Feels like community

Today I took my last school walks for awhile. While working at home I've done the majority of the walking to and from nursery school and school. It's such a nice break to the day and I like the connections with the girls that happen on the way.

But my new work hours will make such things impractical and I realized today that I am sad about that. It's not so much the connecting with my kids, because I know I will do that. It's those other connections that I've made, especially at Taryn's school, small though they are, yet meaningful. Like J, the 70something foster mom of 2 FASD boys at school, plus a toddler outside. I struggle with the energy for parenting at age 38, but she is so full of life and love. Other Moms and I chat regularly waiting for our kids outside the class or watching them on the playground. And Taryn has had great teachers the last 2 years whom I can talk with about they things I'm learning about child development and they can teach me what that looks like from the practitioner's side. And the kids - even today, little K, a sweet little boy who totally lacks any impulse control, called, "Taryn's Mom! So and so is hitting me!" because he knows by now that I care about all the kids out there. Some of the other little girls in grade 2 like to come and get hugs.

I've said for years I've wanted to move to Transcona, but my little secret is that I think a part of me is in love with West K.