Motivational Monday: Thoughts on Teaching

Teaching and mothering are very similar.  Teachers and moms pour themselves into their jobs, giving their energy and passion without reservation.  We want to see our students and children become empowered people.  We want them to find their spark, the thing that lights them up inside.

A lot of stress and frustration accompanies these two callings.  Often times, it is challenging to stay motivated and keep on giving since I don’t often see how my efforts are benefiting my students and children.  Teachers do not usually see the backend of their efforts, and mothers usually wait a lifetime in order to see how the end result of their labor.

Sometimes all I need is a little glimmer of hope that I am on the right track and stay motivated.

This weekend I saw that glimmer.

A student of mine was chosen to be the student speaker at graduation.  MiVida was an incredible student, and I loved watching her flourish as she relaunched her blog, Faith with Heels.  Her positive energy was contagious!  In her speech, she acknowledged how I reignited her love for social media.  I was totally touched by her mention of me.  As much as she claims I gave to her, she has given back to me, which in turn, I will give out again.

Watch out, world!  MiVida is going to do great things!

Moments like this are magical, and I think that is the hook that keeps me coming back to teaching.

Are you a teacher?  Or a parent?  What keeps you motivated? 

Thankful Thursday: Skinny Jeans that Fit, Moonstruck, Blogging, and Teaching

I have chosen to not do the daily Facebook thankful posts and decided to do a weekly post instead.  I just can’t hack that kind of commitment at this time.

This week I am thankful for the movie Moonstruck. I have loved this movie ever since I was too young to watch it, and it kept me company while I worked late as everyone was sleeping peacefully. 

Photo credit from IMBD page

Cher is ah-mazing, and I love her transformation from matronly (which how is that even possible?!) to elegant and gorgeous.  My favorite scene in the whole movie (and quite possible in my top 10 all time favorite movie scenes) is when Cher slaps Nicholas Cage in the face (who is very hot in his white tank top) and yells, “Snap out of it!”  Does he give up?  Oh, no.  He goes right ahead and asks her to the opera.  Next thing I know, the movie is over and my work is done.  Thank you, Moonstruck!

I am also thankful for jeans that fit.  I have been wearing ill-fitting jeans ever since I have given birth.  For those keeping score, that is seven years.  Seven years!! I was skeptical when New York and Company* offered High-Waisted Legging (but fit more like skinny jeans).  Was it going to be too high, causing my tummy to spill over or lose their shape within 5 minutes?  No, they were perfect in every way.   And guess what?  They were buy one, get one!  The Patron Saint of Skinny Jeans was smiling down on me that day. 

Never underestimate the power of pair of
well-fitted jeans.

On a more serious note, I am thankful for the one of the most heartfelt emails I have ever received.  Blogging can sometimes feel like I am talking into a void in which no one ever hears me.  A few years ago, I wrote a post about PMDDand how Celexa helped me through a very rough time.  The reader said that she had been going through a similar experience and that my post helped her go back to her doctor to try a new medication.  Writing honestly about dark, personal moments is not easy; in fact it can be scary.  I am so happy that sharing my story helped someone. 

Along that same vein, I received an email from a former student.  She told me how my class helped to rediscover her love of blogging and social media.  It is not very often that a teacher ever hears that they have positively impacted someone.  And for someone who is sensitive and over-analytical such as myself, I often wonder if I am doing anything right when I teach.  This email renewed my faith in myself and my choice to go back to teaching.

Feeling pretty grateful this week.  What are you feeling thankful for this week?

*I was not compensated by New York and Company.  I bought these with myself.  And will gladly go back again to buy more. 

A Week of Firsts

This week was a week of firsts.  And let me tell you, it has been a flurry of activity.  So , today’s post will be brought to you by Instagram and this awesome new app I am obsessed with called Heyku. 

