December 6, 2011

A Much Over Due Update

My last few weeks of school are wrapping up for this semester.  I’m just ready to be done.  Like yesterday.  I will have completed three of four semesters at before the end of the month and I am starting to panic about graduating next May.  I know I can do this, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It’s just that I worry about strange things happening – things beyond my control – like getting in a car accident and being in a coma for five months.  Irrational.  Yes, I know.

I think this is just a combination of my natural tendency to worry (a lot) and lack of sleep.  I haven’t been in bed before 10 p.m. in many long weeks.  I’m tired of it.  Pun intended.

Okay, and I’m just too busy.  I’m still learning the ins and outs of my new position at work.  Training is an ongoing process.  There is so much to know about the insurance industry.  Even applying my years of insurance experience isn’t enough to breeze through this training.  Also, worker’s compensation insurance is complex.  Each state follows it’s own rules on what is defined as a covered employee and I’m constantly learning all the “tricky situations” and exceptions to the rule.  It’s no wonder I crash on the couch for 10 minutes the second I walk through the front door.  I have to give my brain a break.

Lately I have had zero ambition to do anything other than go to work, get my homework and studying done each night, and try (oh, do I try) to spend quality time with the boys.  My poor kids.  I have slowly realized they are beginning to prefer Daddy over Mommy.  Mommy is always busy.  Mommy is burning the candle at both ends.

I’m learning to let go of some of the Mommy Guilt, however.  Tonight after work I rushed to Dawson’s school to watch him in wrestling practice.  Then he had a Cub Scout meeting at the Lutheran church down the street (we’re Catholic, but all of Dawson’s classmates are in this particular pack and the meetings are within walking distance of our house – it’s like killing two birds with one stone because I squeeze in some much needed exercise).  Our den leader is the mom of Dawson’s best friend and their family attends the same church we do.  It’s nice to have friends I can commiserate with.  It’s a win-win.

This is Dawson’s first year in wrestling.  When the registration form came home from school I asked him what he thought about it.  He said, “Yeah, Mom.  I think I might like to try it.”

I was a little nervous the first night (which was yesterday) because he really had no experience with the sport, but thankfully his coach was a wrestler in high school and college so he had lots of experience.  I think I may have gone to high school with him, actually, as he looks very familiar.  I keep meaning to ask him his name, but I’m get sidetracked and forget.

Tonight, Dawson won a “take down” against a second grader and he was super pumped.  It makes me happy to see him having fun and learning so many different things.  Plus, he likes to be active.  It’s good for him.

Owen is growing like a weed.  I bought him some pants a few weeks ago and I realized tonight they are getting to tight in the legs.  My little guy isn’t so little.  He’s got a strong build and I can definitely picture him as a tackle on the football team.  He loves to do everything Dawson does and this evening they played a mini game of  ”wrestle mania.”  Thank goodness Dawson knows that he has to be gentle with Owen.  But little brother is definitely a brute.  He didn’t hesitate to charge at his big brother and take him down.  Good times.

Overall, things are good.  Crazy chaotic, but I can’t really complain.  Life is….good!

October 28, 2011

An Update on Work and School

Another week over.  Thank goodness.

The last five days at work have been complicated as I’ve been training a newer employee to take over my old job duties, on top of my own training for my new position as Premium Audit Technician.  I got the promotion in mid-September and should have started training right away but that was difficult to do while still completing the Product Support Clerk tasks.

Thankfully, I have amazing co-workers who stepped in to divide my work so I could learn my new job.  It’s been a bumpy road but I’m working through it.  The new girl is doing very well.  I decided to break up her training into smaller chunks because I didn’t want her to become discouraged or overwhelmed.  She is a fast learner and over the last two weeks she has caught on to everything I’ve taught her.  It is very satisfying to know that I my skills as a trainer are right on the money.

On Wednesday I had Worker’s Compensation classification training and my trainer is amazing.  She makes the learning fun and I liked listening to her examples of past claims and underwriting situations.  After class she went over some of my questions and she asked me where I worked prior to joining Sentry Insurance.  I told her about my time at Travel Guard Insurance and McDonald Title Company and she was impressed with my insurance background.  She was so kind and suggested that when I finish my Bachelor’s degree I should study for the CPCU designation and take the exam.  She’d love to see me in the Underwriting Department, she told me.  I was very grateful for her advice.

Later in the day I realized I would be in school in some form or another for a very long time.  My goal is to work hard and earn and MBA.  I’m feeling overwhelmed but I know I can achieve my goals.  I graduate from MSTC in May and will earn my Associates Degree in Business Administration.  I’m making progress and that’s all that matters right now.  Baby steps…

I never thought I’d accomplish these goals at my age (almost 33).  On some days I feel “old” and start to talk myself out of things.  I’m lucky to have friends, family and colleagues to straighten me out.  It’s a long journey and I don’t know if I could do it without all their support.

