VIPKID Teaching Work From Home Update (6 months Later)

You guys...I am just a few days away from my six month anniversary at VIPKID!  What an incredible six months it has been!  I thought I would give you all a little update about my first months at VIPKID. 

First off...I was hired in the middle of January, which is quite possibly the worst time for beginning to teach at VIPKID due to the start of Chinese New Year.  It was a very slow start.  Although, because I was very part time, it didn't bother me.  In January I taught a total of six classes. LOL.  February I moved along and taught 35 classes.  That was just enough to hit the first bonus of an extra .50 cents a class.  I was thrilled.  The following month I taught 63 classes and in April 73 classes.  In the month of May I taught 96 classes!  This was a major victory for me!  I am so happy to have found something that I can do entirely at home, and mainly while my kids are sleeping.  My job takes little time away from my babies, and I have little to no stress associated with my position.  I work the days and the hours I decide.  Yes, there is a sacrifice because I get up early a few days a week.  But, I have come to love the quietness of those early hours, and enjoy my time that I spend getting a glimpse into China.  It always amazes me to hear the honking of cars in China, seeing the sun set while the sun here is rising. 

VIPKID is really a fun place to work.  They have all sorts of incentives, contests, bonuses and they truly care about the people who work for them.  I have had fun digging out my teaching materials to see what I can use to teach my Chinese students.  I have built up a small clientele of students who regularly see me, and even a couple of students who exclusively see me.

Technology is amazing.  This is a view from my app on my phone.  It is wonderful to be able to look at my schedule and classes from my iPhone. 

My desk will typically look like this after my morning classes.  We have fun, sing songs, practice words, play games.  Lots of props and high energy is needed.

Recently, I moved my desk and set up downstairs.  With the kids' doors closed and their white noise machines on they cannot hear me teaching downstairs.  It has made my life a lot easier to be out of our walk in closet.  I can finally breathe!  This is a picture of my new set up.  VIPKID has brought me a lot of joy and given me my love for teaching back.  I always tell people I NEVER would have imagined myself working for an online company.  VIPKID is totally legit.  I've been paid every month on time, and I enjoy teaching my special little ones on the other side of the word.  It is only one computer trip away. 

If you would like more information on how you can become a VIPKID teacher please feel free to contact me @ misscarissa@hotmail.com   I would love to share more with you.  If you apply you can use one of the below codes or link.  They both work.  This is not a multilevel marketing company, however, if you are hired, I get a little monetary bonus.  I just signed my second contract and look forward to another six months with this awesome company!

VIPKID WEBSITE

copy and paste into sign up page:

referral link:      https://t.vipkidteachers.com/?refereeId=3266666referral code: 01Y0KQ 

Change has come...

My days are filled with activities that revolve around those 3 precious blessings shown above. 

Luke has settled into the school routine...finally...and I am happy to report that he is enjoying school and even has been making friends.  He comes home from school eager to do his homework (which is usually a fun activity that the teacher sends like bingo, or word scrambles).  We continue to be impressed with his teachers' knowledge and instruction for kids with special needs like Luke.  Thursdays are still therapy days at Legacy Salmon Creek.  He enjoys the one-on-one time with his therapist, Joy.  I enjoy the support she gives me as Luke's mom.  It is truly a partnership...a partnership, a delicate balance, a well choreographed dance, between therapists, teachers, doctors and specialists that help Luke excel.  I can report I honestly feel settled and have made PEACE with his health diagnosis'.  I continue to advocate for him, making sure that the school is doing all they can for Luke and that he is receiving the services noted.  He is also in level 2 for swimming lessons (which we all attend once per week).  He is more confident in the water, and truly seems like he belongs in that class.

Princess Grace is happy at school.  She has a gazillion friends, enjoys music, library and hot lunch... and oh yes...the MONKEY BARS.  She comes home each day and reports to me her monkey bar successes and failures.  "Mom today I did the monkey bars backwards."  "Mom, today I couldn't do the monkey bars." :) It is so funny to me that EVERY book she has brought home from the school library has been mainly pink in color, Barbie or Hannah Montana.  Too funny.  She cracks me up.  Her teacher adores her, and the feeling is reciprocated by Grace.  Although she is struggling in reading, I have chosen not to take on the guilt, and be grateful and thankful that a reading program is available to her each day and that it just a FREE service they are offering to her.  She has been begging me to return to dance class.  I am thinking on that one.  I want to support her interests, but at the same time have to make sure that we can commit fully to the activity.  Grace is taking swimming lessons once a week too.  She is in level 1.

