Introspection on Life

Dance Everyday: Day #4

2014-02-04T23:28:00.001-05:00

Today I danced just to dance!

I was happy but tired all day.

I got a burrito for dinner from my second favorite burrito place.

My son ate his whole dinner! Big wow there!

I even managed to get a couple of errands done and that always feels good.

I will get some pictures or videos of me dancing this month, I promise! In the meantime, I hope you're able to find a reason, any reason, to dance. At the very least, find a way to give someone else a reason to dance. You are all awesome, you just have to show it! And now for your viewing pleasure, a pep talk from Kid President!

Dance Everyday: Day #3

2014-02-03T22:21:00.002-05:00

Today I danced because OMGDEANKOONTZODDTHOMASMOVIEWOWOMG!

Translation: Dean Koontz gave his stamp of approval on an Odd Thomas movie. I'm so psyched I can't even stand it! He has yet to approve any movie adaptations from his books because they always veer too far from the original story. He's even paid money to get out of contracts with people who were not respecting his wishes.

I'm so stunned and excited! You must watch this trailer!

Odd Thomas Movie

Did you find a reason to dance today? Did you give someone else a reason to dance?

Dance Everyday: Day #2

2014-02-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

Today I danced for a few hours of peace and quiet while the kid was with his grandparents! It was lovely, I played video games and did homework. I didn't get a nap, but it's okay. :)

Did you find a reason to dance today? Did you give someone else a reason to dance today?

Dance Every Day: Day #1

2014-02-01T23:07:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to post every day because that would be boring and because I will never remember to do so! However, today is my first day of finding something to dance about every day.

February 1, 2014:

Today started out terribly after checking the discussion board for one of my online literature classes. The teacher had absolutely nothing nice to say about anything I wrote. All he did was tell me I did it wrong, but gave no indication of what he thought of my thoughts or points of view on the stories. That made me feel pretty crappy, let me tell you. But I vented to my sister, emailed the teacher and got a snarky reply from him.

*sigh*

Oh, well. I can't make other people change, right? I can only change myself? So on went my day full of Disney Jr. on TV, Rift on my computer, and fighting my kid to take a nap.

But!

I still found a reason to dance. I sent my son to bed late because we napped until 6pm (whoops... but, man, was it nice!). He didn't go to sleep right away but he was really quiet so I went in, got him out of bed and asked him to come to another room with me. :) He was nervous until I started asking him to dance with me. We did the Hot Dog Dance from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the Hokey Pokey, and If You're Happy and You Know it. He thought it was hilarious and I thought it was so worth it! Afterwards I found that he'd ripped my bedclothes apart, unplugged my clock and electric blanket, and dug through my side table drawer and took out anything mildly interesting (such as my old phone and a pillow cover not out of the box yet). He was duly reprimanded (fat lot of good that does) and we both were highly disappointed.

But for ten glorious minutes we were dancing, giggling, and enjoying each other. Those are the memories we'll each keep. I hope.

Did you find a reason to dance today? Did you do something to give someone else a reason to dance?

Inspiration

2014-01-30T22:19:00.000-05:00

I've been caught up in Kid President's inspiring speeches. Some of my absolute favorite quotes are:

"Do something every day to give someone a reason to dance!" - Kid President

"You're made from love, to be loved, to spread love!" Kid President

So I've decided to embark on a project of sorts.... For the month of February, I am going to find one thing every day to dance about. Happy dance, victory dance, silly dance, whatever. At least once a day I'm going to dance about something. Hopefully it'll help give me a more positive outlook on my life and give perspective on the small things that drive me insane.

During this project, I will try to get pictures or videos of my silliness. If I don't, it's because there was no one to see it or no one but my 4 year old!

Unfortunately my blog is often neglected but that's because I'm too busy rocking my college classes! Hah! I'm also a club president, full-time supplemental instructor at the college and a part time tutor. I've got a lot on my plate right now. Even my kid asks me not to go to work half the time.

We all do what we have to in order to make the world more awesome. I'm going to dance. Maybe other people will make fun of me but maybe some will see how much fun I'm having and will join in!

I'd love it if you joined in!

Like the Plague...

2013-05-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

I don't mean to avoid writing...

I've been in school for almost a full 365 days. I started taking classes last May in the summer semester and have just now completed the spring semester.

For a year I tried to keep up this blog. For a year I thought I could do it all: school, Mom, blog, house, and everything else that goes along with those, but it's become clear that I can't.

Now that I have time, there's this irrational fear of writing anything. I find good topics all the time. I have ideas constantly. But the moment I sit at my computer, it's 100% avoidance of anything real. I play FB games, watch episodes of Kitchen Nightmares and Grey's Anatomy.

I don't know what I'm afraid of or why I seem to have given up. I hope I can break through this weird self-imposed block soon.

