teaching – Relentless Pursuit of Peace

That once a month update…

I am getting good at these once a month posts. I often think about blogging, but then the thought passes and I let more time go by. Either way, it’s fun looking back to see what was going on in life. I really like looking back at older blogs to remember when my kiddos were young. They grow up so fast! And, if you enjoy writing, blogging is a great form of self-expression and therapeutic in many ways. I decided to go public with mine as a way to let everyone else know the life struggles and successes that I go through. Transparency is not for everyone. But, I understand that it is often nice to know you’re not alone and even better to feel happiness for others when things are on the up swing.

Since last blogging, many things have changed for us. We have moved out of the rv for the time being. Two months at the campground here in Georgetown was enough for me. It was most definitely not my favorite campground, but I am thankful we had the opportunity to try it out. We are currently mooching off Kermie’s sister and her husband. I say mooching because we literally have our own house at the moment. They have graciously offered us their entire basement for as long as we need. It doesn’t get much better than that! It has been weird going from our tiny space to something that is as big as my previous house! We even have our own entrance! This whole accepting help from others has been a little hard for me as I’ve always been one to control things on my own. And, as for what comes next, who knows. People ask all the time, but my answer is I don’t know. I’m learning to enjoy each day and not look to what is next.

My mental stability has been our major concern the past several months. I am definitely on the right track, but that does not make it easy. My doctors have increased my medication and I’m taking every step to prevent any type of hypomania or depressive states. Those two go hand in hand for me. I’m learning to recognize when I am doing too much to avoid crashing into those terrible lows. It’s amazing how slowing life down can enable you to see yourself in new ways. I’d say that Kermie has been my biggest supporter through all this. It can’t be easy being married to someone so inconsistent. I know he feels like a broken record reassuring me and calming me down all the time, but he’s really good at it. For this, I am very grateful.

As for all the different ways I’m trying to improve myself, I can only do so much. I am trying to stay as active as I can because exercise is the best medicine always! I have deleted all of my social media apps from my phone to let my brain just be when I don’t have things to do. With that being said, this blog will still post to my account, but I won’t be able to see your comments, so please comment here if you don’t mind. I love hearing from you! And, lastly, I’ve been keeping a daily journal to log my day to day moods, etc. We are hoping this will help see patterns of behavior to avoid or continue.

Homeschooling is going great! I love every single aspect of it! I’m pretty sure my kids do too. If we keep it up (fingers crossed), I’d like to add more socialization to our routine. Both of my kiddos are very social beings (especially Ella). So, I hope to find new ways to allow them to meet other kids and even get involved in sports and clubs. In talking about all the great things about our homeschool experience, we just finished a great unit about government. And, to top it off, we spent this past weekend in D.C. and today at our state Capitol. What better way to bring it all to life than experience it first hand! I really wouldn’t trade this time at home with them for anything. I’m thankful to have my teaching degree and years of experience because without it, this whole thing could be very tough and overwhelming!

First female president? She can’t be serious for one second! 😂

She was quickly replaced by her brother.

Mine and Ella’s favorite museum was the Holocaust Museum.

Honoring those who experienced the tragedy.

It was cool to see the White House. Michele Obama’s book really brought it to life for me.

Visiting with our friend and representative Mr. Pratt.

In front of our new governor’s mansion 😍

Other than homeschooling and our recent move, I’ve also been able to spend every Tuesday and Thursday with my sweet niece. My brother ended up with a shift change at work and I felt so thankful to be able to help out. I remember how stressful childcare can be when working full time. There were days I called on almost every single family member I could. And, what greater way to spend your day than making memories with someone who calls you aunt! My kiddos are soaking it up just as much as I am! We school, play, and learn about taking care of a one year old all day long.

It doesn’t get any cuter or sweeter than this!

Until next time, stay warm and keep your rain coat close! Ugh! 🥶☔️🌧

Strength and Fragility

We have been home over a month now. And, I would say that other than the terrible weather, it has been refreshing for me. We have been able to continue this new lifestyle we’ve embraced, a little closer to family.

