A few weeks back Go Set A Watchman was all over my FB newsfeed. Review after review talked about the fall of Atticus Finch. People ranted about the shocking discovery that Atticus was a closet racist, Jean Louise (nee Scout) was almost engaged to a member of the KKK, and everything in Maycomb, GA was coming crashing down.
I immediately locked down and said no way, no how am I reading this sacrilege. Atticus Finchis still atop the pedestal he's lived on since I was in 8th grade and I'm not going to do anything that might topple him. Scout, Jem, and Dill live on in my mind in those endless Georgian summers playing in the road, spying on Boo Radley, and reading to Mrs.Dubose as she battles morphine withdrawal. I have no desire to change any of that.
But then QM went and did the unthinkable. She bought the book.
My resolve crumbled like my Grandpa's sugar cookies.
The week before school started, I went back to Maycomb.
I've been digesting Go Set a Watchman for about 2 weeks now and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it. Points in the book seemed like an unnecessary sequel to Mockingbird. But since it was actually written first, I know that's not the case. Quite a few flashbacks to Scout's and Jem's childhood were scattered through the book making the original publisher's idea behind Mockingbird seem like the perfect choice. As a stand alone, I don't think I would have been impressed with the latest book.
Without giving too much away, Jean Louise comes home for 10 days in the summer and has her childhood ideals come crashing down around her. The point is that she needs to separate her personal identity from the identity she's created for herself in Atticus's shadow. She needs to find her own moral foundation and stop living on her father's. For that to happen Atticus cannot continue to live on the pedestal Scout has placed him on her entire life. She has to grow up and therefore grow apart.
The book touches on many of the ideas behind states rights that were still very prevalent in the south; the thought process behind segregation, the notion that equality was a pipe dream, and the divide between urban ideals and rural values. Because the book was originally written during the civil rights movement, I think it gives a perspective on segregation we often miss out on in public school history class. I think I better understand why segregationists fought to keep the status quo and why otherwise compassionate and intelligent Southerner clung so tightly to the idea. That's not to say I agree with their reasoning, it's just to say I understand it a little better.
A friend (who happens to be a retired English teacher/writer born and raised in Harper Lee's South) stated she was unsure the book should have been published at all. After reading it, and somewhat enjoying it for the nostalgia it produced, I'm inclined to agree with her. The book is a disjointed attempt at reconciling Harper Lee's Southern upbringing with her later life in New York. It's a book that, without the surety of making a lot of money on Ms. Lee's name alone, probably wouldn't have made it past the Free Kindle Book list.
All that said, I do not regret reading it and I did enjoy the book (even though my review seems to state otherwise). But if you're looking for the importance of To Kill a Mockingbird, I fear you'll be disappointed.
As for me, I choose Atticus Finch to remain a paragon of virtue in my imagination, regardless of his literary evolution.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
August 19, 2015
August 6, 2013
It begins again
School starts one week from today.
I'm not sure I'm ready.
I mean, the FarmHands have all the necessary supplies and clothing and physically we're prepared, but I'm not ready.
In the past I've looked forward to the first days of school with a blissful sense of calm. My children were leaving the house for 7-8 hours a day. I would wake them, feed them, dress them and send them on their way. Then I would pour myself a cup of coffee or a bowl of Rice Krispies, flip on Judge Judy, and breath in the silence. I would allow the peace and quite of an empty house and sleeping husband lull me to sleep on the couch for a few precious hours before heading out to pick up Bitsy for pre-school. I loved it.
Last year the excitement and nervous tension of starting a new job kept me keyed up and ready to tackle the school year. I didn't sleep. I worried over menu items I was unsure of. I popped awake at the sound of my alarm. I was out the door in record time each morning.
This year it's all different. I know what I'm doing. It's not a new job. It's not an unfamiliar routine. The excitement level isn't where it was a year ago. This year there's a tiny voice in the back of my head whispering, "no. don't do this. don't go back. just stay home and nap. there won't be any kids here. we'll be so much happier that way."
It's a lie. I know it is. It's a fantasy that will quickly lose it's shine. It's the voice of Summer Vacation begging to be allowed to live a few more weeks. A few more child free weeks. I love my job. I know that I'm past the place where I can happily stay home with no kids in the house for weeks at a time. I know I'd get stir crazy after the first few days and then The Ugly Beast would try to rear it's head. I know I need to be productive and I will not be if left to my own devices (the past 6 weeks have proven that).
But man, oh man, does 4:30am come early.
I'm not sure I'm ready.
I mean, the FarmHands have all the necessary supplies and clothing and physically we're prepared, but I'm not ready.
In the past I've looked forward to the first days of school with a blissful sense of calm. My children were leaving the house for 7-8 hours a day. I would wake them, feed them, dress them and send them on their way. Then I would pour myself a cup of coffee or a bowl of Rice Krispies, flip on Judge Judy, and breath in the silence. I would allow the peace and quite of an empty house and sleeping husband lull me to sleep on the couch for a few precious hours before heading out to pick up Bitsy for pre-school. I loved it.
Last year the excitement and nervous tension of starting a new job kept me keyed up and ready to tackle the school year. I didn't sleep. I worried over menu items I was unsure of. I popped awake at the sound of my alarm. I was out the door in record time each morning.
This year it's all different. I know what I'm doing. It's not a new job. It's not an unfamiliar routine. The excitement level isn't where it was a year ago. This year there's a tiny voice in the back of my head whispering, "no. don't do this. don't go back. just stay home and nap. there won't be any kids here. we'll be so much happier that way."
It's a lie. I know it is. It's a fantasy that will quickly lose it's shine. It's the voice of Summer Vacation begging to be allowed to live a few more weeks. A few more child free weeks. I love my job. I know that I'm past the place where I can happily stay home with no kids in the house for weeks at a time. I know I'd get stir crazy after the first few days and then The Ugly Beast would try to rear it's head. I know I need to be productive and I will not be if left to my own devices (the past 6 weeks have proven that).
But man, oh man, does 4:30am come early.
February 28, 2013
Dear Saxon Math,
I hate you and I hope you die.
Really.
Slowly and painfully.
Much like the problems in your fourth grade books.
First of all no 9 year old needs to do 30 problems of math every night.
Secondly, some of the children in your word problems can be named Mark, Emily, Jacob, or Sarah. They do not all need to be T'Marra, Shunsuke, Shakura, and Jin (all 4 names directly from tonight's homework assignment).
Thirdly, the little grids on the papers you send for homework to be done on leave a great deal to be desired. Like space. If you are going to ask a question in 3 parts a fourth grader is going to need more than a 2" by 2 1/2" square to do their work, write the answer, and explain their reasoning.
a. T'Marra knew that her trip would take about 7 hours. If she left at half past 9 in the morning, what time would she arrive?
b. If T'Marra traveled 350 miles in 7 hours, then she traveled an average of how many miles an hour?
c. Using your answer to part b, make a table to show how far T'Marra would travel at her average rate in 1,2,3, and 4 hours.
Yeah, that's all going to fit in a 5 square inch box in the massive hand writing of a newly cursived 9 year old. Especially the table.
If you asked him how many buses were needed to transport 116 students, 8 teachers, and 13 adult volunteers (again, chaperones would be fine) if each bus holds 40 passengers and his paper looks remotely like this:
116+8+13= 137
137/40=3 r 17
4 buses
why for the love of all that is holy does he have to "Explain his answer" again?! He gave you the answer. You can see the steps he took to get there. I do not see the point in writing a paragraph (again in your tiny square full of math facts) explaining how he came to that conclusion.
Heaven forbid he gets sick. 3 days off school means 90 problems to make up on top of the 30 more you're going to give him each night. If he was so ill he only managed to complete 1 assignment in the 3 days he was home sick and he gets another full page each day to complete at home and he has 3 1/2 hours to do his work and he spends 1 hour 18 minutes on Science and Social Studies and 42 minutes on Grammar how many days will it take him to make up the crap load of work you seem to think he needs to make him a functioning member of fourth grade society?
