Quick Somebody Pinch Me!

So I went today and checked into what I have to do to get my teaching certificate back. Turns out it really is quite simple. I am going to go tomorrow and pay $50 for a substitute teacher certificate. That certificate will be good for up to four years. Then in the fall, I'm going to take two classes at the local community college in the field of education. I need just five semester hours to update my teaching certificate. That's it! Five little hours of college credit. I already have the classes picked out and will check with the office tomorrow to see if they will be acceptable. I'm sure they will. Once I've completed the classes, I pay an additional $99 to register my certificate and I'm qualified to teach anywhere in the state of Illinois. I can't believe it's this simple and I could have done this a very long time ago.

I plan to start substitute teaching as soon as they can put me on the list. Thankfully, I have a dear friend named Mary (who I don't think reads here) that sent me some dresses she is too small for that actually fit me right now. Woo hoo! I'm all set and ready to go on this. I'll substitute until summer and then again starting in the fall. I was told at the office today that I will likely be able to work every day if I want but will not be required to. My classes will be on Tuesday evening from 4:30-9:00, taught by the same instructor in rooms right next to each other. I figure maybe I'll not teach on Tuesdays, unless it's close to the college campus so I don't have to worry about getting there on time.

I'm really very excited about this. Tim and I have talked. I still have many concerns about going to work and leaving him home but I'll check into having someone check in on him mid-day to be sure he's eaten lunch and taken a shot. I believe he'll be okay but want a safety net in place. I may even talk to his doctor about it in case we need documentation for insurance payments.

I'm also scared about this. What makes me think after twenty years I can teach again? What makes me think I'll remember all I learned all those years ago? What makes me think a school will even want to hire me? I'm not going to obsess over it, but I do have those thoughts swirling in my head with the excitement.