I will be honest in saying that I do miss the travel. I miss visiting new towns and observing how others live in various parts of the country. But, I also love being able to spend time with family and friends. Thus, I’ve come to realize that living far from “home” isn’t in the cards for me. I guess I never really thought it was. This adventure wasn’t intended to be a permanent thing, but merely an experiment. I’m pretty certain that this entire life change was more or less a way of running. I was running hard and fast. And, now that I’ve had plenty of time to process my thoughts, I realize I was running from myself.

My last year of teaching was the hardest year I’ve experienced both professionally and personally. I was merely surviving each day both at work and at home. Hence, the life altering decision to run. While I don’t think running is necessarily a good thing, I am very thankful we were able to do it.

I know that if we hadn’t bought an RV, sold the house, and quit our jobs, I wouldn’t have learned things about myself that I know now. For so long, I have felt like I was literally losing my mind. I was finding it hard to cope in every day settings and feeling very down on myself for my inability to get anything right.

One of the first things I did upon returning home was make an appointment with a therapist. I knew I needed to seek advice from someone outside of my circle. I needed someone without any bias and a fresh set of lenses to see through. At the conclusion of my first therapy session, the therapist was pretty confident in her diagnosis, but wanted it to be confirmed with further testing. Therefore, I visited a psychiatrist who felt certain this diagnosis was correct. I wasn’t actually surprised when they labeled me Bipolar 2 (There is a big difference between Bipolar 1 and 2 in case you weren’t aware.). With all of my newly found down time, my patterns were obvious and so were the ups and downs. I may have panicked slightly (to the point of having to lay flat on my back I. The office) when they explained Bipolar 2 and how I may have been treating the wrong condition for some time now, but I was also thankful to have answers. I guess all of my crazy actually had a cause behind it and that this condition is manageable with help.

So, the next question is where do I go from here. Obviously, continued therapy and medication are first on the list. Yoga has been a big help in helping me stay mindful. My family has been very supportive with my decision not to return to teaching full-time. Kermie has stepped up to the plate and made it his mission to allow me to keep teaching the kids at home and continue working on myself. We probably won’t do a ton of traveling in the next little bit as we are exploring options of finding a home base. This will more than likely include us still being full-time RVers, but having a space of our own. Right now is a waiting game until we find what will work for us. Waiting and patience have always been difficult for me, but I’m excited with the possibilities of what comes next.

Until next time, I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite recent pins and pictures. And, to anyone dealing with mental illness, you are not alone.

Through the Eyes of Children

It was almost a year ago that my husband and I decided to make a big life change. We wanted something a bit different and were driven to make it happen no matter what. And, while we figured the change would be beneficial to us, we also knew there would be many benefits for our children.

Today, we closed up our second 9 weeks of road school and over 4 months of full-time RV living. To celebrate, I figured it would be nice to document the perspective of this life change through the eyes of my kids.

“What were your initial thoughts of this trip when we told you about it?”

Ella: I thought I would hate it and didn’t want to leave.

Grayson: Cool.

“What were you most nervous about?”

Ella: Leaving my family and house.

Grayson: Nothing.

“What were you most excited about?”

Ella: Seeing stuff.

Grayson: Mountains.

“What has been your favorite part of RV life?”

Ella: Making friends.

Grayson: Doing school on the beach.

“What has been the worst part of RV life?”

Ella: No water! (Freezing temps)

Grayson: No water! (Freezing temps)

“What are your thoughts on road schooling now that you have completed half of the school year?”

Ella: It’s just as hard as regular school.

Grayson: It’s awesome and we get done fast.

“What is the most favorite place you’ve visited?”

Ella: Galveston, TX because it was warm.

Grayson: Ditto.

“What do you think has been your best memory?”

Ella: The Jeep trail, but it isn’t a good memory.

Grayson: Seeing the bear.

“Are you glad we made the decision to change our lifestyle?”

