| Your Power Color Is Lime Green |
 At Your Highest: You are adventurous, witty, and a visionary. At Your Lowest: You feel misunderstood, like you don't fit in. In Love: You have a tough exterior, but can be very dedicated. How You're Attractive: Your self-awareness and confidence lights up a room. Your Eternal Question: "What else do I need in my life?" |
Thursday, September 21, 2006
I'm addicted...
to this site! I've done a lot of these, only posting my favorites. I LOVE green!
I LOVE Pizza!
So I tried this one:
| Pepperoni Pizza |
 Robust and dominant. When you go for something, you go full force. You tend to take control of situations easily. And in return, you get a ton of respect. |
It was Someone's Birthday!!
Yes, yesterday was a big day here in the Sheng house. The big Kahuna had his birthday yesterday... as usual, I was not entirely prepared. That's nothing new. Of all the people I've ever known in my life, T is the most difficult one to buy presents for. I've all but given up! I have a long list of things I'd love to get him, but he thinks they are all too expensive, or that he would never use them or he goes and decides just as I'm about to buy something that he'd like something else. Really, I just want to give him something he wants, but I always fail!!
On my list of things to get him: an XBox 360, which he said he'd like, but we didn't get that. He said he also wanted a leaf blower (he ordered it for himself), new tires for his truck (he'll have to arrange that one!) and then, the night before his birthday he all of sudden developed this passionate desire for a 24 hour time zone eco-driven watch. I sent him off to buy it for himself, which is basically what I've resorted to. I mean, if he can't decide until the night before he's going to have to take care of it himself. Right? I can't research and purchase something like that in less than a day -it's just not in my nature!!
The night of shopping proved fruitless for him, so he came home with nothing. That means I spent two hours at the mall on his birthday trying to find something for him that 1) he would want, 2) cost under $100 and 3) he would want. I found pretty much nothing - it was very disappointing. Not to mention, when I finally did find something, I knew the entire time that he would return it, as he does with most every gift that I buy him. It's now par for the course. The girls are used to it as well. I do make him keep anything they've picked out and bought for him themselves, including the size medium Gap surf T-shirt Kt was so proud of a couple years ago. It's a bit small on his broad shoulders, but he's learned to love it!
Since I knew I'd failed in the gift area, as usual, I headed home, cleaned up the kitchen a bit and proceeded to make cupcakes, which is what he prefers to cake or ice cream. I bought a couple balloons, some funny cards and once he was home we all went out for Japanese Hibachi. It was fun, and yes, he's going to return the L.L. Bean fleece jacket I finally found for him. No surprise there!
It's been a crazy year for T. In a nutshell, he's survived lots of changes at work, been to Africa and lived to tell about it, finished another year of raising up more missionally, Christ minded young leaders, took his family across the country and has two children in elementary school. He looked at me at back to school night and said, "I can't believe we children who go to school!" Yeah, it's hard growing up!
Aside from T being totally picky about his gifts, he's a great leader, teacher, friend and mentor. On top of all those things, he's an incredible learner in his field of innovative missions church-doing. That's what I'll call it for now because what he likes to learn I'm not sure has a name. That's the way he likes it - always changing, for the better. It's been clear to me for a while now that the perfect gift for T is not something we can wrap up, or purchase or even shop for. It something that happens in an instant, when someone he has invested in "gets it" or someone who has witnessed what he does comes to the realization that it's working. They are God-given moments he experiences that I can't time or give him myself. Nothing I purchase can bring him nearly as much joy as one of those moments.
Ah, the leaf blower just arrived. A day late, but just in time for fall!! I can guarantee, there will be only a small look of joy in his eyes when he sees that compared to the look on his face when he comes home to tell me how so-and-so wants to devote a life to making Christ real to the nations. "Wow, look at this leaf blower!" doesn't nearly have the ring of satisfaction that "They really get it!" does!! I've also learned that God doesn't limit his gifts to birthdays or Christmas. He doles them out whenever He wants, at random times, when we may least expect it, and that makes them more special than that one day of the year!
Happy Birthday, missions man!!
On my list of things to get him: an XBox 360, which he said he'd like, but we didn't get that. He said he also wanted a leaf blower (he ordered it for himself), new tires for his truck (he'll have to arrange that one!) and then, the night before his birthday he all of sudden developed this passionate desire for a 24 hour time zone eco-driven watch. I sent him off to buy it for himself, which is basically what I've resorted to. I mean, if he can't decide until the night before he's going to have to take care of it himself. Right? I can't research and purchase something like that in less than a day -it's just not in my nature!!
The night of shopping proved fruitless for him, so he came home with nothing. That means I spent two hours at the mall on his birthday trying to find something for him that 1) he would want, 2) cost under $100 and 3) he would want. I found pretty much nothing - it was very disappointing. Not to mention, when I finally did find something, I knew the entire time that he would return it, as he does with most every gift that I buy him. It's now par for the course. The girls are used to it as well. I do make him keep anything they've picked out and bought for him themselves, including the size medium Gap surf T-shirt Kt was so proud of a couple years ago. It's a bit small on his broad shoulders, but he's learned to love it!
Since I knew I'd failed in the gift area, as usual, I headed home, cleaned up the kitchen a bit and proceeded to make cupcakes, which is what he prefers to cake or ice cream. I bought a couple balloons, some funny cards and once he was home we all went out for Japanese Hibachi. It was fun, and yes, he's going to return the L.L. Bean fleece jacket I finally found for him. No surprise there!
It's been a crazy year for T. In a nutshell, he's survived lots of changes at work, been to Africa and lived to tell about it, finished another year of raising up more missionally, Christ minded young leaders, took his family across the country and has two children in elementary school. He looked at me at back to school night and said, "I can't believe we children who go to school!" Yeah, it's hard growing up!
Aside from T being totally picky about his gifts, he's a great leader, teacher, friend and mentor. On top of all those things, he's an incredible learner in his field of innovative missions church-doing. That's what I'll call it for now because what he likes to learn I'm not sure has a name. That's the way he likes it - always changing, for the better. It's been clear to me for a while now that the perfect gift for T is not something we can wrap up, or purchase or even shop for. It something that happens in an instant, when someone he has invested in "gets it" or someone who has witnessed what he does comes to the realization that it's working. They are God-given moments he experiences that I can't time or give him myself. Nothing I purchase can bring him nearly as much joy as one of those moments.
Ah, the leaf blower just arrived. A day late, but just in time for fall!! I can guarantee, there will be only a small look of joy in his eyes when he sees that compared to the look on his face when he comes home to tell me how so-and-so wants to devote a life to making Christ real to the nations. "Wow, look at this leaf blower!" doesn't nearly have the ring of satisfaction that "They really get it!" does!! I've also learned that God doesn't limit his gifts to birthdays or Christmas. He doles them out whenever He wants, at random times, when we may least expect it, and that makes them more special than that one day of the year!
Happy Birthday, missions man!!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Yup, that's me!
| You Are Mud Pie |
 You're the perfect combo of flavor and depth Those who like you give into their impulses |
Thanks, deana!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Disney Shopping
OK, I admit it - I'm a Disneyholic, and not just the parks. I like shopping at the stores (which are not even owned by Disney!) and online - until today, that is!! I have been eying a Sleeping Beauty costume for Em for about a week now, and yesterday, after seeing a little offer for 20% off, I took myself over to the site and found the costume, listed as being on sale for $22.99, just like it's been for a few days. I decided to "add to my cart" this item and went on over to try this 20% off, shipping, etc. to see what my total would be.
When I got to my cart, the item was listed as $24.99 instead of $22.99. I had a split screen so I could clearly see that numbers didn't match, so I used the "contact us" form at the bottom to see if they could let me know what that true price was. Of course, no one responded until today, and here's what they sent me:
OK - off my soapbox, back to real life! lol - Oh, wait - retail swindling customers IS real life!
EDIT: So, Disney called me yesterday - YES, on a Sunday! Hmmm.... anyway.... they wanted to correct the email they sent me. Apparently, after receiving my email (and maybe reading my blog?) they found they there was ONE DAY that they offered that $22.99 deal, so I must have gone to a "cached" page where that was the price. When I explained to them that I actually accessed the Disney site via the little 20% off ad on the other Disney site, then checked once again from that link to the dress, they did not believe me. So, once again, the customer is incorrect.
They did, however, offer me that dress at $22.99, which makes no sense at all. Of course, that was just beyond this woman, who didn't understand that I had expected to get 20% off $22.99, but since that wasn't possible, why would I spend $22.99 now when I could have had 20% off $24.99 that day had they written me back in time. In other words, she might have been doing me a favor by offering me this item for $19.99, but couldn't understand why I wasn't interested in $22.99. I tried to nicely explain this to her THREE times, but finally gave up and just said, "No thank you!"
Is it just me, or are people getting, uh, dumber? I don't really know how else to say that without is sounding really nasty. It just seems like cashiers, retailers, now these online people, they just don't get it. I'm kind of at the point where I just want to tell them to stop trying to do me any favors, because that's not really what they are!
OK - settled down and going to move on from here.... I missed the deal and I'm the one who is wrong here, right?
When I got to my cart, the item was listed as $24.99 instead of $22.99. I had a split screen so I could clearly see that numbers didn't match, so I used the "contact us" form at the bottom to see if they could let me know what that true price was. Of course, no one responded until today, and here's what they sent me:
Now, this annoyed me for many reasons. Mainly because upon checking this item again, I see that they changed the price!! They have also removed the special 20% off offer. But even worse, why would they be pleased to inform me of this grievous act of theirs?? So, I sent them this little note:Dear Disney Guest,
Thank you for your recent correspondence.
We apologize for any inconvenience that we may have caused. We are
pleased to inform you that we have the price of the item as $24.99 we
don't show any where that has that price.
If you should have any further questions, please feel free to contact
us.
Sincerely,DisneyShopping.com
I guess Em will just have to Belle this year, because it doesn't look like I'll be shopping Disney for some time!! That is some terrible customer service - shame on Disney!
No, I'm not really pleased to know this as you HAD listed the price on the item as $22.99 and now you've changed it. I think that is poor customer service and I'm totally appalled that you did that! When you make a mistake and the customer asks you to correct it, you should admit the mistake was made instead of covering it up to make it look like your savvy customer is incorrect.
I have enjoyed Disney products and Disney shopping and this incident really makes me feel like I'm not at all a valued customer. Why? Because in reality, $2 is measly, but accusing a customer of lying is priceless. I think you just lost a trusted customer!
OK - off my soapbox, back to real life! lol - Oh, wait - retail swindling customers IS real life!
EDIT: So, Disney called me yesterday - YES, on a Sunday! Hmmm.... anyway.... they wanted to correct the email they sent me. Apparently, after receiving my email (and maybe reading my blog?) they found they there was ONE DAY that they offered that $22.99 deal, so I must have gone to a "cached" page where that was the price. When I explained to them that I actually accessed the Disney site via the little 20% off ad on the other Disney site, then checked once again from that link to the dress, they did not believe me. So, once again, the customer is incorrect.
They did, however, offer me that dress at $22.99, which makes no sense at all. Of course, that was just beyond this woman, who didn't understand that I had expected to get 20% off $22.99, but since that wasn't possible, why would I spend $22.99 now when I could have had 20% off $24.99 that day had they written me back in time. In other words, she might have been doing me a favor by offering me this item for $19.99, but couldn't understand why I wasn't interested in $22.99. I tried to nicely explain this to her THREE times, but finally gave up and just said, "No thank you!"
Is it just me, or are people getting, uh, dumber? I don't really know how else to say that without is sounding really nasty. It just seems like cashiers, retailers, now these online people, they just don't get it. I'm kind of at the point where I just want to tell them to stop trying to do me any favors, because that's not really what they are!
OK - settled down and going to move on from here.... I missed the deal and I'm the one who is wrong here, right?
A Snip Here, A Snip There!!
Just last Thursday, we took Phoebe (our new puppy) for her first shampoo and trim. She came home all fluffy, smelling awfully nice (for about a few hours before she had ANOTHER accident). I could tell she had had a little trouble holding still, confirmed by the groomer. Her trim was less than perfect. A few days later, however, it appeared that the groomer had had a slip of the shaver. I noticed a whole spot of shorter hair on her back had been snipped, a place where they did not trim at all.
The whole spot on her back was really a mystery to me. T had mentioned something before she'd been groomed about a chunk of hair on her back missing. I thought he was crazy as he was trying to convince me that her puppy hair was falling out. That just isn't the case - she is pretty mutant in the growing up area. But after the trim, I could see that a portion of hair had been neatly trimmed, obviously with snips as the cut was quite clean. No big deal!!
Today, I tackled a rather large project and one that I'm finding I must tackle biweekly - Em's room. I've written about it before and today was no different. Finding one square inch of visible carpet was a challenge when I started. It's still not finished! After sorting through clothes, garbage, arts and crafts, etc. I came upon something fairly recognizable - a chunk of Phoebe's fur!! Could it be the missing spot??
Why the thought never occurred to me last week is beyond me. Em has been obsessed with cutting hair since she was a toddler, having given herself four rather gruesome looking haircuts! Even yesterday, when Phoebe was "lost" after Em had taken her out it still never occurred to me that she might be playing groomer right in our own house. Even the fact that I gave Em a little hair trim the other night, which likely put the desire in her little heart to once again cut hair. She's promised me over and over again, each time she has requested use of our closely guarded scissors (because of her snip-happiness!), that she will never cut her own hair again. I should have known!!
We had a little talk today when she got home. She is on puppy restriction for a bit, no taking the puppy out of the kitchen for her. Sometimes I forget she is still only 5. Full day school is a good cover for making children seem more mature than they really are. I will not forget, and on the way home from tutoring this afternoon, while I thought about Em giving the puppy a haircut, I really missed having her home with me! I was also hoping she wasn't trying out her new skills at school!!
The whole spot on her back was really a mystery to me. T had mentioned something before she'd been groomed about a chunk of hair on her back missing. I thought he was crazy as he was trying to convince me that her puppy hair was falling out. That just isn't the case - she is pretty mutant in the growing up area. But after the trim, I could see that a portion of hair had been neatly trimmed, obviously with snips as the cut was quite clean. No big deal!!
Today, I tackled a rather large project and one that I'm finding I must tackle biweekly - Em's room. I've written about it before and today was no different. Finding one square inch of visible carpet was a challenge when I started. It's still not finished! After sorting through clothes, garbage, arts and crafts, etc. I came upon something fairly recognizable - a chunk of Phoebe's fur!! Could it be the missing spot??
Why the thought never occurred to me last week is beyond me. Em has been obsessed with cutting hair since she was a toddler, having given herself four rather gruesome looking haircuts! Even yesterday, when Phoebe was "lost" after Em had taken her out it still never occurred to me that she might be playing groomer right in our own house. Even the fact that I gave Em a little hair trim the other night, which likely put the desire in her little heart to once again cut hair. She's promised me over and over again, each time she has requested use of our closely guarded scissors (because of her snip-happiness!), that she will never cut her own hair again. I should have known!!
We had a little talk today when she got home. She is on puppy restriction for a bit, no taking the puppy out of the kitchen for her. Sometimes I forget she is still only 5. Full day school is a good cover for making children seem more mature than they really are. I will not forget, and on the way home from tutoring this afternoon, while I thought about Em giving the puppy a haircut, I really missed having her home with me! I was also hoping she wasn't trying out her new skills at school!!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Spelling!!!
Can I just say that I am ELATED that my daughter has a spelling book this year!! I'm so excited as her spelling "curriculum" last year was so totally bogus. Yahoo!! (She's not quite as happy as I am - were you wondering??)
Politics, Schmolitics
I cannot stand politics! They are one of the things that make living in Maryland so unpleasant!!! We had dinner with our good friends a couple days ago and their home has turned into a mini-campaign headquarters for Martin O'Malley. That kind of stuff is sort of nauseating to me. I don't think there's a politician in this state that I like right now. Which is why I've chosen not to vote today in the primaries.
I have to say, driving by a local polling location I felt a twinge of guilt, but the truth is that I'm totally fed up with politics, politicians, and the general attitude of "campaigners" everywhere I go. The attitude that "I'm right, my candidate is right and you are a total loon if you don't agree with me" is really annoying to me. I don't want to be that condescending with my friends and it's a total turn off to me when they are that way with me.
