I have mine. I'm not sure how to chase it. Yet.
Below the cut line
I like to start with the bitchy things because then I can end on a good note with the good things.
Bitchy:
My back hurts SO bad. I am too young and in shape for this kind of pain. Do not want to pay for chiro. Not sure if it's covered on my insurance, but could find out. I thought it was exercise related, but I went to pick up a student today and realized that it was that! Owwww. OW! I am in constant pain since last week. I'm not resting well, I can't get comfortable. I stand or jump around all day. Whiiiine.
When someone says they will do something and then don't, it angers mama. Whether its a lame excuse or the person just drops the ball, it hurts. It makes me feel insignificant. Here's a thought: If you don't mean to do something, don't tell me that you will. I try like heck to do everything I promise to. You do the same, or just DON'T PROMISE. Thanks, Management.
The teacher's lounge at work is a den of negativity. I miss my old job from last year. I don't like hearing teachers diss kids, We're in the elementary! I had some really hard students, but I neverever talked like that about them at school.
Good:
I'm so happy with the progress of this house!!! I was proud to have people here for my jewelry party. The metamorphosis from nastiness to stylish livin' digs has been amazing. And aside from the help of Lance (THANKS LANCE!!!!), we really did most of the work ourselves.
I have a murder party to go to this weekend!!! I love to act, I love to dress up, I love to eat other people's food. Fun times!!
I adore my students, yes, even the tough ones. The more I'm with them, the more I love them.
I adore my kids and am so proud of who they are.
JJ is the best thing to happen in my life since my kids. He centers me, he makes me feel secure, and he's so sexy with the beard and the dark glasses and the dew rag. Raaaaaaaawr.
Friday evening: Went to Art and Clay to get items. Smelled like smoke. So sad.
Ran to Target for a couple of needed household items. Ate dinner at Bob Ebbans, as Greyson says, and went HOME! Did lots of NOTHING!! Played a board game with the girls-Greyson had fallen asleep. Poor kid.
Saturday: Got girls ready for swim. Greyson and I went to the gym, where I taught a really intense core muscle class. One of the guys told me that it wasn't very challenging. I felt bad. A friend told me that I should have suggested that he annnnally f@$! himself while performing the exercises and that would have made it harder. LOL! I still felt bad, but I felt better when she said that. Got home, cooked lunch, did some laundry. Got an invite to check out a friend's new hot tub. As the kids were putting on their shoes, Greyson jumped up and Delaney was right over him. His skull collided with her face...much bleeding ensued. I mean MUCH. That pretty much killed our plan to go anywhere, as Delaney was in pain and Greyson was crying in guilt. We all took a rest. I actually slept.
Woke up in more pain, this time my back. Am I getting too old to teach like this? I don't know. But ow. OW.
Did more fall laundry, even though the next couple of weeks look to be in the 80s. I am busy for the next 2 weekends, though, and wanted to get a jump on it. As usual, Greyson will be okay for clothes, Mackenzie will wear Delaney's, and Delaney will need all new. Dern kids and their growin'!
Went to eat at Fiesta and sat on the patio. Lovely. Called Diana C and told her that I could go with her to a friends' oarty. Went to Lowe's, walked around, back in increasing pain. Went to car. Got home, made kids get ready for bed, called Diana to tell her I was leaving, and we both decided that by the time I got there, it'd be too late. Relieved, I ran to Meijer to get my snacks for the party tomorrow, came home, popped some ibuprofen, and watched TV and internetted for the rest of the night.
Tomorrow: Jewelry party. Must clean house.
Tired.
I hate HATE people who are too stuck on themselves...who think that they're the best and their shit don't stink.
Also: I hate people who are plain lazy. DO something. Please!
I really want to be a stay at home mom. I wish I could think of something to do that would keep me home more making some money. Heck, it might not be too hard to make $13K a year from home....I could make even less, considering child care and gas and lunches. Hmmm....
That said, I have an extremely taxing but really, really fulfilling job.
Today broke my heart and made me proud all at the same time.
I have no core group to which I belong. I'm allllll alone out here.
God, how I love Gypsy Joe's.
Had a REALLY nice talk with Greyson's teacher.
My keyboard is sticky due to Gypsy Joe's.
Bye for now. Wish I could elaborate.
I was calm as a cucumber as I dialed the phone. I'm usually a little nervous before a confrontation, but I already knew what I was going to say. Also, I firmly believed in my righteousness.
She answered and we made pleasantries. Then, I began. I always think that is the best way to win someone over to your way of thinking...begin the topic as you wish to present it.
We talked for about 30 minutes, so there is no way for me to recap the entire thing. We talked about the TEST issue, ability grouping, organization, etc.