Ella: I’m glad we did it, but want to stay in Georgetown.

Grayson: Yeah!

“Do you have any advice for other kids getting ready to make a similar change?”

Ella: It’ll turn out good in the long run.

Grayson: Tuck in your sheets on the top bunk so they don’t fall off while you sleep!

Donovan Roadschool Heads to Silverton Public School

Instead of our typical school day here in the RV, we opted for a tour of Silverton Public School. When we visited Silverton last week, we noticed the school and were very curious! Today, the principal took an hour of her day to show us around her one-of-a-kind school.

A much added bonus was the beautiful snow we witnessed on our drive. Silverton is about 3,000 ft higher than Durango, so you can imagine the increase in snowfall the higher we went. We loved every minute of it! Two things we noticed when we first arrived were kids playing outside in the snow (this typically doesn’t happen in Kentucky schools) and the fact that students took off their outside shoes when entering the school building. Due to the fact that most students walk or ski to school and that there hasn’t been a “snow day” in 100 years, students are required to keep inside shoes to prevent tearing up the floors. We got to keep ours on. 😉

If you haven’t visited Silverton, the first thing you should know is that the population is less than 700. Therefore, the one school building in town houses kindergarten through twelfth grade. There is on average a total of 70 students enrolled. That leaves a handful of children per grade level. Basically, students get a private school education with the added benefits of public education. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9 to 1. I can’t even imagine the learning that takes place in this building! As we toured the building, we saw a kindergarten/first grade classroom, second/third grade classroom, fourth/fifth grade classroom, sixth/seventh/eighth grade classroom, and the high school room.

Another interesting fact about the school is their curriculum. They take part in what is called EL Education. EL stands for Expeditionary Learning and means students focus on real world curriculum. Students engage in fieldwork experiences around the region and even across the country. In fact, the fourth and fifth graders were in New Mexico for the day learning about dinosaurs. The middle and high schoolers were in Utah for their field experience. How awesome! Talk about a hands on education!

An area for students to visit that are needing a break from the classroom.

The art room. There was an adjoining room for classes to visit when doing big projects.

The whole school meets here for morning meeting.

Students displayed their work in the hallway showing the knowledge they gained through fieldwork.

We asked the principal if you ever get used to the view and her response was no. She said it is always so beautiful.

We truly loved our tour and after asking Ella and Grayson what their favorite part was they both said the gym and cafeteria! Go figure!

My Hustle

Other than VIP Kid, I’m unemployed. It is rather nice if I do say so myself. I’ve enjoyed slowing down a bit and just enjoying life for a change. I love teaching, with all of my being, which is why VIP Kid is a perfect way for me to help support my family during this time of travel. I’ll be honest and say that the pay isn’t the best, but it does allow us to check into a campground for a week (which the kids love) and me cover the cost of our stay.

Let me back up just a bit. When we decided to go on this adventure, we thought we’d be boondocking most of the time. Boondocking is another term for dry camping. When dry camping, you aren’t hooked up to any type of power, water, or sewer. So , basically, you’re sustaining yourself. Boondocking is free which is the best part about it. On the other hand, you will eventually run out of water, waste storage, etc. if you don’t make plans to replenish/dump your supply. We dry camp each time we pull into a Wal-Mart parking lot for the night, but the downfall there is not being able to fully expand our slides on the RV. It cracks me up each time we are able to go from closed in to fully extended because we all act like we live in a mansion! But, back to the subject. The kids really enjoy campgrounds because it gives them the chance to socialize with other kids at the playgrounds, etc. So, anytime we can find a good place to stay, I always plan to teach.

I know it is a bit blurry, but this is the screen I go to to open time slots. Opening slots does not guarantee you will teach. Parents have to choose your class. If you open them as “short notice” classes, you get extra pay! I’ve been doing those a lot since I can’t book out too far in advance.

