Last night I had a nightmare. I was finishing out my last weeks in my classroom, and the teacher who was hired to replace me kept taking down my decorations and bulletin boards without my permission. Eventually I had to interrupt her to say, “Seriously, can this not wait until I’ve finished the year?" I guess I’m having some insecurities about being replaceable. I’m probably not alone in this. We want to think that we are the only ones who can do our jobs this well. I want to believe that even after I’ve packed up the books of my classroom library, next year my students will look at each other with a sigh. “We really miss Mrs. Witt.” And some might. I’ve had so many sweet students express their sadness that I am leaving. But the truth of the matter is that the new teacher will be fabulous and the days will march on, and Okoboji and I will go our separate ways. That’s life when we make big changes. In case you missed it, my family and I are moving north -- to St. Paul, Minnesota, to be exact. This decision has been in the works for years, really. Chris and I have always dreamed of living in a city, and we are so excited for the opportunities this experience will present to our two sons. In case you missed the beginning of our love story, Chris and I first met at a concert in Kansas City. Since then we’ve loved live music and ethnic restaurants and art museums. Our new metro home will provide ample chances to experience all of those and more. Of course we’ve also enjoyed our time in Okoboji. The school, the community, our family…so many aspects that we will miss. I’ve cried about leaving my sister and her family, my classroom and colleagues, my students and my house with ample square footage. (City life will require dramatic downsizing. And for those who have asked, we are not choosing a suburb.) For years Chris and I have whispered in bed at night about this one life we’ve been given. We’ve expressed fears that we will wake up one day and realize that we’ve missed all of the chances thrown our way. So we’re taking this leap. From a house with three living spaces and room enough to turn cartwheels to a bedroom barely big enough for our furniture and a detached garage. (The horror!) From classrooms and sports teams where my sons are sometimes the only kids of color to a fabric of racial and religious diversity. From Iowa to Minnesota. From known to unknown. The next few weeks will be filled with packing and purging, remembering and refocusing. We will work on looking forward to new adventures and leaving this home with grace and goodness.
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AboutTeach. Archives
September 2020
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