I’m going to Washington DC for a week long teacher’s union conference tomorrow. It will be my first time away from Little Lassie for more than a few hours. I will miss her, but I’m looking forward to taking a bit of a break. FlyGuy often travels for work, so LL and I are left trying to entertain each other throughout the week. I’m curious to see how FlyGuy handles the job with me away. He’s already lined up babysitting to the point we may need to dip into LL’s college fund to pay the sitters. I’m sure I’ll return and FlyGuy will tell me that staying home with LL isn’t so hard. He really doesn’t have a good idea of what it takes to keep her happy and fed, the house clean, cupboard full and dog walked. I don’t mind being a stay-at-home mom because truthfully, its much easier than my previous job of teaching visually impaired children.
The conference I’m attending is probably my last hurrah as a union worker since I’m on a break from teaching to stay home with LL. I got involved in my teacher’s union years ago because because I’m interested in what goes on politically and professionally behind the scenes in our school district. I was elected to go to the conference and it will likely draw some big name speakers particularly since its in Washington. In the DC convention center I’ll be in the midst of 10,000 education professionals who are mostly democratic and politically active. Presidential candidates usually come to speak. I’ve seen Barack a few times, but I hope McCain comes because I’ve never seen him in person.
Aside from the fun of getting together with teacher friends, dinners out and booze cruises, I’ll enjoy putting my finger back on the pulse of what is happening in education today. There are so many facets to the field of education I always leave this conference inspired to come home and try new things or make waves and become more politically active. Hopefully, I’ll be able to maintain my excitement for the field until I’m able to enter it again when Little Lassie goes to school, because no matter how much I love teaching it just doesn’t compare to how much I love Little Lassie.
