True Teaching Tales 1

After talking with my friend, Nurse Allie, about our respective career choices and all the negative stereotypes associated with them, I have decided to post some nice, positive articles, stories and anecdotes about teachers/counselors who make a difference and positively demonstrate what education is all about as they come along.

Here is the first feel-good story. It is about a retired teacher who still sends Birthday cards to her students. What a neat idea! Can you imagine what that would mean to the student? To know that your teacher is still thinking about you so many years later and remembering your special day? Love it! Kudos to you, Lois Hayes!

Today, I am happy. See, I told you I would be. I just needed a day to wallow in my sadness. Now, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness. I am reading news stories and bawling at my desk, a happy cry though, one of realization and gratitude. Seriously, I am so extremely blessed, as I mentioned yesterday. It's crazy how much of a 180 my attitude has taken today. My mood swings now may be worse than when I was pregnant! All I know for certain, just to be safe, I will NOT be ordering any roast beef sandwiches!!

Today I am sad. I had a rotten morning, but I won't get into that... There is something wrong with me. I have a beautiful life of perfection. My son is gorgeous. My husband is amazing. My family is wonderful. My home is mine. It is not clean, organized or as big as I might want, but it is mine. My cars are reliable, safe and practical. My job is secure and worthwhile.

But right this minute, I am not happy. I want MORE. That sounds so selfish, so insecure and unkind. But I am speaking truths. I want my family to stay just exactly the way it is, (most days. But I won't get into that...) But I want my home to bigger, cleaner, more organized. But I don't want to do it. Nor can I. I want my cars to be even better. I don't want to worry about oil changes, tire pressure, gas gauges and ABS systems. (But I won't get into that...) I want a job that is more than just a job. I want a job where I enjoy what I am doing, who I am doing it for and who I am doing it with. I need that. I crave that.

Today, I am sad. I am throwing a wee pity party, anyone care to join me? But only today. Tomorrow, or maybe even later today, I will be happy again. I will remember who I am, what I do, what I have and why I should be happy, and I will be.

We are all entitled to a "woah-is-me" day, and today is mine.

Feelin' pretty

I am doing the pinup contest at AutoRama again this year. I did my shopping online, which I knew was very risky: What if it didn't fit right? What if it didn't arrive in time?? But, I am thrilled with my purchase! I found it in my work mailbox this morning and tried it on right away. I love it! The top is stretchy, so my "girls" fit great and have room to grow during the day. Plus, it is something I can nurse in! I will be happy when I can quit choosing outfits around it's nursability. The only trouble with the dress is that it is a tube top, and I have too much "top" to not have support. I think I can fashion something over my regular bra straps with some black silk or something easy enough. Plus, I think I need to go and use my Endless Indulgence gift card and buy myself a nice crinoline/petticoat. I am getting excited now, which I was worried about. Most days anymore, I feel frumpy. I am ready for a good feel-pretty day!

Another Diaper Cake, only better!

A fun under-the-sea car diaper cake! It has 50 size 1 diapers, two bottles, two pacifiers, two blankets, two pairs of socks, two baskets, two wash clothes, one pillow, one bib and a toy fishing pole with plastic toys.

Teacher Leadership classes

I over-estimated my abilities, or under-estimated the requirements, or I am simply DONE. Whichever it is doesn't really matter at all, all I can say is that I am in the last week of my first class for the MAED/TL program and it will indeed be my last week. I don't know if it's the online format, the material/topic or just that my brain is already full of too much info, all I know is that I am DONE. I cannot pursue this degree, or any degree for that matter at this time. I am exhausted and overwhelmed and I need, deserve and am totally taking a break from learnin'.

Yummers!

Another big step for my big guy~ food! We started rice cereal a few weeks ago and had to quit because he had a bad cough and I didn't want him choking on it or thickening up his mucus. But we are back on it and he is doing great with it. I fix about 4 tablespoons and spoon-feed him 2 of those and finish the rest in the bottle because he loses interest. But this week we started bananas too and he loves that. I had a 2 oz jar and he finished half of it, along with 3 tbs. of rice, in one sitting! I bought myself the Baby Bullet and I am quite happy with it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Harlem Globetrotters!