In the meantime, thanks so much for sticking around. You're so sweet.

Science Collides With God

2013-02-09T14:44:00.001-05:00

As many of you know, my major in college is Early Childhood and Elementary Education ages Birth through 6th Grade. I'm currently taking a Child Development course and an Infant and Toddler Development course. The Child Dev course is the prereq for Infant/Toddler Dev but my advisor/education teacher said he thinks I can handle it and has allowed me to take them at the same time.

At this point in the semester, both classes are looking at the same time frame in the life of children: prenatal through 3 months of age. We have been watching some amazing videos that require a log in for the site the school uses. However, I've found two segments on YouTube and I'm sharing them here. (Please feel free to find the Films on Demand website and see if you are able to sign up.)

There is one such video called "Horizon: The Nine Months That Made You (from BBC Two)." It is an outrageously interesting video that relates the nine months we spend in the womb to future health problems. For instance, low birth weight but high body fat at birth will almost certainly lead to Type 2 Diabetes regardless of the choices you make as an adult. Don't dismiss this information as hooey right off the bat.

The only two segments I could find are not related to the mentioned study (I will absolutely find out all I can and share it with you), but they are interesting on their own merits.

Pre-pregnancy and prenatal care is so vital to create healthy adults. It's amazing the things that science can discover given the curiosity and drive of the human mind.

Is Our Future Determined From Birth? - Horizon: The Nine Months That Made You, BBC Two
The above video is about Dr. Barker who first made the connections between low birth weight and future health problems.

The Personality Question - Horizon: The Nine Months That Made You, BBC Two
The above video is about a doctor's study on personality from the womb to childhood. It's funny and adorable. It's also incredibly thought provoking.

Note: If the videos don't work, please let me know.

I've titled this post, "Science Collides with God" because I personally take away some spiritual implications. If you don't, that's fine. As science progresses, it continually finds itself hitting a wall of unexplainable things. As humans continue to evolve (yeah, I said it, Christian and all!), we will continue to push those boundaries between science and God. We are closer than we were in the Middle Ages and we aren't as close as we will be in 300 years.

If you are not religious or spiritual and you clicked this post anyway, thank you. I hope you enjoyed these short clips and I hope you take away how important it is to take care of our children from before they're even a twinkle in our eyes.

Ultimately, what do you think of the studies presented here?

Citation:
The Nine Months That Made You: Pregnancy and Human Development. Films Media Group, 2011.Films On Demand. Web. 09 February 2013. < http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=10690&xtid=48258 >.

I haven't forgotten about you...

2013-02-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

... But I just haven't had the time or inspiration to post anything.

However, I've decided that it doesn't matter right now. I have to write something or explode. I'm not taking an English class this semester so I don't have a major creative outlet. I do have some awesome news, though!

I've been invited to join the Honor Society also known as Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa is the national honor society for two-year colleges. This a big deal for me because I've never been in an honor society. High school was nothing more than a prison in which to bide my time and pray for release.

I have also gotten permission to take the next education class in addition to its pre-requisite I'm currently taking. So next semester I will be a little bit ahead of the game. Both classes require 15 hours of observation of infants/toddlers and preschoolers making it a total of 30 hours (they can't both count for the same time unfortunately). I've also joined the education club at school giving me some great experience and resume padding.

And finally, I'm also tutoring with my school's Learning Center. I'm part of a new program called "Supplemental Instruction." The developmental math class can be taken as a regular class or as a "lab" class where you work at your own pace. Because the teacher spends so much time grading and students can have questions on any of the 6 chapters, the school has decided to put tutors in some of the lab classes and see how it works. For me, it's a wonderful opportunity to work on my teaching skills. For the students, they get another person to help them instead of having to wait for the however many people in front of them to get their turn.

Basically, I'm at school from 9am to 5:30pm almost every weekday. That doesn't include study time and homework time or my one online class. 19.5 credit hours, 30 hours of observation (over the course of the semester), 10 hours/week for work study, 9 hours/week for tutoring, one hour a month for club meetings (not counting the events that we schedule and participate in like the three day conference), and all of the extra-curriculars that go into being a member of the Honor Society. And no way on earth could I forget my kid, that loud, rambunctious 3-year-old.

I think I might have my hands full.

In the time since I last mentioned anything about my life:

- I edited a book for classmate. She is self-publishing and it will be available in paperback and ebook format in 6-8 weeks. It's a Christian novella about a girl who is in the depths of her personal hell. Through the love of God and His followers, she is brought to know Christ and the forgiveness He offers.

-I tutored a gentleman who is studying for his physician's assistant boards. It was wildly unsuccessful. His ad said he needed someone to grade practice tests and write out flashcards. That is NOTHING near what he asked me to do. But he and I agreed that I couldn't continue due to my own obligations and my ignorance of the material.

