Warning Signs

In one of my many driving adventures, where I end up getting lost going someplace I have been many times before, I mistaking chose a questionable driveway to turn around.  A barbed wire fence surrounded either side of the driveway.  The fence was littered with multiple "warning" signs; "Beware of Dogs," "No Trespassing," "No Solicitors," and "Keep Out." My initial reaction was something along the lines of, "Oh poo! Get me out of here!"

Once I was safely back at home I started wondering what warning signs we should put on our house. I decided that because we don't have a fence surrounding our driveway I could just post all the warning signs on our garage door. I am sure the neighbors would appreciate that, but I am sure they already think we are crazy, so it really doesn't matter at this point.

The list I came up with was ridiculously long so I made my top 6:

This really should go without saying, but this sign is necessary for anyone who isn't familiar with the A Team. Coming into the house you are subject to all types of questions and comments.  You will become a plaything for them. You are their entertainment. Some of my favorite comments that have been made to some of our guests include; "When will you die?" and "Wanna play dead mermaids?" I swear they are perfectly sane children, they just have active imaginations...



We have dance parties on a regular basis.  Some days we only have one, but other days we have multiple parties.  Some dance parties last 30 seconds while others last up to an hour. Sometimes our dance parties get crazy and we include choreography and belting out Broadway Musical Tunes.  Last week an unsuspecting visitor quietly excused herself to the back deck while I joined the girls in singing songs from Shrek. I make a fantastic Fiona BTW! She stayed outside until the song was over and then begged A1 to go play at her house.

 

The girls love it when door-to-door sales people show up, fresh meat. They talk to them, tell them stories, and entertain them with singing and dancing. Most sales people just stand with their mouths opened in awe of the show they are witnessing. These poor sales people have no idea what is really happening on the other side of the door.  One time I was busy so the girls broke a rule and opened the door and brought a man selling cleaning products in to the living room.  He had trouble making eye contact and was quickly making his way back to the door once he saw I was hooked up to my pump. He never came back.



We have constant singing, dancing, and performing going on in our house. As soon as a guest sits in the living room the girls head off to rehearse. A1, of course, is the director and begins teaching songs and routines. A2 often "writes" her own songs and is excited to perform her songs with added interpretive dance moves. However; as soon as you accept the fact that you will be entertained by these two, the show will end.  Sometimes it ends because they forget the words or the moves. Other times it ends because A2 gets embarrassed if the audiences has a reaction that she deems inappropriate, such as laughing or smiling. Most of the time the show ends because the girls get into a fight.

 

Seriously people! These are sleeping hours for our 2 year old. Our 2 year old who needs sleep. Our 2 year old who is evil if she doesn't sleep. Most of the neighbor kids are trained and know better than to ring the doorbell during these times. Actually, most of the neighbor kids know better than to ring the doorbell, ever.



No matter what time you stop by there is a good chance you will find at least one of us in bad pajamas. Most of the time it is me wearing whatever ugly pajama pants I find that are clean, "matched" with any shirt. There is also a possibility that I will be wearing mismatched socks to finish off my attire. I hate bare feet and I am really only comfortable in my socks and shoes.  It is weird, I know. The girls will also most likely be wearing some type of unmatched sleepwear at any given time. Don't be afraid, just go with it.

My warning signs would be helpful to unsuspecting visitors, but then again, they would kind of take the fun out of shocking our innocent visitors.

You can make your own Warning Signs at www.warninglablegenerator.com, have fun!

 

Read Her Like a Book

A1 is very predictable. I can read her like a book. Her thoughts and feelings flow across her face like words in a well written book. Fibs and fibblets escape through wide eyes with lifted eyebrows.  Guilt emerges from a stiff face with wide statue eyes. Happiness pours from slightly squinted sparkly eyes. Sadness creeps out of downturned gloomy eyes. 

Tonight I returned home from a secret dinner run with A2, finding A1 stiff faced with wide statue eyes. I watched and waited. She began babbling. "I didn't know where you were. I couldn't find daddy. I thought you guys left me and A3 home alone. Don't worry I am taking care of A3. I have it all under control."  

The wide eyed stiff face statue look continued. I reminded her that her dad was upstairs and continued to watch her. She continued to babble, "I didn't think you would be back so soon. Please don't be mad at me. I thought you were gone. I thought daddy was gone. So I did something I shouldn't have..." Her eyes relaxed and her face softened. "I... I ate a strawberry."

Well, that is a relief. My rule follower ate a strawberry without permission. The guilt was written all over her face. I had to work hard to hold back the laughter. I can't let her know that it wasn't a big deal. I need her to feel some guilt because I know that soon enough my little easy to read book will become a book written in a foreign language, I just hope it comes with pictures! 

                     Happiness!