So, today, because I had to put up with looking at fluorescent green signs for a man I don't want to have as my governor (there isn't one I've seen yet that I like!), I skipped the polls. My one measly vote won't be counted. I refuse, also, to vote for a governor who will choose to use my tax money for embryonic stem cell research. That won't happen. I hate to vote based on one issue, but for those without a voice I will take a stand. At this rate, I won't be voting for a governor either!
O'Malley according to Ehrlich.
Ehrlich according to O'Malley.
Hmmm.... Slim pickin's....
I have to say, driving by a local polling location I felt a twinge of guilt, but the truth is that I'm totally fed up with politics, politicians, and the general attitude of "campaigners" everywhere I go. The attitude that "I'm right, my candidate is right and you are a total loon if you don't agree with me" is really annoying to me. I don't want to be that condescending with my friends and it's a total turn off to me when they are that way with me.
So, today, because I had to put up with looking at fluorescent green signs for a man I don't want to have as my governor (there isn't one I've seen yet that I like!), I skipped the polls. My one measly vote won't be counted. I refuse, also, to vote for a governor who will choose to use my tax money for embryonic stem cell research. That won't happen. I hate to vote based on one issue, but for those without a voice I will take a stand. At this rate, I won't be voting for a governor either!
O'Malley according to Ehrlich.
Ehrlich according to O'Malley.
Hmmm.... Slim pickin's....
Unleashed
I don't care how docile your dog is, in public areas, with little children, other people and other animals, keep your dog on a leash!! I'd say in this case, a noncompliant dog owner should have expected this outcome. Not to mention, the dog was a pitbull! I don't blame that Park Police officer one bit for protecting himself and others. Leash your dogs!
Monday, September 11, 2006
The Troublemaker
Full day kindergarten has been quite the adventure! Em seems to be happy, doing well, not too overtired. I wasn't sure she would share much with me as her answer in preschool was always, "I don't want to talk about it right now!" whenever I would pry for more information. I have been pleasantly surprised. Some days I can't shut her up!
There is one little boy that I hear about every single day. He is the consummate trouble maker. The funny thing is that I can't tell if Em likes him or not. She has always been attracted to the trouble makers, but mostly in hopes of reforming them! LOL So far, in the first two weeks of school, this little boy has kicked her, hit her, ruined all her organizing of books (that was the bad one - he actually made her cry, AND the teacher had to give her a tissue and drink of water!) and today he spit on her. Of course, as she is sharing these stories with me each day, she typically has a hint of a smile on her face.
Today I just had to crack up. She was in her adult mode of speaking to me, rolling her eyes, waving her hands around. She mentioned that this little boy had spit on her AND hit her all in one day. She had to tell the aide on him, and he wouldn't even listen to the aide. She then said, "So, I finally just decided today (with a shake of her head, flick of her wrist and rolling those big old eyes) he is DEFINITELY NOT invited to my birthday party!" That's good news for me, because I wasn't really planning a birthday party this year! (She plans wayyyyy ahead, as her birthday is in January!)
There is one little boy that I hear about every single day. He is the consummate trouble maker. The funny thing is that I can't tell if Em likes him or not. She has always been attracted to the trouble makers, but mostly in hopes of reforming them! LOL So far, in the first two weeks of school, this little boy has kicked her, hit her, ruined all her organizing of books (that was the bad one - he actually made her cry, AND the teacher had to give her a tissue and drink of water!) and today he spit on her. Of course, as she is sharing these stories with me each day, she typically has a hint of a smile on her face.
Today I just had to crack up. She was in her adult mode of speaking to me, rolling her eyes, waving her hands around. She mentioned that this little boy had spit on her AND hit her all in one day. She had to tell the aide on him, and he wouldn't even listen to the aide. She then said, "So, I finally just decided today (with a shake of her head, flick of her wrist and rolling those big old eyes) he is DEFINITELY NOT invited to my birthday party!" That's good news for me, because I wasn't really planning a birthday party this year! (She plans wayyyyy ahead, as her birthday is in January!)
Never More Proud
Five years ago is a long time ago in the realm of the war on terror. It's a long time ago when I try now to remember what life was life on September 10, 2001. It's a thing of the past, an era of unrealistically feeling so safe here in the USA. Or maybe it was realistic, but more of a facade than a reality.
I remember the day well. T had decided to work from home, not a typical practice. I was doing some laundry at our townhouse, Kt was just 3, Em was a baby. We got a call from one of T's coworkers, a former Marine. He said, "Are you watching TV?" I answered, "As a matter of fact we are. We are watching Sesame Street!" He said, "You need to put on CNN right away, I cannot even explain to you what is happening." And from there, the rest is history.
I can remember as we watched the horrific events unfold thinking that our world will never be the same ever again. My mind was fixed on the unbelievable evil that must have ruled the hearts of this enemy. Who would do something like that? Who would rejoice at such an unthinkable act?? There was an eerie silence that day, no air traffic above our home, which was in the traffic pattern for BWI airport. It made me think of these things.
In the weeks that followed, many things emerged, including some "grassroots" efforts at Patriotism. I really couldn't remember another time during my lifetime where I felt the people of all generations embraced the American flag the way it was five years ago. Everywhere I went, there were flags, on overpasses, on cars, on homes, the colors were everywhere. Red, white and blue. We also began to see the real face of our enemy, and it wasn't really that clear. It wasn't another country, with a flag of their own, borders, rulers, etc. It was a hidden, rogue, evil and radical enemy. It was an enemy that hides behind the guise of a religion, a region and among helpless, powerless groups of people.
It's really so much more than that, but those are my memories from that day. In reliving part of that morning I watched some of the coverage today. The overwhelming sadness that I recall was felt again, the distress... there are still no words that can describe what happened, even knowing before I watched it this time it still seemed so surreal. There is still the question in my head, "Why and how could these people have done this??"
On my way home from the grocery store, I was driving over I-95 and there, on the overpass, were two Army dudes with a few kids standing next to them. They had once again placed flags on the fence and were each holding and proudly waving four or five huge American flags. I glance below to the highway and noticed cars slowing down, flashing lights and recognizing this gesture of remembrance, of patriotism. I can't really think of a time in my life when I've been any more proud of my countrymen for all they've given, all they've sacrificed in the last 5 years to bring justice to a faceless enemy.
For so many today is just another day that they are forced to remember a loved one who innocently lost their life on that day. It's just another day without them, but it's one day that we can all share as a nation, that we can remember to pray for them, their children, their families. It's a day that we can reflect on how life has changed, how the threat is still very real and we can remember to support those who have given everything to make our corner of the world safer for us.
I remember the day well. T had decided to work from home, not a typical practice. I was doing some laundry at our townhouse, Kt was just 3, Em was a baby. We got a call from one of T's coworkers, a former Marine. He said, "Are you watching TV?" I answered, "As a matter of fact we are. We are watching Sesame Street!" He said, "You need to put on CNN right away, I cannot even explain to you what is happening." And from there, the rest is history.
I can remember as we watched the horrific events unfold thinking that our world will never be the same ever again. My mind was fixed on the unbelievable evil that must have ruled the hearts of this enemy. Who would do something like that? Who would rejoice at such an unthinkable act?? There was an eerie silence that day, no air traffic above our home, which was in the traffic pattern for BWI airport. It made me think of these things.
In the weeks that followed, many things emerged, including some "grassroots" efforts at Patriotism. I really couldn't remember another time during my lifetime where I felt the people of all generations embraced the American flag the way it was five years ago. Everywhere I went, there were flags, on overpasses, on cars, on homes, the colors were everywhere. Red, white and blue. We also began to see the real face of our enemy, and it wasn't really that clear. It wasn't another country, with a flag of their own, borders, rulers, etc. It was a hidden, rogue, evil and radical enemy. It was an enemy that hides behind the guise of a religion, a region and among helpless, powerless groups of people.
It's really so much more than that, but those are my memories from that day. In reliving part of that morning I watched some of the coverage today. The overwhelming sadness that I recall was felt again, the distress... there are still no words that can describe what happened, even knowing before I watched it this time it still seemed so surreal. There is still the question in my head, "Why and how could these people have done this??"
On my way home from the grocery store, I was driving over I-95 and there, on the overpass, were two Army dudes with a few kids standing next to them. They had once again placed flags on the fence and were each holding and proudly waving four or five huge American flags. I glance below to the highway and noticed cars slowing down, flashing lights and recognizing this gesture of remembrance, of patriotism. I can't really think of a time in my life when I've been any more proud of my countrymen for all they've given, all they've sacrificed in the last 5 years to bring justice to a faceless enemy.
For so many today is just another day that they are forced to remember a loved one who innocently lost their life on that day. It's just another day without them, but it's one day that we can all share as a nation, that we can remember to pray for them, their children, their families. It's a day that we can reflect on how life has changed, how the threat is still very real and we can remember to support those who have given everything to make our corner of the world safer for us.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Exit Strategy
Do "most Christians" really want to stage a mass exodus from public schools?? I don't think so, and I hope not. I won't disagree that it's a little oppressive being a Christian in today's public schools. There is clearly a push to eradicate anything "christian" from public schools, but isn't Christ in our heart? Doesn't He go with us wherever we go? If you want Christ in public schools, send your Christian children to them, let them shine the light that is being extinguished by fear.
My point here is not to say homeschooling is wrong. I'm not even saying that you shouldn't send your children to private Christian schools. I'm just challenging those who do to really ask themselves why. If you think public school systems are fearing this withdrawal, think again. You might actually be provoking them to continue being anti-Christian. It sure saves them millions of dollars each year when another Christian child is not going to their school because it's evil. No skin off their backs. Unfortunately, for the few Christian children that are left in the public schools, it's a tough road. But I really believe in the end that it will build a lot of character in them. For now, that's why we've chosen to leave ours in a place where the light of Christ needs to be seen and I only hope that we can stand right with them along that journey.
EDIT: Funny I wrote this last night. Today I picked Kt up from Brownies and on the way home she said, "Mom, I quoted the fruits of the spirit today in school." I asked her why, and she replied, "My teacher was talking about obeying and I said you should obey so you can have the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. My teacher said to me, 'Can you write that down for me?'" LOL.
My point here is not to say homeschooling is wrong. I'm not even saying that you shouldn't send your children to private Christian schools. I'm just challenging those who do to really ask themselves why. If you think public school systems are fearing this withdrawal, think again. You might actually be provoking them to continue being anti-Christian. It sure saves them millions of dollars each year when another Christian child is not going to their school because it's evil. No skin off their backs. Unfortunately, for the few Christian children that are left in the public schools, it's a tough road. But I really believe in the end that it will build a lot of character in them. For now, that's why we've chosen to leave ours in a place where the light of Christ needs to be seen and I only hope that we can stand right with them along that journey.
EDIT: Funny I wrote this last night. Today I picked Kt up from Brownies and on the way home she said, "Mom, I quoted the fruits of the spirit today in school." I asked her why, and she replied, "My teacher was talking about obeying and I said you should obey so you can have the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. My teacher said to me, 'Can you write that down for me?'" LOL.
A Great Loss
My mom called earlier this evening with some very sad news. Our neighbor, Mr. Schoenfeldt, died in his sleep last night. He was 83. In the wake of the tragedy of Steve Irwin's death, you would think a man in his 80's dying of natural causes would be much less significant. For me, however, it's a bigger deal. He was a good friend of mine, from the early age of 2.
Mr. Schoenfeldt and his wife have lived next door since my parents moved in. They have been the only neighbors in that house for the past 33 years. He owned a gas station for years and service center. He loved fixing cars. When I was 3 years old, he taught me the names of all his tools, and while he lay under those cars in his driveway, he'd ask me for a Phillip's head screwdriver or a wrench and I'd hand it to him. He loved telling people about that, even when I was a mom in my 30's!
When I was little, his son was a big stock car builder and racer. He took me to the Danbury fair to watch the races, ride a few rides, have some cotton candy and a balloon, which I clearly remember flying out the window on our drive home! He was like a grandfather to me, and his sweet, gentle demeanor made him a pleasure to be around, especially for a little kid.
Once I was driving and had my own car, a lemon of a Ford Tempo, he also became my emergency mechanic. I remember one time my brakes were shot and my parents were away. I had to go to work, but I knew I couldn't drive my car. He fixed them for me, right then and there. I could always count on him.
In the past few years, we've had the Schoenfeldt's over at various times of the year and it's been fun. The last time they came, they told us how they met, she was the child of an immigrant farmer living in Newtown, CT with no electric! They met at a party and she needed a ride home, so he took her. And that was their story. I'm sure there's a lot more, but the little bit that they shared brought huge smiles and laughter to theirs and our faces.
In the past ten or so years, Mr. S has worked at the Mobil gas station down the street. It gave him something to do and he was unobtrusive, happily went about his own business. I'm sure all those young whippersnappers who worked with him never knew that he'd once owned and operated a similar setup. He did all the menial labor around the place and I know he loved it! At the beginning of the summer, I stopped there on my way out of town to gas up and saw him. I tried to get his attention, but I missed him. So I went on my way. This last trip, however, I saw him again. I'm so glad now that I went right over to him to say hi and bye. It was the last time I saw him and I am glad I took the time to stop for him. He was so worth that minute!
I don't really know what this means for his wife, Anne. She is super special to us as well, but she has been very sick for a long time. Their only son lives in California and really wanted them to move out there, but they loved living in CT, right next to my mom. Both of them had been very disturbed by my father's death and really went out of their way to take care of my mom. Now this could all change. I felt my mom's sense of security drop a notch when she told me the sad news and wondered if she might have to endure having new neighbors.
I think what I will miss the most about Mr. S is his amazing smile, which enveloped all who saw it with a friendly warmth. He was a man with a huge heart, a servant's heart, and nowadays, he'd be one in a billion! I will also miss hearing his wife yell out the back door, "JOHN!!!!" in the way that meant, "Where in the world are you and what are you doing??" He was always tinkering in his garage, yard or basement! But probably the hardest thing to give up is the knowledge that two people who love my mom live right next door if she needs anything at all. That's the kind of neighbors they have always been. It's a big loss, and it's with a heavy heart that I go to bed tonight.
Mr. Schoenfeldt and his wife have lived next door since my parents moved in. They have been the only neighbors in that house for the past 33 years. He owned a gas station for years and service center. He loved fixing cars. When I was 3 years old, he taught me the names of all his tools, and while he lay under those cars in his driveway, he'd ask me for a Phillip's head screwdriver or a wrench and I'd hand it to him. He loved telling people about that, even when I was a mom in my 30's!
When I was little, his son was a big stock car builder and racer. He took me to the Danbury fair to watch the races, ride a few rides, have some cotton candy and a balloon, which I clearly remember flying out the window on our drive home! He was like a grandfather to me, and his sweet, gentle demeanor made him a pleasure to be around, especially for a little kid.
Once I was driving and had my own car, a lemon of a Ford Tempo, he also became my emergency mechanic. I remember one time my brakes were shot and my parents were away. I had to go to work, but I knew I couldn't drive my car. He fixed them for me, right then and there. I could always count on him.
In the past few years, we've had the Schoenfeldt's over at various times of the year and it's been fun. The last time they came, they told us how they met, she was the child of an immigrant farmer living in Newtown, CT with no electric! They met at a party and she needed a ride home, so he took her. And that was their story. I'm sure there's a lot more, but the little bit that they shared brought huge smiles and laughter to theirs and our faces.
In the past ten or so years, Mr. S has worked at the Mobil gas station down the street. It gave him something to do and he was unobtrusive, happily went about his own business. I'm sure all those young whippersnappers who worked with him never knew that he'd once owned and operated a similar setup. He did all the menial labor around the place and I know he loved it! At the beginning of the summer, I stopped there on my way out of town to gas up and saw him. I tried to get his attention, but I missed him. So I went on my way. This last trip, however, I saw him again. I'm so glad now that I went right over to him to say hi and bye. It was the last time I saw him and I am glad I took the time to stop for him. He was so worth that minute!
