Three days ago, I began to work on my novel again. My kids are at school now and I have the house to myself while I write. It is only the second day of this phenomena and I must confess I feel a bit guilty. I should be out doing pastor's wife things, visiting others or applying for jobs and getting involved in everything I can. Can I really just sit here and write without minding children at the same time? I'll get to these other things soon enough, but after three months of moving, I'm going to revel in this oddity for a few days. Despite Stephen King's admonishment to turn your desk away from all windows and distractions, my desk is situated in a room full of windows. It's like I'm in a treetop. My friend Laurie thinks I'm living like The Hobbit. Lucky me!
It's been a tough adjustment to school for the kids. "Everything is different," my daughter keeps saying. After being a substitute teacher in about 30 different schools, I know that all schools are different, but even I have been surprised by just how different and Island school in B.C. can be. To start with, they don't begin school until after Labour Day. This is a full week later than the kids would start school in Alberta. I'm a big fan of the fact that the first day of school is only an hour and 20 minutes. The first day of school is overwhelming for teachers and students, plus this encouraged the parents to stick around for a parent tea where we got to know other parents and were able to learn about volunteer opportunities.
However, our children are struggling with the fact that they still don't know who their homeroom teacher will be. At this school, previous students begin with their teacher from the year before. This allows the school to assess their numbers and accurately divide the students into grade groupings. Students start on Tuesday, but aren't assigned to their teacher until Thursday or possibly Friday. None of us have experienced this before and, being new students, I think our kids are longing to find security and comfort. I'm hoping that today they will learn who their teachers will be and begin to find their place.
Another change for our kids is taking the school bus. We've always lived close enough to walk or bike to school before. You had to sign up to take the bus and I think there was often a fee to be a bus student. Here, it is assumed the students will take the bus and just registering them in school gets them a place on the bus. The kids and I were both worried about getting to school this way, but in fact, the bus ride was the highlight of yesterday for the kids. They love their bus driver and they are the first kids to get pick up on their morning route.
Yesterday, we also got our first truckload of firewood. While is not quite as exquisite as a recent This Is That video, we are all pretty enamoured with our fir-scented woodpile.
I felt Waldenesque as I stacked the wood next to our little cabin. Even though the wood came fully cut, I feel like I am at one with the land. We could survive a snowstorm now. We are beginning to become true islanders.
It's been a tough adjustment to school for the kids. "Everything is different," my daughter keeps saying. After being a substitute teacher in about 30 different schools, I know that all schools are different, but even I have been surprised by just how different and Island school in B.C. can be. To start with, they don't begin school until after Labour Day. This is a full week later than the kids would start school in Alberta. I'm a big fan of the fact that the first day of school is only an hour and 20 minutes. The first day of school is overwhelming for teachers and students, plus this encouraged the parents to stick around for a parent tea where we got to know other parents and were able to learn about volunteer opportunities.
However, our children are struggling with the fact that they still don't know who their homeroom teacher will be. At this school, previous students begin with their teacher from the year before. This allows the school to assess their numbers and accurately divide the students into grade groupings. Students start on Tuesday, but aren't assigned to their teacher until Thursday or possibly Friday. None of us have experienced this before and, being new students, I think our kids are longing to find security and comfort. I'm hoping that today they will learn who their teachers will be and begin to find their place.
Another change for our kids is taking the school bus. We've always lived close enough to walk or bike to school before. You had to sign up to take the bus and I think there was often a fee to be a bus student. Here, it is assumed the students will take the bus and just registering them in school gets them a place on the bus. The kids and I were both worried about getting to school this way, but in fact, the bus ride was the highlight of yesterday for the kids. They love their bus driver and they are the first kids to get pick up on their morning route.
Yesterday, we also got our first truckload of firewood. While is not quite as exquisite as a recent This Is That video, we are all pretty enamoured with our fir-scented woodpile.
What a beautiful place to write! I would love to have a spot like that. Don't think of it as distractions, think of it as inspiration! And that is definitely some gorgeous firewood. I expect you'll be creating some amazing novels set in mountainous woods!
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