Ok, first of all, I can't believe it's Friday again - the weeks are blurring together...
First of all, I want to tell you about how I did not stay home on Tuesday just to do homework. I mean, just because I have a major test on Saturday morning at some ridiculously early time in the morning in Denton is no reason to stay home earlier in the week to study. Nope!
Secondly, I most assuredly did not leave school during my lunch break to go vote. The polls stay open until like 7. There would be no reason to go early just to miss the crowds.
In addition, I would never waste time in the grocery store looking for a way to make hot chocolate healthy so I could serve it as a treat to one of my classes. I also did not do the happy dance in Wal-Mart because I found Swiss Miss Cocoa with calcium. Just not happening.
Yeah, there's more stuff I didn't do - I didn't force my husband to hide the candy in the pantry on top of the freezer to keep me from stealing candy from potential trick-or-treaters. I'm just not like that.
You know what else? I totally didn't send out an e-mail to almost every person I'm remotely friendly with to come to a Mona Vie class at my house. I don't use the school as a recruiting ground to get a free bottle of juice stuff to keep my family healthy. Nope!
Yes, It's been such a slow week with all the things I'm not doing, that I have to also inform you that the twins are totally not turning 16 on Sunday. We're not letting a gaggle of friends stay the night Saturday night either. That would just make me crazy...er - that's right, crazier!
*Sign* where does the time go...
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The check is in the mail...
Don't laugh! It really is!
The real question is what is the check for, and where is it going... Seriously, it's already in the mail!
Ok, it's not a bill, it's not what I really SHOULD be sending Melissa for the cutest blankets EVER (which you will hear more about later), and it's not for some fun to save starving children. I have three of those at home, I'll not be getting anymore anytime soon.
The check is in the mail to Buckner's Adoption Agency. Why? Oh, I just felt like donating....NOT!
Here's the deal. I'm adopted, and although I have been SO blessed with who my parents are and my family and my whole situation - there are a few things missing. Like family history, illnesses, etc. - not to mention an additional set of relatives that it might be fun to know! I am tired of questionnaires at the Dr.'s office that ask about medical history - I just put "adopted". It covers all the questions, but it's still very incomplete. I've been kicking around the idea of looking for my birth parents for years, but my adorable husband has decided that my foot may be sore from all the kicking and he printed off all the info I needed. I only had to sign and make a copy of my drivers license. Easy!
I don't know if the search will be successful, or if it is successful if my birth family will want to have anything to do with me. Both of these have been taken into consideration - I promise! However it works out, it will work out. Of course I have my preference, don't I always? However, I'm content to wait and just let it work itself out - I've waited 36 years as it is...what's a little more?
The real question is what is the check for, and where is it going... Seriously, it's already in the mail!
Ok, it's not a bill, it's not what I really SHOULD be sending Melissa for the cutest blankets EVER (which you will hear more about later), and it's not for some fun to save starving children. I have three of those at home, I'll not be getting anymore anytime soon.
The check is in the mail to Buckner's Adoption Agency. Why? Oh, I just felt like donating....NOT!
Here's the deal. I'm adopted, and although I have been SO blessed with who my parents are and my family and my whole situation - there are a few things missing. Like family history, illnesses, etc. - not to mention an additional set of relatives that it might be fun to know! I am tired of questionnaires at the Dr.'s office that ask about medical history - I just put "adopted". It covers all the questions, but it's still very incomplete. I've been kicking around the idea of looking for my birth parents for years, but my adorable husband has decided that my foot may be sore from all the kicking and he printed off all the info I needed. I only had to sign and make a copy of my drivers license. Easy!
I don't know if the search will be successful, or if it is successful if my birth family will want to have anything to do with me. Both of these have been taken into consideration - I promise! However it works out, it will work out. Of course I have my preference, don't I always? However, I'm content to wait and just let it work itself out - I've waited 36 years as it is...what's a little more?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday fess-up
Well, I've been busy doing nothing...
In fact, I've been so busy doing nothing that I didn't spend way too much time watching TV, and way too little time doing homework.
I also didn't blame the entire situation on my husband for taking the laptop to work. I would never claim that him blowing my schedule of homework simply made it impossible to do it at all. I'm simply not like that.
In addition, I didn't leave school early one day to make the girls UIL contest in Bedford. I am a dedicated teacher, and 15 minutes simply isn't worth it.
