As I sit here looking around my cluttered house, I’m anxious. Introducing myself to you shouldn’t be so nerve-racking. But where to begin? Should I tell you all of my accolades and accomplishments? Maybe I should start with the various roles I assume. Or, perhaps describing myself?
So, how about this…let’s pretend we are at a party!
Not some five-year-old kids party, which has consumed my last two weekends. An honest-to-goodness, peer-aged get-together with friends. I know it’s a stretch for some of us moms. Admittedly, I haven’t been to a party in years.
But… if we were at this party, I’d walk right up to you and strike up a conversation. I’m an extrovert at heart. My life has always revolved around people. Helping, teaching, and supporting people is what I’ve spent my entire adult life doing. I worked for 10 years developing college students into leaders and scholars.
While working full-time at two universities, I attended grad school part-time. Quite the feat for a first generation college student! Nevertheless, after five and a half years, I earned my masters degree, with two specializations in Counseling and Human Resources College Administration and K-12 School Counseling.
Oh, sorry… back to the party!
“Hello! My name is Misty. Nice to meet you,” I’d say.
And, if you were bored and looking for some entertainment, you may strike up a conversation with me. Although, that’s not likely because for most of my life, I have had to break through barriers from being judged on appearance alone. My baby face, love of jeans, and ever-changing hair style must turn people away. Some of my closest friends have told me they weren’t sure they would like me when they first saw me.
It’s always taken me longer than others to get buy-in from friends, coworkers, and even professors. One time, on the very first day of class, a college professor told me I was certain to fail his class. Maybe it was the red streaks in my hair, my eyebrow ring, or my awesome Rainbow Bright t-shirt. Regardless, I showed him! I aced the first test and went on to pass the class with flying colors.
If you manage to get over my first impression, at this pretend party… you might dive in a ask me, “So, what do you do for a living?” And trust me, you’d be in for an earful!
I am a second grade teacher! It’s a job that I spent my entire life preparing for. I love my students, my school, and my career. In addition, I have many opinions about the educational system in our country. I’d probably start ranting on and on about them. But then, I’d notice that look in your eyes and pause.
This is a good time to reciprocate and show you I’m not entirely self-obsessed. “What do you do?”
Hopefully, we would banter back and forth long enough that I could share with you that I am also a mother. I’m a single mom of two amazing boys! Jayden and Jaxon are six and a half and four years old. It’s definitely hard work, but I know that God created me to be a mother.
At some point, our spark might fizzle or we’d be called away to help with the party, use the restroom, or something of that nature. But, if the stars aligned, maybe we would become friends. I am always on the lookout for more friends because, let’s face it ladies, making friends as an adult isn’t quite as easy as when we were four. If it was… I could have just started out with…
“Hey, you want to be my friend?”
