What I Did This Summer

I'm hard pressed to think of another summer that held so many changes for me. There was the summer between high school and college, and the summer separating college and graduate school. One summer, 9 years ago, I married my love, Ashleigh. Each of those summers has held great opportunity and change for me, but this summer stands apart in the number and magnitude of changes, chances, and opportunities. 

This summer, I turned 40. I didn't know how I'd feel about reaching this landmark age. There's a certain symbolism about the age of 40. It seems like it's supposed to be this mystical and inevitable doorway to middle age, with youth in the rear view mirror and perspective beginning to come into focus. I don't know if it has hit me quite to that extent. But I have spent a lot of time reflecting this year, more than normal. The reasons why might become clear soon. 

This summer, I changed career paths, left academia and higher education, and got a job as an 8th grade science teacher. I have no real experience teaching middle school, but I have 9 years of experience teaching college classes. I feel comfortable in front of groups of people, and I know my content area really well. I'm lucky that 8th grade science has a large natural history focus. We will learn about climate change, natural and artificial selection, ecology, and geologic history. These topics are definitely in my wheelhouse, and I'm excited to teach these concepts to eager students. Two realizations that I've had in the past five weeks: 

1. Teaching is exhausting! It takes a ton of energy to keep the attention of a room of twenty to thirty 13 year olds, to make sure they understand the content, to differentiate teaching methods so that all students can succeed, and to maintain positivity and enthusiasm from morning to late afternoon.  
2. I need help managing classroom behaviors and routines. 

All that said, I have met so many dynamic, hilarious, and interesting kids through this, and I'm having more fun with it than I ever thought possible. And, I think I'm building up some endurance, I'm not nearly as tired at this point in the semester, which is just past midterms, than I was at the end of week 1 and 2. The 8th grade team is a fun, amazing, and friendly group. I also think I'm getting a handle on all of the non-teaching aspects of the job, the alphabet soup of abbreviations and acronyms, and the various reports to be filed. Don't get me wrong - I still have a ton to learn, but it's getting easier. 

Having said that, I am still exhausted. And part of the reason is that this summer, Ashleigh and I adopted a beautiful baby girl. Penelope Melissa made her debut on May 29, 2021, and has won the hearts of all of our family and friends since then. Truly, I was terrified to be a father, and I was afraid to adopt. What if I couldn't connect with her? What if I couldn't love her? Of course, all of that was foolish. She is the best thing that ever happened to Ashleigh and I, and I can't imagine life without her. She is easy to love, and it's fun to watch her grow and change. I wonder what she will be like, what her interests will be, if she will be silly, nerdy, fun, and kind, and if she will love trees and flowers and all wild things found in nature. Her grandparents love her, her uncles and aunts love her, and her cousins love her. So many people have helped us in various ways to learn how to be parents. It would be easy to list over a hundred people who love Penny, and for that we are so grateful and happy! 

So, to review - I'm exhausted. I'm learning to let go of old goals that had become toxic and were dragging me down. I've embraced a new career, one that allows me to teach and care for a different audience. And, Ashleigh and I have an adorable munchkin that fills our hearts with love. Not to mention, Sassafras is walking better and becoming stronger by the day! It has been quite a Summer! It feels like the curtain has fallen on Act 1, and Act 2 has begun!