The Beginning of the End

There is one week of preschool left and two weeks of camp after that. Do you realize what this means? It means I only have three weeks of work left. Figuring in Memorial Day as a holiday that comes to 14 more work days.

FOURTEEN!

I am not panicked. (I am NOT panicked. I am NOT panicked.)

I am so excited! And nervous. And happy. And melancholy. And ready. And not ready.

Seven years ago I didn’t think I’d ever have a real, full time, out of the house job ever again. I didn’t want one. But an opportunity for a part time administrative assistant job at the preschool in my church came up and I took it. Eight school years later I’m ready for my next adventure.

I’ve been getting a lot of, “So what are you going to do with all your time?” I’m going to fill it, that’s what I’m going to do. There are the usual fillers like projects around the house, travel a little with Todd, read more books, keep up with the laundry… that sort of thing. But there’s also the main reason (in my mind) I’m quitting. I’m going to write. I’m going to write a lot. I have a big project in the works that you’ll have to wait to hear more about, but I’m very excited about it. VERY excited! And then there are the seeds of a few books I have in my head.

But there are still three weeks before I get going on these things. One week left to pull off graduation and all the end of the school year magic (and my computer was down and non-printable from Monday through Thursday of this past week), and two weeks to train my replacement. How in the world do I train somebody for an entire year of preschool tasks in two weeks? AND get them up to speed on the database and all the Kids’ Camp stuff for the church they’ll be responsible for? This would be where the panic comes in. Which is kind of silly because she’s really smart and extremely qualified and I know she will take this position and make it her own and rock it like nobody’s business.

There are so many mixed emotions with this life change. I can hardly wait to be a “lady of leisure”, but at the same time I know I’m going to miss the school. People, let me tell you a little something about the preschool staff. They give me the big head on the regular. I have them so fooled it’s not even funny (or maybe it’s a little funny). They think I’m brilliant and are so grateful every time I do something for them, like, you know, MY JOB! I never feel unappreciated and I’m pretty sure most people can’t say the same thing.

And those kiddos? Oh my gosh! So much cuteness it’s insane. I gathered pictures from the teachers of all the graduates for a slide show and one can’t help but giggle and smile while looking at all those cutie patooties. I’m not suited to the classroom, but I sure do enjoy them from the comfort of my desk! I’ll miss that.

I will definitely miss my office friends. My church staff peeps are my therapists and my comedians and my encouragers and I love the way we have our own things, but we all jump in to help each other when it’s needed. No office is perfect and we have our share of frustrating office crap (yes, even in a church. Or maybe especially in a church) but the whole of the experience has been a great one for me. And Stephanie, my children’s ministry boss, always keeps me entertained with stories of her family. They would make bank if their lives were turned into a sitcom.

Then there’s the director, Shannon. I will not elaborate here because she will end up reading this and get the feels if I write what I really mean and that’s one of the many things we have in common. We don’t do the feels well. I’ll save it for another time. Just suffice it to say that she’s been the best boss, hands down, that I’ve ever had. And I’ve had some pretty amazing bosses in my life.

I won’t miss the buzzer, though.

Reading back through this post I see I’m rambling. Kind of like how I talk sometimes. But there are so many emotions associated with this change that my thoughts are all jumbled. I’m hoping they will be much less so in three weeks.