Explain your answer.
All of the Math problems from tonight's post are taken directly from #1 Son's Saxon Math book with the exception of the terribly clever one 2 paragraphs above. This is not reflection on how I feel about homework in general nor about #1 Son's teacher who is assigning the work she is required to teach.
Really.
Slowly and painfully.
Much like the problems in your fourth grade books.
First of all no 9 year old needs to do 30 problems of math every night.
Secondly, some of the children in your word problems can be named Mark, Emily, Jacob, or Sarah. They do not all need to be T'Marra, Shunsuke, Shakura, and Jin (all 4 names directly from tonight's homework assignment).
Thirdly, the little grids on the papers you send for homework to be done on leave a great deal to be desired. Like space. If you are going to ask a question in 3 parts a fourth grader is going to need more than a 2" by 2 1/2" square to do their work, write the answer, and explain their reasoning.
a. T'Marra knew that her trip would take about 7 hours. If she left at half past 9 in the morning, what time would she arrive?
b. If T'Marra traveled 350 miles in 7 hours, then she traveled an average of how many miles an hour?
c. Using your answer to part b, make a table to show how far T'Marra would travel at her average rate in 1,2,3, and 4 hours.
Yeah, that's all going to fit in a 5 square inch box in the massive hand writing of a newly cursived 9 year old. Especially the table.
If you asked him how many buses were needed to transport 116 students, 8 teachers, and 13 adult volunteers (again, chaperones would be fine) if each bus holds 40 passengers and his paper looks remotely like this:
116+8+13= 137
137/40=3 r 17
4 buses
why for the love of all that is holy does he have to "Explain his answer" again?! He gave you the answer. You can see the steps he took to get there. I do not see the point in writing a paragraph (again in your tiny square full of math facts) explaining how he came to that conclusion.
Heaven forbid he gets sick. 3 days off school means 90 problems to make up on top of the 30 more you're going to give him each night. If he was so ill he only managed to complete 1 assignment in the 3 days he was home sick and he gets another full page each day to complete at home and he has 3 1/2 hours to do his work and he spends 1 hour 18 minutes on Science and Social Studies and 42 minutes on Grammar how many days will it take him to make up the crap load of work you seem to think he needs to make him a functioning member of fourth grade society?
Explain your answer.
All of the Math problems from tonight's post are taken directly from #1 Son's Saxon Math book with the exception of the terribly clever one 2 paragraphs above. This is not reflection on how I feel about homework in general nor about #1 Son's teacher who is assigning the work she is required to teach.
October 11, 2012
A glimpse
I love my job. I love seeing the kids (mine and others) walk past my line. I like laughing with them, teasing them, hearing about their days, lives, and adventures. I love being around them. I should point out that I am exposed to them in rather brief intervals, unlike their teachers. That is perfect for me.
But then there are days, and there are children, who make my job really hard. Actually more sad than hard. There are kids you want to wrap up and take home with you because you know no one at their house pays them any attention. Kids with potential but no one to encourage them. There are kids you know are living in households that couldn't care less about them or their education. There are kids who aren't being parented at all and crave that adult interaction.
Then there are the kids who've given up at the ripe age of 12 or 13. Kids who not only have issues with authority, but have no use for it at all. Kids who would shock me if they graduate high school. Kids who think discipline in any form is a joke and doesn't apply to them. Kids who will look you in the eye and do exactly what they know they should not.
It makes me wish my children knew just how blessed they are but at the same time, I'm glad they're oblivious to it. That means they have no idea that life doesn't always take care of kids their age.
Mama says to keep praying for the kids at school. I am and I'd be happy if I knew you were, too. It's an unpleasant eye opener. I want to learn to deal with it without becoming hardened to it.
But then there are days, and there are children, who make my job really hard. Actually more sad than hard. There are kids you want to wrap up and take home with you because you know no one at their house pays them any attention. Kids with potential but no one to encourage them. There are kids you know are living in households that couldn't care less about them or their education. There are kids who aren't being parented at all and crave that adult interaction.
Then there are the kids who've given up at the ripe age of 12 or 13. Kids who not only have issues with authority, but have no use for it at all. Kids who would shock me if they graduate high school. Kids who think discipline in any form is a joke and doesn't apply to them. Kids who will look you in the eye and do exactly what they know they should not.
It makes me wish my children knew just how blessed they are but at the same time, I'm glad they're oblivious to it. That means they have no idea that life doesn't always take care of kids their age.
Mama says to keep praying for the kids at school. I am and I'd be happy if I knew you were, too. It's an unpleasant eye opener. I want to learn to deal with it without becoming hardened to it.
September 26, 2012
Deep, cleansing breaths
Today can end at any moment. I'm done with it. In fact, if this week would like to be over, it has my full blessing.
Work has been less than pleasant this week. We've had real, life changing tragedies, mini-meltdowns, equipment failure on a massive level, and more than our fair share of mishaps in the past 3 days.
Without going into details, there is a family in our area dealing with the sudden and unexpected death of their 6 month old son. They truly need your prayers. That is how our Monday started.
Yesterday involved a rather lengthy power outage, an overly hectic lunch prep, and a freezer malfunction.
Today we faced an early morning fire alarm on the fritz, an extra messy lunch prep, a rather unpleasant game of "find the hidden roast in the extraordinarily over stuffed second freezer," and a last minute realization that roll dough had to be made before we could leave. In fact, we left 20 minutes later than usual because of the mess.
In fact, if it wasn't for the sincere affection I have for the people I work with (Miss T, in particular), and the honest joy I find in seeing a school full of children every day, I might be ready to toss in the towel.
I do love my job. I do enjoy being there. I do hope tomorrow goes more smoothly.
Work has been less than pleasant this week. We've had real, life changing tragedies, mini-meltdowns, equipment failure on a massive level, and more than our fair share of mishaps in the past 3 days.
Without going into details, there is a family in our area dealing with the sudden and unexpected death of their 6 month old son. They truly need your prayers. That is how our Monday started.
Yesterday involved a rather lengthy power outage, an overly hectic lunch prep, and a freezer malfunction.
Today we faced an early morning fire alarm on the fritz, an extra messy lunch prep, a rather unpleasant game of "find the hidden roast in the extraordinarily over stuffed second freezer," and a last minute realization that roll dough had to be made before we could leave. In fact, we left 20 minutes later than usual because of the mess.
In fact, if it wasn't for the sincere affection I have for the people I work with (Miss T, in particular), and the honest joy I find in seeing a school full of children every day, I might be ready to toss in the towel.
I do love my job. I do enjoy being there. I do hope tomorrow goes more smoothly.
September 5, 2012
Entitled
OK. I'm on a rant and will totally forgive you if you choose to go elsewhere and read something peppier. Consider yourself warned.
I am a mom of 4 grade school children. I despise homework. I have spent hours upon hours wrestling over math problems, arguing Grammar with a 9 year old, searching text books for answers to questions even I don't grasp. That being said homework is part of our lives. I don't like it but I deal with it.
I just read/watched a blog about opting out of homework for your child. You can check it out if you like: http://blogs.babble.com/babble-voices/roadside-assistance-kristen-howerton/2012/09/05/can-i-opt-my-kids-out-of-homework/ (Yup, I'm too tired to link it prettily in HTML tonight.)
Maybe it's the fact that I work in a public school (and believe it or not, the kitchen deals with may of the same issues as the class room) or maybe it's the fact that I've been fighting the homework battle for 6 years or maybe it's the fact that I'm sleep deprived, but this really struck a nerve with me.
Saying my kid doesn't have time for homework because my husband and I both work and we have to make it to music lessons and sports practices and dance class makes me angry. If lessons and practices and classes are interfering, perhaps your child is over involved. Perhaps school is enough. And as a former SAHM, my current work status has nothing to do with my kids ability to finish their homework. They're home the same amount of time whether I'm at work or not.
