Papa if he can just stay with us here. Of course, that would be fine with me, but it is far fetched. Knowing my Kuya. I will not allow Liam or Sam as well to be left behind, if I was in their position. I know the kids are a bit apprehensive because it will be a whole new set of adjustments for them. And what about their friends? They will be leaving them, get and meet new friends, then leave the new set of friends again when they return here? That's hard. I know it will be hard and challenging as well for my sister in law.

Oh well, I know that it is for my Kuya and S-in-L to make the big decision. All I can do is to pray with them and hope that they will arrive at the best decision for their family.

But, just in case they push thru, I will miss them terribly. They haven't even left, but I am missing them already.

Christmas Blues

I have been getting emotional the past days knowing that Christmas is just around the corner. This will be my first Christmas away from my parents. This will also be my first Christmas away from home. Home as I define it now is Manila. I will have my first Aussie Christmas. Friends and family who have been here in Sydney has been warning us that Christmas here is different from our “Paskong Pinoy.” Well, I agree with them. Even if my family didn’t migrate here in Australia, I must say that the spirit and the entire celebration of Christmas in the Philippines is truly one of a kind. What makes it truly unique? Well, for one, we start celebrating it by the time our calendars hit the first day of September. Yup, the “ber” months is the signal that soon we’ll be hearing the choirs sing Christmas melodies, the radio stations playing the Christmas songs, tiangges in every nook and corner of the city, puto bumbongs and bibingkas. Second, it is unique because of our Simbang Gabi or dawn masses. Who cares if people really didn’t understand a word the priest said in his sermon? As long as they can tell my friends that they were up and about at 4am to perfect their attendance in the Simbang gabi, they are in. Third, people are becoming unusually generous. Well, it’s sad that people’s generosity is just seasonal, but then again, let’s be thankful that even if for a short period of time, more people cared, more people shared, and more people loved.  Now who wouldn’t miss celebrating Christmas at home? No wonder almost all OFW’s would want to book a flight back to Manila by December.

Well, I have to face the harsh truth that this year will be different. I gave in to my emotions a couple of days ago, but I have to snap out of it, soon. Yes, I will terribly miss celebrating it with my closest friends and family, but I also have to move on. So now, I am actually thinking of ways so I won’t miss our Paskong Pinoy. Here’s my list:

1)      Busy myself with a lot of work. That means household chores, mommy duties and wifey duties.

2)      Finish the teacher’s manual for the textbook I co-authored with a friend.

3)      Look for work or a part-time job.

4)      Improve my blogsite and hopefully earn from it soon.

5)      Get in touch with old friends thru FB.

6)      Catch up on my reading.

7)      Organize all pictures taken for the year.

Oh well, I can’t run away from it. Even if I’m here in Australia, the Christmas bug will definitely hit me, so just the same, I’d do some things that are Christmas related. So to continue with my list, I will:

8)      Play my Christmas CDs on the radio.

9)      Start shopping for Christmas gifts for family and new friends based here in Australia.

10)   Wrap presents.

11)   Put up the Christmas tree

12)   And hey, my son is turning 2 as well, so I might as well start preparing for his 2^nd birthday party

13)   Eat and be merry.

Yup, I’ll eat my heart out and celebrate! I have to be happy with what I have now. There’s no use if I continue being sad. Now to fully convince myself, I have to realize and tell myself that the fact of the matter is Christmas is all about Christ. It doesn’t matter where I am or who I’m with. Christmas should go beyond the “feeling”, the gifts and the superficial things. The harder question now is, can I convince myself? =D