Marie’s first day of 2^nd grade:

I drove her to school per her request.  I stood in line with her.  Until she didn’t want me to stand next to her.  Until she changed her mind and slipped her hand into mine and whispered in my ear that she was a little nervous.  I would be lying if few tears didn’t well up in my eyes as I left the school parking lot.

The next day she took the bus.  Her first time on a new bus was successful!  I was inspired to write this Heyku:

All was well, until it wasn’t.  Here is my Facebook status that was inspired by the first time Marie got on the wrong bus and the school had a difficult time finding her:

I learned a few important lessons that day. But that is a different blog post.

Because I chose not to freak out and quietly implode after she was delivered home safely, I wrote this Hayku after everyone was safe in bed:

If you have been reading my blog or following me on Twitter or Facebook, you know I’ve been busy putting together a new course on social media. Today was the first day of class.  I had a hard time sleeping since I was nervous so I decided to express myself in a HeyKu.  Naturally.

Here I am on the morning of the first day of class.  

Thanks to the great filters and industrial strength makeup,
you don't see the circles and chin acne that sprouted overnight.

   I actually put on real clothes and drove on the big, scary expressway during rush hour traffic to a building I’ve never been to in a city I don’t know very well.  Oh, and the class went very well, too.

Someone else had a big day today, too. 

Thomas went to his first day of PreK 4.  He rocked the first drop off – like a boss.  He sat right down on the carpet and didn’t look back.  

Of course this could all change next week, but I am thankful that at least the first day went well.  It made it easier for me to enjoy my cup of coffee.  In silence.  Doing whatever I want.  Especially eating a cookie the size of my face without having to share.

How was your first week back to school?  Happy?  Sad?  Mixed emotions?

BlogHer13 Insight

Last year, when I returned from BlogHer, I lamented that I will not be going next year.  I felt burned out from the pace and energy of the conference.  I also didn’t know how it would work with moving.  Pretty early on, I made peace with the fact that I would not be attending the conference.

But then a strange turn of events occurred, and I ended up going with my friend, Emily, who knew of an early bird ticket for sale.  I was living at my parents’ house without a solid date for moving in to our new house. I didn’t know how it was all going to work out, but I took a leap of faith and just said yes.

At the Voices of the Year with Emily

I am so incredibly glad that I did. 

Before I left, I wrote about what I hoped to achieve at BlogHer.  I didn’t think of it as writing a wish list to the universe, but unbeknownst to me, the universe was listening.

I learned a lot of useful information about marketing and blogging.  But beyond that, I had a chance to really talk and connect with others.  Not just idle chit chat expected at a conference.  I had the kind of discussions that left me energized and focused and inspired.  Lately, I had been feeling dull; all of my energy has been funneling towards teaching and that, in and of itself, has made me feel insecure and unsure how to proceed as a mother and a blogger. I found clarity and a little more confidence in my choices . . .. thanks to the women that just happened to be sitting at my table. 

Loved these ladies from the Lean In Circle

Which is way more than I bargained for when I flippantly agreed to go to a conference I swore I wasn’t going to attend.

Oh, and this happened, too:

I met Sheryl Sandberg!

Can you believe that?!  I met Sheryl Sandberg.  You know, Sheryl who wrote Lean In.  I didn’t get a chance to tell how her book made me all teary-eyed as I am tiptoeing my way back into the work world.  I didn’t get a chance to tell her how her how relieved I was to read that boundaries do not hold you back in a career, they give you more focus on your personal definition of success.

However, when she came over to introduce herself, and I said, “Nice to meet you.  My name is Erin,” that somehow all that was conveyed in those two sentences.

I also had a chance to catch up with a great friend.  It is totally unfair that there is a whole continent getting in the way of us meeting for drinks and chatting like that all the time.  (Note: Annie, you were greatly missed).

Me with Elizabeth from Flourish in Progress

If I had to choose one word to describe my experience at BlogHer, it would be serendipitous.  And for that, I am grateful that I just listened to my instincts to just go.

Have you ever said yes to something without overthinking it and it turned out to be exactly what you needed?