week one down....

several thousand more(i think) to go.
Thoughts on the first week:
-You can't feel truly old until you're in a classroom with 30 people and you are the oldest by a good 20 yrs.
-The next oldest person after you is your professor, who appears to be at least 10 yrs your junior.
- No, really. My professor is YOUNGER than me. By 10 or so years.
-Life science classes are always going to be taught to me by a cranky, gnarly old man. Who is 97. But not YOUNGER than me.
-Did I mention that my communications professor is younger than me? Oh! and she'd like us to call her Ashley. Because that's what name was popular for little girls born in the 80s.
-I was the only one in my class this morning would had actually
r-e-a-d the reading assignment. Proven by the fact that in our small groups, I had all the answers because I had highlighted them in my text. The 18 yr old CHILDREN in my group were impressed by my thoughtfulness. So sweet of me to do the reading for them.
-When asked to design a theory of our own, I was the only one in class whose theory had something to do with my own children.
-Sweats and a t-shirt are still good campus duds. Even 15 yrs later.
-I am lovin' learning again. Even if I am RIDICULOUSLY old. To them.

it's the end of the world as i know it...

and i feel fiiiiiine....
so tomorrow I am back to the world of academia. Yesterday as I stood in line to get my parking pass, there were 2 YOUNG girls behind me whining because "like omigod, I had to get up at 10 this morning. I am, like, so TIRED!" And I had to do my best to keep from poking sharp objects into my ears. I know I am going to be that old lady in their class. I hope I'm the old lady that is always screwing up the curve. As if! Either way, I remember being them and staring at the old ladies in my class (who were probably younger than I am now) and wondering why in the world they were in school at their age, because,like omigod! Don't you have anything better to do at your age? I know I'm in for a rude awakening. I know that the time I have cut out for myself to study is not going to be nearly enough- especially since I'm going to be that old lady that actually READS the text. As if! I know that the next couple of years are going to be tough. I also know that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now, and this is when I was supposed to do it. Not when I was 18, but now. I'm not nervous, I am ecstatic.
I am totally going to be the dorky old lady who blows the curve :)

addict...

add me to the twilight fan club. I read the first book in under 24 hrs and my plan is to go and get the 2nd today. I LOVE Edward. Love him. Love. I've never been a huge fan of vampire stories, but I love the way these are written. Love them. Love. No really, I'm a fan.
I don't know how far Stephenie Meyer will run with these, but it sure is fun to have a good series to devour again!

never forgotten...

last first day...

it was ry's last first day of preschool today. ***sigh*** mah baby...he is growing so fast!

from the other side...

today was the first real day of preschool for us. Today all of the 3 year olds came- for most of them it is their first time away from mom, and tomorrow is the big day for the 4 yr olds. It was a little surreal watching from the office (and the hallway, and the classroom, and the playground) all of the things that happen during the kid's time at school. I got to be the one comforting the moms whose children had to be peeled from their legs, screaming and crying. Most of the kids where fine as soon as mom walked away, but mom was not. I had more than one tearful mommy in the hallway. It's all the stuff that happened after I walked away and went home last year. The things that I missed because I was at home, being a mom (probably cleaning toilets). This has been a very exhausting experience for me, mentally and physically. I've put in about triple the hours in the past 2 weeks just getting everything together and making sure it runs as smooth as possible. I've had many sleepless nights, worrying that I am going to miss something huge. It's my personality to make sure things are done completely before walking away. I'm lucky that school doesn't start for me for another couple of weeks, and hopefully then the preschool will be running smooth and won't require me to be "ON" 100% of the time. I actually FELL ASLEEP at 8:30 last night. And slept the whole night until my alarm went off this morning. A testament to how worn out I am, since I usually hang on until at least 11:30 every night.
All that being said, it is a very rewarding spot to be in. To get a giant bear hug from a 3 year old who I just met last week. To get a big thank you from a mom because I checked on her son 4 or 5 times to make sure his nerves were calm. A thank you from a teacher because I got done something she asked me to do.
The good is out weighing the bad right now, but DUDE I can't wait until the weekend!!

this is my life...

this picture is the goat version of my two youngest children. They are frequently on the "naughty step" (thank you super nanny) at the same time, and having that same conversation.