I don't really know what this means for his wife, Anne. She is super special to us as well, but she has been very sick for a long time. Their only son lives in California and really wanted them to move out there, but they loved living in CT, right next to my mom. Both of them had been very disturbed by my father's death and really went out of their way to take care of my mom. Now this could all change. I felt my mom's sense of security drop a notch when she told me the sad news and wondered if she might have to endure having new neighbors.
I think what I will miss the most about Mr. S is his amazing smile, which enveloped all who saw it with a friendly warmth. He was a man with a huge heart, a servant's heart, and nowadays, he'd be one in a billion! I will also miss hearing his wife yell out the back door, "JOHN!!!!" in the way that meant, "Where in the world are you and what are you doing??" He was always tinkering in his garage, yard or basement! But probably the hardest thing to give up is the knowledge that two people who love my mom live right next door if she needs anything at all. That's the kind of neighbors they have always been. It's a big loss, and it's with a heavy heart that I go to bed tonight.
Rainy Tuesday Morning
Em woke me up this morning to ask, "Will they cancel school because it's pouring rain out?" She has been dreading going back to school since she came home last Thursday, but not because she doesn't like it. More because she's a homebody like me. I told her no, they won't, so she asked if she could take her "berella" along.
I'm not a fan of rain at all. I'm pretty sure I have SAD - seasonal affective disorder. A friend of mine who is a doctor used to tell me that. I have this general feeling of not wanting to do anything when it's not sunny out, rain only makes it worse! This past long weekend we opted not to go away so we could "enjoy" our last weekend at our pool. Well, it rained Friday and Saturday and that made the pool feel like it was filled with ice cubes on Sunday and Monday! What a drag!! I am SAD!
Today I don't know what I'm going to do. I was going to go for a walk, then grocery shopping and tutoring later. Now I'm sitting here blogging wondering if I should go to Curves instead or just walk on the treadmill, thinking about how I despise grocery shopping in the rain and wondering if my student will bail on me. I'd really like to go back to bed!
I'm not a fan of rain at all. I'm pretty sure I have SAD - seasonal affective disorder. A friend of mine who is a doctor used to tell me that. I have this general feeling of not wanting to do anything when it's not sunny out, rain only makes it worse! This past long weekend we opted not to go away so we could "enjoy" our last weekend at our pool. Well, it rained Friday and Saturday and that made the pool feel like it was filled with ice cubes on Sunday and Monday! What a drag!! I am SAD!
Today I don't know what I'm going to do. I was going to go for a walk, then grocery shopping and tutoring later. Now I'm sitting here blogging wondering if I should go to Curves instead or just walk on the treadmill, thinking about how I despise grocery shopping in the rain and wondering if my student will bail on me. I'd really like to go back to bed!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
What Does it Take to be An Amazing School Principal?
After hearing about the girl's first day of school Monday, T said to me, "Wow. I don't ever remember having a principal that I wasn't scared of or even knew!" It's true, the principal at the girl's school is very hands on, visible, she interacts well with the students. I don't think the girls are afraid of her at all. In fact, Em didn't even realize she WAS the principal until I told her today it's the woman in the lunch room!
The fact is, however, that unlike T I had the privilege of having a unique and amazing principal my last three years of elementary school. For my first four years, we had Mrs. Kennedy. She was everything you would imagine a stereotypical principal would be. Mrs. Kennedy had an air of prominence, of sternness. When she stepped foot in the cafeteria, all would instantly become silent. She would clip-clop through the cafeteria right out the other door without a sound being uttered. As soon as the door shut behind her, the pandemonium returned!! The cafeteria ladies used to tell us that the crack around the bottom of the domed ceiling was there because we were so noisy we would actually raise the ceiling an inch!
When I was fourth grade, life at my elementary school changed dramatically, all due to the retirement of Mrs. Kennedy and the replacement of her by a man. He was quiet, unimposing, would never look you in the eye when he talked to you. He was in no way shy, just very thoughtful. He remembered everyone's name, almost instantly. If you were sent to him, it might be for one of many, many reasons. If you were my brother, than you were in trouble, and you knew it! If you were me, then he had some exciting new adventure for you to embark upon. (Sorry, D, but I knew when you yelled to the cooks, "Hey dudes, what's cookin?" and Mr. P stuck HIS head out the window, you were in for it!)
Mr. P went way out of his way to engage students of all kinds. Instead of being a presence, he was always present. Instead of having an air of anything, you would be happy to see him walking towards you (unless you were somewhere you shouldn't be!) and if you were almost smart enough to be in one of his special programs, he invited you along for fun. Mr. P had a way of making each child feel special and didn't beat around the bush with any parents.
Mr. P would stand everyday at the lunchroom door and collect lunch tickets from the students. Once everyone was in the cafeteria, he would walk around and monitor the lunch room. When everyone was settled, he'd sit in the back of the lunchroom helping kids with classwork they didn't finish. When lunch shifts were over, he'd head outside to monitor the recess.
When things needed to be done around the school and nobody was able to do them, Mr. P would find an able bodied student to come and help. I answered phones in the office, did some calligraphy for him and even helped him in the computer lab he'd set up in his office, which he rarely used.
When parents didn't run afterschool clubs, he did. He started a unicycling program (yes, folks, I used to unicycle!), juggling program, clowning and our reading teacher started double dutch. He couldn't actually do any of those things, but he was there afterschool to help us learn how. He even took the show on the road, as we traveled to other schools to show some skills. It was fun, it was adventurous and it was amazing.
I cannot think of another school administrator who did more for me personally than this man. Honestly, I can't think of a school administrator that I knew other than this man! And when I graduated college with a teaching degree, I went back to see how things were at my elementary school, of course hoping that this man would be proud of me. I got one of his big smiles AND a job offer. For real. I didn't take it, because I'd made a commitment here in Maryland and had already started teaching. I can't say it wasn't the most tempting moment in my life, though. I would have loved to work for this man, who took a shy, quiet and average girl and made her feel like she was important in the world. I'd seen him do that with many of his students.
A few years later was the "Erasuregate" scandal, that left the school scarred for eternity, many students and parents hurt and a town torn apart. To this day, I cannot believe a word of what was suggested, that this man, Roger Previs, was capable of changing standardized test scores. Even now, years later, I still do not believe any of the accusations. Why would a man who had done his job so amazingly, need to change scores on tests? I'd never known him to be anything but honest, compassionate, full of integrity.
I don't really understand what happened, but I know this: his was a tough act to follow. In the end, I can say that a truly amazing principal in my mind must love the students first and foremost, must listen to his teachers and support them and must make parents feel proud of the school their children go to. He did all that and much more. The scandal cost him his job. Even after passing a polygraph that seemed to clear him of wrongdoing, he sacrificed himself to stop an investigation that may have uncovered the true culprit. Do we have any principals these days who would do that for a school they love?
In Howard County, where we live, I doubt a principal could ever match that kind of dedication. They don't allow them to stay long enough in one school to create that kind of atmosphere. In the four years that we've been in our elementary school, we've had two principals and two vice principals. None of them has done after school activities, none of them has taken a lunch or recess duty for teachers, none of them have even come close to what I experienced. That doesn't mean they are bad, it just enforces upon me the realization that Mr. Previs was special, and he did something that few principals are able to: he took a large group of kids, told them they were each special and took them on an adventure in education that they would never forget.
The fact is, however, that unlike T I had the privilege of having a unique and amazing principal my last three years of elementary school. For my first four years, we had Mrs. Kennedy. She was everything you would imagine a stereotypical principal would be. Mrs. Kennedy had an air of prominence, of sternness. When she stepped foot in the cafeteria, all would instantly become silent. She would clip-clop through the cafeteria right out the other door without a sound being uttered. As soon as the door shut behind her, the pandemonium returned!! The cafeteria ladies used to tell us that the crack around the bottom of the domed ceiling was there because we were so noisy we would actually raise the ceiling an inch!
When I was fourth grade, life at my elementary school changed dramatically, all due to the retirement of Mrs. Kennedy and the replacement of her by a man. He was quiet, unimposing, would never look you in the eye when he talked to you. He was in no way shy, just very thoughtful. He remembered everyone's name, almost instantly. If you were sent to him, it might be for one of many, many reasons. If you were my brother, than you were in trouble, and you knew it! If you were me, then he had some exciting new adventure for you to embark upon. (Sorry, D, but I knew when you yelled to the cooks, "Hey dudes, what's cookin?" and Mr. P stuck HIS head out the window, you were in for it!)
Mr. P went way out of his way to engage students of all kinds. Instead of being a presence, he was always present. Instead of having an air of anything, you would be happy to see him walking towards you (unless you were somewhere you shouldn't be!) and if you were almost smart enough to be in one of his special programs, he invited you along for fun. Mr. P had a way of making each child feel special and didn't beat around the bush with any parents.
Mr. P would stand everyday at the lunchroom door and collect lunch tickets from the students. Once everyone was in the cafeteria, he would walk around and monitor the lunch room. When everyone was settled, he'd sit in the back of the lunchroom helping kids with classwork they didn't finish. When lunch shifts were over, he'd head outside to monitor the recess.
When things needed to be done around the school and nobody was able to do them, Mr. P would find an able bodied student to come and help. I answered phones in the office, did some calligraphy for him and even helped him in the computer lab he'd set up in his office, which he rarely used.
When parents didn't run afterschool clubs, he did. He started a unicycling program (yes, folks, I used to unicycle!), juggling program, clowning and our reading teacher started double dutch. He couldn't actually do any of those things, but he was there afterschool to help us learn how. He even took the show on the road, as we traveled to other schools to show some skills. It was fun, it was adventurous and it was amazing.
I cannot think of another school administrator who did more for me personally than this man. Honestly, I can't think of a school administrator that I knew other than this man! And when I graduated college with a teaching degree, I went back to see how things were at my elementary school, of course hoping that this man would be proud of me. I got one of his big smiles AND a job offer. For real. I didn't take it, because I'd made a commitment here in Maryland and had already started teaching. I can't say it wasn't the most tempting moment in my life, though. I would have loved to work for this man, who took a shy, quiet and average girl and made her feel like she was important in the world. I'd seen him do that with many of his students.
A few years later was the "Erasuregate" scandal, that left the school scarred for eternity, many students and parents hurt and a town torn apart. To this day, I cannot believe a word of what was suggested, that this man, Roger Previs, was capable of changing standardized test scores. Even now, years later, I still do not believe any of the accusations. Why would a man who had done his job so amazingly, need to change scores on tests? I'd never known him to be anything but honest, compassionate, full of integrity.
I don't really understand what happened, but I know this: his was a tough act to follow. In the end, I can say that a truly amazing principal in my mind must love the students first and foremost, must listen to his teachers and support them and must make parents feel proud of the school their children go to. He did all that and much more. The scandal cost him his job. Even after passing a polygraph that seemed to clear him of wrongdoing, he sacrificed himself to stop an investigation that may have uncovered the true culprit. Do we have any principals these days who would do that for a school they love?
In Howard County, where we live, I doubt a principal could ever match that kind of dedication. They don't allow them to stay long enough in one school to create that kind of atmosphere. In the four years that we've been in our elementary school, we've had two principals and two vice principals. None of them has done after school activities, none of them has taken a lunch or recess duty for teachers, none of them have even come close to what I experienced. That doesn't mean they are bad, it just enforces upon me the realization that Mr. Previs was special, and he did something that few principals are able to: he took a large group of kids, told them they were each special and took them on an adventure in education that they would never forget.
Playground "Safety" Part Two
Today I stopped in for lunch with Em when I was turning in Kt's asthma meds. The same three parents from Monday were there again today. I guess they have gone in everyday! Hmmm... and all in the same class. Very strange...
Anyway, Em was sitting with a new friend today. Extremely sweet little girl. She was a talker, which must be why Em likes her! Em mentioned to me that the "coach", who didn't send her in for ice when she hurt her eye outside, asked her to take another little girl to the nurse today for ice. She had fallen and skinned her knee. After telling her story, Em's new little friend chimed in that she had to go to the school nurse when she hurt her back yesterday. She then showed me her back, with a huge scrape up it. She apparently fell just like Em did while sliding down the same monkey bars.
I have said all along that our playground is inappropriate for kindergartens, but now I find myself in a Catch 22. If I make a stink about it, the kids will have nowhere to play. If I don't, they'll be visiting the nurse in droves each day. Maybe then they'll actually do something about it. I'm going to leave it alone for now.
Em was quite impressed with those playground scars. Those two girls now have a lot more in common than just being talkative!
Anyway, Em was sitting with a new friend today. Extremely sweet little girl. She was a talker, which must be why Em likes her! Em mentioned to me that the "coach", who didn't send her in for ice when she hurt her eye outside, asked her to take another little girl to the nurse today for ice. She had fallen and skinned her knee. After telling her story, Em's new little friend chimed in that she had to go to the school nurse when she hurt her back yesterday. She then showed me her back, with a huge scrape up it. She apparently fell just like Em did while sliding down the same monkey bars.
I have said all along that our playground is inappropriate for kindergartens, but now I find myself in a Catch 22. If I make a stink about it, the kids will have nowhere to play. If I don't, they'll be visiting the nurse in droves each day. Maybe then they'll actually do something about it. I'm going to leave it alone for now.
Em was quite impressed with those playground scars. Those two girls now have a lot more in common than just being talkative!
Ousting Religious Groups at a Religious Institution?
Apparently, Georgetown University has pulled the plug on "evangelical" christian groups on campus, such as InterVarsity. Georgetown is technically a Catholic university, but they do have a campus program for Protestant students. It looks like they have decided that these six groups are proselytizing too much - huh? Last time I checked, Catholics also believed in Jesus Christ, worshipped Him and encouraged the spread of this belief. I'm dumbfounded! Shame on Georgetown! Even more surprising, they have failed to limit the creation and activity of other religious groups that, in my opinion, have extremely different beliefs than Catholics. Go figure!??
End of an Era
Growing up in Fairfield, Connecticut definitely had it's perks. As a child, I never fully appreciated the fact that I lived in suburban America, with backyard neighbors, quiet backroads and within walking distance of our church, our bank, a pharmacy, most of my friends, a pizza shop, a newspaper stand, gas station/service center, community park, later a video store, a bagel shop, a hair salon, a travel agency, our elementary school and most convenient of all, a grocery store. It was a small one, but it was perfect for picking up those last minute items and more recently for my mom, who living alone never needs much in the way of groceries.
The truth is, it's just a tiny pocket in that suburb that still enjoys the charm of days in the past, when anyone could walk to the market and purchase all they needed for that day. Most of the businesses in the tiniest of stripmalls has changed hands. What used to be a meat market is now travel agency, what used to be Stratfield Pharmacy first became a video store and is now an Italian Restaurant. I can recall weekly trips to the "drug store" to purchase candy, avoiding the vicious german shepherd along the way. Very little has changed, although the dog is long gone.
Right now, in that neighborhood, there is an unhappy event occurring. The owner of the building that now houses the IGA market has accepted a bid from a rather large chain, Walgreens, and is shutting out the grocery store. It's truly a very sad event. Why? Because within 5-10 minutes of my mother's home there are several CVS and Walgreens stores. What has historically been a nice, quiet privately operated cluster of business will now be redefined by a major "chain" store.
Probably what is most disconcerting to my mom is that her corner of the world has been fairly quiet, safe and comfortable. While it's only minutes from Bridgeport, a city in Connecticut that is rife with crime, the unsettling safety issues that plague that city rarely cross over into Fairfield. With the advent of this new store will come, most likely, a rise in neighborhood crime, as stores such as CVS and Walgreens are often the target of ill-minded individuals. This is a huge worry for that community, which has enjoyed decades of safety. (We won't add centuries, as the house next to this IGA was historically a brothel!!)
I really am sad about this development. Apparently the property owner did not even give the current business operator even a chance to rebid for continued use of the building. Not to mention, this property owner has allowed the property to suffer tremendously, with no improvements over the years that my family has lived there. It is a shameful state, and I highly doubt this property owners calls to the community to support his decision will be met favorably! He ought to just walk away with his head hanging.