The most important part of VIP Kid is having a stable WiFi connection. Most campgrounds offer internet capable of operating the program which is great! Therefore, as soon as we decide on a spot, I hop on my App and open time slots to teach. It has been kind of strange with the time change, but the program allows me to edit my time zone to match what is available in China. I know many people who teach throughout the night to get in as many classes possible, but not this chick. I usually open slots from 5:30 am to around 8:00 am when the kids wake up for school. I’m thankful anytime those slots get booked and can make a little money while the rest of the family snoozes.

As you can see from this picture, I literally roll out of bed to teach. I make my cup of coffee, put on some sort of robe/jacket (Colorado is freezing in the am!), and make sure the “beauty” features of the program are set to make me look a little more appealing. You can’t ask for much more than that! Shout out to my momma who sent me a super soft long cardigan from Barefoot Dreams yesterday. I’m snuggled up in it this morning! (If you want something that will last forever and bring you extreme joy on cold mornings, visit the link below to purchase your own!) My teaching set up is fairly generic as well. I used a tri-fold poster board as my backdrop because it can be quickly disassembled and stored out of sight until the next class.

https://amzn.to/2mYnuKV

If you are looking for something on the side to supplement income that is easy in terms of set up and work beyond the classroom itself (EVERY SINGLE LESSON IS PLANNED FOR YOU! YOU READ FROM THE SCREEN!), you should totally look into VIP Kid. The hiring process takes some time, as they are getting more specific about the type of teachers they hire, but I know you can do it! I’d be happy to help anyone that is interested at all. You can use the link below to get a head start on your teaching journey and don’t forget to ask me questions as you go! Good luck and happy teaching!

https://t.vipkid.com.cn/mkt/landing/personal?referralToken=a4b02a04b6a014c0b2c4074623a83bb2&refereeId=8586356

Educators are the backbone to every child’s future.

If you would have asked me 14 years ago what I’d be doing for the rest of my life, I would have most certainly told you teaching. I absolutely love teaching and find so much joy being around children. My heart naturally bends to those that need an extra push either academically or socially. I find joy planning lessons and trying to figure out the best way to teach a certain skill. On the other hand, in the past few years, I have noticed myself becoming frustrated with the public education system. Of course there is no perfect system and probably never will be, but in my heart I have become bitter towards things that are pushed in schools that most definitely aren’t in the best interest of the children. There isn’t one thing that sent me packing (maybe for a year/maybe forever), but a multitude of injustices and worries over things I cannot control. For instance, there are children with brillant minds being forced to conform to the typical classroom setting that not only frustrates them, but also holds them back from expressing their natural gifts. There are children coming to school with so much emotional trauma that their brains have been rewired and no longer allow them to cope with the demands of the daily school day. The amount of bullying and definace is at an extreme and the current trend line doesn’t show any improvement (I strongly believe this has to be fixed within the home.). Most classrooms are over crowded which makes it impossible for teachers to meet the complexity of the needs present. The hours of the school day do not start and stop at the beginning and end of the school day, but extend way beyond and before, leaving teachers with very little time for their own families.

Deciding to walk away was no easy decision for me, but one necessary for my own health. I knew God had called me to the profession many years ago. My identity as “Mrs. Donovan” was just as important to me as “mommy” and “wife.” My students were my children and still are. I spent so many hours pouring my heart into children and worrying about their future. Being an educator is the most rewarding job that exists. We are responsible for making or breaking a child’s educational experience. They either become encouraged or discouraged. They either feel loved or hurt. Unfortunately, understanding this responsibility makes my brain completely overwhelmed when all the extra is piled on top. I began overthinking every decision I made and worried if I would ruin a child’s future years. When these feelings became too much, I decided I needed a change. Maybe this change is only for a year because I most definitely love giving back to the children in my community and around the world for that matter. One thing I know for sure is that my soul needs refreshing. I’m hoping this year away will allow my heart, soul, and mind to heal and rejuvenate itself. And, to all those teachers in the trenches at the current moment, you are important. You are valuable. You are the saving grace for many of the children that enter your classroom and for that I applaud you.

