New Start
Well, that's it. I took my test. I did poorly. My overall average is a B+ and i'm going to take it and shut the hell up. I'm not going back tonight for the damn optional final. I didn't go yesterday for review. I'm done and now i have until next Wednesday to take it easy for a little while. And then i start with Public Speaking.
At least i won't have homework every night for that.
Um, right?
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My mother retired last week. She is (well, was) an elementary school teacher and has been teaching for 30+ years in the same district that she started in when she graduated from college. Last Friday was her last day of school EVER and i don't think she's taking it well. See, she wanted to stay for another year and retire in 2007, but the district offered an 'incentive' to those considering retirement where if they retire now, they will get a spiffy pension bonus in 10 years time. The incentive will bring their income close to what they were making while they were actively working (the normal pension is a large percentage of their income, but not close enough to what she had been making). Since Mom has grown accustomed to her yearly salary, the incentive sounded really appealing. She plans to work a part time job to compensate for the percentage that she is losing in the meantime and then probably will stop working completely once it kicks in.
She is a little freaked out. I think she is really worried about what is going to happen now. I think she feels really OLD now. And the truth of it is, she really isn't. She's only 58 which is pretty young to be banging around the house for the rest of your life. She is concerned about what to do with her house since she is now alone in a 4 bedroom colonial on a 1/2 acre of property. It is expensive to maintain and is way more than one person needs. But she also has to do a lot of repair work to get it ready to sell. And does she want to sell? Where will she go? Coming to a cross-roads is not usually an easy time. I feel so badly for her. She is really trying to sound brave, but you can hear in her voice how scared she really is to start her life over again. Alone.
At least i won't have homework every night for that.
Um, right?
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My mother retired last week. She is (well, was) an elementary school teacher and has been teaching for 30+ years in the same district that she started in when she graduated from college. Last Friday was her last day of school EVER and i don't think she's taking it well. See, she wanted to stay for another year and retire in 2007, but the district offered an 'incentive' to those considering retirement where if they retire now, they will get a spiffy pension bonus in 10 years time. The incentive will bring their income close to what they were making while they were actively working (the normal pension is a large percentage of their income, but not close enough to what she had been making). Since Mom has grown accustomed to her yearly salary, the incentive sounded really appealing. She plans to work a part time job to compensate for the percentage that she is losing in the meantime and then probably will stop working completely once it kicks in.
She is a little freaked out. I think she is really worried about what is going to happen now. I think she feels really OLD now. And the truth of it is, she really isn't. She's only 58 which is pretty young to be banging around the house for the rest of your life. She is concerned about what to do with her house since she is now alone in a 4 bedroom colonial on a 1/2 acre of property. It is expensive to maintain and is way more than one person needs. But she also has to do a lot of repair work to get it ready to sell. And does she want to sell? Where will she go? Coming to a cross-roads is not usually an easy time. I feel so badly for her. She is really trying to sound brave, but you can hear in her voice how scared she really is to start her life over again. Alone.
posted by claire at
9:37 AM
4 Comments:
Your mother is far too young to feel old. I'll be willing to bet once things start settling she (and then you too) can be happier with her situation. Hopefully she'll get a nice little part time job that she enjoys and the rest will fall into place.
By
Christine, at 6/29/2006 2:30 PM
hopefully she gets that job with the library and she can bang around at with arms full of books....
By
Anonymous, at 6/29/2006 3:32 PM
boy, i feel that from a number of different directions!
she will go through a transition, but that will pass. she is young enough and smart enough to take it. in fact, i suspect finally being away from the screaming hoardes and their parents will secretly please her every time she wakes up in the morning and realizes that its DONE.
im willing to bet the house issue will be the most difficult for her, though. im thinking of you both.
oh, 'grats on the b! in math?!? id be lucky to get any letter in any alphabet, let alone one so close to the front!!
By
FirstNations, at 6/30/2006 11:49 AM
christine - i think she'll be ok, overall. its just sad in the meantime. she seemed to be feeling fine today, so i'm optimistic.
anon M - i hope she chooses that over the whitman thing. she doesn't realize how agonizingly dull that gig is.
FN - living with 25 six year olds for the past bunch of years must have been awful. but add their parents into the mix and you've got utter hell. i'm sure she will find her way towards 'relief' soon.
thank you for your kind words - i really appreciate it. :) also, math totally sucks.
By
claire, at 6/30/2006 4:32 PM
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