It’s good weather for kite flying. At work last week, I made some kites with my after school kids. Unfortunately, it started to rain — and rained HARD — so we didn’t get to fly them. Today, though, my girls and I made a couple kites and took them out to test them in the cool spring wind.

Success!

As time goes by, I am feeling more and more confident that I will be hired for next year’s after school teaching position. I have received many, many kind words of appreciation and encouragement, and I have a good feeling that this will work out well.

I do miss having my afternoons and early evenings home to hang out with my kids, plan my dinners, and generally take it easy. But the trade off is acceptable: the truth is that we are finding the extra income very welcome. Next year we will have both girls at this independent school, and whenever I think about the tuition, my fillings ache. If I have this job, we have the cash to make this a lot easier on us.

Not to mention the fact that I feel personally fulfilled by this job. I am having a positive impact on the lives of a larger group of children than just my own two. I am able to do creative and interesting projects and share them with young people. I enjoy the kindness and enthusiasm of the staff and parents. It is all warm fuzzy.

Plus, I have the summer coming up! The Summer! It will come and I will have my afternoons and evenings back!

Today I’m feeling grateful and happy. It could be the sunlight and kite flying; these are things to remember on darker, rainier days when the tears lurk just beyond my eyelids.