2009: My Year Of The Woman

It is that time of year again where I feel obligated to write some sort of recap of the year that was. I don't foresee a long winded double post like last year . This year wasn't nearly as tragic as 2008 and I think I have been suffering from blog fatigue these past several weeks. Therefore, this should be short and simple.

I look at 2009 as a year of calm healing. It was time for my life to settle down a bit. No divorces. No deaths. No hospitalizations. I didn't get married. I worked the same job with the same district at the same school in the same grade with mostly the same people.

So I have had the opportunity to calm down, exhale and set my feet so to speak.

Um. Maybe.

With that said, my wife and I brought a new baby girl into this world. By no means is that calming. But it is much more pleasant than many of the events of 2008.

My wife is such a model mother and baby girl has been so good and easily appeased. The fact that this is my second time around the block has made this fresh fatherhood experience much easier than it could have been for me as well. Finally, my oldest daughter has made a smooth transition from only child to big sister with relative ease.

Our little one represents so much joy for us. Not only has she brought the happiness parents get with a newborn, but she has helped heal the pain of losing our first baby in 2008. She has been a blessing. Our hopes and dreams have come true with her and filled the missing spaces we had from 2008. Although, I still feel guilty about letting the memory of Mallory go.

That brings my family life to a wife and two daughters.

I cite that fact because not only is my family life consumed with females and estrogen overload, but my workplace is as well. This school year I began teaching a single gender classroom. The gender? Girls.

On one hand, it is an interesting experience as I examine gender differences in an educational setting as well as in general. I am a sociologist at heart. This stuff intrigues me. It provides me with an opportunity to question stereotypes but also use them. It allows me to observe how girls behave without boys around. Putting all my frustration aside, it really is fascinating.

On the other hand, the drama that takes place in my classroom is ridiculous!

Every day without fail it takes at least 30 minutes after recess to sort through it all and get the girls focused on what matters. It is rarely something critical. The girls think it is, but almost always the issue is something extremely petty.

Fortunately, our lunch period is last so the lost time is minimized. But the frustration is compounding daily.

In order to maintain some sort of sanity in my female dominated life, I have tried to find balance.

I entered five fantasy football leagues. My wife allows enough flexibility and freedom for opportunities to hang out with my male friends.

But most of all I have tried to enjoy the women in my life that I love. You can't replace the satisfaction and joy that comes with having two little girls at home being cute and making you laugh.

Nor can you deny the pleasure of spending time with a beautiful wife that is highly engaging and extremely interesting.

In the end, this year has been about stabilizing things, getting back to a steady rhythm in my life.

I look forward to particular changes in 2010. I anticipate these changes to be good.