Hi everyone!!!......it's a long one, so get ready!!!!

I know it has been a while since I posted something on here, but Coy does a great job summing up everything for the both of us in his posts!

As most of you already know, a few months back I attended a teacher's substitute orientation over here in Del Rio with a friend. Those of you who know me would obviously know that it was not my idea! Me? Sub kids....yea right! Well before Christmas I was notified that my background check was cleared and I was all set up to sub if I wanted!

Plenty of military wives sub here in Del Rio because there are so many schools in this small town and subs are needed on a daily basis. One girl I met, who has been here for about three years, said she subbed everyday before she had a baby....it was like a full time job for her! But who wants a full time job over here?!?! Not me! And that is one of the perks to subbing......you can work whenever you want...once a week, twice a week, every other week, all week......you get the point. It's really a neat gig! You can also sub for any grade level from the little kiddies all the way to the high school kids. But, like I said before, if you know me you're wondering how is Kristen going to sub???!!! We all know I have no patience and if I can't paint nails, put make-up on, or crimp anyone's hair I have no clue what to do with kids!!!

I was curious one day & decided to check out my personal information on the website provided to the teacher's and substitutes by the school district. I was truly surprised at how user friendly the website was! Browsing along, I clicked on the "search for jobs" tab....and noticed two jobs were posted and ready to be taken by any sub willing to work! Of course I just stared at them and asked myself if this is really something I want to do. It was a Thursday, and of course with the next day being Friday I didn't want to accept it! Not on a Friday!! Long story short, I called my friend Kelly (my friend who I went to the orientation with) and told her about the jobs that were posted. She rushed onto her computer and within a couple minutes the jobs were already taken! It's crazy!!! We were told the jobs go fast, so if you want to work it's up to you to look and click so you get the job....if you don't act fast, someone else will get it!!!

So, Christmas came around and we left town and I didn't go onto the site while in Louisiana, nor did I jump on it when I returned to Del Rio. My friend Kelly has been working everyday!! Me, honestly, I'm content hanging out with my neighbors, going to the gym, having long walks with Dallas, cleaning and vacuuming on a daily basis, and making sure dinner is ready for Coy when he gets home. Some of you have asked what I do and think that I must be bored, but I kind of have a schedule/daily routine. I wake up around 9-ish, do a few daily household activities like wash clothes, pick up dishes, attend work out classes at our gym with a couple of my neighbors (same time everyday), bring Dallas on a walk, lunch break & watch one of those goofy soaps, then I tidy up the house and prepare/cook dinner. Of course there are days when I take an occasional trip to Wal-Mart, go to a wife event on base, have a friend over for Dallas, etc. It may not sound like much, but I keep busy around here!!! I have not had a "boring" day yet! It has been really nice not having to go to a boring job every single day & worrying about taking off to go to Louisiana or when family/friends visit us.

My thoughts on working vs. not working: I have worked ever since the summer before I started high school. I've never been jobless, and most of the time, through my high school & college years I've had more than one job at a time. Along with working, I participated in extra curricular activities after school such as dance team and dancing. Because of certain jobs I had during my college years (bartending), I lost out on pretty much all of my weekends and I lost touch with most of my friends. I'm explaining this because in Del Rio, there are not many employment opportunities.....of course there's Bath and Body Works, Tractor Supply....part time jobs where weekends would be required to work. With Coy having 12 hour days Monday - Friday and now a few Saturdays, I enjoy our weekend time together....that is my reason for not working thus far. There are base jobs, however, it’s usually an 8-5 M-F type deal, and I really don’t want to apply for a position just to say I have a job & not enjoy what I’m doing. I know some of you can relate to not liking your job......this is not a place where I'd want to have that type of attitude considering I am Lt ___'s wife! I'm sure you understand!!!

Subbing is pretty much what it boils down to. But I never thought I'd be interested, so I figured I'd continue on with my daily routine and pursue employment at our next base. And lucky for me, I have a great husband who supports that decision. After all, we don't have any children or any major bills........but in the back of my mind I have been thinking I should sub every now & then just to save!

So, one day while Coy was working I logged onto the sub website. I saw a few jobs awaiting substitutes. I panicked! I didn't click on any! Instead, I brought Dallas for a walk and told myself I'd click on one if it was still there when I returned from our walk. Well, the jobs were still there so I called my mom freaking out! She told me to suck it up and take the job! So I accepted! It was two days for one teacher at an Elementary school nearby....2nd grade! Hahaha! Coy could not believe it when I told him!

My first experience...... with second graders.....I thought it would be easy. I was wrong! These kids were walking all over me! I guess I was being too nice. One of the kids came to me and asked me in a low whisper "Is this your first time subbing?" I told him yes. He replied, "I can tell." I was in shock!!! This little kid just called me out! I knew I had to step up my game....no more Mr. Nice Guy!!! So I got....meaner (haha). Kristen + mean = not so much!!! The teacher across the hall came to check on me while it seemed like a riot in the classroom.......and boy did she let them have it!!! They were so quiet when she left the room.......and I thought can I do that?!