Middle Aged-ish

I'm not exactly sure at what age a person becomes "middle age," but at 35 I'm pretty darn close. Tonight I went to a movie targeted at a much younger teenage audience. Tonight was the first time I felt middle aged-ish. 

10 Reasons You Might Be A Middle Aged Person At A Teen Movie 

1. One of the previews is for Step Up Something or Other. You don't plan on seeing that one since you haven't seen any of the other 334 other Step Up movies. The first one came out after you already had your first child...

2. Previews for all the other movies look rentable at best, they are all agansty teen melodramas concerning young love, early death, high school, and of course football. Although, the football movie has some potential...

3. The preview for the scary Ouji Board movie is funny to you until something freaky jumps out from under a table. A youngster shouts,  "I almost pi$$ed myself." and you worry because "almost" doesn't exist for you anymore. 

4. Text messages fly back and forth before the movie starts. Your fellow movie patrons are texting "YOLO" is that still a thing? and making plans for after the movie. You text your hubby asking him to restart the dryer to make sure your youngest's sheets are dry before her bedtime. 

5. While everyone in the theater is swooning over the baby-faced male lead, you just don't get it, however; the father of the lead looks delightfully handsome. A little shifty, but definitely handsome

6. You wear minimual makeup knowing you are about to watch a tear jerker. Your first tears coming during the movie when you are laughing so hard at the disturbing behavior of your fellow movie goers. In case you were wondering, propping your leg up in front of you and picking at your feet during a movie is not appropriate. 

7. The movie does make you cry, but not in the way everyone else is sobbing over two star crossed lovers whose lives end too soon. You cry for the unused swing set. You cry for the parents. 

8. You wear long sleeves and bring a sweatshirt because theaters are always COLD. You start to sweat and worry that it is a hot flash. Good news, it was just hot. 

9. You sit awkwardly in your seat while all the others are cuddled up comfortably. You are worried about lice. Your kindred movie watchers have no idea the hours of laundry those little bugs bring or what a tedious task it is it hunt for nits in fine blond hair. 

10. You are no longer wiggly in your seat because you are hyper with too much energy. You now move to find relief for your aching knees and sore hips. Which you never find, but that is ok since, "Pain demands to be felt." and you are feeling it and will probably feel it tomorrow. 

Don't get me wrong I enjoy the Young Adult genre, but I think it might best be enjoyed from my own home where I can sophisticatedly sip wine while I read or watch. Just kidding, I hate wine! 

Summer Time Success

Summer Day 1 was a success!

A1 has one major goal for the summer; learn to ride her bike without training wheels.  Who knew she would accomplish it on the first day!?!

I know, I know, an eight year old still riding her bike with training wheels seems old, but she was TERRIFIED of trying. She was afraid of breaking her arm again, even though she broke her arm two years ago doing cartwheels and she doesn't have a problem flipping now, somehow she has decided falling from her bike will have the same results.  I wasn't going to push her, only encourage her. I knew she would come around when the time was right for her. 

The time was right yesterday, after one of the training wheels fell off her bike and a neighbor kid encouraged her by yelling that she was a baby because she still had training wheels. Thank you peer pressure... A1 came into the house and declared she wanted the other training wheel off right now.  She was done being a baby.

As soon as Mac got home, she met him in the garage begging for the removal of the training wheel. Within minutes the training wheel was gone.  A1 hopped on her bike and just took off.  She was riding like an expert in no time.  She is so proud of her summer accomplishment.

Since she is an expert at this bike riding stuff, she has been teaching A2 how to ride the bike too.

 A3 isn't ready to even reach the pedals, but she loves hanging out with the girls.

Answer to My Prayer

Today was emotional.  After a long night listening to the weather radio alert me to EVERY watch and warning starting the minute my eyes closed, I knew it was going to be a day filled with ups, downs, and almost-tears. There were plenty of things that I expected to give that lump in the throat feeling: saying good-bye to the students I have spent every day with for the last two years or saying good-bye to the teachers I have worked with everyday for the last two years. I also had a few unexpected tear jerkers.

I was greeted this morning with a VERY generous gift from one of my students. The gift alone almost made me cry, but then she added, "My mom wanted to give all of this because of everything you have done for me and we feel sorry for you because of everything you have to put up with everyday and because you have to move to a new building." Sometimes it is just nice to hear you are appreciated!

Later I was sitting in the awards ceremony and I got a little choked up.  This is typical.  I usually get teary eyed when people are recognized for their accomplishments, especially kids. This ceremony was particularly touching because I realized almost all of my students received awards. This is an awesome feat for students who receive special education services. Typically these students get over looked or are uninvolved in extracurricular activities for various reasons.  My students received a variety of awards: sports, band, chorus, musical theater, student of the month, and exceptional homework completion. My eyes sprung a leak of pride tears!