-Christmas happened. It was sad in one way and happily glorious in every other way. I can't wait until a Christmas comes where I can actually buy gifts for my son and any other family who may be with me.

-New Years happened. I believe I was asleep before 11pm.

-I worked at the college over the break despite the job being for work study. Usually the job ends when finals start and doesn't start again until the next semester but they got permission to let me work over the break. It was mostly fun and at times boring.

THE most exciting part of what's been happening:

ICK IS POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One day I said, "We don't have any diapers for the daytime, only for the nighttime." He took it in stride and had ONE accident and ONE purposeful poop in his undies.

Last weekend I let him nap in his undies. SUCCESS! The last three nights he's slept in his undies. SUCCESS!!!!

I cannot be ANY happier! I have a HUGE bag of unused diapers and I know just who to give it to! I can finally get those nasty things out of my house!

The length of this post is why I should never go months without writing. Thanks for sticking around. Those of you who read this are my inspiration for continuing the work that is college, especially for a single mom and a woman who is older than most of her instructors. You are my inspiration for overcoming my fears of inferiority and knowing that I *can* do this. Not just for me but for my adorably obnoxious son! So thank you for reading and giving such wonderful encouragement.

I Don't Remember...

2013-01-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

I don't remember what my only child's first word was.

I don't remember exactly when he started walking.

I don't remember what his first solid food was.

I don't remember and he's only three.

I don't remember...

And it bothers me.

Sometimes....

2012-11-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's just too much. I go to sleep instead of working. I watch TV on Hulu because I can't deal with the stress. I'm underestimating my abilities yet I don't know how to change. I've tried lists, prioritizing, library time, etc. Work study has offered me the chance to do homework in a quiet environment which has actually helped a lot. Then there's the 3yo who refuses to use the toilet even though he's capable and more than ready. The dog, the fish (which I hate, sorry), the house, the car, the bills... I'm so thankful that I'm not alone because otherwise I really would have lost it by now. Even the things that aren't my responsibility add to my level of stress. But sometimes...

Sometimes it's all still too much and I sleep instead of dealing. I read instead of coping. I escape instead of facing my stress and working to alleviate it. I know all it takes is a little organization and work to get on the right track and minimal work to stay on that track. But sometimes...

Sometimes I just don't want to wash my dishes and I don't want to pick up the mess my kid made and I don't want to write that math journal entry. And that's where it all goes wrong. The dishes pile up, the messes pile up, the homework piles up. Then the late nights start when I'm up until 3am or sleeping from 9pm to 2am then getting up to catch up on school stuff. But the sink starts to smell and the kid avoids the living room because it's such a mess he can't even play. Sometimes...

Sometimes I'm still that immature teenager who moved out at the age of 17 because I couldn't stand my dad and step-mom. I'm still spending money the second it comes in and not doing my chores. And sometimes...

Sometimes I worry what I'm teaching my kid when I make him clean up his little messes and I don't clean up my own. What am I teaching him when I let his room stay a mess but still scold him when it's messy? I wonder how long I have to change my messy, stressful, procrastinating ways before he catches on and learns the same bad habits. Yet nothing changes and the cycle continues. I make plans to clean house from top to bottom but when the day comes I'm suddenly busy with put-off school work or I've decided it's too much and I don't even try.

Sometimes I hate myself for it and sometimes I just laugh and think, "I'll get better."

Sometimes I don't even think about it. Nothing can excuse the mess that I let accumulate. But sometimes....

Sometimes it really doesn't matter.

Vlog

2012-10-06T13:10:00.000-04:00

So I've been considering doing a vlog sometime this week, but I need a topic to talk about. While it could just be the same old, same old, I thought something new is in order since it's a new medium for me. It's so easy for me to type out, delete, re-read and re-write that vlogging kinda scares me!

What do you vlog about? How scary is it? Do you have any ideas for me?

Wanderlust

2012-10-04T22:17:00.002-04:00

That's probably not the right word for it, but it feels like that.

I want to drive and keep going.

I want to see the sights, buy souvenirs, and laugh with the window open and the radio up.

I want to see a new town and meet new people who don't know me.

I want to see who I could be in someone else's eyes.

The endless potential of a friendly stranger

But I want more than that.

I want a father for my son.

I want that father to be a good man to me.

I want friends who will come by for coffee. Who want to talk to me and actually do talk to me.

I want to know that even though we're busy we can find half an hour to catch up.

I want to go shopping and not buy anything but try on everything.

I want it all.

It feels like a lot to ask but at the same time like it's not quite enough.

I really am happy with my life.

But for tonight I'm going to dream of open highway, someone special in the passenger seat and my little man giggling from the backseat. I'm going to dream of walking through the fall trees as they shed their gorgeous leaves and of hot apple cider. I'll dream of kisses, open windows and loud music. I'll dream of finding a place where my desire to leave it all behind finally lays down and stops pulling at me.