So on my next visit to Connecticut, I won't be able to run down to the corner for milk, or deli meat, or any of the small food items that I forgot. I cannot take my girls down for some ice cream or even send T in the morning for the orange juice that we've all finished up. If anything was a "convenience" store for us, it was the place we could go to buy all the things we forgot on Thanksgiving morning - butter, sweet potatoes, brown sugar and the likes. I doubt there is a person in that neighborhood who will be able to call Walgreens convenient. It just won't be anymore!
Full Story here.
The truth is, it's just a tiny pocket in that suburb that still enjoys the charm of days in the past, when anyone could walk to the market and purchase all they needed for that day. Most of the businesses in the tiniest of stripmalls has changed hands. What used to be a meat market is now travel agency, what used to be Stratfield Pharmacy first became a video store and is now an Italian Restaurant. I can recall weekly trips to the "drug store" to purchase candy, avoiding the vicious german shepherd along the way. Very little has changed, although the dog is long gone.
Right now, in that neighborhood, there is an unhappy event occurring. The owner of the building that now houses the IGA market has accepted a bid from a rather large chain, Walgreens, and is shutting out the grocery store. It's truly a very sad event. Why? Because within 5-10 minutes of my mother's home there are several CVS and Walgreens stores. What has historically been a nice, quiet privately operated cluster of business will now be redefined by a major "chain" store.
Probably what is most disconcerting to my mom is that her corner of the world has been fairly quiet, safe and comfortable. While it's only minutes from Bridgeport, a city in Connecticut that is rife with crime, the unsettling safety issues that plague that city rarely cross over into Fairfield. With the advent of this new store will come, most likely, a rise in neighborhood crime, as stores such as CVS and Walgreens are often the target of ill-minded individuals. This is a huge worry for that community, which has enjoyed decades of safety. (We won't add centuries, as the house next to this IGA was historically a brothel!!)
I really am sad about this development. Apparently the property owner did not even give the current business operator even a chance to rebid for continued use of the building. Not to mention, this property owner has allowed the property to suffer tremendously, with no improvements over the years that my family has lived there. It is a shameful state, and I highly doubt this property owners calls to the community to support his decision will be met favorably! He ought to just walk away with his head hanging.
So on my next visit to Connecticut, I won't be able to run down to the corner for milk, or deli meat, or any of the small food items that I forgot. I cannot take my girls down for some ice cream or even send T in the morning for the orange juice that we've all finished up. If anything was a "convenience" store for us, it was the place we could go to buy all the things we forgot on Thanksgiving morning - butter, sweet potatoes, brown sugar and the likes. I doubt there is a person in that neighborhood who will be able to call Walgreens convenient. It just won't be anymore!
Full Story here.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Your Child's Gorgeous Classroom!
There is nothing more impressive to parents than a bright, cheery, well-decorated classroom for their child. A room that is inviting for parents and students alike reveals a teacher who is ready for school and cares about her class. Parents like color, vibrance and vitality so that they feel like their children won't die of boredom in another classroom of the past!
What parents don't realize is that schools do not provide decorations for the teachers and what you see is more of a reflection of how this teacher spends his/her money! As a teacher of 5 1/2 years with two parents also in the field of education, I know first and secondhand just how expensive classrooms can be. My mom has been teaching over 20 years and still, just this month we spent over $100 on her room. Things that can cause a hefty pricetag for a teacher are switching grades, changing curriculum and moving to a new school. It's a huge burden, and one that many teachers are not allowed to reveal to the parents who benefit from this huge expenditure.
If you really want to treat your child's teacher, give them money. I assure you, it's already been spent on something that will benefit your child. A target gift certificate or even a meal out will make the expenditure well worth your teacher's risk. I understand that some think giving money cards or gift cards to teachers is tacky, but I am here to tell you that it allows teachers to go the extra mile when they run out of stickers or need some new writing prompts or just want to do something extra for the class, like an art project or a Mother's Day gift. You really have no idea what a teacher dreams of that would be an amazing experience for your child, if only he/she had a budget!
The Washington Post has a great article recognizing the sacrifice that many teachers make at the start of a new year, for students they don't know and parents they've likely never met. Why do they do this? Because they love what they do and it's worth the risk to communicate to you, the parent, that they really do care. I think they deserve that gift certificate to Target or that dinner at The Melting Pot for all their hard work and effort. And you never even knew...
What parents don't realize is that schools do not provide decorations for the teachers and what you see is more of a reflection of how this teacher spends his/her money! As a teacher of 5 1/2 years with two parents also in the field of education, I know first and secondhand just how expensive classrooms can be. My mom has been teaching over 20 years and still, just this month we spent over $100 on her room. Things that can cause a hefty pricetag for a teacher are switching grades, changing curriculum and moving to a new school. It's a huge burden, and one that many teachers are not allowed to reveal to the parents who benefit from this huge expenditure.
If you really want to treat your child's teacher, give them money. I assure you, it's already been spent on something that will benefit your child. A target gift certificate or even a meal out will make the expenditure well worth your teacher's risk. I understand that some think giving money cards or gift cards to teachers is tacky, but I am here to tell you that it allows teachers to go the extra mile when they run out of stickers or need some new writing prompts or just want to do something extra for the class, like an art project or a Mother's Day gift. You really have no idea what a teacher dreams of that would be an amazing experience for your child, if only he/she had a budget!
The Washington Post has a great article recognizing the sacrifice that many teachers make at the start of a new year, for students they don't know and parents they've likely never met. Why do they do this? Because they love what they do and it's worth the risk to communicate to you, the parent, that they really do care. I think they deserve that gift certificate to Target or that dinner at The Melting Pot for all their hard work and effort. And you never even knew...
No Textbooks?
I just started tutoring a repeating senior today. I have tried contacting his teachers via email and the only one who responded was the one I was warned likely wouldn't use computers. LOL But what really surprised me was the fact that out of all the classes, Consumer Math, US History, Ancient Medieval History and Environmental Science, not one of them sends home a textbook. Now after 4 years of a backbreaking backpack I'm thinking this is completely unfair. AND how do these students complete homework, reading assignments (which for two of the classes makes up a percentage of their grade) and study for tests?? Slowly, I'm losing faith in the public school system around here!!
EDIT: I am happy to report that my student brought along two textbooks today, one for US History and the other for Consumer Math. YEAH!! Of course, now I'm wondering if I can believe him!!??
EDIT: I am happy to report that my student brought along two textbooks today, one for US History and the other for Consumer Math. YEAH!! Of course, now I'm wondering if I can believe him!!??
A Day in the Life of a Third Grader
Here is Kt's letter she wrote to us on her first day of school in third grade. I am so happy that she at least sounds happy, as she, for the first time in her life, did not want to go to school on her first day of the year.
I guess Kt gets her longwindedness from me! I'm only slightly embarrassed. I take no credit for the poor spelling - I'll leave that in the hands of the Howard County School System, who refuses to adopt a formative spelling curriculum!
Kt came home very excited because her teacher read her letter to the class. It was the longest, most detailed letter and the only one Ms. C read. Kt was very proud of herself and that made me super happy. What more could a parent ask for??
Last night, when Kt and I were reading before bed, I had this overwhelming appreciation of her and the gift she is to us. We have our ups and downs, our bumps in the road, but the truth is that I think she is rare in many ways. All her teachers (except for last year's) have told us that she is a treasure, and they've told us multiple times until sometimes it's a little uncomfortable. But I know what they mean, I really do.
Tomorrow she will take in three things that define who she is. She is taking a video she made of her new puppy, Phoebe (I'm not really sure how that defines her!), her CD she made with Uncle D - "My Favorite Color is Rainbow" written and performed by the both of them, and her Bible. I would LOVE to be there when she presents herself, but I guess that's just something I'll have to hear from her!
Dear Mom and Dad,
Today at school we went to P.E. there, we got to have extra recess. Then, we got to lable our school supplies. Then, we had lunch, and more recess. Then Ms. C read us a book, it was about a person who did not want to go to the first day of school. A boy was with her and made her get out of bed and go to school. When the princeable saw her she showed her to her room.
Then the princeable said, "Class meet your new teacher."
I love my teacher. She is very nice and very funny. We also get to get a planner. It is used for homework. My classroom has a lot of resourses. Its not to bad in third grade. I know alot of the people. I have two or three new students = J and A. Ms. C is a big fan of sports, she had the Ravens and the Orioles flag hanging in her room, she has spots stickers, plus the buliton board says Kicking off a Great Year. the name tags are the shapes of mega phones. I guess to put all this together I can just say I love third grade.
I guess Kt gets her longwindedness from me! I'm only slightly embarrassed. I take no credit for the poor spelling - I'll leave that in the hands of the Howard County School System, who refuses to adopt a formative spelling curriculum!
Kt came home very excited because her teacher read her letter to the class. It was the longest, most detailed letter and the only one Ms. C read. Kt was very proud of herself and that made me super happy. What more could a parent ask for??
Last night, when Kt and I were reading before bed, I had this overwhelming appreciation of her and the gift she is to us. We have our ups and downs, our bumps in the road, but the truth is that I think she is rare in many ways. All her teachers (except for last year's) have told us that she is a treasure, and they've told us multiple times until sometimes it's a little uncomfortable. But I know what they mean, I really do.
Tomorrow she will take in three things that define who she is. She is taking a video she made of her new puppy, Phoebe (I'm not really sure how that defines her!), her CD she made with Uncle D - "My Favorite Color is Rainbow" written and performed by the both of them, and her Bible. I would LOVE to be there when she presents herself, but I guess that's just something I'll have to hear from her!
Station Wagons
I have just had this urge all day to blog about station wagons. What happened to them?? When I was a kid, our first station wagon (actually, I think it was our second) was a Gran Torino, light blue with navy interior. It was money! I can remember my little brother singing away with my mom to "Are You Ready?" playing on the radio while we all jumped around and played in the back. What a great car!
Our second (or third?) station wagon was much nicer. I can't remember what kind it was (I'll ask my brother - the car fanatic!), but I do remember it had air conditioning, "wood" trim, also blue outside and in. We took many fantastic road trips in that station wagon. We camped, drove to Florida and even drove across the country in that beautiful wagon. The beauty of it was really in is versatility. Actually, maybe the beauty of it was in the no seatbelt, no carseat laws era!! When we drove through the night, as my parents loved to do, we put all the seats down, the two in the "way back" and the middle seats and laid out our sleeping bags!! Can't do that anymore!
That one fateful vacation, on our very first leg of the journey through St. Louis in the middle of the night and onto Kansas (or was it Oklahoma??), we brought along my first dozen roses from my boyfriend. When you are in high school, a dozen roses the day you leave for vacation is so romantic, until your little brother wakes up the next morning with snot all over his face and his eyes glued shut because he's allergic to them! We also packed all our luggage on the roof in our brand new soft carrier, in our brand new soft duffel bags - black. That was the cool color.
We all slept soundly in our luxurious wagon, waking up to sunshine, but not before my father lamented about having to drive all night through rain. We finally stopped somewhere in Kansas or Oklahoma to find all our clothes ruined. Our wonderful soft carrier and new black bags were not waterproof. Hmm... not so luxurious anymore. The three of us kids, squished into the backseat for the rest of our cross country trip! ROFL!
That station wagon served us well. I learned to drive in it and my poor mom, she drove that thing with the soft, cushiony ceiling caving in on us for years. By the time we got rid of our precious power windows, power seats and power door locks wagon, we were ready to see it go. I don't think any of us realized, however, that we'd likely never see another station wagon like that again!
Just this year my mom purchased a Ford Freestyle. It's like a cross between an SUV and a station wagon! Why she bought it, I will never know. I mean, I'm thinking it might resurrect some painful memories of her three children moaning in the back, "Stop touching me!" Or maybe she might be reminded of my father driving while swatting at us and swerving all over the road (I remember that clearly!). Or maybe even still, the fact that our neighbor who had some very shady friends and our EXACT SAME station wagon managed to get his friends so mad they slashed all our tires by mistake!
I don't really know what has made me think about station wagons, and if my brother, the car expert, knew that I was even uttering those two words he would run for cover! Just so many memories of the past, things my children will never have to live through. Instead, they will have only memories of the minivan....
*Oh, and just in case you are wondering, 'snot' is not in the blog spell check dictionary. I thought you might want to know that!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
New Health Initiative
The "new policy" in our schools this year is the Health initiative. Can we say "bogus"?? (Yes, miss negative again!) So far, the only change that I've seen is that instead of sending a class treat for birthdays, we can only send in a gift for the class for our child's birthday!! This is supposed to create healthier children. Hmmm...
Well, I'm no fitness freak, but I can think of a few things that might make school "healthier" for kids. For one, how about longer recess or P.E. classes? How about healthier school lunches?? Or better yet, how about improving our 25 year old playground that is inappropriate for kindergarteners??? Most schools in our county, even the "less popular" ones, have a separate, age-appropriate playground just for preschoolers. Not ours, even though parents and administrators have been requesting that for years!! In fact, our school has one blacktop area, one playground/mulched area and this year no grassy areas due to the delayed building of two more kindergarten rooms for the new full day kindergarten that has already started. The foundation for that addition has NOT EVEN BEEN LAID OUT YET!!
Basically, if I felt like there were other significant changes being made to benefit my children's health, no birthday treats would seem like a great idea. But the bottom line is that this is no "health inititiative", it's a "let's see if we can't just eliminate complaints about food in the classrooms for our food allergy students" initiative. Why not just have a peanut free school??(*) It's not that hard, it's safer and it allows the students to enjoy the few fringe benefits of school, such as a few times a month getting to celebrate a special day for a student in the room? I don't know about everyone else, but the day I got to bring in cupcakes and pass them around then take the extras to everyone in the school office - those days were AWESOME!! Well, those days are no more!
I guess to me, each year with the elimination of holiday parties and now birthdays, I am feeling like school really is just a boring place for kids to live out their young lives. At our school, last year Kt had not one off site field trip. I LOVED field trips, so the thought of not having even one just ruins it for me. What is this world coming to?
On a side note, totally off this terrible topic, Em announced to me this morning that on her radio (which she has set to WGTS, a christian station) they said there would be thunderstorms. She told me they might have to come home early from school! LOL I had to break it to her that you have to stay in school for thunderstorms. She was not at all happy about that, so I'm praying for no storms until she gets home! Of course, then we'll have to skip the pool again. So much for our health initiative!
*The truth is, schools would rather listen to a few parents complain about food allergies than to take the bold step of just eliminating peanuts and having to listen to a majority of parents complain. Having a peanut free school would mean sending in Oreos for a birthday treat instead of homemade cupcakes - doesn't sound so bad to me! Not to mention we would be eliminating a fatal risk for some children. If you want to make a healthy decision, make all schools peanut free. How about that??
Well, I'm no fitness freak, but I can think of a few things that might make school "healthier" for kids. For one, how about longer recess or P.E. classes? How about healthier school lunches?? Or better yet, how about improving our 25 year old playground that is inappropriate for kindergarteners??? Most schools in our county, even the "less popular" ones, have a separate, age-appropriate playground just for preschoolers. Not ours, even though parents and administrators have been requesting that for years!! In fact, our school has one blacktop area, one playground/mulched area and this year no grassy areas due to the delayed building of two more kindergarten rooms for the new full day kindergarten that has already started. The foundation for that addition has NOT EVEN BEEN LAID OUT YET!!
Basically, if I felt like there were other significant changes being made to benefit my children's health, no birthday treats would seem like a great idea. But the bottom line is that this is no "health inititiative", it's a "let's see if we can't just eliminate complaints about food in the classrooms for our food allergy students" initiative. Why not just have a peanut free school??(*) It's not that hard, it's safer and it allows the students to enjoy the few fringe benefits of school, such as a few times a month getting to celebrate a special day for a student in the room? I don't know about everyone else, but the day I got to bring in cupcakes and pass them around then take the extras to everyone in the school office - those days were AWESOME!! Well, those days are no more!
I guess to me, each year with the elimination of holiday parties and now birthdays, I am feeling like school really is just a boring place for kids to live out their young lives. At our school, last year Kt had not one off site field trip. I LOVED field trips, so the thought of not having even one just ruins it for me. What is this world coming to?
On a side note, totally off this terrible topic, Em announced to me this morning that on her radio (which she has set to WGTS, a christian station) they said there would be thunderstorms. She told me they might have to come home early from school! LOL I had to break it to her that you have to stay in school for thunderstorms. She was not at all happy about that, so I'm praying for no storms until she gets home! Of course, then we'll have to skip the pool again. So much for our health initiative!
