Life as a student - so far.

I finally decided to do some time management. After plotting my remaining class assignments on a calendar, I ended up with a really packed schedule.  Essays, research papers, keystone assignments and tests will certainly keep me busy for the next seven weeks.  So far, I'm happy with my work and test scores but I have to get more efficient.  I didn't expect the transition to being a student again was going to be a breeze but I want to be able to get things done faster.  After all, I plan to add a fourth course next semester and will take on more household duties at the same time.

I've been enjoying much of my education coursework.  I'm learning a lot that will help me be a good teacher.  I could care less about my undergraduate Math course however since I just need to pass it to fulfill state requirements for liberal arts credits.  Despite that, I studied hard for my first two tests and aced them. I can't help myself!

Over the next few weeks, I need to do thirty hours of classroom observation resulting in ten pages of my best prose.  I started yesterday with three hours in a fourth grade classroom and you shouldn't be surprised that I loved it.  I made new connections, learned from an experienced teacher, met new students, observed morning routines, graded tests and picked up some nifty tips.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time and look forward to next week when I return for more, start observations in a kindergarten class and teach a Junior Achievement lesson to my son's third grade class.

As I speak to teachers, I learn more and more about the challenges they face today with the increased testing requirements and new curriculum standards.  Yes, most teachers get a nice summer break, but their workdays extend way beyond 9am to 3pm, five days a week.  Well, at least for those who care about being an effective teacher.  If I wasn't so passionate about making a positive impact to my future young students, I would reconsider my career choice.

So, my eye is on the prize and I can't wait to get there.  In the meantime, I will relearn how to be a good student, gain experience and learn, learn and learn some more.  Oh, and spend time in classrooms!

A letter to my daughter

When my daughter was seven and a half years old, she did one thing that drives me nuts.  She ate her dinner very slowly - again.  It doesn't happen very often but when it does, I'm not happy she is taking more time to complete a meal than she needs.  I even remember incidents of slow eating when she was just a toddler.  Thankfully, she has a better appreciation for time now that she is four years older.

But, that December evening in 2008, she couldn't find her blanket before she went to bed.  She knew I was upset with her slow dinner and to make a point, I did not offer much help in looking for her blanket. Instead, I reinforced taking responsibility for her things, especially those that mean the most to her.  She went to bed sad to be without her blankie - the one she slept with each night since she was a baby.

I love my daughter very much and natural feelings of guilt set in after she finally fell asleep. But, I also felt this was a valuable teaching moment about love.  So, I wrote her a letter.  We talked about it the next morning and she has kept this letter ever since.   Here's what I wrote:

From: Daddy

Dear Allison,
I love you very much.
You say that you love me.

I do a lot to show my love for you.
I order your favorite foods and drink at a restaurant.
I take time when I can to pick you up at the bus stop and carry your backpack.
I tuck you in at night.  I even sometimes give you a ride up the stairs.

I don't ask for much from you.
I sometimes ask you to clean up.
And, I ask you to eat fast.
If you eat fast, you will have more time to play, read, watch TV and enjoy family time.
You will also make me happy.

When you don't eat fast, you choose not to listen to me.
That makes me upset.
That makes me sad that you do not show me love.

I want to show you love.
You are my only daughter.
I have a lot more love to give you.

But, you have to show love.
You can't just say it.
You have to show it.
There are many ways to show love.

One thing you can do is to listen to me.
When I ask you to eat fast, do it.
When you can't eat fast, try to.

Show love, give love.
You will get love back.

A daddy's love is special.
I want to give you love.
You need to give me love, too.

I love you.
You are my "Sugar".
That's why I found your blankie and put him on your bed last night.

Love, Daddy

What was I thinking??

It's been a wonderful summer that started with my daughter's graduation from elementary school, our family vacation to Seattle and San Francisco, and my retirement from a long, fulfilling career.  We ended the summer with a lot of fun family time and ten days in Charlotte and Hilton Head.  While it's been a terrific few months, it's time to move ahead with my goal of being an elementary school teacher.  But, standing in the way are 74 credits of graduate and undergraduate coursework.