No matter where I go, there I am.

The only thing I can't escape is myself.

And now you know the kernel of truth behind my wanderlust.

College, Work, Birthday and Life...

2012-10-01T22:13:00.000-04:00

Life is very full these days. I'm not complaining because I love it. I'm in school where I belong and pursuing a degree I've wanted almost my whole life. I'm taking 6 classes and 4 are online. Those 4 require a large amount of reading, studying and writing. My education class on campus is a lot of reading, classroom observations of a 3rd grade class and long term projects. I've applied to 4 jobs at school as part of the work study program, too. So I'll have 18 hours of classes, 15 hours a week to work, my son, my family and my home. That's a lot!

But I'm doing well and for that I'm grateful. I'm also proud because I've been working very hard and I've been invited to join the Honors Society once I complete this semester. My next goal is to make the President's List. Honors Society is a GPA of 3.5 or more and 12 or more credit hours and the President's List is a GPA of 3.75 or more and 12 or more credit hours. My GPA is a 3.7.

I know what I want and what my family needs and I'm working on it.

I turned 29 today. :o) This is the last age I'll ever be. Starting next year I will be celebrating anniversaries of my 29th birthday. My best friend Shaggy says I have to at least celebrate "Dirty 30," but I can't make her understand that I won't be turning 30. I'll be celebrating the first anniversary of my 29th birthday. I'm only half kidding. When I was a teenager I thought people being "ashamed" of their age was ridiculous and I still do. At this point in my life, I'm sad that I'm so close to 30 and there are so many things I haven't accomplished.

But I'm not ashamed. I've earned the candles on my cake and I won't be afraid to tell people exactly how old I am.

That doesn't mean I can't joke about it.

I feel my life coming together slowly but at least I can feel it. I've never felt it before and I have to tell you: It's magical. To envision a goal and watch it unfold at my hands and because of my own hard work is glorious.

You know what else is glorious? The sound of my son singing. He can't carry a tune in a bucket, but he's getting better. He knows about 5 songs and I love having him sing to me. Tonight he "read" me his 5 Wishing Stars book. He managed to tell a story about each page and as I watched his face I kept in mind every blog post I'd ever read about vanishing moments and our babies growing up. He looked so serious telling me about the sheep and what they were wishing for before they went to sleep. His sweet baby voice didn't make me sad or nostalgic. I did what some people wish they had done more of.

I watched him, listened intently and basked in the glow of the boy he's growing into. I was fully present with him in bed as the light from the kitchen shined on his face and he imagined flocks of sheep at night making wishes on stars.

My life is full. I'm tired, stressed out, frustrated, short on time and money but I'm happy. I don't mean to slack off in the blogging department, especially after I wanted to try so hard to write twice a week, but sometimes, life happens.

Today is the first of October. Today is my birthday. Today is fall. Today my son sang me Happy Birthday. Today I scored higher than all my classmates on a test. Today I celebrated my life and myself and it was beautiful.

Hello, October, my old friend. I'm so glad to see Fall is with you. Please stay a while. Linger over coffee on the porch while we watch the rain. Don't leave too soon like the years before. The colors of your garments bring me peace and warmth.

Two Days Late and More Than a Few Dollars Short

2012-09-18T12:25:00.003-04:00

Sunday came and went faster than I could get anything done.

Last week I
-Wrote a new poem
-Took a break from potty training (Ick's not remotely interested. Tips?)
-Did NOT get placed for my observation
-Found out my car is falling to pieces
-Practiced my handwriting

This week I
-Will be taking 4 tests in school (!!!)
-Will get organized for all assignments, short and long term
-Will write at least one new poem
-Will get back to potty training
-Will visit at least 2 schools to ask for observation placement
-Will be taking my car in on Thursday to get "fixed" (don't ask)
-Will NOT go insane. (I hope.)

Nothing really new or exciting except the weather. I know I keep mentioning it, but it's so nice out all the time! Rainy today which is perfect for movies and popcorn for Ick and homework and coffee for me! I'm looking forward to getting a lot of stuff done so I can play some EQ2. It's been too long and my paid subscription is up on the 21st. After that I won't be able to use my high level gear lol because my account will be free to play. What was that? You don't know what EQ2 is? We're not friends anymore. ;o)

Is there anything new going on with you this week?

Note: In the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing some recipes that were originally found on Peace, Love and Low Carb on Facebook, but that my sister has adjusted and made her own. I'll post the recipes and link PL&LC's original recipe as well.

Lord, I'm Tired

2012-09-14T21:35:00.000-04:00

I go to sleep tired and I wake up tired. Maybe I'm sick. Maybe I'm just really tired! And maybe this is when the college coursework crunch begins. The first three weeks were smooth sailing with very few assignments. Coming up are tests, big assignments and long term projects. I'm nervous, tired, very unsure about how to start a lot of it and just plain stressed out.

