the end of an era...

It's been almost 2 weeks since my last day as a substitute school psychologist in Fullerton Joint Union High School District. It's surreal...one moment I had a full caseload at 2 high schools with kids who relied on me and the next moment I'm turning in my keys, sleeping in past my normal wake-up time of 5:30am and preparing to move. The school psychologist who replaced me at my first site is new-ish to California; this is her first school psychology job in California so I'm happy to pass the torch to her and give her this opportunity. Unfortunately, the district did not have my replacement ready at the second high school. Aside from building rapport with the kids, my replacements can walk in and know exactly where I left off. I did my best to prepare them and explain the cases with my counseling logs and notes.

On my last day at each high school, I threw the kids a pizza party. This was my way of saying thank you and it helped ease my guilt of leaving. The kids had fun and appreciated my gesture. You never really realize how much others appreciate you until you leave. It was heartbreaking to hear the kids say, "Mrs. Riddell, I don't want you to leave!" Thankfully, they understood why I was leaving and wished me well. Although, it probably would have been easier for me if they chased me out with torches saying how they couldn't stand me as their psychologist...I am thankful for the time I had with them and hopefully I had a positive affect on them and their lives.

I have one more session next week with my ACES/in-home behavioral therapy client. I have been working with the family since November and training the parents to work with their daughter who has autism. I trained my replacement yesterday and she will come out next week as well. Regardless of how well I think the new therapist is trained, it is going to be very difficult to say goodbye. I told her yesterday that I was moving and Ms. E was going to come instead of me. Sweet girl, she just repeated everything I said but I hope on some level she understood.

In the meantime, I have been taking care of the menial tasks for moving:
-scheduling the cancellation of services for water, gas, electricity, cable, and gym memberships
-writing termination letters for our apartment and renters insurance
-scheduling our move-out inspection
-forwarding our mail
-coordinating with the movers
-scheduling an exit-interview for work
-visiting my hair stylist one last time!
-packing 3 years of graduate school binders and books
-purging my closet of clothes I haven't worn in years
-donating clothes, books, furniture
-getting my jeep inspected for a cross-country trip
-planning said cross-country trip with the help of AAA
-eating as much mexican food as I can
-andddd trying not to have an anxiety attack, especially because J is out of state working

*this is what 3 years of grad school books and binders looks like!! (with some trashy novels & love stories and cookbooks as well)

The good news: I just applied for a school psychology job with Cleveland Metropolitan School District! cross your fingers for me!

This weekend Jordan comes home and we have our going away party :)

More pics and updates to come soon!

xo
T & J