Saying I don't want to be "that mom," but I really don't think homework is necessary for my child automatically make you "that mom." Anytime you march into your child's class room & demand your child be treated differently from the other 24 kids in the room without seriously good cause (such as a learning disability), you are being "that mom," and you are announcing that your child does not need to follow the rules.
Saying my child is at school for 7 hours a day- if teachers can't get it taught in 7 hours they must not be doing their jobs only shows you have no clue what goes on in a public school on a daily basis. Do you have any idea how much time is spent dealing with behavior issues? Bathroom breaks? Lunch? Recess? PE? Music? Library? Sharpening pencils? Repeating already given instructions? Blowing noses? Simpy getting 25 kids to change from one task to the next? If in a 7 hour day, 4 hours of actual teaching is accomplished, I'd say they had a pretty good day.
When reading the comments on the blog I came across one that said this really is a first world problem. We are so entitled that we go looking for things to complain about. I can promise you that 50 years ago no parent would ever have asked a teacher to allow their child to "opt out" of homework.
I'm sorry, but your child is not special. My children are not special. They are all kids. They are all going to grow up to be adults. They are all going to work for a living. They are all going to have bad days, horrible bosses, and bills to pay. It's part of life. It's not all of life. If they don't learn to deal with unpleasant tasks when they're children and adaptable, how are they ever going to deal with them as adults?
Rant over- for the moment. Good night.
I am a mom of 4 grade school children. I despise homework. I have spent hours upon hours wrestling over math problems, arguing Grammar with a 9 year old, searching text books for answers to questions even I don't grasp. That being said homework is part of our lives. I don't like it but I deal with it.
I just read/watched a blog about opting out of homework for your child. You can check it out if you like: http://blogs.babble.com/babble-voices/roadside-assistance-kristen-howerton/2012/09/05/can-i-opt-my-kids-out-of-homework/ (Yup, I'm too tired to link it prettily in HTML tonight.)
Maybe it's the fact that I work in a public school (and believe it or not, the kitchen deals with may of the same issues as the class room) or maybe it's the fact that I've been fighting the homework battle for 6 years or maybe it's the fact that I'm sleep deprived, but this really struck a nerve with me.
Saying my kid doesn't have time for homework because my husband and I both work and we have to make it to music lessons and sports practices and dance class makes me angry. If lessons and practices and classes are interfering, perhaps your child is over involved. Perhaps school is enough. And as a former SAHM, my current work status has nothing to do with my kids ability to finish their homework. They're home the same amount of time whether I'm at work or not.
Saying I don't want to be "that mom," but I really don't think homework is necessary for my child automatically make you "that mom." Anytime you march into your child's class room & demand your child be treated differently from the other 24 kids in the room without seriously good cause (such as a learning disability), you are being "that mom," and you are announcing that your child does not need to follow the rules.
Saying my child is at school for 7 hours a day- if teachers can't get it taught in 7 hours they must not be doing their jobs only shows you have no clue what goes on in a public school on a daily basis. Do you have any idea how much time is spent dealing with behavior issues? Bathroom breaks? Lunch? Recess? PE? Music? Library? Sharpening pencils? Repeating already given instructions? Blowing noses? Simpy getting 25 kids to change from one task to the next? If in a 7 hour day, 4 hours of actual teaching is accomplished, I'd say they had a pretty good day.
When reading the comments on the blog I came across one that said this really is a first world problem. We are so entitled that we go looking for things to complain about. I can promise you that 50 years ago no parent would ever have asked a teacher to allow their child to "opt out" of homework.
I'm sorry, but your child is not special. My children are not special. They are all kids. They are all going to grow up to be adults. They are all going to work for a living. They are all going to have bad days, horrible bosses, and bills to pay. It's part of life. It's not all of life. If they don't learn to deal with unpleasant tasks when they're children and adaptable, how are they ever going to deal with them as adults?
Rant over- for the moment. Good night.
August 25, 2012
Two weeks down. Many, many, many to go.
My coworker and I are getting into the swing of things in our kitchen. We've put things where we want them. We've divvied up responsibilities. We've managed to feed 135 to 155 kids a day for the past week and so far no one has been poisoned. I think that's the real goal. Feed them & don't make anyone puke.
There is a serious learning curve. There have been some interesting (not really shareable on the internets) mistakes. There has been some serious frustration. I've even had to holler at some kids. But I think I may stick with this one. I may remain gainfully employed.
BabyGirl, on the other hand, might not make it out o 6th grade. One of two things- she'll fail because she can't keep track of her homework or I'll kill her because she won't quit screaming at me while trying to do said homework.
In all reality, she's not adjusting to middle school very well at the moment. I'm hoping a few more weeks and she'll get in the groove but I'm not entirely positive that it's going to happen. I am a bit worried. Her math teacher caught me in the hall yesterday and told me BabyGirl hasn't been finishing or turning in her work. We're 1 full week into school. I'm not ready for this kind of drama.
I'm having a hard time explaining to her that I cannot get her organized nor can I do her work for her. She still needs nightly help with her homework. She has to be prompted and prodded into doing each and everything at home. I'm a bit worried about how things are going at school. She doesn't seem to be understanding how to sift through written material to find the answers to the questions on her papers. I'm honestly a bit worried at this point.
I'm going to give her another week or two and if nothing changes we're going to have to have some serious sit downs with her teachers to find out if this is a ploy to get me to find her answers or if she's honestly having trouble understanding.
It's really going to break her heart if she has to give up cheer, but if her grades drop, that's the first thing that will have to go- and that's not even my rule. It's the school's (not that I disagree with it in any way).
I wonder if I'll get to keep my job if my daughter drops out of sixth grade......
There is a serious learning curve. There have been some interesting (not really shareable on the internets) mistakes. There has been some serious frustration. I've even had to holler at some kids. But I think I may stick with this one. I may remain gainfully employed.
BabyGirl, on the other hand, might not make it out o 6th grade. One of two things- she'll fail because she can't keep track of her homework or I'll kill her because she won't quit screaming at me while trying to do said homework.
In all reality, she's not adjusting to middle school very well at the moment. I'm hoping a few more weeks and she'll get in the groove but I'm not entirely positive that it's going to happen. I am a bit worried. Her math teacher caught me in the hall yesterday and told me BabyGirl hasn't been finishing or turning in her work. We're 1 full week into school. I'm not ready for this kind of drama.
I'm having a hard time explaining to her that I cannot get her organized nor can I do her work for her. She still needs nightly help with her homework. She has to be prompted and prodded into doing each and everything at home. I'm a bit worried about how things are going at school. She doesn't seem to be understanding how to sift through written material to find the answers to the questions on her papers. I'm honestly a bit worried at this point.
I'm going to give her another week or two and if nothing changes we're going to have to have some serious sit downs with her teachers to find out if this is a ploy to get me to find her answers or if she's honestly having trouble understanding.
It's really going to break her heart if she has to give up cheer, but if her grades drop, that's the first thing that will have to go- and that's not even my rule. It's the school's (not that I disagree with it in any way).
I wonder if I'll get to keep my job if my daughter drops out of sixth grade......
July 7, 2012
Have I really thought this through?
I've just realized that I'm a little over a month out from starting my new job. This is going to come with some serious changes in the FarmFamily house hold.
First of all, I'm giving up my morning duties and Husband will be taking over. He will be in charge of getting the FarmHands up and ready for school. He will be making breakfast, brushing hair, and running them out the door to the bus stop. He will be kissing good-bye and making sure everyone has their back pack & lunch box.
While he's doing that, I will be making breakfast for 20-40 children.
I'm going to have to re-work when and how I cook at home. For the past 15 years lunch has been our big meal of the day. I've cooked what most would serve for dinner at noon so Husband would have a good meal before he left for the day and there would be leftovers to send in his "lunch" to work. Now I'm going to have to cook of an evening or make serious use of my new, uber-fancy crock pot Husband got me for my birthday. I cannot leave the poor man to live on frozen pizza and pork burgers for weeks on end.