She said that she thought it was a great idea to teach students to be organized. I agreed! But teaching takes time. We can't expect all children to be performing perfectly by week three of school, especially when last year's teachers did not cover it. We review our math facts at the beginning of school. Yet we expect mastery of new material such as how to use planners??
Another subject seemed to stymie Mrs. K. "Delaney is fine!" she said, "That note didn't pertain to her!"
"I know", I replied, "But I care about ALL children, not just Delaney".
She was like....pause....."Ohhhh".
In any case, by the end of the conversation, I hope she realized that I support the use of the planners and I don't think kids should just skate by and not do homework. In my opinion, it was a good chat.
I talked to the teacher. At length. She and I came to an understanding. Wish I could convey more about it, but no time. Must take handsome boyfriend out for his birthday.
Tonight. Greyson brought home a new library book. It's called The Cat Who Walked Across France. I forget the author and illustrator, and am far too tired to walk downstairs to see.
It's quite sad. A kitty's owner dies and he is alone and forgotten. He makes the trek back to his seaside home. It ends happy, after all.
Anyway, as I was reading it at bedtime, I heard Greyson start to sob. Just SOB. I asked what was wrong, and he said "The book!" So I asked if he wanted me to stop reading it, and he said "NO! It's just so sad, but I have to know what happens". My little sweetie. Then, he was going on and on about some character in a tv show who wouldn't hug his grandmother. It was killing him. I never saw him just cry like this. It reminded me of me. Or Delaney.
Anyway, I just love to share the sweet things my kids do.
...posting a big long ass blog with zero comments.
Thanks Dr. R. for your comments on the most recent one. I was kind of hoping to know what my friends thought of the school/teacher situation. But oh well. I had an interesting turn of events with regards to it tonight. We shall see what transpires.
I swear, I looked at Delaney the other day and saw a young woman. I know, I know, I'm always going on and on about it. It's just that she's in such a gorgeous place in her life right now.
One of my favorite new things is watching her take her guitar lesson. The teacher has her sing and strum, or he'll strum and give her just the couple of chords she can do. She sings out so beautiful and clear. It's just precious!! I almost cry EVERY time. He sang This Land is Your Land with her last time, and then Delaney and he started talking about social justice. She was really fixated on the verse about "Is this land made for you and me?" She is so adamant about everyone having equal opportunities. She's just so amazing to me.
I remember back in Kindergarten when she found out that in ancient Rome, girls weren't allowed to go to school. She had an angry, angry crying fit over that? Remember, Sarah and Katye?
She's such a great person to talk to. I have been a little yibby lately, and instead of just being a kid, she's been a big kid, asking me how my day was, and making nice little empathetic comments back to me. I adore watching her grow up.
And my Greyson. Oh. Oh my. I went in to school tonight to pick up Delaney, and Greyson wanted to show me where he sits. And, of course, he had to show me where Kennady sits. (Spelling is correct). He is in love with her. She's the cutest thing, red hair and blue eyes. He tells me that every day on recess, he runs outside and sees what Kennady wants to play. Sometimes, he reports, he spins her around. I asked him how she felt about it, and he said, all serious, "Mom, she loves it!"
House is coming along. I reaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllly need that water softener to get finished.
Hip hop has started again. I'll miss Power Up, but it's good to be back on the stage.
JJ is the best thing ever. His birthday is Friday, if you want to wish him a happy day.
That's all for now.
What would you think?
As a teacher, what would you think if 13 out of 19 students did not do an assignment? These are third graders (think 8 and 9 year olds) and it's the third week of school.
MY first assumption would NOT be that the parents aren't checking the assignment books.
It would NOT be that 13 kids are lazy or stupid.
It would NOT be that 13 kids aren't organized.
Perhaps I would think about the fact that most of these kids are inexperienced with using planners.
Maybe, just maybe, I'd ask those kids why they didn't do it. Then I'd listen to the consensus.
Hmm, how's about asking some of the kids who DID do the assignment. How did THEY know that it was due?
Also, I'd give some credence to the fact that the second grade teachers barely give homework, and now suddenly the third graders have a FULL load every night.
The backstory, I think, is told above. Here are some details to help you fill in. Delaney, my third grader, did the math assignment. When I got to her babysitters to pick her up, I found out this story. 13 of the 19 kids in the class did not do the assignment. The babysitter's daughter was one of these kids. When asked why, K. said that she honestly didn't know it was assigned. Her planner book was checked off by the teacher and stamped. We parents have been told that the teacher stamps the planner when the students have filled in all assignments. Yes, it's true, K's planner didn't have the assignment. Delaney says that she saw it at the end of the day and filled it in. I even heard her tell K. yesterday afternoon not to forget her math, but it was on the way out the door, a chaotic time.