Do you see a trend?

I know I’m smart enough to do all the work, and I’m capable of doing all of it. My major weakness is time management. How do I fit in all this work with quality time with Ick? I find myself saying, “Mama has to do schoolwork,” so often that I’m sick of hearing it. I’m terrified of missing so much during these next three years of Ick’s life because of college even though I know beyond any doubt that I’m doing the right thing.

There are also the “normal” life stresses like car and money problems to deal with on an almost daily basis. It’s a lot all at once and a lot of it will be taken care of in about a month. Until then, I guess I only have one choice:

Put on my big girl panties and deal with it!

Have any tips for me?

Note: Title is from the song "Tired" by Toby Keith.

1,000 Views!

2012-09-14T00:12:00.000-04:00

Today I reached 1,000 all time views on my blog! I'm so excited! Thank you to everyone for reading even when I went months without posting, posted really depressing things, English essays, and pictures of my little boy. I never promised interesting, only variation! I think I've kept up my end of the bargain.

As much as I'd *love* to do a giveaway, I'm too small (and too varied!) to get sponsored and I'm WAY too poor to buy something decent to give away. However, I'd be happy to spotlight someone else (guest post?) or write a post for someone else. I'll also accept donations for the giveaway. ;o)

At the very least you all have my sincere and enthusiastic thanks and internet hugs! Those are always good, right?

Thank you so much for sticking around and reading. I hope to see another thousand views soon!

"Keep moving forward." -Walt Disney

Never Forget 9/11/01

2012-09-11T11:36:00.000-04:00

If you don't remember what happened on September 11th, 2001, you probably aren't old enough. No one who was old enough to be aware of what was going on has forgotten. But how many of you remember the people who chose to jump to their deaths instead of burn in the flames? Do you remember the faces of those who sifted through the rubble to find survivors? Do you remember where you were, who you were with and what your first reaction was?

"Never Forget" is a great motto for today because while it will always be impossible for us to truly forget the events of that day, it may be difficult for us to tell our children what happened and how we felt about it. It's imperative that we keep those horrific things in mind especially on this day so that we can prevent something similar from happening either to us or to other nations. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

We have Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, 4th of July and all those other days where we talk about our troops and all they have done for us.

Today, September 11th is a day to remember every day citizens who also gave their lives in the effort to save the lives of their fellow civilians. Firefighters, police officers and other men and women off the street. And not just those who died, but those who LIVED.

((Tough Times Don't Last But) Tough People Do by Trace Adkins)

Today is a day to remember everyone involved in Flight 93, the Pentagon as well as the Twin Towers.

Through blurred eyes...

Today is when we celebrate the heroism of people just like you and me and their commendable actions in the face of terrifying violence and adversity.

Today is when we celebrate the solidity of our United States.

Today is when we celebrate so that those who did die will not have died in vain.

United we stand, divided we fall.

New This Week...

2012-09-10T01:29:00.000-04:00

Well! This past week was anti-climactic to say the least! The principal of the school I chose for my observation hasn’t called me back and I called her last Tuesday. So I’ll be calling her back. I mean, I know the first week of school is busy and all, but I have stuff to do, too! :P In fact, my first observation assignment is due next week! Other than that, everything went along as I’d planned.

Last week I:

-Found an amazing article for my education class. It’s on neuroscience and how teachers can use what we know about it to teach more effectively. I like to think that Susan Niebur (aka @whymommy) would be proud.

-Wrote 3 new poems and even started a new blog for them! You won’t see any links from here, though, because I want to keep it relatively anonymous. I also found my old poetry and I did post that to my poetry group. Let them read my angst from my teen years, hah!

-Practiced my handwriting a little bit every day. It’s slow goings and I haven’t noticed a change yet. But I know that practice makes perfect and eventually my writing will be the way I want it to be!

-Had to cancel Ick’s birthday picnic at the park! It rained for almost 3 days straight so I cancelled the trip to the beach only to have the weather be absolutely perfect and gorgeous. Of course. So it’s for next Sunday and I hope it all works out!

This coming week isn’t really much different except that, well, the weather is changing. Fall is creeping in the way it does on golden velvet feet. Chilly, crisp mornings and bright warm days that turn the leaves yellow, orange and red. Fall is my favorite time of year, even over Christmas! And I do love Christmas! So as I make my way from class to class on campus, and spend the late afternoons out front with Ick, I’ll be watching the leaves and enjoying the shortest season of the year.

This week I:

-WILL get the classroom observation situation clarified

-Will keep up with the potty training.

“Do you need to pee?”

“No!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

“Do you want to try anyway?”

“I don’t wanna try anyway!”

“Okay, well, let’s go pee!”

“Okay!”

You’d think I’d have learned by now to skip the first three questions, but I think it’s important to get him tuned into his body when it tells him he needs to pee!