After the awards ceremony the students had free time to sign year books.  This is a big deal in Jr High! You have to open yourself up to possible rejection in case you ask the wrong person, "Would you sign my yearbook?" WHAT IF THEY SAY NO!?! You also have to be open to the possibility that no one will ask you to sign their yearbook.  This simple activity involving a pen and some paper has huge social implications.

I scanned the crowd several times to make sure my students were doing what they should and being treated well. There hasn't ever been an issue, but I kind of become a momma bear with my students!  I noticed a student,who is painfully shy, sitting alone in the bleachers.  I watched him for a long time.  No one talked to him.  No one noticed him. No one asked him to sign their yearbook.. No one signed his yearbook.  He looked miserable.  A group of students walked up to the bleachers.  I was silently relieved, but then they sat a few rows in front of him. No one said anything to him. 

I felt like he was invisible to everyone, but me. I was starting to feel panicky for him.  I started to get that tight feeling in my throat.  I hate the idea of anyone feeling excluded, even if it isn't intentional.  I said a little prayer for this kid.  I asked God to help me help him. I looked around the gym of 100 kids, searching for a kind and outgoing kid who would be happy to ask him to sign his/her yearbook without making an awkward scene.  I didn't see anyone.  I felt so alone. I considered walking up and talking to him but that would only make things worse for him. Not very many 7th grade boys would feel better about themselves chatting with a teacher, especially a teacher he doesn't know.

I scanned the room again, still not seeing anyone to help make this guy feel comfortable. Then I glanced up at him and saw a student talking to him.  In that moment I knew this kid was an answer to my prayers. I got goose bumps and teary eyed when I remembered a few months ago I was visiting a new church and was feeling so out of place and uncomfortable. This same student tapped my shoulder that night and said something about being glad I was there. I am sure that night his mom encouraged him to talk to me, but it still meant a lot. 

I continued to watch the happenings in the bleachers. I noticed the shy boy seemed to relax when the answer to my prayers was talking to him. The boys exchanged yearbooks, signed them, and said a few words to each other.  Then the answer to my prayers went to talk to another group.  No one else talked to the shy kid, but I saw his demeanor change after the answer to my prayers talked him. He was sitting a little taller and didn't look like he was trying to fade into the background.  He even looked happy.

I know that I sound like I am an emotional wreck, but well... I am. Ok, so maybe emotional wreck  is a little too harsh, but I am extra sensitive right now and that is just fine. I had several great things happen today. I was appreciated. I saw my students succeed. Most importantly, I got to witness God answering my prayer and that is always an awesome experience.

End of the School Year Blues

Last night while I was digging through baskets of clean laundry, that I successfully ignored all weekend, Mac cheerfully reminded me that the next day would be my last Monday of the school year.  I unnecessarily growled some snide comment to him about hating Monday's.  I felt bad immediately after the words came out of my mouth. I continued to feel bad as the night went on.

When I woke up this morning still feeling bad, I decided it was time for some peaceful reflection and mediation. Since I was in a time crunch, as always, I had to do my reflecting in the shower, which coincidently is where I do my best thinking. Some days, if I wake up early enough, I am even able to finish a complete thought without being interrupted. This morning I was lucky and was able to self diagnose my attitude problem. I have "End of the School Year Blues."

End of the School Year Blues is a rare phenomenon that strikes some teachers at the end of the school year. I say that it is rare because I really don't know if anyone else feels this way.  The end of the year combines so many emotions for me.  I don't ever know which one will pop up at what time.

As soon as May hits, I start to feel relief; relief that I made it through another year of paperwork and strange unexplained rules and regulations that our friends from the state have gifted to us. As the days tick by I start to feel excitement, excitement that I get to focus on being a mom and not a teacher-mom. Before I know it I start to feel anxious. My anxiety grows as the to-do lists grow.  There are so many end of the year tasks! Without warning in the last week of May I start to feel sadness.  I hate saying goodbye.  This year will be particularly sad since I will be saying goodbye to a great team of teachers and the best students I have had to date, FYI at the end of every year I always say it was my best class I have ever had, but seriously this was an awesome class. Then I start to feel overwhelmed and a little helpless.  SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME.

By the last week I am a mess. My head becomes a swirl of emotions. People crossing my path won't know what frame of mind I will be in. Will I laugh like a mad women? Will I sob inconsolably? Will I have a short lived panic attack? Will I hug you tight? Probably not, I am not naturally a hugger. Will I snap at you out of anger? Mac is really familiar with this one... Basically I am a crazy woman from May to mid June.

I really do love my job; and I love my summer breaks, but I need to work on controlling my end of the year emotions. Not everyone I come in contact with is a willing rider on roller coaster I have created in my head.  One would think that after 13 years of teaching, I would be able to end the year without tears and temper tantrums, but that is not me. 

I still have 3 more days so I will be coping the best I can; chocolate and McDonald's. Unfortunately, I am out of malted eggs...