With BabyGirl in cheerleading, we'll have to accustom ourselves to numerous trips back in to school to pick her up after practices or drop her off for games. She'll have to learn to get her homework done in study hall. Late nights after basketball games will become her norm.
But the thing that concerns me most (at the moment) is how I'm going to adjust my sleep schedule. I'll still have to accomplish everything I've always had to do in the few hours after the FarmHands get off the bus before they go to bed plus some extras what with cheerleading tossed in the mix, but I'll need to get my self to sleep hours earlier than normal. I can't be up until 11:30 folding laundry and still be at work by 5:30 the next morning.
Things are going to be different. It's going to happen rather suddenly. We'll all have to make serious adjustments.
I guess it's not just Mom who's returning to the work force. It's a family affair.
First of all, I'm giving up my morning duties and Husband will be taking over. He will be in charge of getting the FarmHands up and ready for school. He will be making breakfast, brushing hair, and running them out the door to the bus stop. He will be kissing good-bye and making sure everyone has their back pack & lunch box.
While he's doing that, I will be making breakfast for 20-40 children.
I'm going to have to re-work when and how I cook at home. For the past 15 years lunch has been our big meal of the day. I've cooked what most would serve for dinner at noon so Husband would have a good meal before he left for the day and there would be leftovers to send in his "lunch" to work. Now I'm going to have to cook of an evening or make serious use of my new, uber-fancy crock pot Husband got me for my birthday. I cannot leave the poor man to live on frozen pizza and pork burgers for weeks on end.
With BabyGirl in cheerleading, we'll have to accustom ourselves to numerous trips back in to school to pick her up after practices or drop her off for games. She'll have to learn to get her homework done in study hall. Late nights after basketball games will become her norm.
But the thing that concerns me most (at the moment) is how I'm going to adjust my sleep schedule. I'll still have to accomplish everything I've always had to do in the few hours after the FarmHands get off the bus before they go to bed plus some extras what with cheerleading tossed in the mix, but I'll need to get my self to sleep hours earlier than normal. I can't be up until 11:30 folding laundry and still be at work by 5:30 the next morning.
Things are going to be different. It's going to happen rather suddenly. We'll all have to make serious adjustments.
I guess it's not just Mom who's returning to the work force. It's a family affair.
March 1, 2012
And Now We Wait
I took my State of Illinois Food Safety and Sanitation Manager exam last night. Today my instructor had to be sure to mail our test sheets so the State would have them by Friday. Now it seems, the State gets to take it's own sweet time. I have to wait four to six weeks for the results to come in the mail. Can't check on line to find out if I passed. Don't have a phone number to call. Just have to sit & wait. I didn't realize it was that taxing to feed a Scantron sheet into a computer and read the results. That's ridiculous.
If the state wants you to do something you'd better get it done by their deadline. But apparently, they can dawdle about for months at a time before dealing with you. Ugh.
But I'm certain I passed. The exam was 75 multiple choice questions (filling out all those little bubbles with my #2 pencil made me feel 15 again trying to stay awake during achievement testing) and we only have to get a 75% to pass. That means we can miss 18 and still pass. There were only 4 or 5 questions I wasn't totally comfortable with.
I can say, I'm glad my class is over. It was interesting, but I'm tired of having things like Listeriosis and Bacillus Cereus rolling through my head all night while I'm trying to sleep. I would like a day or two where I'm not worried about the proper temperature for cooking eggs for hot holding as opposed to the temperature for cooking eggs for immediate service.
Instead I want to think about pretty shoes and finding a new hairdresser and I want to watch a chick flick without feeling guilty because I should be studying. I think tonight calls for Breakfast at Tiffany's and the remainder of the Ben & Jerry's I've been hiding in the freezer.
If the state wants you to do something you'd better get it done by their deadline. But apparently, they can dawdle about for months at a time before dealing with you. Ugh.
But I'm certain I passed. The exam was 75 multiple choice questions (filling out all those little bubbles with my #2 pencil made me feel 15 again trying to stay awake during achievement testing) and we only have to get a 75% to pass. That means we can miss 18 and still pass. There were only 4 or 5 questions I wasn't totally comfortable with.
I can say, I'm glad my class is over. It was interesting, but I'm tired of having things like Listeriosis and Bacillus Cereus rolling through my head all night while I'm trying to sleep. I would like a day or two where I'm not worried about the proper temperature for cooking eggs for hot holding as opposed to the temperature for cooking eggs for immediate service.
Instead I want to think about pretty shoes and finding a new hairdresser and I want to watch a chick flick without feeling guilty because I should be studying. I think tonight calls for Breakfast at Tiffany's and the remainder of the Ben & Jerry's I've been hiding in the freezer.
February 23, 2012
You really don't want to eat that.
In order to work full time at the cafeteria at school (something I hope and pray is in my future), I need to be certified in Food Safety and Sanitation. It's a 16 hour long class. I go 2 days a week, 4 hours a night, for 2 weeks. I'm half way through the course as I write this. All I can say is that if you're looking for a way to prevent yourself from eating out with any regularity, take one of these classes. The list of things that can kill you in a restaurant setting is longer than my arm.
We all know about Salmonella and Botulism, but have you ever hear of Hemorrhagic Colitis? How about Bacillus Cereus? And Vibrio Gastroenteritis? Yeah, it's all nasty. Most of them cause diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. Listeria can actually cause miscarriage.
It's all a bit overwhelming and more than a bit disgusting. Especially the lemons they put in your water or iced tea. But then, the good Lord made our bodies to withstand amazing amounts of abuse and microorganisms. I only hope he made my mind elastic enough to store all the information I'm going to have to recall for my certification exam on Wednesday. Any prayers offered would be more than a little appreciated.
I did have 2 days of work this week. Monday was President's Day and Tuesday, MJ, the cook I've been filling in for, decided to try out her wrist at work. I called halfway through the school day to ask her a question & she said, "By the way, do you want to work this week?" Apparently she'd come back a bit too soon. She's supposed to be off work for 3 weeks but decided it would make her stir crazy to sit home all that time.
I've worked the past 2 days on top of going to my night class. For a girl who's been a serious homebody for the past 10 years, this has been a massive change. I'm not sure I've adjusted to it just yet. Especially not being at work at 6:30 am after getting out of class at 9:50 pm the night before. I've still got a lot of catching up to do.
But the good news is, I haven't had time to miss the satellite dish being disconnected. The one day I was going to have to sit & do nothing ended up being the day Husband, Bitsy, and I had to go pick up my text book and make a run to Menards so bored was not an option.
So if you're trying in vain to get in touch with me, you'll just have to wait. I'm a career girl now. Well, at least for the rest of this week.
We all know about Salmonella and Botulism, but have you ever hear of Hemorrhagic Colitis? How about Bacillus Cereus? And Vibrio Gastroenteritis? Yeah, it's all nasty. Most of them cause diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. Listeria can actually cause miscarriage.
It's all a bit overwhelming and more than a bit disgusting. Especially the lemons they put in your water or iced tea. But then, the good Lord made our bodies to withstand amazing amounts of abuse and microorganisms. I only hope he made my mind elastic enough to store all the information I'm going to have to recall for my certification exam on Wednesday. Any prayers offered would be more than a little appreciated.
I did have 2 days of work this week. Monday was President's Day and Tuesday, MJ, the cook I've been filling in for, decided to try out her wrist at work. I called halfway through the school day to ask her a question & she said, "By the way, do you want to work this week?" Apparently she'd come back a bit too soon. She's supposed to be off work for 3 weeks but decided it would make her stir crazy to sit home all that time.
I've worked the past 2 days on top of going to my night class. For a girl who's been a serious homebody for the past 10 years, this has been a massive change. I'm not sure I've adjusted to it just yet. Especially not being at work at 6:30 am after getting out of class at 9:50 pm the night before. I've still got a lot of catching up to do.
