We are some of the newest members of the "parents of school-age children" club and are adjusting to a life regulated by school bells and homework (although we haven't yet had to deal with the "homework" portion). My homework consists of packing lunches, doing even MORE laundry than usual, emptying backpacks, running back and forth to school, and getting up at the crack of dawn to insure that the aforementioned things are all accomplished in a timely manner.
Having been on the "teacher" side of things, though. I still prefer this end of the deal.
Let's face it. Teaching is one of THE most difficult professions out there. The pay is lousy, the work exhausting, the schooling incessant, and the parents...don't even get me started on the parents. (As a side note, those of you who like to argue about teacher's poor compensation by saying "but they only have to work 9 months out of the year" clearly have never (A) set foot in a classroom, (B) spent so much as an hour concerned with the physical, emotional, psychological, and academic needs of 20-30+ children, (C) bothered to look outside of your self-important world and notice what goes in to making a classroom run, or (D) need to be clubbed over the head)
Having had firsthand experience at this, I swore to myself that I would do my best to make sure that my kids teachers know how much we appreciate what they endure everyday and that we realize they have chosen this profession because they want to make an impact on our kid's lives. I have vowed to NEVER be the parent who complains, argues, undermines, challenges, or demands my way from a teacher. Instead, I want to encourage, support, help, and pray for my kid's teachers. As a former educator and, more importantly, as a Believer this is my job.
In light of this self-imposed commission, I have been brainstorming ways to brighten the teacher's day and looking for opportunities to show her that we appreciate her, which should be done more than just one week in May, incidentally. I hope to share some of my ideas in the coming weeks and months and would love to hear some ideas others have as well!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
One Down....179 to go!
Headed back to school this afternoon to pick up Daniel and had my worst fear realized. No mother wants to pick up her child from school, the FIRST day nonetheless, and have the teacher approach smirking and shaking her head.
Quite literally, I had a mini-stroke as my brain began to run through a list of horrible possibilities at lightening speed. Images of everything from emotional breakdown to de-pantsing a classmate suddenly appeared in my mind and I set my jaw and prepared to face the music.
Thankfully, she just wanted to share that Daniel was slightly ahead of the other students in the class, or as she so eloquently stated, "he's super smart." Apparently she got a kick out of the fact that he was reading the rules chart with her on the first day of school. She laughed as she told me that she heard a voice and couldn't figure out where it was coming from until she looked down at him and there he was reading a long as if he was supposed to. I began breathing again at that point and graciously thanked her, still slightly in need of defibrillation, I'm afraid.
I joking replied that I was surprised he wasn't singing the rule chart with her. She unwittingly laughed if off.
If she only knew...
Quite literally, I had a mini-stroke as my brain began to run through a list of horrible possibilities at lightening speed. Images of everything from emotional breakdown to de-pantsing a classmate suddenly appeared in my mind and I set my jaw and prepared to face the music.
Thankfully, she just wanted to share that Daniel was slightly ahead of the other students in the class, or as she so eloquently stated, "he's super smart." Apparently she got a kick out of the fact that he was reading the rules chart with her on the first day of school. She laughed as she told me that she heard a voice and couldn't figure out where it was coming from until she looked down at him and there he was reading a long as if he was supposed to. I began breathing again at that point and graciously thanked her, still slightly in need of defibrillation, I'm afraid.
I joking replied that I was surprised he wasn't singing the rule chart with her. She unwittingly laughed if off.
If she only knew...
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
We Did It...We Did it...
Virtual high five to those of you who now have the Dora the Explorer theme song stuck in your head. Welcome to my world!
There is a feeling of celebration and accomplishment at the Orona household today after managing to tearlessly get Daniel to school for his first day of Kindergarten. He was as confident as ever and headed into his classroom without so much as a wave...little booger. But, I do know the alternative, especially as I think back to the sheer hell I put my own mother through on my first day of kindergarten, and I am grateful that he did as well as he did.
I, on the other hand, was not completely tearless and arrived back at home with ever-so-slighly watery eyes, but did manage to avoid emotional breakdown.
(insert sigh of relief here)
Anxious to find out how the day went as I cannot stop looking at the clock and wondering..."what are they doing now?"