October 23, 2011

Nothing ever goes as planned.

Last Wednesday was Advising Day at my college.  Because I am scheduled to graduate next May I decided it was probably a good idea to meet with my adviser and make sure all my ducks are in a row.  I didn’t want to be surprised by having to take another course after the Spring semester.

My adviser, Jon, was busy helping another student when I arrived on campus, but another adviser in the business program was available.  Brian was my instructor a few years ago when I first began this journey and it was nice to get reacquainted with him.  He looked at my transcripts and compared the courses I had already taken with the ones I have left to take.  Brian agreed that I just needed two classes to graduate because everything else looked great.  I was relieved to hear this news.  I was planning on having my last semester be very easy and not as stressful as the others.

As I was getting ready to leave Jon mentioned that I should make an appointment with the Business Counselor to have her sign off on my schedule.  This is just to make sure that everything really is good to go for graduation.  I made my way to the guidance office.

Julanne, the guidance counselor, was just finishing an appointment with a student and I asked her receptionist if I could schedule an appointment.  She stated that Julanne could probably fit me because it was already the end of the day.  I was very happy to hear this.  I would have had to wait a week otherwise.

Julanne looked at my transcripts and course history and then she dropped a bomb on my dream of finishing my last semester without any hassle.

“Your math scores are from 1997.  While they were okay when you first enrolled here, they are now too old to count for credit.  You’ll have to take a college algebra class.”

My heart sank.  I didn’t really like math in high school.  I passed my classes and I can do the work, but it’s been 15 years since I’ve actually used algebra.  I’m just a bit freaked out about this.

“Oh, and we can’t use these Microsoft courses from 1999.  We now use Microsoft Office 2010 and you’ll have to re-take them.”

I became upset.

“I use Microsoft Office every day,” I told her. “My job requires it.  And I’ve tested out of Microsoft Office 2007 at an employment agency last year.  My scores were at the advanced level.”

Julanne explained she would refer this information to the Dean of the Business Program and perhaps they could make an exception.  A few days later she e-mailed me to say they would accept the Excel, Word and Access courses but I would have to take Powerpoint.

Another glitch.  I learned Powerpoint at this school ten years ago.  Now I have to take it again? Just because it was an old version?  I’m very computer literate and I use these programs quite often.  But alas, I guess I just need to take the class and ace them.  Easy A’s.  Still kind of miffed.

So instead of just two classes next semester I have enrolled in four.  I’m going to have to bust my butt and say goodbye to any kind of social life because I’ll be studying and working and raising a family.  I know I could split these into two semesters but my goal was to graduate in May 2012 and I am determined to do it.

Wish me luck.  I can’t wait for this to be over.

September 7, 2011

A Rant and a Recap

This morning I woke up with a scratchy throat that has gradually gotten worse and I’ve been sneezing all day. Add to that a case of itchy watery eyes and neck pain. It’s miserable. I went to the weather website that tells you what the pollen/ragweed count is in your region. Apparently, we’re in the high (red) zone here in Sconnie.

I assumed I was just having an allergy attack and dragged myself to the grocery store on my lunch hour. I picked up some Allegra (using a $2 off coupon – YAY!) and thought this would at least make me feel better. It’s 10:30 and I feel like death.

Now I’m wondering if it’s a cold. But here’s the thing, everyone in this house suffers allergies and we’re all “sick” so maybe it’s just a bad attack.

End Whine.

I’ve been so busy since the first days of school. My semester began August 22nd, and Dawson’s first day was September 1st. He was so excited to go back and see his friends. He even has a real smile on his face:

His first grade teacher just so happens to be Mrs. S and all of my siblings as well as myself had her as a teacher. Mrs. S is retiring after this year so I feel super lucky we get to work with her. She is so kind and caring and loves her job so much. She’s been teaching almost 40 years. Isn’t that amazing? So many teachers are leaving the profession for various reasons so I feel it’s wonderful that she has been teaching and loving it for so long.

Owen truly misses Dawson during the day. When I dropped him off at daycare yesterday morning he looked around the room wondering where his big brother was. I reminded him that Dawson was at school but Owen still stuck his bottom lip out and that pout was adorable and sad all at once. I love that my boys love each other so much:

I can’t believe how much they’ve grown. Just yesterday they were my babies and I rocked them in my arms. I still try to hold them on my lap when we read each night but they’re limbs are stretched out over half my body. They are not babies anymore. They are big boys. Time sure goes by quickly.