But the good news is, I haven't had time to miss the satellite dish being disconnected. The one day I was going to have to sit & do nothing ended up being the day Husband, Bitsy, and I had to go pick up my text book and make a run to Menards so bored was not an option.
So if you're trying in vain to get in touch with me, you'll just have to wait. I'm a career girl now. Well, at least for the rest of this week.
January 10, 2012
Working Mother Takes College Course (gasp!)
As you might recall, I have recently found a new vocation- a calling as it were- a desire to fill the stomachs of children with mystery meat. I am a lunch lady.
To be entirely honest, I'm only a substitute lunch lady & I've only subbed twice thus far....but I'm really hoping to get to work more as the year goes on....and flu season gets into full swing. Not that I'm wishing the flu on anyone, but if they do get it, I hope I get to fill in for them.
What I'm really hoping is that this every now & again gig will turn into full time work at some point. But for that to happen I must be certified in Food Sanitation & Safety. That means I have to take a class. An actual college course. Well, sort of. If you can call a 4 day class with a total of 1 credit hour a college class. But it does meet at the college & I am technically a student of the college, so that counts, right?
So now, not only am I employed, but I am also a student. Go me. I think.
To be entirely honest, I'm only a substitute lunch lady & I've only subbed twice thus far....but I'm really hoping to get to work more as the year goes on....and flu season gets into full swing. Not that I'm wishing the flu on anyone, but if they do get it, I hope I get to fill in for them.
What I'm really hoping is that this every now & again gig will turn into full time work at some point. But for that to happen I must be certified in Food Sanitation & Safety. That means I have to take a class. An actual college course. Well, sort of. If you can call a 4 day class with a total of 1 credit hour a college class. But it does meet at the college & I am technically a student of the college, so that counts, right?
So now, not only am I employed, but I am also a student. Go me. I think.
November 22, 2011
I think I can, I think I can....well, maybe not.
When I quit my job to stay home & raise BabyGirl, Husband and I decided I'd be a stay-at-home mom until our last child was in school full time. That's what his mom did & it worked well for their family. My mom worked (outside the home) occasionally when I was growing up, but never for extended periods of time. I really had no problems with our arrangement.
When Bitsy was registered for Pre-K, a mad gleam flared up in my husband's eye. He was thinking of my employment when she started kindergarten & the extra income it would generate. His only real goal is that I be able to make the payments on my van each month. I think that's reasonable....but there are certain issues.
First of all, in case you haven't heard, we have four children. None of them is old enough to be left home alone & the one who will soon be is not to be trusted being left in charge of her siblings. That means there must always be an adult in the house when children are not in school (i.e. summer vacation, Christmas vacation, weekends, Columbus day, Teachers Institute, sick days, etc.). Since Husband must leave for work at 2 o'clock or so each afternoon, that means I must be home by 2 o'clock whether the children are here or not.
Secondly, I'm not qualified to do much. I could babysit, but I doubt Husband wants more kids in the house while he's trying to sleep during the brief time ours are in school. I could work in a restaurant. I did that for more than a year & didn't mind the work (the boss on the other hand is a story all his own). But around here the only options are fast food places. Minimum wage isn't incentive to drive 40 or more miles a day. Elder care would work for me, but Husband isn't comfortable with me being in other people's homes.
So when I seriously began considering a career, the school seemed a good compromise. Husband suggested lunch lady, but the ones there are fixtures & not likely to retire anytime soon. I thought more along the lines of teacher's aid. When I looked into the requirements I was pleasantly surprised. Illinois requires all teacher's aides to have 30 college credit hours or a para-professional educator certificate.
I talked to A Starry Night about the possibility of me going to school for my certificate. She told me that considering we're a 6 person family living on one income, chances are really good that I could go to school for little to no out of pocket for us. But first I wanted to see how close I was to the 30 necessary credit hours before signing up for a year long program.
My transcripts came in the mail this week. Anyone want to take a wild guess at how many hours I have? Anyone? 29. Yup. Twenty-nine hours. And since I never finished a degree & it's been 16 years since I left school, my credits probably won't transfer. To be honest, if I were the one deciding & I saw the grades attached to those credit hours I'd make myself start over from scratch, too.
You see, I am not a scholar. Sure, I love to read.....what I want to read. I like writing....what I feel like writing when I feel like writing it. Studying- not so much. Attending classes- not so much. Being generally responsible- not so much. I was really bad at college the first time around & I'm not so sure I'd be any better at it a second time. But at this point, it may be my only option.
Yes, I'm 16 years older than I was when I decided not to go to school but not to bother dropping out. Yes, I'm a mother of four & I know I cannot slack off on my work. Yes, I know this would make our lives a bit easier. All that being said, I'm really not sure I'm cut out for school.
So, do I pull up my big girl panties & deal with it, or do I mope about crying that I hate homework & I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader? Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion.
When Bitsy was registered for Pre-K, a mad gleam flared up in my husband's eye. He was thinking of my employment when she started kindergarten & the extra income it would generate. His only real goal is that I be able to make the payments on my van each month. I think that's reasonable....but there are certain issues.
First of all, in case you haven't heard, we have four children. None of them is old enough to be left home alone & the one who will soon be is not to be trusted being left in charge of her siblings. That means there must always be an adult in the house when children are not in school (i.e. summer vacation, Christmas vacation, weekends, Columbus day, Teachers Institute, sick days, etc.). Since Husband must leave for work at 2 o'clock or so each afternoon, that means I must be home by 2 o'clock whether the children are here or not.
Secondly, I'm not qualified to do much. I could babysit, but I doubt Husband wants more kids in the house while he's trying to sleep during the brief time ours are in school. I could work in a restaurant. I did that for more than a year & didn't mind the work (the boss on the other hand is a story all his own). But around here the only options are fast food places. Minimum wage isn't incentive to drive 40 or more miles a day. Elder care would work for me, but Husband isn't comfortable with me being in other people's homes.
So when I seriously began considering a career, the school seemed a good compromise. Husband suggested lunch lady, but the ones there are fixtures & not likely to retire anytime soon. I thought more along the lines of teacher's aid. When I looked into the requirements I was pleasantly surprised. Illinois requires all teacher's aides to have 30 college credit hours or a para-professional educator certificate.
I talked to A Starry Night about the possibility of me going to school for my certificate. She told me that considering we're a 6 person family living on one income, chances are really good that I could go to school for little to no out of pocket for us. But first I wanted to see how close I was to the 30 necessary credit hours before signing up for a year long program.
My transcripts came in the mail this week. Anyone want to take a wild guess at how many hours I have? Anyone? 29. Yup. Twenty-nine hours. And since I never finished a degree & it's been 16 years since I left school, my credits probably won't transfer. To be honest, if I were the one deciding & I saw the grades attached to those credit hours I'd make myself start over from scratch, too.
You see, I am not a scholar. Sure, I love to read.....what I want to read. I like writing....what I feel like writing when I feel like writing it. Studying- not so much. Attending classes- not so much. Being generally responsible- not so much. I was really bad at college the first time around & I'm not so sure I'd be any better at it a second time. But at this point, it may be my only option.
Yes, I'm 16 years older than I was when I decided not to go to school but not to bother dropping out. Yes, I'm a mother of four & I know I cannot slack off on my work. Yes, I know this would make our lives a bit easier. All that being said, I'm really not sure I'm cut out for school.
So, do I pull up my big girl panties & deal with it, or do I mope about crying that I hate homework & I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader? Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion.
October 6, 2011
CAMP OUT!
Tomorrow BabyGirl is going on her first overnight camp out with her entire fifth grade class. This has been a tradition at her school since the mid 1970's. It's the reason to be in 5th grade around here.
But BabyGirl is a bit unsure about the whole thing. At first she didn't want to go at all. I talked to her teacher & he said she's not required to go and that she's free to go for the day but come home at night instead of sleeping over. The closer we've gotten to the big day, the more excited she's become.