There is a feeling of celebration and accomplishment at the Orona household today after managing to tearlessly get Daniel to school for his first day of Kindergarten. He was as confident as ever and headed into his classroom without so much as a wave...little booger. But, I do know the alternative, especially as I think back to the sheer hell I put my own mother through on my first day of kindergarten, and I am grateful that he did as well as he did.
I, on the other hand, was not completely tearless and arrived back at home with ever-so-slighly watery eyes, but did manage to avoid emotional breakdown.
(insert sigh of relief here)
Anxious to find out how the day went as I cannot stop looking at the clock and wondering..."what are they doing now?"
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Gearing up for Kindergarten
School starts in less than a week. How on earth did it get here so quickly?
In my attempt to prepare ahead of time, I have already purchased most of the necessary school supplies...
Backpack and lunch box- check
Water bottle- check
Folders- check
Scissors- check
Glue sticks-check
Tissues-check
Hand sanitizer-check
Xanax for Mommy- STILL NEEDED!
I have officially entered and set up camp in the state of emotional chaos. Not to mention that I am certain that I am far more nervous about Daniel starting kindergarten than he is. I know he is going to have a wonderful time and that he is beyond ready to begin. I'm excited about his classroom assignment and trusting that he has the teacher he is going to need this year to help him succeed and fall in love with learning.
My nervousness exists on several levels and I've been told that I'm not alone in this pre-kindergarten paranoia. I am afraid that he is not going to remember simple tasks like...um...going to the bathroom on time and eating enough of his lunch. I suppose it's reasonably grounded seeing as I have had to remind him of such tasks repeatedly every day of the last 5 years. Such concerns raise my blood pressure in a matter of seconds and then I am reminded of my own days in the classroom and quickly realize that kindergarten teachers are prepared for and capable of handling these very things. However, that calms my nerves for only moments.
It is a strange paradox of parenthood-On one hand there is the fear that your child cannot function throughout the day without you. Even more devastating, however, is the fear that they can and the knowledge that they will.
This is what has me bursting into tears at the mere mention of school starting. However, contrary to my husband's belief, I am not in need of professional help...yet. Come Wednesday morning I will pull myself together, smile big, escort Daniel to his classroom, take the necessary pictures, hug him goodbye...and cry all the way home. ;-)
In my attempt to prepare ahead of time, I have already purchased most of the necessary school supplies...
Backpack and lunch box- check
Water bottle- check
Folders- check
Scissors- check
Glue sticks-check
Tissues-check
Hand sanitizer-check
Xanax for Mommy- STILL NEEDED!
I have officially entered and set up camp in the state of emotional chaos. Not to mention that I am certain that I am far more nervous about Daniel starting kindergarten than he is. I know he is going to have a wonderful time and that he is beyond ready to begin. I'm excited about his classroom assignment and trusting that he has the teacher he is going to need this year to help him succeed and fall in love with learning.
My nervousness exists on several levels and I've been told that I'm not alone in this pre-kindergarten paranoia. I am afraid that he is not going to remember simple tasks like...um...going to the bathroom on time and eating enough of his lunch. I suppose it's reasonably grounded seeing as I have had to remind him of such tasks repeatedly every day of the last 5 years. Such concerns raise my blood pressure in a matter of seconds and then I am reminded of my own days in the classroom and quickly realize that kindergarten teachers are prepared for and capable of handling these very things. However, that calms my nerves for only moments.
It is a strange paradox of parenthood-On one hand there is the fear that your child cannot function throughout the day without you. Even more devastating, however, is the fear that they can and the knowledge that they will.
This is what has me bursting into tears at the mere mention of school starting. However, contrary to my husband's belief, I am not in need of professional help...yet. Come Wednesday morning I will pull myself together, smile big, escort Daniel to his classroom, take the necessary pictures, hug him goodbye...and cry all the way home. ;-)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day
I have been blessed to love and be loved by three of the most precious fathers in the world.
My grandfather meant the world to me and showed me what selfless love was all about. He was patient, kind, and slow to anger. He was the rock that our family depended on and was the one we could all go to for sound advice. He loved sitting with us and helping us with our homework, playing games with us, and making us laugh. He kept us smiling and singing with his music and left us a tremendous legacy. He's been gone for almost 8 years now, but the mere thought of him always brings a smile to my face.
