First week of school, 2010

Well, it looks like we all survived the first week. I fell asleep at 10:30 last night and didn't wake up for 9 hours, but the kids have had boundless energy and not needed any more sleep than usual. Greyson's report on his first day of 5th grade was, "Awesome! My teacher gives out Jolly Ranchers!" So now I know where our supply fee goes. He did have some homework on Thursday, but mostly the teachers have been easing them into the year.

 Ready to head to the bus stop on the first day of kindergarten.

His choice of pose.

Reece has been raring to go to kindergarten for the past 6 months, so it was no surprise that he didn't even blink this week with all the changes. On Wednesday, he and I went to a meet the teacher/see your classroom visit and while the parents filled out paperwork, his teacher read the kids "The Kissing Hand", about a raccoon who doesn't want to go back to school so his mom kisses his palm so anytime during the day he can put it against his cheek and remember she loves him. That evening, I told Reece we should remember for me to kiss his hand before he left for school, and he said, "I don't need that. I'm not nervous about going to school." And he was right. He nearly forgot to get a kiss and hug before boarding the bus, and his response after he got home the first day was, "School is AWESOME (it's a common word around here) and I love my teacher!" That's the second child for you - ready to move on way before his parents are ready for it.

Walking up to board the bus.

 

Getting back off the bus after the first day.

My first week as an assistant professor was hectic but not too crazy. I still have to sign up for benefits and get some things set up in my office and my name on my door. Oh yeah, and create a syllabus by Tuesday and figure out how to run an online course. Plus my research, of course. But I'm surprisingly calm and definitely feel I made the right choice in accepting this job. Ask me again in two months when my grant is due and I'm behind in grading and I might be singing a different tune, at least on the calmness level. I have compiled a number of things that I like better about this job and that I miss from my old job, and I'll be interested to see how long they stay true:

What I like about my new job
1) Excitement surrounding the new program
2) My large office that has walls that go all the way to the ceiling
3) Parking lot is next to my building and costs 1/10th of the parking at Case
4) More responsibility and respect and perks with being a faculty member (about time - I'm 40 for crying out loud!)
5) Being in charge of my own career and workload
6) Summers off!!!
7) Better benefits and a faculty union
8) Being the authority in my research area

What I miss about my old job
1) Being able to bike to work
2) Having a cancer center and major medical center right next door
3) Taking a month to go through a tank of gas
4) Having people around who understand my field more than I do