As I start this journey, I can't help but ask my myself, "What was I thinking??"

I never desired to leave my corporate career to be a student.  Rather, it was to be a stay at home dad and a teacher.  But, before I become the latter, I knew I had to be a student first.  I know I'm not the only adult to go back to school but for me, it's been over 20 years since I've been a graduate student so it's a daunting task in my mind.  Well, with two graduate classes starting this week, the reality is hitting me.  Syllabuses, weekly and keystone assignments, research papers - all are terms I haven't seen since Bush (the first one!) was President.

And, starting next month, I will manage the duties of managing the household.  I have actually been looking forward to these responsibilities for years.  But, the reality of that is hitting me, too.  My wife has done a terrific job as a stay at home mom for eleven years.  And, while I have my own approach, I'll have to keep juggling all the tasks that have been done before while being a student.

As I am just starting to transition to my new life, I know that the newness will wear off and I'll settle into a groove.  I just need to manage my time and be organized like I've never had to in my life before.  After all, I have a deep desire to fulfill the goals I've dreamed of for many years.  There is much work ahead indeed but I will do this!  

I can get used to this

What's not to like when you can spend so much time with your kids?  After a wonderful first two weeks of retirement, I am really settling into a life after a long career.  The week began with a really fun birthday party for our 8 year old at Long Island Sports Complex where I played Ga-ga for the first time (it's like dodgeball but rolling the ball to hit other players below the knee). The next day was my wife's birthday so we had dim sum with her mom and aunt before a late dinner at one of our favorites, The Cheesecake Factory. The rest of the week, we enjoyed the driving range, Chuck E Cheese, a visit to the bank to cash in our coin jar ($180 collected in four years!), shopping and eating at the humongous Palisades Center, miniature golf, Jones Beach with three neighbor families, Chinatown for our third dim sum lunch of the week and to feed my daughter's new hobby - collecting squishies, riding the subways (my son was thrilled to stand in the front car to watch the train navigate the tracks) and dancing in our living room until bedtime.

To capture all the fun we are having, we started writing notes of the things we enjoyed and placing them in a memory jar.  We'll read those notes at the end of the year to help us recall all these special moments.

A really special moment this week was reconnecting with my two favorite teachers whom I haven't seen in 30 years (we recently found each other on facebook.)  We all had a marvelous time catching up on old school days and our lives since 1982.  My wife and kids enjoyed meeting them at lunch and look forward to seeing them again soon.

It's been two weeks and I really don't miss the career I enjoyed.  I do miss the fun I had with my colleagues though and a random email from one of them sparked a chuckle.  This summer is winding down fast and we have more fun ahead including next week's trip to Charlotte and Hilton Head.  School starts just around the corner for three of us... sigh.  But, for now, I can get used to this leisure time with my family really easily.

Can all weeks be THIS fun?

It's been a great first week of retired life!  Besides enjoying the exciting Summer Olympics, we treated ourselves to our first iPad thanks to generous gifts from wonderful friends and colleagues, a new smartphone after stumbling upon a great deal, a juicer after being inspired by a thought provoking documentary and a balance beam to feed my daughter's love of gymnastics.  It's been a lot of fun waiting on a daily delivery from UPS or Fed Ex!

Our kids have known that we've been planning our family's first iPad purchase for months.  They understand the thought and patience we take in buying such a pricey item.  It's rewarding to see that our kids really don't ask for much no matter which classmate has what.  Our fingers are crossed that the foundation we have set will continue to shape them into responsible consumers as they get older.

Just hours before buying a basic phone, I reviewed a daily Screaming Penny email of online deals.  Coincidentally, Amazon had a great deal that day for a nice smartphone.  I purchased a much better device (giving the kids another platform to play online games) at a lower net price than what I was going to buy.  Unfortunately, I can't transfer my number because of my former employer's billing privacy issues.

Utilizing a free trial to Amazon Prime, I watched "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead", a film about the health benefits of a diet of fruit and vegetable juice.  I was inspired to give it a try.  Two days later, we made tasty concoctions with our new Hamilton Beach juicer.  I hope to supplement our diets with healthy juices particularly when I want a snack while doing my online studies.  Have you seen this documentary?  Do you juice?