I'm going with her class to help chaperon until 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. Then I'll come home to take care of the three youngest FarmHands. I told her I'd come back to get her at nine if she decided she didn't want to stay, but I'm really hoping she does. I think she'll have a great time if she sticks it out.
Please say a prayer for her tonight. I really want this to be a great memory for her like it has been for her cousins in years past.
But BabyGirl is a bit unsure about the whole thing. At first she didn't want to go at all. I talked to her teacher & he said she's not required to go and that she's free to go for the day but come home at night instead of sleeping over. The closer we've gotten to the big day, the more excited she's become.
I'm going with her class to help chaperon until 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. Then I'll come home to take care of the three youngest FarmHands. I told her I'd come back to get her at nine if she decided she didn't want to stay, but I'm really hoping she does. I think she'll have a great time if she sticks it out.
Please say a prayer for her tonight. I really want this to be a great memory for her like it has been for her cousins in years past.
September 2, 2011
Proving- once again- that I am not smarter than a fifth grader.
As if the game show wasn't enough to put me in my place, BabyGirl is officially a fifth grader. Every time I've watched AYSTA5thG I've thought, "That's insane! There's no way there teaching that in the 5th grade." Well, I'm here to tell you- I was wrong. So very wrong.
This week's Social Studies question: Explain each item & tell how it relates to free enterprise- economy, profit, supply & demand, import & export, consumer.
Whaaa?
Um....yeah...Free Enterprise...I know this one...it's....it's when....does it have something to do with Star Trek?
Science question: Name a group of organisms of only one kind that can interbreed in nature.
I am so gonna' fail 5th grade.
Luckily BabyGirl seems to have a better grasp on cellular structure and the ins & outs of Free Enterprise. Maybe she can tutor me.
In the meantime, I'm totally kicking first grade math's butt. Need 6's & 7's written on a dotted line? I'm your girl. Need a 3 blocks colored out of a row of 10? I can handle that. Need the shape on the right circled? Give me a second to think about which side is the right & which is the left & I'll get it done.
Third grade homework, thus far, hasn't given me too much trouble, but I know that time is coming. Soon there will be science where I'll get tangled in a sea of simple machines. And Social studies where the branches of government will reduce me to a mindless blob on the steps of the capitol building (distinguished from the other mindless blobs on Capitol Hill only by my sweat pants and t-shirts as opposed to their Italian silk pin-stripes).
Perhaps I should rethink my current goal of going back to school so I can be a teacher's aid. Most teachers (and parents for that matter) would much rather have someone proficient in multiplication and basic grammar...not a mathematically challenged ellipse addict.
But on a positive note- I sure can read!
This week's Social Studies question: Explain each item & tell how it relates to free enterprise- economy, profit, supply & demand, import & export, consumer.
Whaaa?
Um....yeah...Free Enterprise...I know this one...it's....it's when....does it have something to do with Star Trek?
Science question: Name a group of organisms of only one kind that can interbreed in nature.
I am so gonna' fail 5th grade.
Luckily BabyGirl seems to have a better grasp on cellular structure and the ins & outs of Free Enterprise. Maybe she can tutor me.
In the meantime, I'm totally kicking first grade math's butt. Need 6's & 7's written on a dotted line? I'm your girl. Need a 3 blocks colored out of a row of 10? I can handle that. Need the shape on the right circled? Give me a second to think about which side is the right & which is the left & I'll get it done.
Third grade homework, thus far, hasn't given me too much trouble, but I know that time is coming. Soon there will be science where I'll get tangled in a sea of simple machines. And Social studies where the branches of government will reduce me to a mindless blob on the steps of the capitol building (distinguished from the other mindless blobs on Capitol Hill only by my sweat pants and t-shirts as opposed to their Italian silk pin-stripes).
Perhaps I should rethink my current goal of going back to school so I can be a teacher's aid. Most teachers (and parents for that matter) would much rather have someone proficient in multiplication and basic grammar...not a mathematically challenged ellipse addict.
But on a positive note- I sure can read!
August 30, 2011
Will I ever learn?
Two years ago, Mrs.G asked if I'd be her room mother. #1 Son was in her first grade class & I'd never been room mom before so I said sure. Last spring she caught me in the hall & asked if I'd do it again for B.B.'s class. Why not. It wasn't so bad last time.
The problem? I'm not so good with responsibility. Not great with deadlines. Don't function well under pressure. And yes, being room mom is fraught with pressures. (Please know this entire post is total crap. I don't have anything better to write about today so I'm ranting about things that don't truly bother me. I really enjoy being room mom. I just enjoy complaining more.)
Today I'm slaving away over the class party list. Each parent was asked to sign up for a party. They could give me their top 3 picks & let me know if they were willing to help with more than one party. I'm now sitting with a stack of papers teetering on the edge of my printer desk trying to decide if the mom who only filled out 2 spots only wants to help with one of the two parties or both. Does the mom who said, "Any 2," really mean it or is she going to get pissed when I sign her up to help with Johnny Appleseed day? And who celebrates Johnny Appleseed day, anyway? I hate Johnny Appleseed. First of all I can never get that first "E" in the proper place in his name. Secondly he was the great-great-great....uncle of my third grade teacher & that woman was eeeeevil. It's all his fault I nearly had a nervous breakdown at the ripe age of 8. If he had prevented his siblings from procreation, I could have had a kind, gentle third grade teacher instead of the red-faced, screaming, child hater I had. In retrospect, she might have been going through the change of life. That would explain a lot. And she did read The Box Car Children to us, so she wasn't entirely bad. But since only one mom showed any interest in Johnny Appleseed Day, I get to put my name in with hers & "Any 2 Mom."
Curse you, Johnny Appleseed.
At least this year I don't have to fuss over the snack schedules. Those nearly killed me last time. This job should come with a year supply of Ben & Jerry's.
(Yeah, total crap.)
The problem? I'm not so good with responsibility. Not great with deadlines. Don't function well under pressure. And yes, being room mom is fraught with pressures. (Please know this entire post is total crap. I don't have anything better to write about today so I'm ranting about things that don't truly bother me. I really enjoy being room mom. I just enjoy complaining more.)
Today I'm slaving away over the class party list. Each parent was asked to sign up for a party. They could give me their top 3 picks & let me know if they were willing to help with more than one party. I'm now sitting with a stack of papers teetering on the edge of my printer desk trying to decide if the mom who only filled out 2 spots only wants to help with one of the two parties or both. Does the mom who said, "Any 2," really mean it or is she going to get pissed when I sign her up to help with Johnny Appleseed day? And who celebrates Johnny Appleseed day, anyway? I hate Johnny Appleseed. First of all I can never get that first "E" in the proper place in his name. Secondly he was the great-great-great....uncle of my third grade teacher & that woman was eeeeevil. It's all his fault I nearly had a nervous breakdown at the ripe age of 8. If he had prevented his siblings from procreation, I could have had a kind, gentle third grade teacher instead of the red-faced, screaming, child hater I had. In retrospect, she might have been going through the change of life. That would explain a lot. And she did read The Box Car Children to us, so she wasn't entirely bad. But since only one mom showed any interest in Johnny Appleseed Day, I get to put my name in with hers & "Any 2 Mom."
Curse you, Johnny Appleseed.
At least this year I don't have to fuss over the snack schedules. Those nearly killed me last time. This job should come with a year supply of Ben & Jerry's.
(Yeah, total crap.)
August 25, 2011
NOT a retraction.
OK, last night I flipped out a bit. I was extraordinarily frustrated with my oldest, battling a raging headache, tired, and simply done with the day. Unfortunately the day was not done with me. Unfortunately, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
I'm feeling a bit better today & hopefully a bit more ready to tackle Mount Saint Homework when the FarmHands get off the bus. I'm praying their teachers take it easy on them tonight in the knowledge that we're supposed to be at school at 6:30 PM for open house. Having four class rooms to visit with four kids in tow and Husband at work and therefore unable to lend a helping hand or two, I'll probably be there at closing time.
