Monday, September 20, 2010
Tears, Worms, and Sticky Fingers
Oh I love kids! Actually I think it’s better said that I love people. But man, nothing beats a day working with school age( 6-18) kiddos. All of my teaching career has been spent huddled comfortably in 5th grade. I like 5th grade. I understand 5th grade. I can reason with 5th grade. This summer I had the opportunity to work with teens. I’m comfortable with teens. I like teens. I can reason with teens. This broke all concepts of what age group I thought I could work with. So when I was asked if I would be interested in working with younger ones I thought, well maybe I’ve pigeon holed myself. Maybe I’m a person who really can work with all age levels. I’ve never heard of such a thing, but possibly this is what the Lord gifted me in. Maybe?
Uhhhh, NO! I had the chance to sub in a 1st grade classroom recently and I’m just saying!
Problem #1 containers of worms on the table with tiny little pieces of bedding. Ahhh! Have a told you about my OCD! Can you imagine?! The worms alone, umm not so bad but the bedding that fell off their fingers while petting their little worms was enough to drive me batty. It was all over papers, tables, chairs, and worst of all the carpet. THE CARPET y’all! You can’t just go sweeping that stuff up off of carpet, you have to leave it there all day for the janitor to get it or hands and knees it. I know you know what I did. That’s right, I picked up a hand full only to have children drop more than what I had picked up and stopped in defeat.
Problem #2 the wiggles! It’s completely expected that students 5th grade and above can come into a classroom and do what’s needed to start the day. These little guys, not so much! They were just jumping with energy, as though someone had flipped their switch to vibrate and it was stuck. There was not a calm moment of the day. Always moving and shaking even when doing the right thing like reading, writing, or drawing. Still just a movin’.
Problem #3 did I mention the bedding.
Problem #4 the tears. Oh the tears! “He looked at me wrong.” “She said I don’t do karate.” “I don’t remember.” “He runs too fast.” “She smashed my thumb with a tree stump.” On and on and on. Well, maybe that last one was valid. But good night. When logic reasoning didn’t work, I just wanted to tell them to suck it up. But that’s just not how you handle situations with fragile little ones. SO instead there was lots of squatting on afore mentioned “bedded” carpet doing conflict resolution. How exhausting!
Problem #5 … I don’t know if you understand how much the bedding got under my skin.
Problem #6 The constant explaining! Part of the joy of 5th grade is that even as you explain what the students are to do clearly there are some parts that they simply infer. Such as when you say we are going outside to cut off the white flowers only. They infer that they are not to pull off other flowers. Whereas precious little ones cut off white flowers splendidly but then when walking by a pretty pink flower won’t cut it (because they were told not to) but will instead yank the entire plant out of the ground. Even as you are yelling and flailing about wildly not to, because you didn’t say their name specifically because you couldn’t remember at the time they don’t stop. Just for example. :)
Problem #7 the fear that if you make them wait to “use it” they really just might wet their pants.
Problem #8 the lack of understanding that just because you repeat something 15 times does not mean I will stop talking to another student to respond to you. Then the confusion when I don’t respond to their sticky fingers tapping my shoulder when conferring with another student.
Oh my! I don't understand 1st graders and I can't reason with 1st graders but I’ve decided that I really do like 1st graders as little people individually but a classroom full of them…. Hmmm, ya I’ll take doing almost anything else.
So, a big public thank you to all the early elementary teachers out there. I now know I cannot do your job and would not want to. Which spells job security for you! Congrats! :)
Uhhhh, NO! I had the chance to sub in a 1st grade classroom recently and I’m just saying!
Problem #1 containers of worms on the table with tiny little pieces of bedding. Ahhh! Have a told you about my OCD! Can you imagine?! The worms alone, umm not so bad but the bedding that fell off their fingers while petting their little worms was enough to drive me batty. It was all over papers, tables, chairs, and worst of all the carpet. THE CARPET y’all! You can’t just go sweeping that stuff up off of carpet, you have to leave it there all day for the janitor to get it or hands and knees it. I know you know what I did. That’s right, I picked up a hand full only to have children drop more than what I had picked up and stopped in defeat.