What's more, I simply would never drown my sorrows in a pack or two of Rolos just because someone brought them to me to cheer me up. I don't respond to chocolate whatsoever. period. end of story.
What's more, I'm totally not doing this post at work.
In fact, I've been so busy doing nothing that I didn't spend way too much time watching TV, and way too little time doing homework.
I also didn't blame the entire situation on my husband for taking the laptop to work. I would never claim that him blowing my schedule of homework simply made it impossible to do it at all. I'm simply not like that.
In addition, I didn't leave school early one day to make the girls UIL contest in Bedford. I am a dedicated teacher, and 15 minutes simply isn't worth it.
What's more, I simply would never drown my sorrows in a pack or two of Rolos just because someone brought them to me to cheer me up. I don't respond to chocolate whatsoever. period. end of story.
What's more, I'm totally not doing this post at work.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Things you might not know about your kids teachers
There are just some things that I don't think "regular" (IE. non-teacher) parents know about teachers.
1. We really put time and thought into how our classroom looks. Where things go, colors, pictures, desks, trash cans, clocks, etc. So much so, that the week before school starts, we lose sleep over things like that. How will Johnny see the clock? Will Timmy understand the system I have set up to turn in papers? How clear are my classroom rules? Are they posted where all the kids can see them? Do I need to move some desks so all the kids can see the board? Are the boards clean? etc. No, really, I could go on and on about the thought that goes into that type of thing, and how it keeps us up nights right before school starts. Then, school starts.....
2. We worry about your kids in ways you have never even thought of. You worry how their grades are and if they're making friends. We worry if they're able to work in cooperative groups, contribute to a classroom society, and if not, how that can be addressed. We worry if they are adjusting to a new school, new grade, new city, new classroom, etc. We are constantly trying to make their adjustment the easiest possible for that child. We worry if their needs are being met educationally, and if not, what we can do to facilitate learning for that child. We lose sleep over this!
3. We worry if we see your child dating, hear stories about what they do with their friends, and where they go with you think they're at Tina's house. We hear things we'd rather not ever know, and we lose sleep over it. And you know what else? When we call you to let you know what your angel is telling us, you yell at us and tell us to mind out own business. Then we cry beside you at their funerals, or smile and make cute faces at their babies - your new grandchildren.
4. We watch your child grow - spending hours a day with them. 5 days a week, 9 months a year. Sometimes, we get more than one year, sometimes we get three or four years. We love that time, we love to see them grow and mature. It's an amazing process. Sometimes lovely, sometimes scary, and yes, often we lose sleep over it.
5. We show up to the places that your children get jobs at - because they ask us to come. We eat at places we don't like, go to movies we'd rather not see, go bowling, skating, putt-putt, etc. because your child got a job there, and needs to be seen as successful someplace outside the classroom - so we go. We smile, we tell them how proud we are of them. We tell them what a great job they are doing, and how this is an excellent opportunity for them to expand themselves. We don't do this because we have too much money and not enough ideas on how to spend it. We do this, because we too love your children. Sometimes however, they share their jobs with us, and we cry, and we lose sleep over how they are making their money.
That's why teachers look so old and broken down half the time - we're losing sleep over your child. We don't mind, it's not just what we do, it's who we are. If we weren't like this, would you really want to trust your child to us? Would you really feel like your kid was getting the best?
It's not really a post to anyone in particular. Just an explanation of what teachers are really like. You hear "she's so mean" and "she picks on me". Let me assure you, that is probably true. We are mean - we hold kids to a standard and expect them to rise to it - but not without support. We pick on them - how else would they know we care about them if we didn't give them a standard, expect them to meet it, and then stay on their case until they do?
Ok, random post/rant is at a conclusion...
1. We really put time and thought into how our classroom looks. Where things go, colors, pictures, desks, trash cans, clocks, etc. So much so, that the week before school starts, we lose sleep over things like that. How will Johnny see the clock? Will Timmy understand the system I have set up to turn in papers? How clear are my classroom rules? Are they posted where all the kids can see them? Do I need to move some desks so all the kids can see the board? Are the boards clean? etc. No, really, I could go on and on about the thought that goes into that type of thing, and how it keeps us up nights right before school starts. Then, school starts.....