*The truth is, schools would rather listen to a few parents complain about food allergies than to take the bold step of just eliminating peanuts and having to listen to a majority of parents complain. Having a peanut free school would mean sending in Oreos for a birthday treat instead of homemade cupcakes - doesn't sound so bad to me! Not to mention we would be eliminating a fatal risk for some children. If you want to make a healthy decision, make all schools peanut free. How about that??
Monday, August 28, 2006
First Day of School Update
We survived! It was a crazy day and a lot to report. I sent my girls off to school and I think they both had a great first day. I decided to walk on my treadmill as it was hot and muggy out when they left. After that I went to my dr. appointment where I waited for an hour to be seen! This is par for the course where I go, which only makes my appointments even more annoying.
The amazing thing about this appointment was that my blood pressure AND heart rate were normal. That NEVER happens!! Maybe both kids in school all day is good for me!?! Who would have thought. While there, however, I got a TB test and a DTP test. My arm is not feeling so great today, not to mention my slightly swollen eyes will need to hit the hay soon.
After my appointment, I decided to catch the last 10 minutes of Em's lunch. When she saw me, she looked disappointed and said, "Oh... I wanted to ride the bus home!" I assured her I had no intentions of taking her home, just wanted to see how her day was going. She loves it. She loves her teacher, her classmates (except for the one who breaks the rules and pushed her!), she was gobbling down her lunch and ready to head back to class. I love her!
While there, another mom informed me that she had forgotten to send in a stuffed animal, so of course, I realized I'd done the same. Not sure how I forgot that. I remembered the egg salad for lunch, to finish the laundry, label two shopping bags full of school supplies, wrap teacher gifts, pack backpacks and lunch boxes, write notes, get the extra kindergarten supplies ready for T to take in, pack lunches in the morning, take pictures.... how could I have forgotten the stuffed animal?? I have no idea! Anyway, a trip home to grab a lunch/snack, the note Kt forgot to bring in and a stuffed animal only to return to school to deliver. I had a short visit with Kt, where she shared that she was enjoying her first day.
From there I went BACK to the doctor. Since my appointment took so long, I had to return to turn in a form for Kt's asthma meds. The whole office closes for lunch, so I couldn't leave it earlier. Then I went from there to register the girls for gymnastics, came home and totally crashed on the sofa. It's a good thing I woke up before the bus came!
Em stepped off the bus this afternoon with a semi-black eye. Try extracting important details from a 5 year old on her first day of full day kindergarten. It was painful! All I can gather is that she fell from the monkey bars that are totally inappropriate for kindergarteners and hit her eye. The "coach", who we will assume is the insensitive, old, cranky gym teacher, told her just to sit out and rest a bit. Why was the gym teacher monitoring the kindergarten recess?? Where were the other teachers? aides? Why didn't anyone get her ice??? Well, we got her ice when she got home and got the swelling down to a bruise. That will look lovely for school pictures!
We had dinner at Friendly's to celebrate the first day of school. I'm totally spent now. My eyes are puffy from my DTP shot, my head hurts, my arm aches and I sort of feel like I didn't get anything done today. Good thing I don't have anything at all tomorrow - so that is really my first day of freedom!! Yeah!!
Now, for the rest of the school year!
The amazing thing about this appointment was that my blood pressure AND heart rate were normal. That NEVER happens!! Maybe both kids in school all day is good for me!?! Who would have thought. While there, however, I got a TB test and a DTP test. My arm is not feeling so great today, not to mention my slightly swollen eyes will need to hit the hay soon.
After my appointment, I decided to catch the last 10 minutes of Em's lunch. When she saw me, she looked disappointed and said, "Oh... I wanted to ride the bus home!" I assured her I had no intentions of taking her home, just wanted to see how her day was going. She loves it. She loves her teacher, her classmates (except for the one who breaks the rules and pushed her!), she was gobbling down her lunch and ready to head back to class. I love her!
While there, another mom informed me that she had forgotten to send in a stuffed animal, so of course, I realized I'd done the same. Not sure how I forgot that. I remembered the egg salad for lunch, to finish the laundry, label two shopping bags full of school supplies, wrap teacher gifts, pack backpacks and lunch boxes, write notes, get the extra kindergarten supplies ready for T to take in, pack lunches in the morning, take pictures.... how could I have forgotten the stuffed animal?? I have no idea! Anyway, a trip home to grab a lunch/snack, the note Kt forgot to bring in and a stuffed animal only to return to school to deliver. I had a short visit with Kt, where she shared that she was enjoying her first day.
From there I went BACK to the doctor. Since my appointment took so long, I had to return to turn in a form for Kt's asthma meds. The whole office closes for lunch, so I couldn't leave it earlier. Then I went from there to register the girls for gymnastics, came home and totally crashed on the sofa. It's a good thing I woke up before the bus came!
Em stepped off the bus this afternoon with a semi-black eye. Try extracting important details from a 5 year old on her first day of full day kindergarten. It was painful! All I can gather is that she fell from the monkey bars that are totally inappropriate for kindergarteners and hit her eye. The "coach", who we will assume is the insensitive, old, cranky gym teacher, told her just to sit out and rest a bit. Why was the gym teacher monitoring the kindergarten recess?? Where were the other teachers? aides? Why didn't anyone get her ice??? Well, we got her ice when she got home and got the swelling down to a bruise. That will look lovely for school pictures!
We had dinner at Friendly's to celebrate the first day of school. I'm totally spent now. My eyes are puffy from my DTP shot, my head hurts, my arm aches and I sort of feel like I didn't get anything done today. Good thing I don't have anything at all tomorrow - so that is really my first day of freedom!! Yeah!!
Now, for the rest of the school year!
First Day of School!
Last night, my family asked me what I have planned for the first day of school. I'm sure most moms who send all their kids to full day school for the first time have a great "first day of freedom" planned. I, however, responded with, "Well, I have a doctor's appointment!" All of them agreed that next year, for my first day of school I should schedule a dentist appointment - LOL!
We spent a better part of this weekend getting organized for school, getting school clothes laundered, teacher gifts chosen and cards written. I spent Saturday morning shopping for lunch boxes, shoes (forgot to get a pair for Katie - oops!), finishing up with school supplies and purchasing games and play doh for kindergarten. We are all exhausted, which likely won't bode well for my doctor's appointment this morning, but I definitely feel a sense of relief that it's over - at least this part.
Last night, the girls each had a bath, different bed times (which did not go over well at all for Em until she crashed on her pillow!), choose clothes for today... Kt, for the first time, is not overly excited about the start of school. In fact, I think she is slightly depressed about it. I'm hoping and praying that she will have a wonderful first day. Em is her usual fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants self. One minute she is "so excited" about kindergarten and the prospect of spending an entire year locked inside a building with her best friend, the next minute she declares that she never wants to go to school. She just wants to stay home and play!
I think our funniest moment today was when I announced at 8:30, while both my children were still eating, one not even dressed yet, no hair brushed, no shoes on, that we needed to hurry it up as the bus was coming at 8:50. Em stopped in her tracks and yelled, "I get to ride the bus???" We all busted out laughing. I'm quite certain we've been over this 100 times, but clearly the reality of the situation finally hit my happy-go-lucky child. What a day it will be for her!
For me, probably the saddest part about today is that I won't get to experience it with her. I don't necessarily want to be with her, I just want to watch, like through a hidden camera or something. The first day of school isn't meant to experienced by any parents! It's a special day for teachers and their students, but when I was teaching it was so fun to watch the expressions of my students on that first day, when they were all angels (this changes really quickly by the way!), and everything was new for them. It's such a pleasure to experience!
So, for me, well, I'll get to blog a little more, get my house organized for the first time since I had children (oh, wait, I don't think it's ever been organized!), I will be tutoring a high school student through his senior year a few hours a week and teaching 3 year olds at a Mother's Day Out program on Friday mornings. On top of that, I'm hoping to find a pool to join so I can fit in some swimming and I am planning to do the Parent Partners reading program that I did last year. I doubt I'll have a lot of free time, but it will be fun to do some of the things that I've always wanted to do but couldn't. T is being kind enough to not make me get a job for this first year at home. The last thing I want to do is squander any of this precious time!
Happy First Day of School to everyone!
We spent a better part of this weekend getting organized for school, getting school clothes laundered, teacher gifts chosen and cards written. I spent Saturday morning shopping for lunch boxes, shoes (forgot to get a pair for Katie - oops!), finishing up with school supplies and purchasing games and play doh for kindergarten. We are all exhausted, which likely won't bode well for my doctor's appointment this morning, but I definitely feel a sense of relief that it's over - at least this part.
Last night, the girls each had a bath, different bed times (which did not go over well at all for Em until she crashed on her pillow!), choose clothes for today... Kt, for the first time, is not overly excited about the start of school. In fact, I think she is slightly depressed about it. I'm hoping and praying that she will have a wonderful first day. Em is her usual fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants self. One minute she is "so excited" about kindergarten and the prospect of spending an entire year locked inside a building with her best friend, the next minute she declares that she never wants to go to school. She just wants to stay home and play!
I think our funniest moment today was when I announced at 8:30, while both my children were still eating, one not even dressed yet, no hair brushed, no shoes on, that we needed to hurry it up as the bus was coming at 8:50. Em stopped in her tracks and yelled, "I get to ride the bus???" We all busted out laughing. I'm quite certain we've been over this 100 times, but clearly the reality of the situation finally hit my happy-go-lucky child. What a day it will be for her!
For me, probably the saddest part about today is that I won't get to experience it with her. I don't necessarily want to be with her, I just want to watch, like through a hidden camera or something. The first day of school isn't meant to experienced by any parents! It's a special day for teachers and their students, but when I was teaching it was so fun to watch the expressions of my students on that first day, when they were all angels (this changes really quickly by the way!), and everything was new for them. It's such a pleasure to experience!
So, for me, well, I'll get to blog a little more, get my house organized for the first time since I had children (oh, wait, I don't think it's ever been organized!), I will be tutoring a high school student through his senior year a few hours a week and teaching 3 year olds at a Mother's Day Out program on Friday mornings. On top of that, I'm hoping to find a pool to join so I can fit in some swimming and I am planning to do the Parent Partners reading program that I did last year. I doubt I'll have a lot of free time, but it will be fun to do some of the things that I've always wanted to do but couldn't. T is being kind enough to not make me get a job for this first year at home. The last thing I want to do is squander any of this precious time!
Happy First Day of School to everyone!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Sleepover with Em
So, tonight T is away. Kt went to spend the night with her friend. Em asked me right away, "So, can I sleep in your room? In your bed??" She has been gleeful all night that Kt is gone, sad that daddy is away. I thought we'd make a Target run, but her leg hurt (likely story!), so we watched Princess Diaries instead.
Em is such a funny girl. It's fun when I get to spend time with just her and tonight was a gift because soon I won't see her nearly enough. Full day kindergarten is a bit of a curse to me. I feel like I'm being robbed of extra time that I had with Kt. So tonight I enjoyed her a bit.
Part of that is remembering how enthralled my father was with her when she was young. Em has an aura of joy around her most of the time. Her smile is very bright, infectious and her spirit is light-hearted. She has a bounce in her step, everyone comments on the way she walks - like a little fashion model. I can't tell you how many people have watched her walk away and said to me, "Wow, good luck with THAT one!"
Tonight we cuddle together and she once again asked me a ton of questions that she already knows the answers to. She just likes to make sure the answers haven't changed. Why do you love me - because I'm your kid? (that's my personal favorite!) Do you want to share my blanket? (gives me a tiny corner!) I just love spending time with you - don't you? (of course I do) Why can't I stay up longer? (that's a given)
I laid down with her for a bit hoping she settle down and fall asleep. She is very tired, but totally excited about being the only kid in the house with me. She was laying on T's side of the bed and being very giggly. She looked at me and said, "I wonder what daddy will think when he smells me on his pillow?" Giggle, giggle, giggle.... I wonder what goes through that 5 1/2 year old mind of hers. She absolutely loves her daddy and I think in her mind she believes she is the most important thing in his world.
I can say this about T, for never having siblings he did a pretty good job with his girls. They always want their daddy around and love to be with him. If you can make your child think that they are the most important thing in your world than I think you've done a pretty good job.
Em is such a funny girl. It's fun when I get to spend time with just her and tonight was a gift because soon I won't see her nearly enough. Full day kindergarten is a bit of a curse to me. I feel like I'm being robbed of extra time that I had with Kt. So tonight I enjoyed her a bit.
Part of that is remembering how enthralled my father was with her when she was young. Em has an aura of joy around her most of the time. Her smile is very bright, infectious and her spirit is light-hearted. She has a bounce in her step, everyone comments on the way she walks - like a little fashion model. I can't tell you how many people have watched her walk away and said to me, "Wow, good luck with THAT one!"
Tonight we cuddle together and she once again asked me a ton of questions that she already knows the answers to. She just likes to make sure the answers haven't changed. Why do you love me - because I'm your kid? (that's my personal favorite!) Do you want to share my blanket? (gives me a tiny corner!) I just love spending time with you - don't you? (of course I do) Why can't I stay up longer? (that's a given)
I laid down with her for a bit hoping she settle down and fall asleep. She is very tired, but totally excited about being the only kid in the house with me. She was laying on T's side of the bed and being very giggly. She looked at me and said, "I wonder what daddy will think when he smells me on his pillow?" Giggle, giggle, giggle.... I wonder what goes through that 5 1/2 year old mind of hers. She absolutely loves her daddy and I think in her mind she believes she is the most important thing in his world.
I can say this about T, for never having siblings he did a pretty good job with his girls. They always want their daddy around and love to be with him. If you can make your child think that they are the most important thing in your world than I think you've done a pretty good job.
Warning: Entering a Negativity Zone
I'm starting to wonder right now if getting a job would help with my general negative attitude or just absolutely drive me insane!?! I am in one of those zones where every direction I turn I seem to find something I'm unhappy about. I do not like being here and I'd like to get out soon.
First problem: the puppy. As a disclaimer to what I'm going to reveal next, I am not, never have been nor will I ever be a "dog person." I prefer cats, but since Kt and I are allergic, dogs it is. We have had one dog in the family, Calvin, since T and I got married. T had always wanted a dog, something big, but I couldn't so we settled on a Maltese. He seemed cute at first, but we knew nothing about dogs. Our agreement was that this dog would be solely T's responsibility because I don't do dogs!!
Calvin has been a source of great stress for me over the years. He has never grown up, has severely diminished my love of all kinds of dogs due to his constant chewing on everything, including people. He and I have an understanding - we coexist, occasionally love each other but try to stay out of eachother's way.
So, why, you ask, would I ever agree to another dog?? In a weak moment of possession by a clearly evil spirit, I actually thought a puppy might be a good idea. My manager at Curves had a litter of 3/4 Shit-zhu, 1/4 poodle puppies, Em and Calvin are best friends, Calvin, while refusing to grow up mentally is showing signs of getting old. He has seizures, a heart murmur, sleeps most of the day.... Anyway, I was more thinking of Em. After YEARS of swearing there would never be another animal in this house after Calvin, I actually thought a new puppy might work.
I did have some serious restrictions, however, including it must be a female, have a very calm, nurturing disposition and basically be a lap dog. We found this exact puppy in this litter, and I was very excited. We said nothing to the girls while we waited to see if they would give up this prized possession. I have to admit, I was excited. There was not another puppy in that litter I would have agreed to buy. This one was perfect, she was gentle, not spastic, very sweet, beautiful - the one with the most white, something else I really wanted. I didn't touch another puppy there, all of whom were jumpy, nippy and noisy. All except for her. I named her Sophie.
Weeks passed, T went off to Cameroon, I took the girls to CT and came home to a message. Our puppy was ready, a week earlier than we expected!! T was not even home yet, so I was scrambling. When I finally talked to the owner, she explained that our puppy was sick. Upper respiratory something. I immediately became concerned because of Calvin and decided I ought to check with our vet. He concurred that it was not a good idea to bring home a sick puppy, so I asked her if we could wait. She was not so happy about that idea.