Problem #2 the wiggles! It’s completely expected that students 5th grade and above can come into a classroom and do what’s needed to start the day. These little guys, not so much! They were just jumping with energy, as though someone had flipped their switch to vibrate and it was stuck. There was not a calm moment of the day. Always moving and shaking even when doing the right thing like reading, writing, or drawing. Still just a movin’.
Problem #3 did I mention the bedding.
Problem #4 the tears. Oh the tears! “He looked at me wrong.” “She said I don’t do karate.” “I don’t remember.” “He runs too fast.” “She smashed my thumb with a tree stump.” On and on and on. Well, maybe that last one was valid. But good night. When logic reasoning didn’t work, I just wanted to tell them to suck it up. But that’s just not how you handle situations with fragile little ones. SO instead there was lots of squatting on afore mentioned “bedded” carpet doing conflict resolution. How exhausting!
Problem #5 … I don’t know if you understand how much the bedding got under my skin.
Problem #6 The constant explaining! Part of the joy of 5th grade is that even as you explain what the students are to do clearly there are some parts that they simply infer. Such as when you say we are going outside to cut off the white flowers only. They infer that they are not to pull off other flowers. Whereas precious little ones cut off white flowers splendidly but then when walking by a pretty pink flower won’t cut it (because they were told not to) but will instead yank the entire plant out of the ground. Even as you are yelling and flailing about wildly not to, because you didn’t say their name specifically because you couldn’t remember at the time they don’t stop. Just for example. :)
Problem #7 the fear that if you make them wait to “use it” they really just might wet their pants.
Problem #8 the lack of understanding that just because you repeat something 15 times does not mean I will stop talking to another student to respond to you. Then the confusion when I don’t respond to their sticky fingers tapping my shoulder when conferring with another student.
Oh my! I don't understand 1st graders and I can't reason with 1st graders but I’ve decided that I really do like 1st graders as little people individually but a classroom full of them…. Hmmm, ya I’ll take doing almost anything else.
So, a big public thank you to all the early elementary teachers out there. I now know I cannot do your job and would not want to. Which spells job security for you! Congrats! :)
Friendly Friday
Friday was far too overloaded for me to even attempt any writing of the sort. So, here is the overdue introduction of another dear friend.
I’m not sure if she spoke it first or it was simply implied by her life but my first memory of Nicole is her saying verbally or with body language “I’m married with 5 kids so don’t be offended if I don’t pursue this friendship with you.”
That was a year ago and Nicole and I are great friends. I made it a priority to intrude on her life by my random popovers and she made it a priority to let me.
She is one of the most real people I know. And I LOVE her for it. I think more than I want to admit of my life was spent thinking healthy marriages and families were picture perfect; spotless homes, immediately obedient children who respectfully disappear during adult conversation, and everything somehow always working out for the benefit of the family, and it was easy most of the time. What planet was I living on?! Then entered Nicole, who was open enough to share her real life with me, messy counters and all.
That’s where our friendship lived for the vast majority of this year, the counter. I would come in and she would always be preparing something for the kiddos or cleaning up the tornado of a mess they’d left behind. We talked about marriage, kids, singleness, God, hopes, dreams, decorating ventures, and the future over a cup of coffee and some delicious something she’d cooked up. By about the 4 month mark there was no stone unturned. She was completely vulnerable about her life which led me to share with her.
It was bound to be a special friendship from the start. We met at church retreat, where I was desperate for deep friendships in a new place and she was seeking a moment away from her children. Our paths met at just the right time and we had the opportunity over one weekend to spark a friendship. Over the course of the year we have discovered just how God ordained our friendship really is. We are so much alike, in ways only God could have paired. She is such a patient, opinionated, “free spirit”, woman, wife, mother, and friend.