-Will do better than last week with my homework. It is after 1 o’clock in the morning and I have only just finished my two assignments that are always due on Monday mornings. Since I technically have this post due every Sunday as well, that’s three things that always need to be done by Sunday night. This past week I really put it all off and I shouldn’t have. My bedtime is 10pm, y’all. Sometimes I make it in there at 8pm so I can read my Xanth novels!

What’s new for your family this week? Do you have any activities that are fall-related? What’s your favorite part about this time of year?

Water Bug!

2012-09-08T12:39:00.000-04:00

Dunking his head in the water is a relatively new development. He loves the water more than ever now which makes me extremely happy! See also: screaming.

He's also learning to blow bubbles in the water with his mouth as a beginning activity before learning how to swim. That we'll attempt next summer.

He loves to build things and there's nothing wrong with that!

Ick is enjoying the end of the warm weather the best way he knows how: getting soaking wet in the kiddie pool and the water table. He loves to splash the water out of both so that I have to refill it with the hose. He loves that because I always spray him down. :o) He says, "It's raining on me!"

Labor Day Weekend

2012-09-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

So I didn't post about the week on Sunday because I was too busy ignoring any and all responsibilities! Ick and I played with Play-Doh, built train tracks on the train table his aunt and uncle handed down to him from his cousin, and I played EverQuest 2! It's a double-XP weekend, how could I not? Last week was pretty much business as usual. School was school, Ick's still trying to use the toilet instead of his underwear (ew), and well, that's my life right now! Hah... I did, however, watch some clips by a handwriting expert on how to improve your handwriting. I'm trying to get my handwriting under control as far as uniform size and neatness. Oh, and I joined the Education Club at school! They've got some great events this semester and I'm really looking forward to them. But this upcoming week...

-I have to pick an article from a "scholarly journal" for my education class and get it approved by tomorrow! (Yipe!) I'm having a hard time finding anything, so advice is welcome.

-I have to contact an elementary school this week to see about getting placed into a class to observe. I'm really nervous about that!

-I've got a poem to re-write for my poetry group and I still haven't even attempted it!

-Potty training continues! lol

-I'm still practicing my handwriting on a small whiteboard in my bedroom and in a notebook.

I have a lot of school work to do including the article paper, a book report on an educational book written by a teacher, a paper every week for English and my weekly observations of the elementary class. I'm excited, nervous and scared. I'd appreciate good thoughts, good vibes and some prayers sent my way!

I want to say that I'm so thankful that now my stress is coming from school work and potty training rather than from lack of funds just to get by from day to day.

Final note: I will add the handwriting link to my Resources for Teaching page in case you are interested!

New Week, New Experiences

2012-08-26T15:07:00.000-04:00

So this is just an attempt a new post subject akin to Thirsty Thursday, Wordless Wednesday and the like. On Sundays I'd like to try to do a short post about the new things coming up in the week that's just about to start. Because this is the first and I'd like to share what new things I've been up to, here's a short list:

-Poetry group on GoodReads: I joined a couple of weeks ago. I haven't shared any poetry yet, but I'm anxious to!

-COLLEGE! I started my second semester of college last Monday and I'm really excited about it. I'm taking 18 hours this semester including my very first education class! Week after this one I'll be contacting a school in my area for observation of a classroom! YIPE!

-Potty training. No, not me, I've been doing that for years now. Hah! Ick is learning the joys of using the potty: Treats for 1, a present for 2. He still shies away from doing 2 on the toilet, but I'm not worried. He really wants to go to school with me (we have a daycare!) so he's trying really hard.

-Ick's 3rd birthday was Saturday the 25th! It started out horrendous but got infinitely better after nap time. I hope he starts to grow out of his screaming stage soon.

-This blog. I've put up a new template, a new description and a new determination to get stuff written at least once a week.

I know that today I've posted twice but both posts were pertinent and well, I came up with this idea less than an hour after posting about my font issues. I think it's a pretty cool idea. Not only can you talk about what new things are coming up, but you can talk about the new experiences from the past week that you didn't know were going to happen! Kind of like a review and then a preview. I know, genius, right?

Well, I can't wait to see what new stuff is coming not just in my own life, but yours too! What's coming up this week that's new for you or your family?

Problems with Blogger

2012-08-26T14:01:00.002-04:00

Okay, so Blogger probably isn't the one with the problems! I wrote this awesome post about the meaning behind the name of my blog and used a font that is not available in Blogger, so it kind of poops all over itself and some lines are the basic font and most of them are the special one. Wha...? So I'm still fighting with it, but maybe when I revamp the layout it'll work. Provided that font is supported by that template. Wow, what a pain!

Still better than having to write HTML code!

Hope to have it up soon because I think it's pretty great. I should, I'm the one who wrote it. Hah!