Isabella is growing up.  She is witty and independent and has a temper!  She is saying more words daily like "poon" (for spoon) and "g-g" (grace) and "woo-woo" (for Luke). She is obsessed with her shoes, feeding herself independently and brushing her teeth (as long as you run the water for her and she can play in it!)  Sometimes I look at her and she just warms my heart so much.  What a daily blessing and reminder of God's incredible love!  She too is in swimming lessons with me (parent and tot level).  Yes, I am that crazy.

I am surprised how content and happy.  I am filling my days with activities that revolve around the kids.  I am not stressed with the daily happenings of work, or caught up in drama that can be consuming.  I have time to cook, clean, organize and coupon.  Sometimes my only worries for the day are finding new (or slightly used) shoes for Bella, or running a juice box up to one of my children at school for their lunches.  After my summer of worry and stress about working, I am happy...I am at peace...I am doing exactly what it is I am supposed to be doing. 

While this happiness is so wonderful, it hasn't come with out CHANGE.  Mark is now working what the railroad refers to as "THE ROAD".  He is traveling with the trains.  If you want a good idea about what it is that Mark does watch the movie Unstoppable with Denzel Washington.  Mark is a conductor and when he travels with the trains it is consider "his train."  He rides with an Engineer (who drives the train), but Mark is responsible for the communication to dispatch, and all the stops and moves the train makes.  More specifically...he is traveling to Pasco, Washington and back.  I am not going to lie...the money is good.  The schedule on the other hand STINKS.  Mark's schedule is basically...he doesn't have one.  It has been an adjustment...most difficult for Luke (who thrives on schedules).  It bothers him to not know when dad is coming or going.  I have tried my best to ease this transition, but in the world of special needs, sometimes you can't and you just have to deal.  That is kind of where we are.  I let the waves of sadness wash over him, and then I pick him back up (so-to-speak) and we move on.  We do whatever we had planned for the day, all while validating his feelings and thoughts about how much he doesn't like dad going to Pasco (which he will voice often).  Pray for him if you have the chance.  We all would appreciate it.  

Letting Go....

Sorry to have been MIA for a bit.  The bout of diverticulitis was more painful and took about a full week to recover.  I have since finished my massive amounts of antibiotics and have healed nicely, although they say it takes a full 2 months for things to be completely healed on the inside.  I was lucky to have gone in right away.  Now to work on prevention.

Even though I have been sick and not feeling the best it didn't stop this mama from going to our annual "Clark County Fair."  Sure I was slow and didn't have my usual energy but I wasn't about to let my kids down.  This past Thursday we took the kids to Long Beach to the kite festival.  It was AMAZING!  (pictures to come later).  I have never seen so many kites in my life!  Mark bought the kids each a mini kite and we went to a park and flew kites for hours.  It was the simplest trip but it was very much LOVED!

The kids are getting ready to start school in a couple weeks.  I can hardly believe that summer is almost over. They received their teacher assignments in the mail.  They start August 31.  Luke is going into 3rd grade and Grace into 1st.

This fall will be the first time in a long time that I haven't prepared a classroom.  You see...there is NO classroom, no job, no prospect of job.  It has taken me nearly 3 months to decided to LET GO of it.  To stop worrying and trust that I have NO idea what God's plan is, but I am TIRED of fighting, pleading and worrying about something in which I have no control.  I have had the most difficult time LETTING GO of my identity that is wrapped around the word "TEACHER".  Somehow I think LETTING GO of "teacher" is like LETTING GO of a part of myself.  But I decided that it is time to LET GO and focus my attention on Luke, and Grace and Isabella....and instead of being a special education teacher....I am going to the special education mom.  In some ways I feel that I am in a foreign land with NO classroom to plan, lessons to write, meetings to go to, supplies to buy for "my students".  Instead, I have bought supplies for my babies that will go off to school in a couple weeks, organized clothes, tutored subjects, bought lunch boxes and spruced up back packs.  I have started to make plans with my sidekick Miss B.  I have toddler library time picked out, and my big job of the year won't be transitioning 12 kids into my classroom, but transitioning an 18 month old to stay in the gym child watch so I can work out sans children. :)  I am already thinking towards fall, decorating for fall and slowing down to participate my own children's education rather than being the educator for others.  Perhaps by LETTING GO of "teacher" I can discover the BEAUTY of the gift being GIVEN to me.  It's time to surrender MY plans and seek NEW ones.

