New Respect and Humbling Experiences

It’s been about 10 years since I’ve worked outside of the home but in just the few days I’ve subbed I developed a new respect for working parents. For a few years I used to be one so it’s not completely foreign to me.  John had thoughtfully (sarcasm here in case you missed it) shared a head cold with me this past week. The cold has fallen into my bronchial tubes and/or chest. Add to that a daily water pill and you know what happens every time I cough and I cough often.

When I came home on Tuesday after subbing all 3 dogs wanted my attention at the same itme - I couldn’t help but remember the chitter-chatter of my kids telling me about their school day, each vying for my ear.  At least with the dogs, I could send them outside to do their business while I regrouped and stoked up the cold fire, trying to warm the house up again. It would be awhile before the wood stove shared generous warmth with us. Unloaded all my stuff (Iseldom, if ever, go anywhere without books, notebooks, quiltingwork box, etc.) and my lunchbox, repacking the non-perishables to be ready at a moment’s notice when called, check phone messages - so nice of the sales calls to leave blank messages.

As I start to prepare a REAL supper, aka no processed foods or Hamburger Helper stuff, I really felt for single mothers/fathers who carry the full load. I realize what a thin thread some may be hanging by and wonder if I personally know anyone like that who I could help. I quit fixing extra meals for people when I was greeted at a door with the question, “Why do you always bring food?” Since it seemed like such an oddity to this person I thought I must be out of step with the current society so set that aside.

God is answering my prayers. I wanted to get back to subbing for many reasons, the kids first, but also because I felt like I was losing touch with people and their problems, lives and feelings. For years now when I said how or why we do things in our lives, I’ve received the response, “But you’re different.” which I translated into “It’s different for you; you’re not in the real world.” IF I have been truly living by God’s word and my convictions based on that Word I hope I can make the same choices regardless of circumstances. If not, then I want to look at ME and find out why. I know it sounds silly, but that is what gave me the strength to push through and make a good homemade meal while I was feeling totally lousy and the temptation to call John and ask him to bring home a pizza was strong. Someday I hope I can say with true empathy to a working parent, “I know how hard it is” and have them believe me.

To end on a lighter note, ONE of my humbling experiences (and there’s been many more than one) since starting back to subbing was -

While waiting in line to go home two boys were talking about the name Dillon. The one said his middle name was Dillon and  I commented, “Then you’re Marshall Dillon” as his first name was Marshall. At the blank looks on their faces I dumbly pressed on, “You know, Marshall Dillon from the Gun Smoke tv show. I watched it all the time when I was a kid.” Still nothing. Since I was already in deep, why not go for drowning in stupidity? “Ask your Mom and Dad and they’ll tell you.” The second little boy looked up at me and said, “Maybe my GRANDPA will remember it”!!! OUCH.

Home made pizza dough recipe-

4 cup flour (organic, right?!)

1 1/2 cup warm water

1 package yeast ( 2 1/2 teaspoons for those of us who buy in bulk)

salt

2 Tablespoons oil

2 Tablespoons sugar

Pour water into a large bowl, add the sugar, oil and salt. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it soften as you measure out the flour. Stir in the flour til well blended and it forms a smooth ball. Put on a floured counter top and cover either with the large bowl or a wet towel. Let raise for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Divide into 3 balls and form into pizza crust. We usually use one and freeze the other two to pull out as needed later.

This entry was posted on January 30, 2009 at 12:59 pm and is filed under Homestead living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.