I go to bed still in disbelief that I don't have to get up at a specified time and that I don't have to march to any drum, but the one I play. There's no feeling of pressure from having to get certain things done and that is still a strange feeling to me. It takes me aback for a few seconds.
Of course, I'm busy with the grandkids. There's 6 of them and my daughter needs help. I started doing Reading Recovery (early literacy) lessons with the 5-year-old. I pick her up at 12 from Kinder and bring her to my house. We do a little lesson...Letter book, new letter, forming the new letter, read a familiar book, practice a word, write a sentence, and then read a new book. I'm back in the routine, but it's with my little sweetie pie now. Then I teach her something she likes. How to pop popcorn in a pan. How to make a smoothie. How to roll out cookie dough. I'm having so much rewarding time with her. It's like a flashback to when my daughter was 5.
So being retired means I am available to give lots of rides and attend lots of functions...Today I picked up the 8-year-old and together with the 18-year-old we go Blaze pizza and ordered an extra one for the 15-year old that we then picked up from school. Did I mention I babysat the 2-year-old this morning?
I ended up by picking up the only boy, a twelve-year-old, from the skate park and taking him to In and Out.
Seems like my retirement is looking like Parenting 2.0. I love it.
I can hear your joy! How lovely. I’m so glad you’re enjoying retirement.
To answer your question: no, it never gets old for me. I am surprised and amazed by retirement every single day. I really loved teaching, but this life is the best. My retirement looks very different from yours, yet I am grateful and happy. I often think, “I get paid to do this?”
It’s been a year and a half and I still feel that way. Whenever I hear of some stupid education thing, I think about how glad I am that I don’t have to deal with it. And I have a new grandson that I babysit every Monday. I look forward to to doing all the stuff you mentioned with him! You have a very busy retirement!
I'm glad you're enjoying your retirement! Not only are you having fun, but your grandchildren will have these great memories of time spent with you and you are enriching their lives.
Having so many grands, and having them close by! That's great. You are so present in their lives.They are lucky, too.
To answer the question you posed, it does take awhile to get used to the idea that your time is your own. I retired last December, and for a couple of months whenever I noticed the time during the day, I immediately thought about what I'd be doing in school..."It's guided reading time." or "Recess is just finishing up." It does gradually go away, though.
I just retired this past summer, as of 1st August, and I can certainly confirm that retirement is wonderful! I loved teaching with all my heart. I loved being an administrator and helping to bring all things together in a good manner. But now, I love being retired! No grandchildren to fill my days, but plenty of activities to keep me busy. I have embraced this new chapter in life with joy and enthusiasm. I don't think it will ever become old or boring.
> 
10-12-2018, 05:39 PM