Sweet Summer

Summer. The word brings joy to the heart of most teachers, I’m sure. By the end of any school year, teachers are desperate for physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation. Without these two blissful months, the profession might not be manageable. And, for a teacher who is also a mother, summer is even sweeter.

What could be better than getting to spend two non-stop months with your own kids? If you’re anything like me, you make lots of plans and an outline of some things to accomplish, but usually only get around to one of those (if any). Once the reality of no alarm mornings, coffee in bed, the Today show until 11 which is followed by The Price is Right sets in, you quickly realize most of the day is gone with nothing to show for it. And, when you do wake up and get out of the house, you are probably at the pool (where you can’t really wear your Fitbit without getting tan lines) so you don’t even have a decent step count to show that you physically moved that day. If it weren’t for your planner, you would have no idea what day it is and aren’t really bothered by it at all. Your kids fight (non-stop) and you aren’t too bothered by it at first. But, by the end of June, you realize maybe they do need some time away from each other. Cleaning your house isn’t as big of a burden because you actually have time to do it and maybe even enjoy it a little. Laundry stays caught up for the most part and the grocery isn’t so bad. Heck, you even have time to water the flowers consistently and cook occasionally. You are a decent mother because you have more patience than normal and your husband probably notices your lack of stress.

Life is wonderful in the summer. It truly is amazing in almost every aspect! While you try to soak in as much splendor as you can and make plans to maintain balance once this small piece of heaven ends, you know in the back of your mind that achieving balance is easier said than done. Teaching, my friends, is hard! It is exhausting both physically and emotionally. But, boy is it rewarding! It’s so rewarding that I keep returning year after year with just as much excitement as the year before. I am thankful for this job and even more thankful that it comes with sweet, sweet summers.

summer1 summer2 summer3 summer4 summer5 summer6 summer7

Cultivating: Beautiful Plants and Beautiful Humans

If there is any form of “housework” I enjoy doing, it would be yardwork. I prefer mowing and digging in the dirt over folding laundry and doing dishes every time. Being outside brings peace and relaxation in general. But, there’s also something about starting with nothing more than a seedling or small plant and watching it grow into something so pleasing to the eye and the soul. Of course, the process takes time and sometimes doesn’t go quite as planned. Maybe I forget to water or the roots don’t take to the soil. Sometimes critters invade and damage what progress that was made. Either way, I truly enjoy the process of growing plants.

One of the books I am reading this summer and am loving is called, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. If you haven’t read it, I definitely recommend it to anyone looking to better themselves. A big push right now in education is something called the growth mindset. This book compares the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Basically, all people have one of the two types, but can change from one to the other. Most people are taught that a person’s genetic intelligence (IQ) is the determining factor for his or her overall potential (aka the “fixed mindset”). This book describes how not only our genetic makeup, but our passions, hard work, and even training can cultivate our capacity for learning. As an educator, it is crucial to maintain and teach the growth mindset. A child’s success is not determined by one score or one attempt on a task. For this matter, a child’s success isn’t even determined by his or her entire school career. Just the same, an adult’s success isn’t determined by individual life events. Acquiring the growth mindset works both ways, for those that see success right away and those that may fail many times. Even those that “get it” right away need to continue pushing themselves instead of focusing on their ability to “get it” faster than the rest. It’s all about continuing to develop yourself.

As I was reading on the porch swing tonight, I noticed a connection between my love for gardening and teaching people (mainly tiny people 🙂 ). Gardening is a process. Along the way you see growth, budding blooms, wilting leaves, vines growing in disarray, branches that need more support, and occasionally a plant on the verge of death. Teaching a child and even an adult to adopt a growth mindset is much the same. Whether you are learning math, getting your dream job, paying off debt, or learning a new sport it’s not about immediate success. The real accomplishment is about confronting obstacles that may stand in the way and making whatever amount of progress you can. And, real peace comes when you learn to be content throughout the process and not giving up on your end goals.