I May Have to Rename the Blog.

...Because I'm somewhat employed now.  I've been hired by a local district.  I've been working for them for about six weeks.  I was subbing at first- and aside from the usual hooligan antics, it was pretty awesome.  Flexible days, low responsibility (outside of school hours), and most importantly- money.  And then Adrian 'encouraged' me to start applying for postings.  The last three weeks I've had a short contract teaching alternative education for grade nine students.  This contract has been sufficiently challenging, and tremendously entertaining (entertaining from an objective perspective.  From my perspective, it's just been exhausting).  My father advises me that I can tell you all about the experience in this public forum when I retire from teaching.  So stay tuned for that.

Anyways, this whole 'work' thing will be short-lived as the summer approaches.  It will be back to austerity measures and beaucoup de toddler time come July.  Just enough working hours for me to get used to whining about other people's children again, as opposed to my own.  There really isn't a need for me to change the name of the blog just yet.  Though I think that when I do, that's what I'll name it- 'Other People's Children'.  Because 'Other People's Children are Obnoxious' was taken.  And probably rude.

Anyways, in this short period of time we have gotten into quite a lovely routine.  I say 'lovely' because alternative education doesn't start until 9:30am, which is positively civilized.  One of the few parts of alternative education that is civilized.  Because you're dying to know, this is what our day looks like:

7am: Adrian and I get up.  Ann keeps sleeping, because early morning wake-ups are for crazy people.  We save that sh!t for the weekend.  Weekdays are for sleep-ins.  Maggie gets up on the bed for Annie-snuggles as soon as Adrian is out of the room, and waits patiently for her to get up and play.  Sometimes she helps her along by pushing her.

Yes, if you look carefully you can see that Maggie's paw is on Ann's forehead.

'Honestly Ann.  You're such a sloth.'

'She takes after you, you know.'

8am: Dog park.  Annie stays in the car, eating her toast and listening to Dora while Maggie poops, jumps on me, and irritates the neighbourhood dogs.

These are her 'naughty' ears.  When she's really up to something, both of them stand at attention like that.

"Cheese?  Did someone mention 'cheese'?"

4:30pm- Afternoon dog park.  This really had been the most amazing discovery.  Before dinner every day, a collection of up to 13 dogs and their owners gather at a local high school to play.  This has pretty much saved my sanity as Maggie has soooo much energy and a terribly unreliable recall.  We can safely run our little hearts out in a fenced field with numerous other pups (fig.1).  Annie also loves it, and puts on a good show for the rest of the owners.  She's quite tired at that point of the day from all the fun of daycare, and the effect can be similar to when I have approximately 2.5 glasses of wine.  She's social, chatty and enchanting to be around.  And about an hour from turning into a total crazy person.  This week she has been quite delighted to discover that some dogs have penises, and takes great joy searching them out at the park.  And discussing it with the owners- "Dat's his penis.  I touch it?".  I think the fascination has come from a little male friend at daycare.  They've been learning about 'privacy', because Ann likes to watch what happens when he goes to the bathroom (what's wrong with his 'gina?), and applauds enthusiastically when he finishes. Still being in diapers, constant potty use is an impressive feat deserving of much praise and encouragement.  Adrian finds it less endearing than I do when she does it.  I love any kind of applause.

Fig.1- look at the fawn-coloured dog in the foreground.  She's all 'Look at me, I'm soooo pretty'.  That's Maggie behind her, in her 'come hither' position

530pm- the nice thing about the dog park is that Ann runs around outside, and it leaves no time for television when we get home, exhausted.  While this is really just a by-product of a long park play, I still like to congratulate myself on what an excellent parent I am, limiting television the way I do.

Bedtime- I have been sleeping so much better since I've been back at work.  This might be for a couple of reasons:

1. Other People's Children are exhausting.
2. Having a dog around has really helped my self-diagnosed nocturnal anxiety disorder (NADs).  Not only is it comforting to have a dog around, but when she was little I would have to take her out into the dark and scary backyard at several points throughout the night.  The number of times I wasn't raped and murdered has been reassuring.

Anyways, the contract ends in two days and I'll be back to vacation mode.  And then I can post photos of all three of us girls snuggling past 8am on a weekday.  Cause that's the way we roll.

PS Happy Birthday to my Father Bear!