2. We worry about your kids in ways you have never even thought of. You worry how their grades are and if they're making friends. We worry if they're able to work in cooperative groups, contribute to a classroom society, and if not, how that can be addressed. We worry if they are adjusting to a new school, new grade, new city, new classroom, etc. We are constantly trying to make their adjustment the easiest possible for that child. We worry if their needs are being met educationally, and if not, what we can do to facilitate learning for that child. We lose sleep over this!
3. We worry if we see your child dating, hear stories about what they do with their friends, and where they go with you think they're at Tina's house. We hear things we'd rather not ever know, and we lose sleep over it. And you know what else? When we call you to let you know what your angel is telling us, you yell at us and tell us to mind out own business. Then we cry beside you at their funerals, or smile and make cute faces at their babies - your new grandchildren.
4. We watch your child grow - spending hours a day with them. 5 days a week, 9 months a year. Sometimes, we get more than one year, sometimes we get three or four years. We love that time, we love to see them grow and mature. It's an amazing process. Sometimes lovely, sometimes scary, and yes, often we lose sleep over it.
5. We show up to the places that your children get jobs at - because they ask us to come. We eat at places we don't like, go to movies we'd rather not see, go bowling, skating, putt-putt, etc. because your child got a job there, and needs to be seen as successful someplace outside the classroom - so we go. We smile, we tell them how proud we are of them. We tell them what a great job they are doing, and how this is an excellent opportunity for them to expand themselves. We don't do this because we have too much money and not enough ideas on how to spend it. We do this, because we too love your children. Sometimes however, they share their jobs with us, and we cry, and we lose sleep over how they are making their money.
That's why teachers look so old and broken down half the time - we're losing sleep over your child. We don't mind, it's not just what we do, it's who we are. If we weren't like this, would you really want to trust your child to us? Would you really feel like your kid was getting the best?
It's not really a post to anyone in particular. Just an explanation of what teachers are really like. You hear "she's so mean" and "she picks on me". Let me assure you, that is probably true. We are mean - we hold kids to a standard and expect them to rise to it - but not without support. We pick on them - how else would they know we care about them if we didn't give them a standard, expect them to meet it, and then stay on their case until they do?
Ok, random post/rant is at a conclusion...
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Breaking the heart of a teacher
How do you break the heart of a teacher? Do you get bad grades? Not listen in class? Forget to turn in homework (on accident or on purpose)? Do you talk when they're talking? How about you forget them at Christmas? The end of the year? Don't have your supplies? Call them a name when you're hurting inside? Strike out at them because they're there, and they care?
No.
As sad as you get at bad choices they make, silly things that they do, misunderstandings that happen when you spend as much time together as you do, those are not things that break your heart. Let me tell you what breaks your heart...
Picture this...
You have some students, they work really hard. They pull all the stunts that normal students pull, including talking when you talk, forgetting homework, lashing out at you because you're there and you care, etc. These kids are going to make it! They're going to go somewhere! Year after year you see them grow, they mature, they make choices. Three of our four are doing well, getting to the point where you see they're going to make it! One has made some bad choices, and though your heart aches for him and the way that he's headed, you know there's still time, and you do what you can.
You have them four years, then they move on...you still hear from them from time to time - either because they contact you, or you talk to someone who gives you an update. One is doing great - she's got a job, working hard and doing well. She is even dating one of your other success stories! Yeah! They're living together, both working, and while you'd rather they settle the living arrangement, you understand that it's just not always the way it happens. Another one is doing really great too! He's had the same job for several years now, doing great in it, and will have opportunities to advance and make a great life for himself. You see him now and then and always get a great big hug and a smile (worth more than every Christmas present ever remembered by every student you've ever had - not that you don't love Christmas presents mind you). He tells you each time how much he appreciated you and how you were really a big part of him making it. Heart broken yet? Of course not! But here it comes...
The boy who made bad decisions? Well on Wednesday last week he made a really bad one, he went somewhere with your other young man...they drank...they drove...they wrecked...one died...one is in jail for intoxicated manslaughter...
The one in jail for manslaughter is not the one who consistently made bad choices, as much as it hurts, he's dead - the one in jail is his friend - the one who was doing so well ruined his life in an instant...
The girl and the boy? Well, on Thursday last week the girl's stepfather came in, and although I also know him, and liked him too, he hunted down and shot the boy, and was arrested. Her mother blames her for the whole mess, so now she has no boyfriend, no step dad, no mother, and no siblings. She's alone and brokenhearted.