Now comes the part I totally regret. What I wanted to do was pay for our puppy, ask this woman to keep her until she was well and then bring her home. T disagreed with me on this. The woman's son had fallen in love with our puppy so she was offering us the puppy they were supposed to keep, the runt of the litter. I did not like that idea, but T had taken Em over to check out our puppy and of course, she wanted the teeny tiny puppy. Never let a 5 year old decide for you.
We now own a yippee, nippy, spastic puppy and I'm really finding it hard to live with this. This was NOT my idea, even though T will try to pass it off like it was. Our pool manager bought a puppy from the same litter who is twice the size of our puppy - I'm losing any hope that this puppy will grow up, in size or mentality. Basically, I'm not happy and someone else has my beautiful (if I hear my pool manager one more time describe how perfect the puppy we were supposed to get was, I will be sick!), sweet, calm and cuddly little girl. In reality, I just feel duped! by everyone!!
Second problem: (yes, the first one is really a lot of small problems, but I lumped it into one just for you - aren't you happy!?) T is gone. He's away on a "leadership weekend" with church. One night, but I'm just really annoyed by that. First of all, he's got a puppy to take care of!! Second of all, he has no responsibilities on this weekend and every year when he comes home from this same weekend, he tells me he really didn't have to go because there is nothing for him to do!! He just told me about it after we got the puppy - "Oh, by the way I'm going away that weekend..." kind of thing. Huh? Take that puppy back, then!! I guess I feel like I'm not recovered from the past couple of weeks, things need to be done around the house that are not getting done:
Last problem: school. Kt's in a class this year with hardly any friends (none of her good friends), the same boys that I really don't want her with and a teacher that is clearly not the popular one, but I'm sure she'll be fine. The bigger problem - the reading issue we thought we had resolved at the end of last year must not be resolved because she is not with any of the high level readers. She is with the same level or lower, and they place students based on reading level. I'm so tired of her class....
Em has the brand-spanking new teacher, and I'm happy about that. She is with our neighbor's daughter, her best friend, and they are even sitting at the same table - they couldn't be happier. No stress there, until they call me up and say they want to move her. They will be having lunch at noon (seems like a long time to wait to eat!), not having any snack time at all for full day kindergarten. Hmmm.... sounds like the peanut allergy mom got to them again!! Yup, she has a daughter in Em's class. Surprising, because Kt has had afternoon snack in first AND second grade, so not having it in kindergarten seems totally ridiculous to me.
The worst policy at our school, hands down, is the "we reserve the right to move your child in the first two weeks of school and expect your 'full support' of our insensitivity" practice. I hope they know not to bother calling us, because we will flat out refuse!! It's just not something we'll agree to, and I honestly can't believe they are still doing that. If you have to move children around because of a reading level, then assess the children BEFORE school starts - it's as simple as that!
Anyway, negativity seems to have overshadowed my life at the moment. I need to come up for some air. Oh, look, on top of all this (as if this isn't enough) I just got an email from Jerry Falwell. Thank goodness for delete buttons!! If only there was a delete button, or better yet rewind, for life! Thanks for letting me vent!
In fairness to myself, my family, here are some positive things: the girls have been walking the dogs for me (YEAH - until they go off to school next week!), we bought an electric piano - so maybe lessons??, I have finished buying school supplies, we have had great pool weather and are enjoying our last weeks swimming, that is all I can think of for now!
First problem: the puppy. As a disclaimer to what I'm going to reveal next, I am not, never have been nor will I ever be a "dog person." I prefer cats, but since Kt and I are allergic, dogs it is. We have had one dog in the family, Calvin, since T and I got married. T had always wanted a dog, something big, but I couldn't so we settled on a Maltese. He seemed cute at first, but we knew nothing about dogs. Our agreement was that this dog would be solely T's responsibility because I don't do dogs!!
Calvin has been a source of great stress for me over the years. He has never grown up, has severely diminished my love of all kinds of dogs due to his constant chewing on everything, including people. He and I have an understanding - we coexist, occasionally love each other but try to stay out of eachother's way.
So, why, you ask, would I ever agree to another dog?? In a weak moment of possession by a clearly evil spirit, I actually thought a puppy might be a good idea. My manager at Curves had a litter of 3/4 Shit-zhu, 1/4 poodle puppies, Em and Calvin are best friends, Calvin, while refusing to grow up mentally is showing signs of getting old. He has seizures, a heart murmur, sleeps most of the day.... Anyway, I was more thinking of Em. After YEARS of swearing there would never be another animal in this house after Calvin, I actually thought a new puppy might work.
I did have some serious restrictions, however, including it must be a female, have a very calm, nurturing disposition and basically be a lap dog. We found this exact puppy in this litter, and I was very excited. We said nothing to the girls while we waited to see if they would give up this prized possession. I have to admit, I was excited. There was not another puppy in that litter I would have agreed to buy. This one was perfect, she was gentle, not spastic, very sweet, beautiful - the one with the most white, something else I really wanted. I didn't touch another puppy there, all of whom were jumpy, nippy and noisy. All except for her. I named her Sophie.
Weeks passed, T went off to Cameroon, I took the girls to CT and came home to a message. Our puppy was ready, a week earlier than we expected!! T was not even home yet, so I was scrambling. When I finally talked to the owner, she explained that our puppy was sick. Upper respiratory something. I immediately became concerned because of Calvin and decided I ought to check with our vet. He concurred that it was not a good idea to bring home a sick puppy, so I asked her if we could wait. She was not so happy about that idea.
Now comes the part I totally regret. What I wanted to do was pay for our puppy, ask this woman to keep her until she was well and then bring her home. T disagreed with me on this. The woman's son had fallen in love with our puppy so she was offering us the puppy they were supposed to keep, the runt of the litter. I did not like that idea, but T had taken Em over to check out our puppy and of course, she wanted the teeny tiny puppy. Never let a 5 year old decide for you.
We now own a yippee, nippy, spastic puppy and I'm really finding it hard to live with this. This was NOT my idea, even though T will try to pass it off like it was. Our pool manager bought a puppy from the same litter who is twice the size of our puppy - I'm losing any hope that this puppy will grow up, in size or mentality. Basically, I'm not happy and someone else has my beautiful (if I hear my pool manager one more time describe how perfect the puppy we were supposed to get was, I will be sick!), sweet, calm and cuddly little girl. In reality, I just feel duped! by everyone!!
Second problem: (yes, the first one is really a lot of small problems, but I lumped it into one just for you - aren't you happy!?) T is gone. He's away on a "leadership weekend" with church. One night, but I'm just really annoyed by that. First of all, he's got a puppy to take care of!! Second of all, he has no responsibilities on this weekend and every year when he comes home from this same weekend, he tells me he really didn't have to go because there is nothing for him to do!! He just told me about it after we got the puppy - "Oh, by the way I'm going away that weekend..." kind of thing. Huh? Take that puppy back, then!! I guess I feel like I'm not recovered from the past couple of weeks, things need to be done around the house that are not getting done:
mow lawn (the big mound of weeds outside our house!), landscaping (from the spring - nothing has been done in my yard!!!!!! T kept telling me he'd have kids who needed to raise support for their trips do the work - I guess no one needed help!), foundation of house needs to be painted (basically since we moved in and changed the siding), garage is a mess (beware of falling junk and bags of stuff everywhere!), bushed trimmed (I finally did it myself - I guess I'll have to start doing all the yard work too!), and more but I won't bother to go on!
Last problem: school. Kt's in a class this year with hardly any friends (none of her good friends), the same boys that I really don't want her with and a teacher that is clearly not the popular one, but I'm sure she'll be fine. The bigger problem - the reading issue we thought we had resolved at the end of last year must not be resolved because she is not with any of the high level readers. She is with the same level or lower, and they place students based on reading level. I'm so tired of her class....
Em has the brand-spanking new teacher, and I'm happy about that. She is with our neighbor's daughter, her best friend, and they are even sitting at the same table - they couldn't be happier. No stress there, until they call me up and say they want to move her. They will be having lunch at noon (seems like a long time to wait to eat!), not having any snack time at all for full day kindergarten. Hmmm.... sounds like the peanut allergy mom got to them again!! Yup, she has a daughter in Em's class. Surprising, because Kt has had afternoon snack in first AND second grade, so not having it in kindergarten seems totally ridiculous to me.
The worst policy at our school, hands down, is the "we reserve the right to move your child in the first two weeks of school and expect your 'full support' of our insensitivity" practice. I hope they know not to bother calling us, because we will flat out refuse!! It's just not something we'll agree to, and I honestly can't believe they are still doing that. If you have to move children around because of a reading level, then assess the children BEFORE school starts - it's as simple as that!
Anyway, negativity seems to have overshadowed my life at the moment. I need to come up for some air. Oh, look, on top of all this (as if this isn't enough) I just got an email from Jerry Falwell. Thank goodness for delete buttons!! If only there was a delete button, or better yet rewind, for life! Thanks for letting me vent!
In fairness to myself, my family, here are some positive things: the girls have been walking the dogs for me (YEAH - until they go off to school next week!), we bought an electric piano - so maybe lessons??, I have finished buying school supplies, we have had great pool weather and are enjoying our last weeks swimming, that is all I can think of for now!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Weekly Update
Well, it's been a while since I blogged!! Here's a short list of what I've been up to:
1. Women of Faith conference in Hartford, CT: great trip, Yankee Candle again, awesome HUGE hotel room at the Residence Inn in Hartford, excellent conference. When we arrived at the convention center early and decided to do a little "shopping" we were stopped by an employee and asked it we wanted to meet Avalon! I'll write more about that later!!
2. Brought my mom back from CT so my sister and her husband could whisk her away to Lancaster for a couple days and then return with her to my house. I had no idea this was the plan until I arrived in CT Friday night!! Needless to say, my house was in no condition for guests!
3. Cleaned my house!
We had a wonderful but short visit with everyone. I was able to spend some time with my niece, Skyler, and the rest of my family.
4. Shopping with my mom - that's always fun. After my sister left, my mom hung around until yesterday when my Aunt and Uncle returned her to CT. That will be a great trip for my mom, as my Uncle will be getting a lot of work done around my mom's house for her. She has been keeping a running list for him for an entire year!
5. Dr. Pepper Party: My Uncle is a Dr. Pepper collector and often hosts parties at his home. As a founding member of the JOY group at our church, Just Older Youth, he hosts a party each year for this group. This year, 68 people signed up!! I went along to help with food and clean-up. The menu this year included Dr. Pepper chicken (which is delicious!), Dr. Pepper potatoes, salad with Dr. Pepper dressing, Dr. Pepper slushies, Dr. Pepper milkshakes and Dr. Pepper brownies. He always has games, and this year those included a scavenger hunt, the Dr. Pepper trivia test and a bit of entertainment. I think other than the downpour at the onset of the party, the entire event was a success!
I am now trying to enjoy our last week before school starts. Our new puppy has been a chore, mostly because I'm not really a dog person. I'm trying to figure out how I could have ended up with another! I have most of the school supplies taken care of and am now trying to figure out how to survive without my children.. I'm not really ready to have no kids all day long - I know I will miss them, so I need to find something to fill that time!
On a wonderful note, we received a newsletter from the girl's school yesterday and they have decided to add a fourth kindergarten class!! I'm very excited that they actually did that, that it was done before school starts and that the class sizes will be reasonable! Yeah!! The bad news - the county is short 5 kindergarten teachers!! So far, with teachers all back in school this week getting rooms ready and having meetings, we are without that fourth teacher. Should be interesting!
1. Women of Faith conference in Hartford, CT: great trip, Yankee Candle again, awesome HUGE hotel room at the Residence Inn in Hartford, excellent conference. When we arrived at the convention center early and decided to do a little "shopping" we were stopped by an employee and asked it we wanted to meet Avalon! I'll write more about that later!!
2. Brought my mom back from CT so my sister and her husband could whisk her away to Lancaster for a couple days and then return with her to my house. I had no idea this was the plan until I arrived in CT Friday night!! Needless to say, my house was in no condition for guests!
3. Cleaned my house!
We had a wonderful but short visit with everyone. I was able to spend some time with my niece, Skyler, and the rest of my family.
4. Shopping with my mom - that's always fun. After my sister left, my mom hung around until yesterday when my Aunt and Uncle returned her to CT. That will be a great trip for my mom, as my Uncle will be getting a lot of work done around my mom's house for her. She has been keeping a running list for him for an entire year!
5. Dr. Pepper Party: My Uncle is a Dr. Pepper collector and often hosts parties at his home. As a founding member of the JOY group at our church, Just Older Youth, he hosts a party each year for this group. This year, 68 people signed up!! I went along to help with food and clean-up. The menu this year included Dr. Pepper chicken (which is delicious!), Dr. Pepper potatoes, salad with Dr. Pepper dressing, Dr. Pepper slushies, Dr. Pepper milkshakes and Dr. Pepper brownies. He always has games, and this year those included a scavenger hunt, the Dr. Pepper trivia test and a bit of entertainment. I think other than the downpour at the onset of the party, the entire event was a success!
I am now trying to enjoy our last week before school starts. Our new puppy has been a chore, mostly because I'm not really a dog person. I'm trying to figure out how I could have ended up with another! I have most of the school supplies taken care of and am now trying to figure out how to survive without my children.. I'm not really ready to have no kids all day long - I know I will miss them, so I need to find something to fill that time!
On a wonderful note, we received a newsletter from the girl's school yesterday and they have decided to add a fourth kindergarten class!! I'm very excited that they actually did that, that it was done before school starts and that the class sizes will be reasonable! Yeah!! The bad news - the county is short 5 kindergarten teachers!! So far, with teachers all back in school this week getting rooms ready and having meetings, we are without that fourth teacher. Should be interesting!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Deer Decoy, Dastardly Judge
I know I haven't posted in a while, and I will catch up soon (once my mom leaves town!) but while she's out for the night, I must comment on this ridiculous judge. I'm sure most have read this story already, but I feel the need to speak my two cents here.
I added the bold, mostly because these words jumped off the page at me right into my "unreasonable" motherly thoughts. If you shouldn't be doing this, than WHY ARE YOU?? You are the judge, you clearly know this is a MISTAKE, yet you are choosing to make it, admitting you are stupid for doing so but going to anyway. All I can say, because I am utterly speechless, is WHAT AN IDIOT!!
Let's see. Two boys put a deer decoy in the middle of a road in the middle of the night and HAVE FUN watching two other boys nearly lose their lives while trying to avoid the pretend deer, swerve and flip their car in a ditch, one going through the sunroof, the other landing outside the car and being permanently brain damaged. This judge has the nerve to suspend sentencing until football season is over because the culprits are the two star football players????
And we wonder why professional athletes think they can get away with drug possession, rape, spousal abuse, doping and all other kinds of serious offenses!?! And I'd LOVE to hear about a judge who suspended the sentencing of a band member, honor society member or school play actor until a concert or play was finished. Go ahead and send me the stories....
Well, that's just it Mr. Howard. Your family is paying the price of having a son who admitted to a crime that caused serious injury to two men and seemingly faces NO CONSEQUENCE at this moment. It's not about student council or track because for those school activities, those students would be in juvenile hall. You are lucky your son is in school and allowed to play any sport after committing that crime, the one you call a prank. If I were the principal or the judge, your son wouldn't be suiting up for anything other than jail!
When Judge Gary McKinley announced his decision Tuesday to delay the sentence, he said, "I shouldn't be doing this, but I'm going to. I see positive things about participating in football."
I added the bold, mostly because these words jumped off the page at me right into my "unreasonable" motherly thoughts. If you shouldn't be doing this, than WHY ARE YOU?? You are the judge, you clearly know this is a MISTAKE, yet you are choosing to make it, admitting you are stupid for doing so but going to anyway. All I can say, because I am utterly speechless, is WHAT AN IDIOT!!
Let's see. Two boys put a deer decoy in the middle of a road in the middle of the night and HAVE FUN watching two other boys nearly lose their lives while trying to avoid the pretend deer, swerve and flip their car in a ditch, one going through the sunroof, the other landing outside the car and being permanently brain damaged. This judge has the nerve to suspend sentencing until football season is over because the culprits are the two star football players????