I am so thankful to have had the experience of growing up with a loving father. He wasn't flawless, as he'll readily admit. Neither was I. But, no matter what, there were always a few things I knew about my dad. He loved me unconditionally...and does to this day. I knew that he'd do anything in his power to provide for me and protect me. And he did! I knew that if I tried hard and did my best, no matter what the outcome, he'd be proud of me. And he was! And I knew that he could always make me laugh by tickling me and somehow (though to this day, I cannot figure out how) throwing, flawlessly rolled balls of paper towels right into the back of my head while I ran away. And he would! :) Dad showed me the value of hard work and taught me to respect others. He would give the shirt off his back and instilled in me the importance of giving sacrificially and helping others. Above all else, he showed me that his family was his life. I love that I had those wonderful experiences with my dad and am so thankful that he taught me some of life's most important lessons.
It thrills me to know that my kids have a daddy that loves them the same way. I am proud of the man that I married and the fact that he is such an amazing dad to his kids. I love watching their faces light up every time he walks through the door and hearing them shout "Daddy" almost in unison. I relish in the giggles I hear as he rolls around with them on the floor tickling them until they almost can't breathe but keep begging for more. I am proud of the fact that I am married to a man who would do anything in his power to provide for his family and that he lets us know that he loves us, no matter what!
To the three most amazing men I've ever known...
My grandfather meant the world to me and showed me what selfless love was all about. He was patient, kind, and slow to anger. He was the rock that our family depended on and was the one we could all go to for sound advice. He loved sitting with us and helping us with our homework, playing games with us, and making us laugh. He kept us smiling and singing with his music and left us a tremendous legacy. He's been gone for almost 8 years now, but the mere thought of him always brings a smile to my face.
I am so thankful to have had the experience of growing up with a loving father. He wasn't flawless, as he'll readily admit. Neither was I. But, no matter what, there were always a few things I knew about my dad. He loved me unconditionally...and does to this day. I knew that he'd do anything in his power to provide for me and protect me. And he did! I knew that if I tried hard and did my best, no matter what the outcome, he'd be proud of me. And he was! And I knew that he could always make me laugh by tickling me and somehow (though to this day, I cannot figure out how) throwing, flawlessly rolled balls of paper towels right into the back of my head while I ran away. And he would! :) Dad showed me the value of hard work and taught me to respect others. He would give the shirt off his back and instilled in me the importance of giving sacrificially and helping others. Above all else, he showed me that his family was his life. I love that I had those wonderful experiences with my dad and am so thankful that he taught me some of life's most important lessons.
It thrills me to know that my kids have a daddy that loves them the same way. I am proud of the man that I married and the fact that he is such an amazing dad to his kids. I love watching their faces light up every time he walks through the door and hearing them shout "Daddy" almost in unison. I relish in the giggles I hear as he rolls around with them on the floor tickling them until they almost can't breathe but keep begging for more. I am proud of the fact that I am married to a man who would do anything in his power to provide for his family and that he lets us know that he loves us, no matter what!
To the three most amazing men I've ever known...
Happy Father's Day
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Who Needs to Shower?
It is 7:45 and for the first time, in a LONG time, the house is still quiet. Summer has interrupted our schedule enough that the kids are going to bed later and sleeping in (as much as can be expected when the sunlight begins pouring in to the room at 5:30 am). But this morning is special and uncharacteristically so. In my estimation, I have about 15 minutes before the morning inevitably interrupts the quiet and so, instead of rushing to take a shower before the kids wake up, I'm choosing to write.
Oh how I wish I could spend the day in quiet- especially in light of all that's happened over the last few months. What a priceless gift it would be to be alone with my thoughts- to read, to write, to pray...
I suppose that's unrealistic with three small children in the house, but a girl can dream, can't she? :-)
Oh how I wish I could spend the day in quiet- especially in light of all that's happened over the last few months. What a priceless gift it would be to be alone with my thoughts- to read, to write, to pray...
I suppose that's unrealistic with three small children in the house, but a girl can dream, can't she? :-)
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