VIPKid is an online teaching service. Teachers from North America teach students in China.
My #momlife is already abundantly full. I have cutback on our chosen curriculum because our toddler consumes a lot of everyone's time. I still have not really figured out how to incorporate Selah into the daily lessons. Scott and I struggle to carve away time to spend one on one. The sink is never empty. I could go on and on. But you know life...you live it too. It may look differently, but those 24 hours melt away quickly despite all the resolve to use the time better the next day.
I chose to dabble in the idea of a mobile job at the most inopportune time. Scott's job in Utah was coming to an end, we were in a location with zero wifi, and we needed to prepare for moving and finding the next destination. I had no idea when I applied for VIPKID that I would be pursued relentlessly to set up an interview. I was certain I was not ready...so far it was just a silly idea.
As I started to prepare for my demo interview, I was intrigued by the challenge. The girls were involved in my preparation and really spurred me on to keep improving. They were also learning in the process. Little did I know that once I passed the demo, a clock would begin ticking for me to complete two mock classes with a current teacher. I had six days to get it done. The same week that we would be leaving. Challenge accepted! More time preparing, more involvement from the girls (Selah was learning her letters and sounds), I was stimulated in so many areas that had gone dormant in my day to day routine... new challenges, problem solving on a different level, intellectual stimulation from learning something totally new, a fun way for my children to learn with me. The pursuit to contribute to our family financially at the same time as pursuing a passion...PRICELESS!
It started to feel like Mission Impossible as I was given task after task via email to complete in a timely manner. I never spoke to a live person except to do demonstrations. I needed to advertise myself to parents via a bio, pictures, and a short video. There was so much to learn about the teacher portal, how to teach different levels of proficiency, and finding a consistent and reliable way to stay connected.
This first week of teaching has me feeling all the feels, and I have been reflecting on the difference a week makes...
Family Support
I have experienced a great deal of mom guilt over this pursuit. It seems strange to do anything for myself or something that I enjoy. I love to read and write, but I rarely give myself permission to make time for it. I feel incredibly selfish because the initial learning curves require more daytime hours than I expected. Scott has been incredibly supportive of the time that I have needed to take. He has even expressed pride in my efforts. Scott has been preparing for a new job in California...testing, classes, testing, more classes, and yet he has gone out of his way to make sure I have the time I need to educate myself and prepare for lessons. My girls get involved in my online workshops and preparing lessons with me. I am beaming with the thought of what my family will do for me and making the choice to invest in me. I have never felt so loved.
More Time
It would seem that adding a job would take away the time that I have. But in reality it has organized my time and made me more available. My homeschooling schedule is more routine and predictable. I have wanted to wake up early and get the day started sooner, but I never found the right motivation. I really did not know there was anything that would make me wake up at 2:45am! And guess who I will get to see every morning? My husband! Our schedules have been so opposite for so long. Now we are both too tired to stay up at night, and we can be early risers together...I am still working on the morning mood, though.The techniques that I am learning have also added to my teaching ability for my children. They ask..."Are you going to teach us like you teach the Chinese kids today?" I am writing my second blog in two weeks, when before it would take me months.
I have not done well in the self care department. My self care has consisted of staying up too late on Facebook or watching a meaningless show on Netflix. That is not necessarily the wrong way to spend time, but waking up grouchy because of staying up too late for nonsense make no sense. I now make sure that we have an established bedtime routine so I can get to bed quickly. I have a whole new community of teachers that have helped me through my learning curves, messaged me, and video chatted with me. My time on FB and YouTube has consisted of fueling my mind with knowledge. I am able to get up early enough to do the quiet time that I have so desperately needed. And my prayer life has improved as I pray for strength to do all that I can to be the best at all that I do, that I not pursue something God does not want for me, and gratefulness for the awesome opportunity. I also make time for naps as I get used to the new schedule. I have not done that since JoJo was itty bitty.
A Passion that Makes a Difference
I get to wake up to smiling children on my screen every morning! I am in awe of these amazing children learning a second language at the ages of my own children. They inspire me! I had a mom this morning try to explain to me that her son was very worried. It was my job to ease his nerves and make it a fun learning environment. He came to life and his mom was so grateful. I got to watch a little of their interaction before my camera came on, and I was in awe of a mother hard at work desiring more for her son (just like me), and she was all the way around the globe.
It is making a difference in my home as well. I feel more enthusiastic about being a mom and homeschooling, I am more self fulfilled, I have a greater reliance on my creator, I will see my husband more in his "peak" hours, I feel more loved, and I am challenged. The only thing that is in the negative is my sleep...and I have certainly done life on less sleep before (4 times over). And I never regretted that investment! Sometimes more is more!
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