And we wonder why professional athletes think they can get away with drug possession, rape, spousal abuse, doping and all other kinds of serious offenses!?! And I'd LOVE to hear about a judge who suspended the sentencing of a band member, honor society member or school play actor until a concert or play was finished. Go ahead and send me the stories....
The 17-year-old's father, C.J. Howard, said members of the community have made crude remarks when his family shops at a nearby Wal-Mart store and that his younger children are taunted by older youth when they play in the yard.
He said his son would not be the focus of such attention if he didn't play football.
"I don't know why it's about football players. Why isn't it about student council or track?" Howard asked. "He admitted what he did and he faced the consequences like a young man should."
Well, that's just it Mr. Howard. Your family is paying the price of having a son who admitted to a crime that caused serious injury to two men and seemingly faces NO CONSEQUENCE at this moment. It's not about student council or track because for those school activities, those students would be in juvenile hall. You are lucky your son is in school and allowed to play any sport after committing that crime, the one you call a prank. If I were the principal or the judge, your son wouldn't be suiting up for anything other than jail!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Thoughts on Africa
Here are some thoughts posted by one of T's leaders on Africa. They made me cry! Especially the part about smelling the sheet. T kept say, as he unpacked his bags to show the girls all his treasures, "This smells like Africa!"
The "Sting" of Exclusion
Competition is not my favorite part of life, but it's something we all face almost daily in so many ways. As a kid, I never participated willingly in any kind of sports competition, I was not athletic and contact sports scared the heebie-jeebies out of me! I did, however, enter art competitions and participated in band competitions. They were definitely good experiences, none of which I would say "scarred me for life" when I lost!
The idea I've seen tossed around in elementary school circles for years is this idea that kids should never lose or be excluded in any way. It's just not worthy of the time spent in arguing in my humble opinion. Today, on cnn.com, they have a brief article about this very topic, and it peaked my interest as I just participated in and won an online game competition and this very topic has once again come to light!
Having formerly been a first grade teacher, I have to dispute some of the comments made in this article about friends and exclusion. First of all, there are many young children who have only a few exclusive friends. To say that young children's friendships change from day to day is a statement that I think applies to a minority of children. My own daughter has been in a circle of 4 friends since kindergarten and she is now entering third grade. These five girls have been very close for the last three years and I don't see that changing day to day!
Secondly, the birthday party thing has just gotten WAY out of hand. It's gotten to the point where you must invite the whole class or not have a party, and I'm sorry but there are maybe a handful of parents who can afford a birthday party today for 20-30 kids, as class sizes are now going out the roof!! I see no problem teaching your children to be sensitive to others. Invite their 4 best friends, send in cupcakes for the whole class and tell your child their party is cancelled if anyone other than those four friends finds out about the party!! so as not to hurt anyone's feelings.
Truth be told, my daughter has been excluded from other parties and it's a GREAT lesson to teach your children. Embrace that teachable moment, not by committing to always invite everyone to your parties, not by excluding that HORRIBLE, ROTTEN classmate who left your child out (PALEEEASE!) but by explaining to your child the difficulties we face in life when we have to make difficult decisions. If you find that you excluded and hurt someone's feelings, then set up a single playdate with just that person and make it special! Decide how to use those situations to teach your child a valuable lesson about friendship, not revenge or bullying.
Finally, competition can be healthy and is the perfect way to introduce the concept of sportsmanship to your child. For a few years, I was the chairman of the Fine Arts committee at a small Christian school. Each year we would run a very organized week long competition that included many fine arts categories, including art, drama, music and a big spelling bee. Each year, at the onset and close of each competition, we would review letters written by parents bemoaning the idea of having a competition in a Christian school. It was pathetic!! I felt like asking them all, "How do you think I got this job as a teacher here? Did I walk in and say, 'You must hire me because I'm a Christian, I want this job and it doesn't really matter if there are others more qualified than me to work here!'?"
In the competition, the kids signed up to be in it. If you don't like it, don't sign up. They knew when they signed up that there would be winners, there would be some who did not win but that every participant would be recognized. The whole week was AMAZING!! We'd have judges come in from outside the school who left wonderful compliments for these kids, we would end with performances by students, dramas and an art show for all to enjoy. We celebrated the accomplishments of students who obviously spent hours preparing for this event and no participant was unrecognized. But still, each year, complaint after complaint.... I guess that is a part of life as well!!
Sending my children to public school has presented many choices for me that I've had to weigh very carefully. I'm not completely thrilled with everything my children or I have encountered, but it's my choice to take each situation and shape it into something that will grow me and my children into people who are wiser, more Christ-like and better prepared for the world. I have not always succeeded in this endeavor, but that doesn't mean I'm throwing in the towel. It means I have to work harder to recognize when I'm being challenged and what I want to teach my children from that situation.
I don't want to be the whiner and complainer if that means my children will always be included in everything just to feel good about themselves. I will whine and complain, though, when the safety or education of my child is compromised. The idea of competition in life, well, it just doesn't interfere, in my opinion, in the safety or education of children. It only strives to prepare children for the real world!
The idea I've seen tossed around in elementary school circles for years is this idea that kids should never lose or be excluded in any way. It's just not worthy of the time spent in arguing in my humble opinion. Today, on cnn.com, they have a brief article about this very topic, and it peaked my interest as I just participated in and won an online game competition and this very topic has once again come to light!
Having formerly been a first grade teacher, I have to dispute some of the comments made in this article about friends and exclusion. First of all, there are many young children who have only a few exclusive friends. To say that young children's friendships change from day to day is a statement that I think applies to a minority of children. My own daughter has been in a circle of 4 friends since kindergarten and she is now entering third grade. These five girls have been very close for the last three years and I don't see that changing day to day!
Secondly, the birthday party thing has just gotten WAY out of hand. It's gotten to the point where you must invite the whole class or not have a party, and I'm sorry but there are maybe a handful of parents who can afford a birthday party today for 20-30 kids, as class sizes are now going out the roof!! I see no problem teaching your children to be sensitive to others. Invite their 4 best friends, send in cupcakes for the whole class and tell your child their party is cancelled if anyone other than those four friends finds out about the party!! so as not to hurt anyone's feelings.
Truth be told, my daughter has been excluded from other parties and it's a GREAT lesson to teach your children. Embrace that teachable moment, not by committing to always invite everyone to your parties, not by excluding that HORRIBLE, ROTTEN classmate who left your child out (PALEEEASE!) but by explaining to your child the difficulties we face in life when we have to make difficult decisions. If you find that you excluded and hurt someone's feelings, then set up a single playdate with just that person and make it special! Decide how to use those situations to teach your child a valuable lesson about friendship, not revenge or bullying.
Finally, competition can be healthy and is the perfect way to introduce the concept of sportsmanship to your child. For a few years, I was the chairman of the Fine Arts committee at a small Christian school. Each year we would run a very organized week long competition that included many fine arts categories, including art, drama, music and a big spelling bee. Each year, at the onset and close of each competition, we would review letters written by parents bemoaning the idea of having a competition in a Christian school. It was pathetic!! I felt like asking them all, "How do you think I got this job as a teacher here? Did I walk in and say, 'You must hire me because I'm a Christian, I want this job and it doesn't really matter if there are others more qualified than me to work here!'?"
In the competition, the kids signed up to be in it. If you don't like it, don't sign up. They knew when they signed up that there would be winners, there would be some who did not win but that every participant would be recognized. The whole week was AMAZING!! We'd have judges come in from outside the school who left wonderful compliments for these kids, we would end with performances by students, dramas and an art show for all to enjoy. We celebrated the accomplishments of students who obviously spent hours preparing for this event and no participant was unrecognized. But still, each year, complaint after complaint.... I guess that is a part of life as well!!
Sending my children to public school has presented many choices for me that I've had to weigh very carefully. I'm not completely thrilled with everything my children or I have encountered, but it's my choice to take each situation and shape it into something that will grow me and my children into people who are wiser, more Christ-like and better prepared for the world. I have not always succeeded in this endeavor, but that doesn't mean I'm throwing in the towel. It means I have to work harder to recognize when I'm being challenged and what I want to teach my children from that situation.
I don't want to be the whiner and complainer if that means my children will always be included in everything just to feel good about themselves. I will whine and complain, though, when the safety or education of my child is compromised. The idea of competition in life, well, it just doesn't interfere, in my opinion, in the safety or education of children. It only strives to prepare children for the real world!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Homecoming
Last night, the girls and drove through NO TRAFFIC to Dulles Airport. So unpredictable, that beltway! We made it there in record time. Despite my two emails, suggesting that parents arrive sometime between 8-8:30, everyone beat us there, and we arrived at 7:40. Of course, I was shooting for 8:30, but without traffic it was a very quick ride down.
We all waited until 8:45 for the team to finally immerge from customs. Em, just as I'd predicted, refused to let go of her daddy, who was exhausted and is still pretty ill from his little adventure. After making sure our one last team member made it through customs (with a bag of food that was sent along from Cameroon - apparently with some unknown food item that looks a bit like "weed"), we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Once home, daddy emptied his suitcases full of all kinds of strange and bizarre artifacts from Africa. OK - I am totally kidding!! But to the girls, you would have thought the wooden elephants, bongo drums and bracelets were strange and bizarre, the way they gawked at them! He also brought home an anniversary gift from Paris - a beautiful sterling silver/amethyst necklace, for me. How sweet! We don't really do a lot of perfume in this house with all the asthma!
After the girls went to bed, sort of!, two team leaders stopped by to pick up their cars. They hung out for a few minutes, talking of their first trip to Chik-fil-A. You could tell they were already having reverse culture shock and I wasn't sure they were going to leave... just had to talk to T about, well, nothing much! LOL, but that's the way it goes. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the team adjusts to being home after living in such a different country.
Once we went to bed, T and I ended up staying up talking and looking at some of his pictures. They paint a picture of a not so beautiful country filled with amazingly beautiful people. From my brief photo tour, that really stood out to me that the people in Cameroon are what create the beauty there. They are phenomenally bright, cheery, jubilant - in a picture! I imagine them to be emotional, attached, community oriented just from what I saw and a bit from what I heard last night. The beach was gorgeous, but other than that the pictures of the city are really kind of depressing. Abandoned buildings, dirt roads, makeshift homes. I think I was expecting a bit more for city dwellers in one of the more stable African countries.
I finally let T fall asleep last night, and boy did he sleep!! He kept mentioning to me that he is too old for these trips anymore. Really, though, the problem isn't his age, because he's very young! The problem is 10 days is not long enough for his body to adjust AND enjoy his stay. They flew into Cameroon after 28 hours of travel, then after another 36 hours went straight to the beach. That's a lot on a body. He will need some time to recover, and hopefully will begin to feel better soon.
The debrief in Paris was probably one of smarter pieces of the planning. At first, I think T wished they were not spending the night there. In truth, though, it was a great idea. For some team members, it was the first hot shower they'd had. It was also a place everyone wants to go, so there was plenty to see and do. They also still had just their team there. No distractions from friends and family, so the leaders still held a captive audience in the team. They had a great debrief session at the Eiffel Tower, then spent the rest of their time touring. Later they continued with a few more debrief and re-entry sessions.
I reminded T that last year, when returning from Brazil, all plans for debrief went awry because it was difficult to pull the team back togther. Some left for college, others went back to jobs and the rest were trying to readjust to life back home. This idea of debriefing away from home is a good one, especially for a trip like this, so far from home with so much to process.
We are super glad T is home. Now we have to make a decision about getting a new puppy (long story!) and plan our little welcome home celebration for tonight. Let's see, I have the Saltines, bottled water and we'll have to go get some bananas and rice. Sounds like a feast! LOL
We all waited until 8:45 for the team to finally immerge from customs. Em, just as I'd predicted, refused to let go of her daddy, who was exhausted and is still pretty ill from his little adventure. After making sure our one last team member made it through customs (with a bag of food that was sent along from Cameroon - apparently with some unknown food item that looks a bit like "weed"), we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Once home, daddy emptied his suitcases full of all kinds of strange and bizarre artifacts from Africa. OK - I am totally kidding!! But to the girls, you would have thought the wooden elephants, bongo drums and bracelets were strange and bizarre, the way they gawked at them! He also brought home an anniversary gift from Paris - a beautiful sterling silver/amethyst necklace, for me. How sweet! We don't really do a lot of perfume in this house with all the asthma!
After the girls went to bed, sort of!, two team leaders stopped by to pick up their cars. They hung out for a few minutes, talking of their first trip to Chik-fil-A. You could tell they were already having reverse culture shock and I wasn't sure they were going to leave... just had to talk to T about, well, nothing much! LOL, but that's the way it goes. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the team adjusts to being home after living in such a different country.
Once we went to bed, T and I ended up staying up talking and looking at some of his pictures. They paint a picture of a not so beautiful country filled with amazingly beautiful people. From my brief photo tour, that really stood out to me that the people in Cameroon are what create the beauty there. They are phenomenally bright, cheery, jubilant - in a picture! I imagine them to be emotional, attached, community oriented just from what I saw and a bit from what I heard last night. The beach was gorgeous, but other than that the pictures of the city are really kind of depressing. Abandoned buildings, dirt roads, makeshift homes. I think I was expecting a bit more for city dwellers in one of the more stable African countries.
I finally let T fall asleep last night, and boy did he sleep!! He kept mentioning to me that he is too old for these trips anymore. Really, though, the problem isn't his age, because he's very young! The problem is 10 days is not long enough for his body to adjust AND enjoy his stay. They flew into Cameroon after 28 hours of travel, then after another 36 hours went straight to the beach. That's a lot on a body. He will need some time to recover, and hopefully will begin to feel better soon.
The debrief in Paris was probably one of smarter pieces of the planning. At first, I think T wished they were not spending the night there. In truth, though, it was a great idea. For some team members, it was the first hot shower they'd had. It was also a place everyone wants to go, so there was plenty to see and do. They also still had just their team there. No distractions from friends and family, so the leaders still held a captive audience in the team. They had a great debrief session at the Eiffel Tower, then spent the rest of their time touring. Later they continued with a few more debrief and re-entry sessions.
I reminded T that last year, when returning from Brazil, all plans for debrief went awry because it was difficult to pull the team back togther. Some left for college, others went back to jobs and the rest were trying to readjust to life back home. This idea of debriefing away from home is a good one, especially for a trip like this, so far from home with so much to process.
We are super glad T is home. Now we have to make a decision about getting a new puppy (long story!) and plan our little welcome home celebration for tonight. Let's see, I have the Saltines, bottled water and we'll have to go get some bananas and rice. Sounds like a feast! LOL
Monday, August 07, 2006
Hangover
I feel like I have a hangover. I have no idea what that feels like because honestly I've never had one! But I'm sure it feels just like I'm feeling right now. Because of certain health conditions, I never drink anything with caffeine. Yesterday I was sooooo sleepy that I went ahead and drank a WHOLE can of Pepsi. It was disgusting! Anyway, I was still able to get to sleep. Usually, when I drink even a few sips of caffeine, I'm awake most of the night. Last night was an exception. I went to bed early - around 11:30 - and didn't wake up until 7 this morning. That's very unusual for me. But since I woke up, I've had a terrible headache. I'm pretty sure it's a caffeine hangover. If I drank coffee, I think I'd need a cup right now!
On the Dulles Toll Road
Today I need to go pick up T at Dulles, so waking up to this story was not the best way to start my day!! Road rage is a real problem around here. It's so random, so stupid, so scary! It's worse during high volume traffic times, like around 5-7pm, which is right around the time I need to leave... You can pray for me!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Too Much Christian Music??
Em loves to belt out made up, ridiculously hilarious songs most of the day. Recently, they all seem to be a combination of worship tunes she's been listening to. Sometimes, when I listen to her, I think this child must have such a warped theology. Just a few moments ago, she was singing her heart out something like this, "I believe in you God, I will never stop believin' in you, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! I love you, Lord!" Hmmm.... I wish I could just get her to learn the real words!! (We are all still laughing at the "Recipe the Name" from the other day!)
Here's What He Wrote:
From Paris:
Like I said earlier, "qnd" for "and" - LOL!
