I’m a stay-at-home mom to a kid who’s in school most of the day.   Nice work if you can get it.

I purposely chose not to seek full or even part-time employment this year so I could still be around for Huck when he gets out of school at 2:50.  During the six hours and 20 minutes that he’s been gone, I’ve been writing and transcribing interviews for a friend.  I’ve read a lot of books, done a lot of errands, caught up with a lot of family and friends, and I’ve done a lot of laundry.

But mostly I’ve spent a lot of time at Muscota New School, ’cause that’s where that kid I’m so crazy about spends most of his day.   I help with recess and lunch once a week, followed by about an hour and a half in Huck’s classroom doing various projects and paperwork.   Sometimes on Wednesday mornings I join the whole school for the delightful Town Meeting.  I’m sort of helping with a grant for the library, and I’m sort of helping with the actual library, re-shelfing books and accompanying the kindergarteners when they have library time.

On my first day helping the other kindergarten class in the library, Jackie the social studies teacher told me to introduce myself.  I smiled and said, “I think you all know that I’m Huck’s mom Jonny.”  This was followed by a medley of sentences that sounded something like this: “You’re always at lunch.”  “You’re at recess every single day.”  “You’ve come to every Town Meeting that we’ve ever had EVER!”  All the while I began self-consciously nervous-laughing and responding with things like this: “Well, not EVERY lunch!  Well, I’m at recess on TUESDAYS!  No, no, I’ve only come to three or four Town Meetings all year long!”  And in between these slightly too-loud statements I would sneak a quick glance at Jackie to make sure she understood that I’m definitely too busy to be at the school as often as these lying kindergarteners were insinuating.  They’re crazy!  I HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF THIS PLACE!

Then later that day she walked by and saw me sitting outside Huck’s classroom filing some art work.  I gave her a humble smile and an awkward wave.

I think this year “off ” can best be described as my dormant season. Here are some definitions of dormant: Inactive but able to be reactivated; A resting stage similar to the condition of a plant during the winter when germination is delayed until seeds are mature and external conditions are favorable; Alive but in a state of suspended animation until all conditions are right for growth; Seasonal quiescent state in which the plant suspends growth, usually occurs during winter months.

This sounds about right to me.  Life is full of seasons and some are more fruitful than others.  Some, like this dormant one for me, require rest, stillness and waiting.  I’ll be growing again before too long.

In the meantime, anyone need any help with anything?