Money and Self-Identity

Day 2 in Canada

Today we did a school visit to the kids school (they start attending on Monday), and I was itching to get in the staff room, meet the teachers and start teaching some kids. I guess my inner teacher does not yet know that I am taking the year away from the classroom.

It will be interesting to watch how I deal with not teaching this year. A significant part of my self-labelling is as a 'High School History Teacher,' but now I am an unemployed house husband. Something I (and Bonnie) will have to deal with is a certain level of financial stress. I have no income for the year (we knew this going into this year), but it turns out that Bonnie will need to find employment for a few months. Work at the ranch is slim pickings at the moment, and she needs to find probably 3 days a week of work somewhere. Either in Bragg Creek or maybe being a lollipop lady on the highways. I hope that when I read back over this blog in years to come, that this issue was quickly resolved. At the moment, it is filling my brain box.

It snowed today; and this is the first time that the boys have ever seen that. It is so fun to experience these things again for the first time through their eyes. May I maintain a child like sense of wonder for all my days.

Danny

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Visions for the Future

We've been here in Canada for 6 and a half weeks now. And I have been blessed/gifted with time and space to think. Ideas are coming about what I want my future to look like. Firstly, before sharing my ideas, I need to write down what I believe the best way is to achieve ones hope for the future. When you know what you want to become like, start doing those things, or at least start leaning in that direction. The changes I would like to make to become a better person are: Laugh more. I often find things funny but don't actually laugh. I will start laughing more. Spend more time in nature. Being here in the foothills of the Rockies, makes me want to snorkel more, hike more, bike more, and take the kids on these adventures. Establish an annual men's camping trip (I reckon Dean will be key in getting it going with me), maybe at Melrose? Yorkes? That's all for now.

Risk

I thought I was a 'gung-ho, risk-loving, wild dad' who laughed in the face of danger and (metaphorically) threw his kids into shark infested waters in order for them to learn how to hunt and swim at the same time. I have never shied away from my kids riding bikes on the street, playing cricket with the hard ball, playing out of sight at Kuitpo Forest, etc. However, coming to Canada has been a real shock to my self-image as a parent. I keep on wanting them to stop doing certain activities that other people seem fine with. Basically it's all the stuff that I didn't so as a kid. Can they run up and slide down staircases (in people's houses)? Can they go outside in the cold with hardly any snow gear on? Can they ride horses even though people keep getting thrown off? My initial response continually seems to be: "Take it easy" and I don't know how I feel about this. I want my children to have a great, (acceptable) risk filled life. I grew up water skiing a...

Finding my Feet

I finally feel settled in Canada. Bonnie has steady work, I have been filling my days with purposeful activities, the kids seem happy in school. We had dinner at a new friends house last night (thanks Jess and Anthony), and that was something we had been hoping for. The first 3 weeks have been crazy, with broken arms and shifting goal posts around work and a vehicle. But things seem to have stabilised. I am hopeful that this will be a great year, and that we will really look back on it fondly. No regrets. I need to focus on our 3 core goals: 1: Closer connection to family, 2: Bond with this part of the world, 3: Adventure. Remembering these goals will help me to make good choices about what we do with our time here, and not to just be a miser counting pennies and not spending any time or money.

A Year in Alberta

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