I have wanted to go to the Harlem Globetrotters for the last 6+ years and I finally talked Royce into it last night. I was sooooo excited! I remember going as a kid and LOVING it. I remember going again as a teen and LOVING it. I couldn't wait to see it as an adult. And I was so excited to get Hudson started on all these fun things we can do together! Seriously, when the Globetrotter theme music came on, a silent tear rolled down my face I was so excited and happy. There I was, with my own little family, reliving my childhood and it was an intense feeling. Anyways, the game was so much fun and Hudson loved it! He was soooo good the whole game! I never had to get up with him. I was prepared to put him in my sling and walk around the entry hall, but he was happy as could be just sitting on our laps and dancing to the music. He is so observant and there was so much for him to watch and see and listen to. He loves crowds. We were on an aisle seat and when the game got over, he squealed when everyone headed up the stairs towards us. Then he squealed a lot more as we were making our way through the crowd to our car. He was just giddy! Soon as we got him in his car seat though, the fight began. By Beck Street, sleep had won. It was a great night!!

Hudson's "Crib"

Hudson moved to his crib on Saturday, February 11. That first night was tough. He woke every three hours, but that wasn't necessarily due to the new environment, as he had been doing it the whole week prior. Think he hit a growth spurt... Anyways, the second and third nights were AWESOME. He slept through the night. Night two, he didn't want to go to sleep, so we spent a couple hours just playing in the room and letting him get used to it as a safe spot. These pics are from that night:

Set up for mama to sleep in, just in case. I did sleep there the second night, but think we should be fine from here on out for me to sleep in my own room. My baby's first "move out." :(

Rigby and Sadie thought it was fun to hang out with us.

My big boy all tuckered out. Sweet dreams, sweet boy!

Bugged.

I am bugged. I don't "hate" my job, but I am unhappy. I don't like the people I work with. Not in a hate way, but in a they-don't-give-a-damn-why-the-hell-do-I kind of way. Last week, I arranged a potluck. By arrange, I mean I set a date and communicated it via email to everyone else, asking for opinions. Got no reply. (mostly no reply) Finally, yesterday, my boss tried to stir up some chatter about it. Still a no-go. But I still figured someone would show and participate. Thing is, I was trying to make it more than just about food. I asked people to bring boxes to decorate for Valentine's Day. Then I spent all day yesterday making some spoofy-punny Valentine's that were work specific. As well as a nice brochure that outlines everyone's jobs and hours. People showed up for food. And then they left. All but myself, my closest work friend and the two managers. Several of them didn't even bother to take the envelope of stuff with them, leaving Valentines and brochures scattered on the tables. Seriously, WHY DO I CARE?? WHY DO I TRY?? WHY DO I GIVE A DAMN AT ALL????!??? 'Ef 'em all. Soon as I get my teaching job, I am OUT. I deserve appreciation and respect for the things I do to try to involve everyone. Why does everyone have to be so damn "clique-y"?? We are a university, not a f'in high school! But it does still hurt to not be one of the "cool kids."

Expeditionary Learning

Unbeknownst to me until Saturday, I am an Expeditionary teacher. I teach hands-on. I don't limit learning to the classroom. I integrate subjects and curriculum. I take my students to the real world, and bring the real world to my students. I WANT the job at Promontory. I had a great time at the training and realized that this is who I am. I can do my style of teaching in a regular school, but Promontory has so much more freedom, so much more allowance.

Firsts: ouchie-boo-boo-oopsy-daisy hurt

Hudson got his first ouchie-boo-boo-oopsy-daisey hurt yesterday. What is an OBBODH? An accidental hurt caused by outside sources. Hudson always has little scratches on his face from those eagle talons of his, but they are not from an outside source. Plus, there aren't tears and crying usually associated with them. But, the tears came yesterday. I was holding him as he sat on the counter at Sears, where we had just finished pictures- yes, thankfully, it was AFTER pictures! He was sitting on his blanket and he just got wiggly, causing the blanket to slide and him to nose dive into the counter. (**note to self, he has a habit of nose-diving!**) He hit the corner of his eye pretty good on the ledge of the counter and his screaming cry was heartbreaking. But only for a minute or so. Turns out, he's a pretty tough kid. I felt TERRIBLE though. Like a bad mommy. :( Until I started to realize that this is only the first time something like this is gonna happen. He's a kid. A boy. He's gotta get hurt. He's gotta play. He's gotta learn. And he's gonna be ok.

Besides, girls dig scars, right?

Want a sneak peek at his 6 month pictures? Go here!