It's nice to know he's feeling better. Now, for my final act as mission's mom, we have to drive to Dulles airport at rush hour tomorrow. For me, this is probably the most challenging task of this entire trip. While it would have been much easier to ask someone else to just bring him home, T I know would much rather be picked up by his girls. We'll do it for him - but just to warn you all, no one else better ask as much from us!!
Em has asked me about 5 times today if tomorrow is the day we pick up dad. She honestly cannot wait! She likes everything to be just right, the way it should be and it's just not been that way for her. She's very happy, content but I can see in the back of her mind the daily reminder that something is out of place. From the time she could walk, Em has been our cuddle kid. If T so much as looks like he's going to hug me, she's right there at our legs, holding on for dear life! Tomorrow night, she's not going to let him go - I can feel it already!! I guess I'll be sleeping in her bed! LOL
Kt I'm sure is just formulating a million questions in her mind about Africa. She is our information monger. That child cannot stuff enough trivia into that brain of hers and is always looking for more country facts than one can put in an encyclopedia! In California, my aunt gave her a small globe on a keychain. It's TINY, and she has been showing everyone the pinpoint on the globe where her dad is. I can hardly even tell it's Africa!! I think we are both very ready to take her somewhere far away!
We are slowly getting cleaned up and ready. Kt wants to plan a big coming home party for T tomorrow. I had to break it to her that by the time we get home, no one will be awake enough for a party!! Not to mention, dad will be exhausted, not feeling well and party will be the last thing on his mind. But, to appease her, we will plan a party for Tuesday night!
Tomorrow at this time they should be landing - yeah!
We've had a pretty amazing day in Paris today seeing the sights. I
was still a bit sick so the other leaders ran the show including
getting everyone into the city and a pretty intense debreifing
session. I caught up with them later which was a lot of fun. Two
more sessions on reentry tommorrow qnd then flying. Pray for ontime
flights. More after we get home.
Like I said earlier, "qnd" for "and" - LOL!
It's nice to know he's feeling better. Now, for my final act as mission's mom, we have to drive to Dulles airport at rush hour tomorrow. For me, this is probably the most challenging task of this entire trip. While it would have been much easier to ask someone else to just bring him home, T I know would much rather be picked up by his girls. We'll do it for him - but just to warn you all, no one else better ask as much from us!!
Em has asked me about 5 times today if tomorrow is the day we pick up dad. She honestly cannot wait! She likes everything to be just right, the way it should be and it's just not been that way for her. She's very happy, content but I can see in the back of her mind the daily reminder that something is out of place. From the time she could walk, Em has been our cuddle kid. If T so much as looks like he's going to hug me, she's right there at our legs, holding on for dear life! Tomorrow night, she's not going to let him go - I can feel it already!! I guess I'll be sleeping in her bed! LOL
Kt I'm sure is just formulating a million questions in her mind about Africa. She is our information monger. That child cannot stuff enough trivia into that brain of hers and is always looking for more country facts than one can put in an encyclopedia! In California, my aunt gave her a small globe on a keychain. It's TINY, and she has been showing everyone the pinpoint on the globe where her dad is. I can hardly even tell it's Africa!! I think we are both very ready to take her somewhere far away!
We are slowly getting cleaned up and ready. Kt wants to plan a big coming home party for T tomorrow. I had to break it to her that by the time we get home, no one will be awake enough for a party!! Not to mention, dad will be exhausted, not feeling well and party will be the last thing on his mind. But, to appease her, we will plan a party for Tuesday night!
Tomorrow at this time they should be landing - yeah!
Can I Just Tell You How Psycho I Am??
This is a totally random story, but since I just remembered it, I'll tell you how totally blonde and psycho I am. Two weeks ago, the Sunday before the Cam team left, I was leaving church to go to my CPR/First Aid training. My mind was not completely there, my allergies were acting up, I was kind of tired.... OK, I had absolutely no excuse for what I did.
I was walking through our entirely way too big church lobby and my eyes caught sight of two girls who looked exactly like the daughters of a woman I used to teach with. She and her husband had adopted these girls from Russia years ago and the last I saw them was at our Extreme School Makeover, when they were out with their school PTA. They had mentioned leaving their church and I have wondered where they ended up. When I saw these girls, I immediately thought of them.
One of the girls ran up to a man I recognized, so I went right over, with only this thought in my mind, "What are they doing here??" I said to this man, "HI THERE!! When did you start coming here?" He gave me the strangest look and said, "Well, uh, oh, you mean the 11:15 service? Because we usually come at 9:15!" I replied, "Oh, right. Gosh. The last time I saw you was at the school makeover! Where's Jen?" At this point, he looked at me really strangely and said, "She's right over there." and off he went to catch a younger girl.
At this point, I turn around, I do not see Jen anywhere. Of course, I see my other friend, Jen, you know, the one who is in our small group every other Monday, the one who knows my friend Jen that I am looking for (thankfully!). At this point, I realize how totally stupid I've been. I mean, I'm clearly psychotic. This man and these girls, they are not the people I thought they were. This is Bob from my small group!!! and these are his girls, his very own, not from Russia. What is wrong with me???
I caught up with them as I was leaving and we all laughed it off, but really, I need my head checked!! Of course, of all the couples in our small group they are the ones who come the least. And this past winter I was taking that class so I was never there. I think the last time I saw them was last November!! But still - I mean, really, people need to start wearing name tags at my church or I'll be completely lost. Oh how I miss little churches!!
I was walking through our entirely way too big church lobby and my eyes caught sight of two girls who looked exactly like the daughters of a woman I used to teach with. She and her husband had adopted these girls from Russia years ago and the last I saw them was at our Extreme School Makeover, when they were out with their school PTA. They had mentioned leaving their church and I have wondered where they ended up. When I saw these girls, I immediately thought of them.
One of the girls ran up to a man I recognized, so I went right over, with only this thought in my mind, "What are they doing here??" I said to this man, "HI THERE!! When did you start coming here?" He gave me the strangest look and said, "Well, uh, oh, you mean the 11:15 service? Because we usually come at 9:15!" I replied, "Oh, right. Gosh. The last time I saw you was at the school makeover! Where's Jen?" At this point, he looked at me really strangely and said, "She's right over there." and off he went to catch a younger girl.
At this point, I turn around, I do not see Jen anywhere. Of course, I see my other friend, Jen, you know, the one who is in our small group every other Monday, the one who knows my friend Jen that I am looking for (thankfully!). At this point, I realize how totally stupid I've been. I mean, I'm clearly psychotic. This man and these girls, they are not the people I thought they were. This is Bob from my small group!!! and these are his girls, his very own, not from Russia. What is wrong with me???
I caught up with them as I was leaving and we all laughed it off, but really, I need my head checked!! Of course, of all the couples in our small group they are the ones who come the least. And this past winter I was taking that class so I was never there. I think the last time I saw them was last November!! But still - I mean, really, people need to start wearing name tags at my church or I'll be completely lost. Oh how I miss little churches!!
T chat
I just spent some time this morning chatting with T in Paris. It was kind of funny, as the "A" and "Q" are reversed on the french keyboard, so it looked funny everytime he typed "qnd" - LOL!
He is the only one who is sick, the rest of the team has been touring Paris all day. He was finally feeling decent, so he is now meeting them at the Eiffel Tower. He was at an internet cafe near Notre Dame. Can you imagine? I can't!
I'm feeling a bit lazy this morning. The girls do not want to go to church and I'm too tired to make them go. Isn't that awful - I'm feeling rather wimpy. It's been a long almost two weeks without T. I really want to go to church, but it's now 10:30. I needed to chat with my husband this morning and now I'll just be running around trying to get ready, we'll be late, I'll be mad, the girls will be grouches.... we're staying home.
Next weekend I'll be in Connecticut for the Women of Faith conference with my mom, my sister-in-law and possibly my sister. I'm doubting my sister will come - long story, I'm not going to bother to get into it, but I'll be in total shock if my sister and her husband make the trip. We are going to do the same as we did last year - drive up early Friday, go to the Yankee Candle flagship store and then go to the conference. This year we will be only 2 blocks from the Hartford Colesium. Last year we were about 15 minutes away and had to drive in a park. I'm very excited!
Well, I do need to get dressed and start cleaning up. Oh, and eat. Pray that T feels better when he gets home. He's still sick!
He is the only one who is sick, the rest of the team has been touring Paris all day. He was finally feeling decent, so he is now meeting them at the Eiffel Tower. He was at an internet cafe near Notre Dame. Can you imagine? I can't!
I'm feeling a bit lazy this morning. The girls do not want to go to church and I'm too tired to make them go. Isn't that awful - I'm feeling rather wimpy. It's been a long almost two weeks without T. I really want to go to church, but it's now 10:30. I needed to chat with my husband this morning and now I'll just be running around trying to get ready, we'll be late, I'll be mad, the girls will be grouches.... we're staying home.
Next weekend I'll be in Connecticut for the Women of Faith conference with my mom, my sister-in-law and possibly my sister. I'm doubting my sister will come - long story, I'm not going to bother to get into it, but I'll be in total shock if my sister and her husband make the trip. We are going to do the same as we did last year - drive up early Friday, go to the Yankee Candle flagship store and then go to the conference. This year we will be only 2 blocks from the Hartford Colesium. Last year we were about 15 minutes away and had to drive in a park. I'm very excited!
Well, I do need to get dressed and start cleaning up. Oh, and eat. Pray that T feels better when he gets home. He's still sick!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
The Tster has landed!
The team just landed in Paris. Now I can sleep peacefully while my husband is enjoying himself in the city of.... uh.... I don't know, really. Anyway, would have been nice to go, but I'm fine here. Time for bed!!
On His Way Home!
T is on a plane right now from Doula, Cameroon to Paris, France. He emailed this morning saying he was still sick and hoping to sleep on the plane a bit. I have a feeling he'll be taking a sick day on Tuesday!! Hopefully, they will all arrive safely - 7 am Paris time, 1 am our time. I might just stay up tonight to make sure they land safely.
After his email, I received one from the family in Cameroon that arranged and hosted everything for us. A tearful goodbye, reunion plans and a small P.S. on the bottom that they were returning T completely exhausted and pooped out. I replied with: That's always the way we receive him after these trips! : ).
The girls are planning a chocolate feast when he returns - I'm guessing that is more for their benefit. I'll have to go to the local chinese take-out and make sure we have plenty of Won-ton soup around for his return! The girls won't mind, as long as they get their chocolate!! Getting them to clean up for him is a completely different story.
Today Kt was supposed to have her best friend, who is moving to Bismarck, North Dakota on Thursday, over for the day and evening. We picked her up, ran to the grocery store where before we even got out of the car she became sick to her stomach. Poor Kt - she's been asking for her all day!! Anyway, we'll have to see if we can't work something out before Thursday, but that's not looking so good.
After swim lessons, we had chips and cheese for dinner. We have to do stuff like that when dad is away. He hates cheese and I would never dream of having something like that for dinner. We just did it tonight because we could. It was really gross! LOL! But fun, and the girls were happy. They are now watching Aquamarine for the umpteenth time. Yes, I let them watch it, and it was much cuter than I'd expected. I wasn't going to let them see it, but when we went to Target and saw it mixed in with Disney and Nickelodean movies, I decided I'd give it a try.
And me? Well, hopefully I can finish up these wedding invitations tonight so that all day Sunday and Monday I can clean my house! Not so fun, but must be done. That's life!! I also have a prospect for a very part time tutoring job for this next school year. I was praying about what I could do that wouldn't require me to work all the time but I could be productive, and keep a little busy. I've also been pondering what to do with the rest of my life. Graduate school for something education related or do something totally different, like a travel agent or banker. You know - I'm basically directionless at this point!! LOL - well God just started me out with something education related. And He knows my heart best. We'll see where this goes!
Pray for T - and our adjustment to him being home, processing his trip and applying what he's concluding to his life now. It's never an easy adjustment, but it's always worth the time and energy we put into translating the experience God has given to our lives here. We'll get him well first, then we'll listen intently to the amazing things he experienced on the other side of the world! One of the things I've always loved about T is that he loves to be the learner, but he's really a great teacher!
After his email, I received one from the family in Cameroon that arranged and hosted everything for us. A tearful goodbye, reunion plans and a small P.S. on the bottom that they were returning T completely exhausted and pooped out. I replied with: That's always the way we receive him after these trips! : ).
The girls are planning a chocolate feast when he returns - I'm guessing that is more for their benefit. I'll have to go to the local chinese take-out and make sure we have plenty of Won-ton soup around for his return! The girls won't mind, as long as they get their chocolate!! Getting them to clean up for him is a completely different story.
Today Kt was supposed to have her best friend, who is moving to Bismarck, North Dakota on Thursday, over for the day and evening. We picked her up, ran to the grocery store where before we even got out of the car she became sick to her stomach. Poor Kt - she's been asking for her all day!! Anyway, we'll have to see if we can't work something out before Thursday, but that's not looking so good.
After swim lessons, we had chips and cheese for dinner. We have to do stuff like that when dad is away. He hates cheese and I would never dream of having something like that for dinner. We just did it tonight because we could. It was really gross! LOL! But fun, and the girls were happy. They are now watching Aquamarine for the umpteenth time. Yes, I let them watch it, and it was much cuter than I'd expected. I wasn't going to let them see it, but when we went to Target and saw it mixed in with Disney and Nickelodean movies, I decided I'd give it a try.
And me? Well, hopefully I can finish up these wedding invitations tonight so that all day Sunday and Monday I can clean my house! Not so fun, but must be done. That's life!! I also have a prospect for a very part time tutoring job for this next school year. I was praying about what I could do that wouldn't require me to work all the time but I could be productive, and keep a little busy. I've also been pondering what to do with the rest of my life. Graduate school for something education related or do something totally different, like a travel agent or banker. You know - I'm basically directionless at this point!! LOL - well God just started me out with something education related. And He knows my heart best. We'll see where this goes!
Pray for T - and our adjustment to him being home, processing his trip and applying what he's concluding to his life now. It's never an easy adjustment, but it's always worth the time and energy we put into translating the experience God has given to our lives here. We'll get him well first, then we'll listen intently to the amazing things he experienced on the other side of the world! One of the things I've always loved about T is that he loves to be the learner, but he's really a great teacher!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
What I've Been Saying All Along!!
I know I've mentioned before how I feel about parents of children with nut-allergies. I sympathize with them to a point. I personally do not send food with nuts to school with my children as I do not ever want to be responsible for another child having an allergic reaction. I also am frustrated with parents trying to dictate every morsel of food in the name of a food allergy. Last I checked, DOTS have no peanuts!! However, many of these parents do not educate their children on what food items have peanuts or peanut products, so the children never learn how to make very important food decisions on their own.
On cnn.com today there is an article supporting this belief of mine is printed. I'm NOT suggesting that start introducing nut products in schools, but I'm just reiterating my belief that if children never see what they are allergic to, they may not recognize it when it's put in front of their faces!! I think creating a completely peanut/nut free environment is just as dangerous for kids as exposure in so many ways.
My sister-in-law's best friend was allergic to walnuts. Her mom very carefully created the walnut-free life for her and she was always told what she could and could not eat, namely walnuts. So, when she went off to college, she decided that as long as she took off the walnuts on top of her brownie, it would be safe. She never made it to the hospital and her epipen was back in her dorm room.
Please, if you have a child who has a lethal peanut allergy, educate them, as scary as it may be, what can happen if you eat this, or this, or even this. No exposure can kill them as well!
On cnn.com today there is an article supporting this belief of mine is printed. I'm NOT suggesting that start introducing nut products in schools, but I'm just reiterating my belief that if children never see what they are allergic to, they may not recognize it when it's put in front of their faces!! I think creating a completely peanut/nut free environment is just as dangerous for kids as exposure in so many ways.
My sister-in-law's best friend was allergic to walnuts. Her mom very carefully created the walnut-free life for her and she was always told what she could and could not eat, namely walnuts. So, when she went off to college, she decided that as long as she took off the walnuts on top of her brownie, it would be safe. She never made it to the hospital and her epipen was back in her dorm room.
Please, if you have a child who has a lethal peanut allergy, educate them, as scary as it may be, what can happen if you eat this, or this, or even this. No exposure can kill them as well!
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