Edit: If you find the colors difficult on your eyes, PLEASE let me know! I happen to love the browns, oranges, reds and dark greens that come with fall but I do understand how on a computer screen those colors don't translate very well to your eyes! Feedback is encouraged! Thanks, y'all. :o)

Coming Soon...

2012-08-22T17:23:00.000-04:00

That sounds like something exciting is coming, doesn't it? Well, it is! Okay, it already started for me, but I'm excited to share my new experiences with you. However, I'm a little swamped with all this college homework, baby! I'll be getting down to the business of blogging, or at least the writing part of blogging, later on tonight or this week. I also plan on getting one done every single week. It should slide nicely into my scheduled homework time. If I can't write, I will definitely still do a post but it'll probably just be a few pictures. Think of it as a Wordless Wednesday, but not on Wednesdays. I'm difficult like that.

Quick note: Ick's 3rd birthday is Saturday! I'm so excited for it! This is the first year that he's excited for it, too! He keeps talking about the birthday presents and birthday cake that he's going to get. That makes it a gajillion times more fun for me.

So I hope you'll keep reading. I know I have a poor track record and erratic posts, but stick with me, folks.

Fall is just around the corner.

Adventures in Babysitting: Lessons Learned

2012-06-26T01:06:00.000-04:00

I'm constantly talking about how I want to have more kids. I hope to meet a good man, get married and have a couple more kids. Since I'm not even dating (and have no prospects!) this desire is kind of far in the future. I know Ick will be much older than any siblings he may have and today gave me a taste of that.

One thing I learned today: Friendship is beautiful.

I babysat for my best friend Shaggy since it's summer time and her mother-in-law was unavailable to watch Jeremy, her 6yo son. I've known them since Jeremy was only 6 or 7 months old, and he loves Ick since he's known him since before he was born. They get along really well because Jeremy loves to show off what he knows and Ick does everything Jeremy does!

Another thing I learned today: Kids love to tattle!

My sister said, "When I was little I never understood why grown ups said it was wrong to tattle on others. Now I know it's to keep kids from coming to you about every single little thing!" She is so right. It's not about not telling an adult when someone else is doing something wrong, it's about settling your own super-minor disputes.

Something else I learned today: Kids will brave hypothermia to play in a pool in the summer however small it may be.

Now, I don't have a lot in the way of entertainment for a 6yo, but it was chilly, overcast and occasionally rainy so I figured we'd be inside all day. We only spent about 15 minutes outside on the toddler play-set because it started to rain. Less than 30 minutes later I was being bugged about the kiddie pool! I finally relented, poured countless buckets of water into the plastic tub as both the boys splashed it right back out! After an hour both of them were ice cold and shivering.

We went inside to eat popsicles, snuggle under blankets on the couch and watch 101 Dalmatians. By this time Ick was exhausted. I'd woken him up early when Jeremy got here and he spent the whole day on "full steam ahead" trying to keep up with a kid twice his age. I couldn't figure out why Jeremy kept complaining that we were watching a movie until his mom texted me when she got home saying he passed out in the car within minutes and his dad had to get him out and carry him inside because she couldn't wake him up.

Last lesson for today: Ick needs more interaction with kids his own age.

He's grabby, demanding and bad at sharing. He's unfailingly polite, though! After taking something he says, "Thank you!" and if he hears anything remotely sounding like a sneeze he says, "Bless you!" But some lessons only sink in with practice.

Today was rougher than my usual days, but not by much. It only reinforced my desire to have more kids. The age difference showed me how great it can be to have a big brother that much older.

Now, to find a man....!

A Letter to the Editor Regarding No Child Left Behind

2012-06-22T01:18:00.000-04:00

Note: Yes, it's long. It's an English assignment with a requirement of at least 900 words. I hope you enjoy it anyway!

To the editor:

“We're drowning in information and starving for knowledge.” -Rutherford Rogers. No Child Left Behind is a catchy name; it has you imagining groups of children with their teachers looking out for them, making sure they learn everything they need to move to the next level of education. The truth is not so romantic and can actually devastate our society.

This policy was implemented in my hometown’s schools after I graduated high school. It had been tossed around my school district for years and I heard my parents discussing it which is what brought it to my attention. I didn’t understand it then but the name made me want it. Uninformed as I was, it sounded perfect. It meant not failing a class or being held back. It meant making sure all the kids did well on tests and papers.

A few years after I graduated, one of my older sisters, Becca told me about how the policy made it difficult for her to give students their earned failing grades. At her middle school, they posted grades online allowing parents and students to see them as soon as tests and assignments were graded. Within minutes of posting grades, Becca would be inundated with emails and phone calls from parents full of arguments like, “You have to pass them eventually, so just pass them now!”