So, my kid did the homework. Why am I pissed? The teacher sent home a really snarky note about how the students really need to do their work, and how it is taking an inordinate amount of time to get through helping the kids write down their assignments, etc. {Here's the kicker} Then she went off about how the students must do their work or they will not be ready for the Ohio Third Grade Achievement Test.
OH BULLSHIT! I hate these insipid tests! I hate that everything comes DOWN to these tests! I hate that, instead of the teachers recognizing that maybe 13 kids need help figuring out assignment books and organizational skills, they are immediately panicking about the TEST that is in MARCH! Lord forbid that the third week of school be an inconvenient time to reassess the readiness of these kids and HELP THEM LEARN TO ORGANIZE! Oh my GOD!
I signed the note, which ended something like this: I have checked to indicate whether your child completed the homework. Please sign if your child did not. Please help us by checking assignment books each evening.
I signed the note and I went OFF. In my good writing manners, I explained every point that I have enumerated here. Yes, in the note, I took potshots at the federal and state governments, which in my opinion are the perpetrators of teacher panic such as this. I also stated that just because my super organized, fearful, Virgo (okay, I didn't say Virgo) child did the homework did not mean that I supported the way that she was handling things.
I hope that I spun it right. I hope that now Delaney isn't the target of an angry teacher.
I am just so upset. It is our job as educators to teach the children at their level of readiness and to help them achieve. I have a huge problem with holding a bar chest high and saying, "Hey everybody! Jump!"
Furthermore, I hate that teachers are expecting children to wake up on the first day of 3rd grade fully organized and ready to fill out planners and handle 2 hrs of homework a night!! EVEN THOUGH MY KID IS (so far) HANDLING IT! I HATE that any kid is crying over her homework like poor K. is
Finally, I do not want the teachers to turn Delaney into some kind of "good kid" example.
UGH! I hate school, I really do....
I am having lots of deep thoughts but it's about one in the a.m. and mama needs her rest.
I do have a Vision for my job. I have thought on it. And, though I won't be able to express it as eloquently as Sarah or as wittily as Katye, I mean it wholeheartedly.
I will be blogging! Watch for it!
Do not anger Happy Fun Ball!
That will be a blog post title someday.
Tomorrow: The Vision. Hopefully.
I just had some really good action. Just so's ya know.
This week in review.
The Good!
1. Friday did come.
2. Monday was a non working day.
3. I did have chocolate.
4. I did get to work out once.
Under the tag is The Bad!
The Bad!
1. I was clawed in the arm and the armpit.
2. I was punched.
3. I was spit upon.
4. A child ran away from me. I caught him. It was outside, almost time for dismissal. This child cannot be dismissed by himself. I had to sit with him in the hot sun, restraining him and sweating while parents watched. I wonder what they thought of me. I sat with him for his safety. I felt ineffective, foolish, and mean.
5. I saw mice in my living space.
6. My own son said that he loved Mrs. Voight (his babysitter) more than me, and that she was a better mom.
7. Did I mention that I make about $13,000 a year? I work my ass off. I have a 20 minute break a day. Wow. I will reconcile with it. Not today.
I quit for the week. Next week best be better.
http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=274750>1=7701
I have a real biggie of a cold. I feel like crap. I guess it's good timing to get sick now (I actually woke up sick yesterday, but tried to soldier on). I have the day today to rest. So, in this way, this is GOOD.
However!! Gene has the kids until 4:00, and I wanted to grocery shop and clean more around here. I know I need to lay around. I mean, I feel BAD. BUT!! I really was excited about getting lots and lots done! GRRR! I am the worst sick person ever.
I will try really hard to rest, because my job demands that I am rested and on my mark.
Speaking of jobs, it's true that the teacher for whom I subbed last year is uncleared to return to work. :o( Susan, the aide in my classroom, called me beacuse the rumour is circulating that I am going to quit my job to come over there to sub until P. can return to work. NO WAY! Why would I do that? So I made a couple of phone calls to friends to let them know that they were misinformed.
Let's see. Jay began the digging for the water softener yesterday. He told me that he found some skeletal mouse remains. DO NOT TELL ME THAT, DUDE! Do you want me to ever help you down there? Do you not know what a phobia is?? Anyway, he dug for about two hours, mud and muck and still is not to the place where he needs to be. He's working today. Ugh. I need that water softener in. Why? I cannot wash whites here. I've already ruined some. A few towels, too. My hair is orange. Now, mama can't have that. I'm used to always having very nice hair. I'm just a little vain about it. It's my one area of high maintenance. So, my hair is orange and the texture of straw. My brand new $$ tub is orange, my beautiful kitchen sink is orange, and I'm OVER it!
Wow. Am I ever bored. What the hell am I gonna DO with myself today? I can't work out, shop, or clean. Exactly my plan du jour. Hmmmmm.
Well, I may be back blogging again later. I think I'll read Harry Potter again, slowly.
Bye all! Love ya!