Now, this is how you break a teacher's heart - you tell her that the children she got when they were 14, turned loose into the world at 18 are dead, hurting, or broken. The students she loved, poured her heart into, listened to, spent time with, and just enjoyed hearing of their success because in a way it was hers. She shared in every success because she helped (along with many others of course) shape them and teach them and send them out as people who had every chance to make it...and they didn't.
That is how you break a teachers heart.
No.
As sad as you get at bad choices they make, silly things that they do, misunderstandings that happen when you spend as much time together as you do, those are not things that break your heart. Let me tell you what breaks your heart...
Picture this...
You have some students, they work really hard. They pull all the stunts that normal students pull, including talking when you talk, forgetting homework, lashing out at you because you're there and you care, etc. These kids are going to make it! They're going to go somewhere! Year after year you see them grow, they mature, they make choices. Three of our four are doing well, getting to the point where you see they're going to make it! One has made some bad choices, and though your heart aches for him and the way that he's headed, you know there's still time, and you do what you can.
You have them four years, then they move on...you still hear from them from time to time - either because they contact you, or you talk to someone who gives you an update. One is doing great - she's got a job, working hard and doing well. She is even dating one of your other success stories! Yeah! They're living together, both working, and while you'd rather they settle the living arrangement, you understand that it's just not always the way it happens. Another one is doing really great too! He's had the same job for several years now, doing great in it, and will have opportunities to advance and make a great life for himself. You see him now and then and always get a great big hug and a smile (worth more than every Christmas present ever remembered by every student you've ever had - not that you don't love Christmas presents mind you). He tells you each time how much he appreciated you and how you were really a big part of him making it. Heart broken yet? Of course not! But here it comes...
The boy who made bad decisions? Well on Wednesday last week he made a really bad one, he went somewhere with your other young man...they drank...they drove...they wrecked...one died...one is in jail for intoxicated manslaughter...
The one in jail for manslaughter is not the one who consistently made bad choices, as much as it hurts, he's dead - the one in jail is his friend - the one who was doing so well ruined his life in an instant...
The girl and the boy? Well, on Thursday last week the girl's stepfather came in, and although I also know him, and liked him too, he hunted down and shot the boy, and was arrested. Her mother blames her for the whole mess, so now she has no boyfriend, no step dad, no mother, and no siblings. She's alone and brokenhearted.
Now, this is how you break a teacher's heart - you tell her that the children she got when they were 14, turned loose into the world at 18 are dead, hurting, or broken. The students she loved, poured her heart into, listened to, spent time with, and just enjoyed hearing of their success because in a way it was hers. She shared in every success because she helped (along with many others of course) shape them and teach them and send them out as people who had every chance to make it...and they didn't.
That is how you break a teachers heart.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Friday Fess-Up
Ok, it's Thursday, but Friday's are too crazy here! I'm lucky to get on a computer, much less post! So here goes what didn't happen in my world this week.
I absolutely did not choose to wear jeans to school on a non-jean day. I'm way to professional to push the lines of dress code at my school. Come on! I'm quite the fashion plate!
I also didn't wear my hair in a pony tail on the same day because I was too lazy to do my hair. Come on! Didn't I tell you I was a fashion plate? Fashion plates don't do that....
In addition, I totally didn't start reading Brisinger again before my children have had the chance to get through it once. Just because it's an awesome book is no reason for me to be greedy with it. Besides, I always put my children first....
My week has been full of things I just simply didn't do, like teach the lady I work with to use words and sounds like "really", "Hu-Ja" and "raaaaaack". I would never spread words that are not part of the official English language.
Hmmmm. Let's see. I've just completely stayed out of trouble this week! In fact, I didn't even wait until the last minute to start a homework assignment I've known about for 2 weeks. That would just be totally irresponsible anyway - something I would just never do.
You know something else I would absolutely never do? Fall asleep on the couch around 8, get woken up by an irritated husband around 9:30, and for revenge - no, wait for it! What I didn't do was really mean....here it comes...here it comes... - I didn't go to bed without brushing my teeth. It's not only nasty, it's really mean to the person sleeping beside you! :)
In fact, after I didn't not brush my teeth, I didn't wake up with the worst nasty, disgusting, horribly terrifying, dragon breath ever! Since I would never go to bed with gross teeth, I could never wake up in that condition. Good thing!