I couldn't wait for the 3:00 bell to ring. I mean, these kids did not want to do their work, half of them didn't have worksheets the teacher gave them, incomplete homework, parents not signing their folders, I mean I can go on and on. Not to mention....the set up in the classroom: desks side by side in the middle with a circle of desks touching around the outside of those desks. They are pretty much set up to talk and not pay attention....in my opinion. There was one boy who went by the teacher's desk.....away from the other students because he was really trying to do his work and couldn't at his own desk. And what ever happened to the all-in-one desks that we had growing up? You know, the desk top with the pencil holder and the underneath part for your books! These kids have a table top where they keep their books (oh, and hide toys and play with scissors while class is going on) and a chair that is not connected to the desk. So.....a few kids fell over during class....horseplay! By the end of day 1 I was sort of getting the hang of how things work. It’s a rough schedule.....no one can finish anything because they only work on a subject for like 25 minutes....if that. Most of them don't know how to do most of the work, so that's another reason their work doesn't get done. I really felt bad for this class.....they are so young and most of them have no ambition to even try. It seemed as though parents are not held liable and there are no consequences for the behavior and incomplete work of students. It was sad.....and completely different than where I come from. I mean, I was programmed!!! wake up, breakfast, school, teacher's always right, do my work, worry about myself, ignore bullies, after school care, homework, parents checked my work and studied with me, repeat. Here......no routines like that! I'm definitely thankful for the parents I have and their strict support to get me a great education. And what ever happened to recess??? They have a 30 minute lunch with no recess! I guess that explains why there was a riot in the classroom! There is no time for them to get their energy out! Also, these kids can pretty much come and go as they please. They can go to the library anytime after 1:30, a few kids at a time throughout the day would come tell me they need to go to tutorials.....I had no list or times for that.....at one point I didn't know who was where! I was just hoping they would come back...and they did!
Day 2 - Same Class!

I was ready for them this time! I was meaner than ever! I discovered how powerful I was just by writing names on the board! I mean, that really works!!! And this time I had a better idea of time frames and was able to go over things on the board because they were not talking as much. I also took toys, scissors, etc. away! I told the kids they'd get their stuff back when their teacher gives it to them! AND...On day 1, the pencil sharpener....geez! So, day 2, I unplugged the pencil sharpener and plugged it in behind the teacher's desk! They didn’t know what to do with the time they normally spend sharpening pencils! It was like an epiphany…miraculously no one had pencil issues! One good thing about the students is that they do like to read....which I don't enjoy doing....(and why I should apologize for having such a long post)! But the kids have this thing where they read a book a couple times, then take a test on the computer about the book, and once they score 100% on the test for that book they can get a higher level book. On day 1 I was asked so many times "Can I test?" "Can I test?" And I let them, but it was out of control! Three kids at the computer at the same time, not doing their work.....I wanted to scream! Day 2......no one tested until I checked their work for completeness....which means not too many of them were able to test! It was a learning lesson for me, I learned to take something away from them that they enjoy doing....which gave me a tiny bit more respect from them. It's a learning process, I guess. And I did play a game with them & allow them to color at the end of the day....so I have a few cute/funny drawings that made me smile & not regret my decision to sub! By the way, the teacher who yelled at them on day 1 told them if they were good for me the next day that she'd give them a treat.....they were pumped! Well at the end of my second day, she brought me Oreos to give them. So I did when they were leaving - they all wanted more than 1, but there was not enough for all of them to have 2....so there were some leftover cookies. Anyway, a few girls for some reason were still in the classroom after 3… As I tidied up the classroom I noticed the trash on the floor....paper, Kleenex, broken crayons, etc. So I told the ladies left in the classroom if they cleaned the floor I'd give those who helped clean more cookies!!! They were so excited…it was great!!!

I survived days 1 & 2 at the same school!!! I was so proud of myself - especially on day 2!! It was really difficult for me to get a job this past week. The site had plenty of middle school & high school postings, but I don't believe I'm ready for them just yet!!! Anyway I subbed on Thursday for 1st graders - and again I went in thinking 1st graders would be angels.....NOT! But, it didn't take me too long to gain control and these students actually did their work - most of them anyway. I can go on and on about this day also, but I'm sure if you're still reading you're sick of this post already! So I'll end my subbing stories here! I’m happy to say that I actually enjoy subbing, even though it’s a bit challenging….I’m glad I finally tried it out, and would love to let you all know that I see more subbing in my future : )…after I get back from New Orleans!!!

On another note, Dallas turned 1 on January 31st so I made a cake for her and invited her best friend Starbuck over for some cake and puppy frosty paws ice cream....enjoy the pics, and thank for reading my long post!!!

~Kristen