Withdrawn

 I have officially withdrawn my grievance and accepted that I will not receive the full compensation promised. We are 11 weeks into the school year and I am tired of the fight. I was finally given credit for the majority of my previous years, so I feel comfortable walking away from the promised incentives. The mental load of this fight has felt oppressive.

I feel like I was actively deceived by numerous administrative and personnel entities throughout the hiring process. Despite this knowledge, I am choosing to move forward in a professional manner. I thoroughly enjoy working with my students, and they are going to remain my focus for the remainder of the school year.

Sending the letter withdrawing my grievance felt like a liberation. While I realize I am walking away from promised compensation, holding my head high and walking away on my own terms feels good. I am not going to be forced into a role I don't want, despite the pressure from numerous sides. Holding boundaries is not easy, but it is worth it! 

Clean Out

 We had a busy albeit productive weekend. Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to PA to help my Mom for the day. After years of pleading, she finally acquiesced and ordered a dumpster to assist with her garage clear out. Our little family is well-versed with dumpster clean-outs and were happy to show off our purging skills. 

The weather for our clean-out day could not have been better. With temperatures in the mid 60s and the sun shining brightly, it was the perfect day to work outside. I anticipated that we would be working through the afternoon. We had the dumpster filled by lunch. 

Yikes!

We tried to convince my nephews to use their trucks to run some trash to the dump, but they refused. Lacking any more dumpster room, we had to finish earlier than expected. We didn't get as much of her house cleaned out as I would have liked, but the garage and shed are completely clear and usable. 

On Sunday Timmy and I decorated for Halloween before taking Robby back to school. Robby's Fall break went by so quickly, but I am happy knowing that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This is going to be a crazy week because it is Halloween!

Have a good day! 

Friday

 While the boys were busy touring battlefield sites, I was sitting in meetings before spending my afternoon hosting my White Cane Day parties.  Two elementary students were absent last week, so we decided to bump the celebrations so that they didn't miss out. I loved seeing the enthusiasm of their classmates as they cheered and celebrated their friends' emerging cane skills. Yet again, the kids are leading the way with kindness.

Today I have more meetings before I take some kiddos into the community this afternoon. We are going to be practicing light controlled intersections in the city. It is a big day for them, so wish us luck!

This weekend we will be heading to PA to help my mom clean out her garage and basement. We have a dumpster being delivered, and Saturday will be an all-hands-on-deck situation so we can help dig her out of decades of accumulation. If not fun, we will hopefully be productive. 

Field Trips

 Happy Almost Friday! 

This morning I'm the only one rising to go to work this morning because Scott decided to take the day off to chauffeur Robby to different battlefield sites. Because Robby doesn't have a car on campus, activities that require travel are difficult for him to schedule. With fall break starting today, it feels like the perfect day to knock out his mandatory field trips. 

Unfortunately I cannot join them on their adventures because my day is filled with meetings and evaluations. I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but I recognize it is a necessary evil in my job. I much prefer working directly with the kids instead of the adults, but every once in awhile I'm thrown in a room full of adults for hours on end. Today is one of those days.

Wish me luck! 

Achy

 While I'm loving the cooler temperatures, the cold air in the morning is a shock to my system. My liner was so chilly this morning it was painful to pull onto my limb. It looks like I have to start warming it up again in the mornings because that is a miserable way to wake up!

My leg has been doing okay enough. I still need a new one, but the fit of my socket is still functional. My foot still clicks occasionally when I step, but I have learned how to create a temporary patch. I hate that I keep delaying my new leg, but I honestly do not know where to go. This is the first time I am in a void of prosthetic care. I know I am going to have to drive, but making that final decision and just going with it has been difficult.

In the meantime, I am making due. My legs are exhausted by the time I come home, but it is manageable. As long as I stay ambulatory, I will keep plugging away. Right now though, my legs are so tired I just want to keep my prosthetic off and rest all day. Wish me luck, because rest is not on my agenda. 

Unwinding

 Happy Monday!

Although I'm not terribly keen to put on real pants and head out into the world this morning, I did have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. The weather was gorgeous, allowing me ample time to hang out by the fire pit and just chat with the boys. I should have tackled a list of household chores, but I opted to just totally unwind. After the professional chaos of the past few weeks, I just needed a break.

On Saturday we were surprised by a quick visit from my niece. She was driving through the area and was able to swing by for dinner. It was great seeing her! It wasn't until she saw Timmy that she realized that they haven't seen each other since Thanksgiving. That reality made me sad, and I also realized that I need to do better to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Today the weather should be gorgeous and I'm looking forward to exploring outside with my students. October is an amazing month to be an O&M instructor and I plan to soak up every outdoor opportunity. Before I know it we will be confined inside. 

Have a great day! 

Kitty Care

 Yesterday was a lot of fun. I felt like a Magic Maker, popping into classrooms with fun activities and supplies throughout the day. While the parties were fun, they were also purposeful. Teaching peers about the mobility cane and the needs of their classmates are lessons that will truly follow them for a lifetime. I have no regrets about the outreach, although it did leave me exhausted by the end of the day.

Thankfully today is Friday, which means tonight I can begin to decompress and unwind from the chaotic week.  Robby is coming home for the weekend to care for Charlie Cat. Each day I am certain it may be Charlie's last, but the skeletal remains of his childhood friend is still plugging along. I know one of these days I will be right, and my heart will be broken.  In the meantime, we will continue to provide kitty hospice care at home.

Have a good weekend!