After months of consideration, I ordered a balance beam for our daughter.  It was to our surprise and delight that it arrived less than 24 hours after placing the order.  We all love it!  Oh, and I also ordered a little laser light thing so we can dance to cool effects.  I hosted a playdate/dance party with neighbor friends while the moms went to dinner and the six kids had a blast.  Besides dancing, my kids and I swam and played ping pong as they continued to enjoy their summer.

Besides all the fun and games this week. I reorganized a closet, paid tuition for my upcoming graduate classes, applied to a local community college to complete required undergrad credits, serviced both cars, and laundered all my dress shirts to store for a few years.

This week will end with a baseball game at CitiField thanks to a thoughtful friend and a party with 18 kids celebrating our son's 8th birthday.  I know not all weeks will be this fun but I'm certainly glad my retired life is off to a great start.  I hope you're enjoying your summer!

Closing this chapter

Closing a long, memorable, fulfilling chapter of my life has not been easy mainly because I have really enjoyed my 19 year career.  I've had plentiful opportunities to learn, grow, contribute, lead and inspire.  But, it is the opportunities to work with many terrific people that I will remember and miss the most.  

The fun times I've had are countless.  I remember starting with 13 other trainees in a whirlwind tour of the company, making friends who became regular partners in traveling, tennis, rollerblading and dining, working in a once-in-a-lifetime team where we constantly shared laughter as we grew through life changes together, and leading energetic colleagues in annual dragonboat races.  I've had the fortune of meeting individuals who have provided thoughtful friendship, guidance, inspiration and support in my career.

The challenging times at work have proven to be the most memorable.  From long days and nights are results that I am most proud of.  These include starting a multicultural marketing campaign to growing an engaged employee resource group to leading the company's efforts in creating an inclusive culture to helping restore electric power after damaging storms.  

During my career, I've shared so many life changes with my colleagues. Together, we've been through marriages, births, tragedies, and crises.  And, it is through these times where I've been so glad to be part of this supportive community to share many wonderful joys, ease the occasional sorrow and work together to stand up to unexpected challenges.  

I am thankful for my experiences for they have provided me the opportunity, skills and confidence to pursue my passions.  So, as I walk away today, I look back with pride at all that I accomplished and the lives I've touched.  I will retain some great memories and lifelong friendships.  Leaving isn't easy but I know what I have to look forward to is worth it.

My daughter quoted me in a note she wrote the other day:  "Live live for your passions because you only live once."  I hope we each get the opportunity to do that.at.

My daughter graduates elementary school. So, why am I sad?

On the eve of the my daughter's elementary school graduation, I am reminded yet once again of how fast time goes.  Tomorrow's milestone marks the end of her six years in a familiar school setting where she has enjoyed and learned a great deal.  In just a few months, she'll begin three short years of middle school.  I wish there was something to make time slow down just a little bit so we can enjoy just a little while longer.

I remember sending her to kindergarten and marveling at how the teacher skillfully coordinated her students busy 4 hour routine. While her first grade teacher was a bit too passive, her second grade teacher was out of this world.  No doubt that she is Allison's favorite.  Third grade was fun and I started teaching Junior Achievement in her class.  She really blossomed in fourth and fifth grades and became a confident individual who is well liked and respected by her peers.  I was determined to be very involved in her last elementary school year and have been fortunate to have numerous opportunities as a class parent and Junior Achievement volunteer.  But, all good things come to an end whether we agree or not.

She has grown so much in her elementary school years and I am proud of all that she has accomplished and learned.  After being in the same school for the past three years, it will be a little strange to see my two children boarding different buses heading in different directions.

Tomorrow, she boards that elementary school bus just one more time.  I am sad that this milestone has come so quickly.  But, I'll be beaming at the same time as my daughter and her classmates celebrate the end of their elementary school career tomorrow.  Thank goodness my son will have three more years before he moves on.  At that time, I will be a mess.  Tomorrow is just practice.