Worry

I wish I could shake this feeling of tiredness. I just feel so unsettled much of the time. I am pulled in too many directions and I feel not effective in any one area. It is frustrating. This month especially has been difficult. I think three of the five of us have been on antibiotics. I have filled more prescriptions that I can imagine and have managed 7 to 8 trips to various doctors. I wish I could have the luxury to just focus on the kids and the house. Gosh...it is a full time job in an of itself. With the medical and the therapies and the follow through it is so much. It seems any time Mark and I have together is a medical appointment for one of the kids. It's difficult to keep asking for someone to watch the kids after you feel like you ask them so much.

Can I be honest? I just feel like I am FAILING at EVERYTHING. I sit here in tears as my house lays in shambles because I can't seem to find the energy. Medical records need to be organized, the fridge cleaned out, carpets cleaned, bedding washed (again), etc., etc. It's hard to even unload the dishwasher when you have a baby that won't let you put her down. I took on a mentoring case through the Division of Children and Family Services this month for extra money and I have an interview with the Evergreen School District to work part-time at the Early Childhood Center (teacher special ed to 3 to 5 year olds, like I did with VECC). It is just a 2 month position. It sounds crazy, but financially we are treading water with some big expenses looming over our heads. We need a new roof, the car needs new tires, the van needs new tires and timing belt, Mark needs braces (not for cosmetic purposes but to help save his teeth from breaking down). I lay in bed at night and WORRY about where this is coming from and feel that it is my fault we are in this position because I chose not to return to work this last fall. So, I guess I take the responsibility on that I am the one that has to fix it. I don't know how it will all work. One sacrifice for another I guess. How do I make it all work? This is where I wish I could still call my dad on the phone and ask for help. He ALWAYS had an answer. Gosh I really miss him.

My HEART is with my KIDS and HOME. Luke requires so much. I am not complaining but stating a fact. There is NO manual that tells me how to raise him with MANY special needs. Currently with him I am managing 4 medications, glasses, a listening program (to help with sensory issues), glaucoma, tourette syndrome, adhd, microcephaly, his IEP re-eval, karate and OT. He needs extra help with homework and help being tutored with his handwriting. I LOVE being his mom. GRACE is doing well, but will be starting speech therapy on the 14th. She needs extra help with handwriting, needs extra attention. She is in ballet. ISABELLA, is on her third ear infection in 2 months, cut 4 molars, and needs my attention too. I haven't slept well in weeks.

I just want to feel like I can be successful in one area of my life instead of just "putting out fires". This was my day today...Left house at 8am to take Grace to school, got home took Bella to Albertson's to stock up on cereal and milk since they were having a great deal this week. Ran to post office to mail off World Vision Stuff, and mail off first part of adoption support re-negotiation for Luke. Paid PO Box fee. Luke went to the doctor for possible ear infection. Ran Bella home, handed her off to dad, changed clothes and went to MVCC for work teaching computers. Came home to an upset baby who proceeded to cry off an on till bed. Yesterday consisted of taking Grace to school, got home took Bella to 1 year check up. While visiting with doctor about Bella, talking about issues with Luke and getting some updates for him. Bella 4 shots and one iron check. Unhappy baby with an ear infection (still). Grabbed lunch on the way to pick up Grace from kindergarten. Got home took down some Valentine decorations, left to pick up Luke from school. Drove to Legacy Salmon Creek and participated with him in therapy. Bought him snacks when it was finished. Went to Target on way home to pick up Bella's prescription. Arrived home at 5:15pm, let Grandma go. Cooked dinner, 3 baths, homework, 3 medications and finally asleep kids. My question is where in the heck do I find time to squeeze more work into that. I could recap Wednesday, but it would be just as a crazy. Sigh. Maybe I am just venting. And thanks for reading if you have made it this far. My heart is torn and I am just looking for answers. I guess it is true when they say "No one can have it all". I just wish I could find a balance. I really wish we had a MONEY tree out back or I won the lottery. :)

I will keep praying that the State of Washington finds favor with my renegotiation for more adoption support. Maybe I can apply for disability for Luke? I don't know. I have been thinking about simplifying to help cut costs. We are also selling the truck. It will help cut gas expense and insurance. Any more IDEAS?