Before we even moved back to Florida, I sent in my resume in response to several dance teaching opportunities. I continued to submit my resume after we moved until the fall openings stopped popping up. To my surprise, I never got a single call. Not that I’m super fantastic or anything, but I thought I’d at least get a call or two. But, Nada.
I started Honeybun in ballet classes in September at a local studio (I gave her the choice of ballet, gymnastics or tap/jazz and she wanted to do ballet). I decided to keep my experience to myself at first. I have this thing with keeping my mommy separate from my profession (see “Mommy vs. Educator”) but I realized maybe that’s not the best for me and my future. So, when the studio was looking for volunteers to help with the June Performance preparations, I contacted the director and offered my help and experience.
Turns out she really needs people with strong ballet experience (check!) who have loads of availability (check!). I went in last week for a “teaching audition” and she was so ecstatic about my teaching that I’ve already been put on the teaching roster for the studio’s 8 week summer program. This is fantastic opportunity but also a bit intimidating.
For one, I’ll have a newborn. Summer session starts 4 weeks after my due date and while I’m not concerned about my physical recovery (assuming things go as well as the last two times) but leaving my sweet little dumpling that early may be hard, not to mention trying to figure out how we’re going to work keeping him/her fed while I’m gone for a few hours. I keep reminding myself that I started working when Honeybun was 6 weeks old and we survived easily, but it’s still kind of scary after being home with my girls nearly constantly for the past 3 years.
Luckily hubby gets 4 weeks paid paternity leave (I know, fantastic, huh? He just lost his pension and other benefits in exchange….) and we are timing it to coincide with when Honeybun gets out of school and coincidentally when I will start working. This will be very helpful for the first 4 weeks and we will only require childcare the last 4 weeks (which will also help our finances, we’ll actually get to keep everything I make!).
I also haven’t taught at all in over a year and haven’t taught regularly since before we moved to Dublin over 3 years ago. I’m not concerned that I’m out of practice or that I’ve forgotten anything, it’s just intimidating jumping back in so quickly with advanced dancers at a really great studio.
I know things will work out and I’m worrying for nothing, but it’s still always scary to jump into something new, especially when it’s something that will affect your children.