Ok - feeling pretty good. Think I'll go sit on the couch and not fall asleep! :)
I absolutely did not choose to wear jeans to school on a non-jean day. I'm way to professional to push the lines of dress code at my school. Come on! I'm quite the fashion plate!
I also didn't wear my hair in a pony tail on the same day because I was too lazy to do my hair. Come on! Didn't I tell you I was a fashion plate? Fashion plates don't do that....
In addition, I totally didn't start reading Brisinger again before my children have had the chance to get through it once. Just because it's an awesome book is no reason for me to be greedy with it. Besides, I always put my children first....
My week has been full of things I just simply didn't do, like teach the lady I work with to use words and sounds like "really", "Hu-Ja" and "raaaaaack". I would never spread words that are not part of the official English language.
Hmmmm. Let's see. I've just completely stayed out of trouble this week! In fact, I didn't even wait until the last minute to start a homework assignment I've known about for 2 weeks. That would just be totally irresponsible anyway - something I would just never do.
You know something else I would absolutely never do? Fall asleep on the couch around 8, get woken up by an irritated husband around 9:30, and for revenge - no, wait for it! What I didn't do was really mean....here it comes...here it comes... - I didn't go to bed without brushing my teeth. It's not only nasty, it's really mean to the person sleeping beside you! :)
In fact, after I didn't not brush my teeth, I didn't wake up with the worst nasty, disgusting, horribly terrifying, dragon breath ever! Since I would never go to bed with gross teeth, I could never wake up in that condition. Good thing!
Ok - feeling pretty good. Think I'll go sit on the couch and not fall asleep! :)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Fess up...
It may not be Friday, but here it is...
I did not use a sick day at work to stay home and do homework and study for a test and then spend more time doing laundry and grocery shopping than studying and writing reports. I would never do that!
I most certainly would never be late to my son's football practice because I am stressed out and want an ice cream and the line to get one was forever long but I stayed anyway because I wanted an ice cream. I would never do something like that.
I would never ever, ever, ever show up for a test at UNT a full hour early because I didn't check the syllabus closely enough.
I also would never con others into bringing my son home from school for me because I didn't want to make the trip and sit in "parent" traffic. That's silly.
In addition, I just simply wouldn't sit an post on my blog instead of getting in some last minute reading...I'm just not like that!
Wow, I really feel better!
I did not use a sick day at work to stay home and do homework and study for a test and then spend more time doing laundry and grocery shopping than studying and writing reports. I would never do that!
I most certainly would never be late to my son's football practice because I am stressed out and want an ice cream and the line to get one was forever long but I stayed anyway because I wanted an ice cream. I would never do something like that.
I would never ever, ever, ever show up for a test at UNT a full hour early because I didn't check the syllabus closely enough.
I also would never con others into bringing my son home from school for me because I didn't want to make the trip and sit in "parent" traffic. That's silly.
In addition, I just simply wouldn't sit an post on my blog instead of getting in some last minute reading...I'm just not like that!
Wow, I really feel better!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Raaaaaaaack!
Yeah, new word. Actually, rather than a word, it's a mean-all sound effect. I like it. It's a cross between a wookie (see Chewbaca from Star Wars if that one escapes you) and a wounded seal (catch discovery channel is the wounded seal is beyond your powers of imagination).
Anyway, I really like this word/sound. It, as do so many of my words/sounds do, has many meanings. It usually is used in the "really, you just said that and respect me to respond in an anywhere near appropriate manner?" way. It's fun. People get it - even without explanations once you've used it. In fact, here's a great sentence using all my favorite words...
Really? that kind of Hu-Ja makes me say raaaaaaack!
(did that qualify as two sentences? I'll have to think for awhile on that Hu-Ja!)
Anyway, I really like this word/sound. It, as do so many of my words/sounds do, has many meanings. It usually is used in the "really, you just said that and respect me to respond in an anywhere near appropriate manner?" way. It's fun. People get it - even without explanations once you've used it. In fact, here's a great sentence using all my favorite words...
Really? that kind of Hu-Ja makes me say raaaaaaack!
(did that qualify as two sentences? I'll have to think for awhile on that Hu-Ja!)
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