But tonight will be better. So let it be written, so let it be done.
P.S. Honey Wheat Braided Pretzel Twists are really good!
I'm feeling a bit better today & hopefully a bit more ready to tackle Mount Saint Homework when the FarmHands get off the bus. I'm praying their teachers take it easy on them tonight in the knowledge that we're supposed to be at school at 6:30 PM for open house. Having four class rooms to visit with four kids in tow and Husband at work and therefore unable to lend a helping hand or two, I'll probably be there at closing time.
But tonight will be better. So let it be written, so let it be done.
P.S. Honey Wheat Braided Pretzel Twists are really good!
August 24, 2011
And I thought fourth grade was bad.
Fifth grade may be the end of me. I think I've grown 7 new gray hairs in the week the FarmHands have been back in school. BabyGirl is, oddly, exceptionally resistant to homework in every form. Her teacher, unfortunately, is not.
Normally, the beginning of the school year is the one time BabyGirl & I are not going head to head over homework. She usually starts the year off on an up swing, excited to be back. This year, not so much.
And for the record I have no problem with her teacher or the amount of homework he assigns. I think most of the work is meant to be done in class, but Miss I-have-issues-with-time-management-and-don't-you-dare-suggest-that-I'm-dawdling-even-when-I've-spent-thirty-minutes-sitting-in-the-toy-box-chewing-on-a-bobby-pin doesn't seem to think she has any hand in the 40 pounds of text books she's lugging home every night. She also doesn't seem to think there's a problem with taking 45 minutes to eat a cup of yogurt before she starts on her homework making it nearly 7 o'clock before she even starts.
She was just asking me about open house at the school tomorrow. She wants to show us something in her class room. I told her it would all depend on how much time we have after she's finished her homework. Her reply was a guttural growl. "I'm sorry, dear, but our lives now revolve around when you get your homework done. It's not any fun for any of us."
This morning I was telling Husband about the past few nights of arguing & fighting. His response: Home school her. Mine: Yeah, that's a great idea. I can't even get her to do 30 minutes worth of homework. How exactly am I supposed to get through a full day of necessary education? Not to mention the fact that my daughter and I are like oil and water. I hate admitting that, but we simply do not get along. I love her with all my heart, but the kid and I, left alone for long intervals with a task to accomplish, are volatile. It's a pretty crappy situation.
Add to that, the chaos that ensues in the rest of the house when I'm trapped in a room with an irate BabyGirl and the other 3 FarmHands are left alone. Eventually she'll get frustrated, start screaming, and stomp off & I'm able to go deal with the other catastrophes that are taking place.
Yeah, I really love this part of my job. Anyone looking for work as a fifth grade tutor? It doesn't pay much (nothing, really) but the work is steady &...um....challenging.
(Note: I'm not really looking for advice here. I just really need to vent...unless of course you have some really groundbreaking advice for me other than "make her do her homework as soon as she gets home" or "give her a break when she gets home & let her unwind" or "send her work to school unfinished if she doesn't get it done to be sure she knows it's her responsibility" because I've tried all in one way or another.)
Normally, the beginning of the school year is the one time BabyGirl & I are not going head to head over homework. She usually starts the year off on an up swing, excited to be back. This year, not so much.
And for the record I have no problem with her teacher or the amount of homework he assigns. I think most of the work is meant to be done in class, but Miss I-have-issues-with-time-management-and-don't-you-dare-suggest-that-I'm-dawdling-even-when-I've-spent-thirty-minutes-sitting-in-the-toy-box-chewing-on-a-bobby-pin doesn't seem to think she has any hand in the 40 pounds of text books she's lugging home every night. She also doesn't seem to think there's a problem with taking 45 minutes to eat a cup of yogurt before she starts on her homework making it nearly 7 o'clock before she even starts.
She was just asking me about open house at the school tomorrow. She wants to show us something in her class room. I told her it would all depend on how much time we have after she's finished her homework. Her reply was a guttural growl. "I'm sorry, dear, but our lives now revolve around when you get your homework done. It's not any fun for any of us."
This morning I was telling Husband about the past few nights of arguing & fighting. His response: Home school her. Mine: Yeah, that's a great idea. I can't even get her to do 30 minutes worth of homework. How exactly am I supposed to get through a full day of necessary education? Not to mention the fact that my daughter and I are like oil and water. I hate admitting that, but we simply do not get along. I love her with all my heart, but the kid and I, left alone for long intervals with a task to accomplish, are volatile. It's a pretty crappy situation.
Add to that, the chaos that ensues in the rest of the house when I'm trapped in a room with an irate BabyGirl and the other 3 FarmHands are left alone. Eventually she'll get frustrated, start screaming, and stomp off & I'm able to go deal with the other catastrophes that are taking place.
Yeah, I really love this part of my job. Anyone looking for work as a fifth grade tutor? It doesn't pay much (nothing, really) but the work is steady &...um....challenging.
(Note: I'm not really looking for advice here. I just really need to vent...unless of course you have some really groundbreaking advice for me other than "make her do her homework as soon as she gets home" or "give her a break when she gets home & let her unwind" or "send her work to school unfinished if she doesn't get it done to be sure she knows it's her responsibility" because I've tried all in one way or another.)
August 19, 2011
Finally, a real friend!!
If you've been here any length of time, you've probably heard of Moomah, Neenee, and Googah. They're Bitsy's best friends. They also happen to be imaginary. The three of them started pre-k with her this week. Luckily their ages are rather fluid. Once they were all grown women with children of their own. For a while they were "big girls like BabyGirl." Of late, they've all been four years old & ready for preschool.
Bitsy is the first of the FarmHands to really have long term imaginary friends. The Girls have had many adventures & even done some jail time once or twice. I was a bit concerned that they would be Bitsy's sole companions since she doesn't seem to have much use for kids her own age.
After her first full day of Pre-K she came home telling me all about a girl at school named Emily. Emily must be amazing because she's all Bitsy talked about Wednesday night. "Mommy, Me played with Emily in centers today. Emily talked to me and I talked to her. Emily....Emily....Emily...." You get the picture. As she was settling down for the night the conversation turned a bit more....depressing.
"Mommy, me think Emily not gonna' be at school tomorrow."
Why not?
"Me think maybe her gonna' be sick."
I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Emily will be there. Don't worry about it.
"But me think maybe her not. Me think maybe her hava' go to the doctor."
It's only the second day of school. She'll probably be there.
"Maybe her hava' take her dad to the doctor."
Did she say she had to take her dad to the doctor?
"No, but maybe her have to. Maybe him hava' have surgery so maybe Emily hava' take him to the doctor."
Oh, well, I'm not sure. I hope her dad doesn't have to have surgery. Let's not worry too much about it. We'll see if she's there tomorrow. OK?
*sigh* "Ok."
Surprisingly, Emily was at school on Wednesday. No mention of her dad having surgery. In fact, the baby sitter picked her up & we had a brief chat about Bitsy's new obsession with Emily. (Incidentally, the baby sitter used to watch IT Superguy, Ray-ray, Beffie, and J when they were little.)
When we got home I asked Bitsy how Moomah, Neenee, and Googah had done at school. I've been a bit worried considering the time they've done in The Big House. I'm not sure they'll adapt to circle time and line leaders without falling back on shivs and gang violence. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. They're not going to be at school this week. Can you guess why?
They had to take their dad to the doctor so he could have surgery on his leg.
I wrote the above post while house sitting for IT Superguy & A Starry Night while they were at a funeral. They're having their kitchen remodeled & wanted someone to keep an eye on the contractors. High speed Internet is heavenly.
When I picked Bitsy up from Busha's after my grocery shopping, Busha informed me that Moomah had been to Pre-K today. Miss G (the teacher) didn't know she was there. Busha also told me that sadly, both of Moomah's parents have died. But a miracle must have occurred because before Bitsy & I left the driveway, they were alive again. I guess it's not only their ages that are fluid.
