Making Decisions

I do not like making some decisions. I often second guess myself before and after making them. I have to think of my friend Nancy's words of wisdom which are, "you make a decision and you then you live with it. " That makes it seem so simple.

I have made a decision and I hope I do not regret it.

Here is the situation: Principal called and asked if I would teach next quarter for one of my colleagues who is taking a leave of absence.

Advantages would be:

• get back to the excitement and hustle/bustle of the high school
• be able to see my teacher friends and other staff members whom I miss desperately
• be able to see students whom I miss desperately
• beef up the savings account
• maybe I would get to eat lunch again with my lunch buddies, Nate & Eric.
• the thought of going back to teach energizes me.
• in spite of all the disadvantages it could be fun

Disadvantages would be:

• teaching 3 difficult classes. One is a beginning class with 33 students and this class tends to have very needy students. It would be frustrating to both me and students because of large size and not being able to get around to help. That leads to behavior problems because of frustration and down time.
• one class would just be seniors and anyone who has taught knows that having seniors 4th quarter is not a good thing. They tend to check out and don't think they have to work or turn things in. That leads to angry students and parents that have to be dealt with.
• the correcting for these classes would be phenomenal. I would never be caught up.
• 2 classes are Fashion & Design and dealing with broken sewing machines can take up a big portion of the day.
• no days off until Memorial Day.
• getting up in the morning and not being able to drink coffee leisurely.
• hubby hates the thought and does not want me tied down just in case something comes up
• weekends would once again be filled with chores and having to get things done. My time would not be my own.
• would have to keep caught up with grades for Parent Portal and also having to attend conferences.
• make phone calls to parents when there is a behavior/attendance problem which is not pleasant.
• projects planned for home would have to be put on hold.
• being so exhausted in the evening I can barely eat dinner and climb the steps to bed. (but then again there was something I liked about that)
• having the extra duty of packing up classroom at the end of the year.

My decision was not to take the teaching job for next quarter. I still have the ping pong ball in my head going back and forth--wishing I would have taken it/glad I didn't take it. Now is the time for me to stop it and live with the decision.

Another decision: new counter top and back splash and what to get--too many choices. I think I have narrowed down the counter top. The back splash is another story. I tend to always go for something similar to what I have. Salesman thinks I should come out of my box and go with something unexpected and trendy. HGTV also says that same thing. OK--bought home an "unexpected and trendy" sample. I have tried to like it but I am really not comfortable at all with it. It is very pretty but just not me. Decision: install counter top and then deal with back splash.