While I don’t have any specific examples of personal experience, I do have my daily interactions with young people between the ages of six and 25. The children of my friends enter 3^rd and 4^th grade without being able to read or do math at that level. People I speak to in online forums for parents write like they are still in middle school and cannot express themselves in a way that shows they earned a high school diploma. Teenagers and young adults who hold jobs at my local businesses speak like they learned English just last year when they’ve grown up right here in Utica, NY.

I have always been one for proper spelling and grammar because it is the language we speak and the way we communicate with those around us. Without good communication you have a breakdown in basic systems including familial and romantic relationships. When faced with ignorance, I try to gently teach the correct way to spell words or express ideas and feelings. Sometimes I’m met with disdain and name-calling and other times I’m met with outright hostility. I’ve asked those hostile people why they choose to remain ignorant and usually I get sarcasm or more hostility. Even intelligent people can look stupid if they haven’t been taught in a way that they are able to learn all that is being given. That applies to more than just English. It applies to knowing the history of the world we live in, the science behind the workings of the world, social studies of the people who populate it and the math we use every day to do simple tasks. The most important thing to remember is that ignorance is not stupidity. Ignorance the absence or lack of knowledge, it is not a name to be called in an argument. Ignorance is the result of an education that caters to laziness like No Child Left Behind.

One reporter, Sheena Dooley from the Quad City Times in Illinois, talks about how many states are lowering their own academic standards. She reports, “Iowa and Illinois are among numerous states skirting a federal law meant to boost student achievement by lowering the target scores pupils must meet, according to a recently released report. Researchers at the Policy Analysis for California Research, a nonprofit organization, said that lowering standards inflates the number of pupils who pass state tests. Those tests are used to judge the performance of a school, as required under the federal ‘No Child Left Behind Act.’” (Dooley) While allowing states to set their own standards that are approved at a federal level is a step in the right direction, it should go further. Setting the state standard low so that low income, underachieving, urban schools will pass robs other students of higher goals and more education, especially when teachers aren’t allowed to teach more than what is on those tests. Letting specific districts set goals that are approved at state and then federal levels would go even farther to ensuring a more fair assessment of the education that students are receiving and would allow them to tailor their goals based on the needs of local students.

The same reporter also talks about the gaps in her state’s scores compared to the federal standards, “The study compared fourth-graders' results on state tests with those on the National Assessment for Educational Progress, or NAEP, a federal test used to measure student performance across all states. In Iowa, researchers found gaps of 38 percent and 45 percent in the number of students who passed reading and math, respectively. Illinois mirrored those figures with a 35 percent gap in reading and a 47 percent differential in math.” (Dooley) Illinois is not the only state lowering their standards to make sure their students pass, however. It’s hard not to want to do that when the school’s funding depends on passing those standardized tests, but public school funding is a separate topic. These statistics show that because of lower goals, Illinois and Iowa are graduating students with a lesser education than those from other states with higher goals.

Upon my recent decision to become an educator myself, I did some research into the subject in order to get a little more involved. I realized the real-life implications are perilous. While my sister refused to give in to those parents, some teachers don’t want to fight parents or don’t have the strength to continue the fight for their students’ education. These teachers will give passing grades to students even though they haven’t learned the material. While this hasn’t affected me personally yet, I definitely foresee this being a problem. Since I am a parent and will be an educator in a few years, I will be actively involved with this issue for the rest of my life.

Being a parent, I understand the desire to give my child everything. I understand wanting him to have lots of friends, to be accepted and not to be held back or failed in a grade. I know the desire to prevent him from feeling disappointment, unworthiness and other negative feelings. However, his ability to spell common words, do basic math, know the history of the world around him and understand the scientific workings of that world are more important than a few bad feelings. As parents we equip our children with the tools to deal with disappointments and failures and the desire to make their own place in the world. As educators we give them the knowledge to go out into the world to make that place. When you get to college, you get it right or you fail. At your job, you don’t get endless chances to get a task right, you get fired. As a soldier, you get it right or you can die.

While this issue hasn’t yet affected me personally, I know it will affect me when I start to teach, and when my child starts attending school. You can help prevent or fight against this policy through PTA meetings, contacting the school board and getting together with other parents and teachers who want to end this path towards a “non-education.” No Child Left Behind creates ignorant adults without motivation and entire generations of unskilled workers. Without highly educated people, who has the wherewithal to run a country or further our study of the universe around us? I once thought it sounded like a smart idea, to make sure lessons were taught until every student grasped the concept. Now I know it’s about pushing our youth through years of schooling with a piece of paper at the end that is becoming more and more worthless. An unearned education is not an education at all, merely a 12 year prison sentence to be suffered.

Sincerely,

A Future Educator of Your Children

Works Cited

Sheena Dooley “Report: Iowa, Illinois lower bar on student scores” Students First. 12 January 2006, 25 June 2012 http://www.studentsfirst.us/news/contentview.asp?c=181547