I hope Emily has better luck with her parents.
Bitsy is the first of the FarmHands to really have long term imaginary friends. The Girls have had many adventures & even done some jail time once or twice. I was a bit concerned that they would be Bitsy's sole companions since she doesn't seem to have much use for kids her own age.
After her first full day of Pre-K she came home telling me all about a girl at school named Emily. Emily must be amazing because she's all Bitsy talked about Wednesday night. "Mommy, Me played with Emily in centers today. Emily talked to me and I talked to her. Emily....Emily....Emily...." You get the picture. As she was settling down for the night the conversation turned a bit more....depressing.
"Mommy, me think Emily not gonna' be at school tomorrow."
Why not?
"Me think maybe her gonna' be sick."
I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Emily will be there. Don't worry about it.
"But me think maybe her not. Me think maybe her hava' go to the doctor."
It's only the second day of school. She'll probably be there.
"Maybe her hava' take her dad to the doctor."
Did she say she had to take her dad to the doctor?
"No, but maybe her have to. Maybe him hava' have surgery so maybe Emily hava' take him to the doctor."
Oh, well, I'm not sure. I hope her dad doesn't have to have surgery. Let's not worry too much about it. We'll see if she's there tomorrow. OK?
*sigh* "Ok."
Surprisingly, Emily was at school on Wednesday. No mention of her dad having surgery. In fact, the baby sitter picked her up & we had a brief chat about Bitsy's new obsession with Emily. (Incidentally, the baby sitter used to watch IT Superguy, Ray-ray, Beffie, and J when they were little.)
When we got home I asked Bitsy how Moomah, Neenee, and Googah had done at school. I've been a bit worried considering the time they've done in The Big House. I'm not sure they'll adapt to circle time and line leaders without falling back on shivs and gang violence. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. They're not going to be at school this week. Can you guess why?
They had to take their dad to the doctor so he could have surgery on his leg.
I wrote the above post while house sitting for IT Superguy & A Starry Night while they were at a funeral. They're having their kitchen remodeled & wanted someone to keep an eye on the contractors. High speed Internet is heavenly.
When I picked Bitsy up from Busha's after my grocery shopping, Busha informed me that Moomah had been to Pre-K today. Miss G (the teacher) didn't know she was there. Busha also told me that sadly, both of Moomah's parents have died. But a miracle must have occurred because before Bitsy & I left the driveway, they were alive again. I guess it's not only their ages that are fluid.
I hope Emily has better luck with her parents.
August 17, 2011
Today I had an empty nest.
For three hours...but I wasn't in it. I was at Busha & Bucka's sipping coffee & laughing with my grandmother.
Bitsy started Pre-K today. I'm not really sure I was prepared for this. It's not like it was a great surprise. I had her screened in March. We've known for months this was coming. But still, dropping your baby off at school for the first time is a bit overwhelming....especially when she doesn't seem to notice you're gone.
Yesterday was visit day & she was glued to my thigh. Occasionally she would venture off into the class to check something out, but only if I was in a direct line of sight & only if another child was no where near what she wanted to look at. Today she tried to leave me as soon as we got to the front doors of the school. I walk her to her room, make sure she gets her back pack hung up, walk her to the play ground door, then say good bye. She tried to tell me good bye three times before we got to the play ground.
To answer your question: No. I did not cry. Not a bit. It was much easier than I expected. Does that come from three previous "first day" survivals or does it stem from the total amazement at three hours almost entirely to myself every week day of the school year? You decide. I'm going to take a nap.
Bitsy started Pre-K today. I'm not really sure I was prepared for this. It's not like it was a great surprise. I had her screened in March. We've known for months this was coming. But still, dropping your baby off at school for the first time is a bit overwhelming....especially when she doesn't seem to notice you're gone.
Yesterday was visit day & she was glued to my thigh. Occasionally she would venture off into the class to check something out, but only if I was in a direct line of sight & only if another child was no where near what she wanted to look at. Today she tried to leave me as soon as we got to the front doors of the school. I walk her to her room, make sure she gets her back pack hung up, walk her to the play ground door, then say good bye. She tried to tell me good bye three times before we got to the play ground.
To answer your question: No. I did not cry. Not a bit. It was much easier than I expected. Does that come from three previous "first day" survivals or does it stem from the total amazement at three hours almost entirely to myself every week day of the school year? You decide. I'm going to take a nap.
August 3, 2011
Our little alarm clocks didn't go off.
The week of VBS is always the most hectic week of the summer. Without fail I set up a doctor's appointment for the FarmHands, all the corn comes in from the garden & has to be put up, it's 8,000 degrees outside, and I find a book I absolutely cannot put down.
This year is no different. I'm teaching third & fourth graders at Bible School. Monday we had check ups for everyone except B.B. Husband filled my kitchen sink with corn this morning. I'm fully invested in Bedbugs, a new, yet to be released book by Ben Winters. Add to that my incessant need to check my Facebook page & Twitter Feed and I'm like a crazy woman. Damn you, social networking sites.
Last night, after VBS, I took the FarmHands for a quick dip in the pool. They love "night swimming" and reached a fevered pitch before we made the 100 yard tromp down to the pool. By the time everyone had been bathed, snacked, and tucked in it was well after ten o'clock. I'm pretty sure BabyGirl was still roaming the house at midnight (bedtime for her is a rather loose term). I got sucked in by Mr.Winter's tale of urban paranoia and didn't get to sleep until sometime after 12:30 this morning....and then rather unwillingly. I so wanted to stay up & read through the night (fear not, dear readers- In a few weeks you will hear all about this latest piece of literature). Bitsy climbed in bed with me sometime after 1:30 and I put her back in her bed as Husband was crashing for the night/morning.
Imagine my surprise when I awoke this morning on my own- no screaming, no fighting, no random questions about super-heroes- at 9:40 am. For a brief moment I was sure I was dreaming. It had to be closer to 7. The FarmHands never sleep past 8. When I realized it wasn't a dream, my second round of thoughts were, "Are they still alive? Are they still in the house? Did they escape and we didn't hear it?" Yup, they were all fine. BabyGirl was still asleep & the others were playing happily in their bedroom. #1 Son told me they didn't wake up until nine and they stayed in their rooms as they were told.
Leave it to us to learn how to sleep in 13 days before school starts.
This year is no different. I'm teaching third & fourth graders at Bible School. Monday we had check ups for everyone except B.B. Husband filled my kitchen sink with corn this morning. I'm fully invested in Bedbugs, a new, yet to be released book by Ben Winters. Add to that my incessant need to check my Facebook page & Twitter Feed and I'm like a crazy woman. Damn you, social networking sites.
Last night, after VBS, I took the FarmHands for a quick dip in the pool. They love "night swimming" and reached a fevered pitch before we made the 100 yard tromp down to the pool. By the time everyone had been bathed, snacked, and tucked in it was well after ten o'clock. I'm pretty sure BabyGirl was still roaming the house at midnight (bedtime for her is a rather loose term). I got sucked in by Mr.Winter's tale of urban paranoia and didn't get to sleep until sometime after 12:30 this morning....and then rather unwillingly. I so wanted to stay up & read through the night (fear not, dear readers- In a few weeks you will hear all about this latest piece of literature). Bitsy climbed in bed with me sometime after 1:30 and I put her back in her bed as Husband was crashing for the night/morning.
Imagine my surprise when I awoke this morning on my own- no screaming, no fighting, no random questions about super-heroes- at 9:40 am. For a brief moment I was sure I was dreaming. It had to be closer to 7. The FarmHands never sleep past 8. When I realized it wasn't a dream, my second round of thoughts were, "Are they still alive? Are they still in the house? Did they escape and we didn't hear it?" Yup, they were all fine. BabyGirl was still asleep & the others were playing happily in their bedroom. #1 Son told me they didn't wake up until nine and they stayed in their rooms as they were told.
Leave it to us to learn how to sleep in 13 days before school starts.
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