What a great friendship that has grown in just a short 12 months. She has seen me in all my ugliness and depression and I have seen her in the throws of raising 5 children and maintaining a marriage and home. It’s not always pretty but it’s her and it’s real.
I so appreciate you my friend!
Nicole.
I’m not sure if she spoke it first or it was simply implied by her life but my first memory of Nicole is her saying verbally or with body language “I’m married with 5 kids so don’t be offended if I don’t pursue this friendship with you.”
That was a year ago and Nicole and I are great friends. I made it a priority to intrude on her life by my random popovers and she made it a priority to let me.
She is one of the most real people I know. And I LOVE her for it. I think more than I want to admit of my life was spent thinking healthy marriages and families were picture perfect; spotless homes, immediately obedient children who respectfully disappear during adult conversation, and everything somehow always working out for the benefit of the family, and it was easy most of the time. What planet was I living on?! Then entered Nicole, who was open enough to share her real life with me, messy counters and all.
That’s where our friendship lived for the vast majority of this year, the counter. I would come in and she would always be preparing something for the kiddos or cleaning up the tornado of a mess they’d left behind. We talked about marriage, kids, singleness, God, hopes, dreams, decorating ventures, and the future over a cup of coffee and some delicious something she’d cooked up. By about the 4 month mark there was no stone unturned. She was completely vulnerable about her life which led me to share with her.
It was bound to be a special friendship from the start. We met at church retreat, where I was desperate for deep friendships in a new place and she was seeking a moment away from her children. Our paths met at just the right time and we had the opportunity over one weekend to spark a friendship. Over the course of the year we have discovered just how God ordained our friendship really is. We are so much alike, in ways only God could have paired. She is such a patient, opinionated, “free spirit”, woman, wife, mother, and friend.
What a great friendship that has grown in just a short 12 months. She has seen me in all my ugliness and depression and I have seen her in the throws of raising 5 children and maintaining a marriage and home. It’s not always pretty but it’s her and it’s real.
I so appreciate you my friend!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Get a Clue
Dear Summer,
I don't know when it happened. I don't even now how it happened but I am completely in love with Fall. I wish this wasn't so awkward, but you have got to go! I thought maybe you would get the clue when I pulled out all Fall's stuff. When you saw porches decorated with leaves, pumpkins, and hay. For Pete's sake when you noticed Halloween candy and costumes being sold. I mean maybe it wasn't completely obvious to you as I always rock a pretty sweet cardigan but I've been trying to give you the clue by adding a scarf and even searching through catalogs for flannel shirts and cowboy boots! Come now, cowboy boots?! If these things don't have Fall written all over them, I don't know what does. So, though I know I will regret this come mid winter I want to let you know I'm not interested in you anymore. Not your heat, not your mosquitoes, and not your swimsuits. But as for your friend Fall, tell him I'm in the market for a new season. hmmmm, yeah a new season, some cooking, snuggling, pumpkin muffins, and apple picking.
I like you, but I'm just not that into you anymore.
I don't know when it happened. I don't even now how it happened but I am completely in love with Fall. I wish this wasn't so awkward, but you have got to go! I thought maybe you would get the clue when I pulled out all Fall's stuff. When you saw porches decorated with leaves, pumpkins, and hay. For Pete's sake when you noticed Halloween candy and costumes being sold. I mean maybe it wasn't completely obvious to you as I always rock a pretty sweet cardigan but I've been trying to give you the clue by adding a scarf and even searching through catalogs for flannel shirts and cowboy boots! Come now, cowboy boots?! If these things don't have Fall written all over them, I don't know what does. So, though I know I will regret this come mid winter I want to let you know I'm not interested in you anymore. Not your heat, not your mosquitoes, and not your swimsuits. But as for your friend Fall, tell him I'm in the market for a new season. hmmmm, yeah a new season, some cooking, snuggling, pumpkin muffins, and apple picking.
I like you, but I'm just not that into you anymore.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Candles and my OCD
Real quick I have to tell you the funniest thing. I was not having my biggest genius moment yesterday. A lovely candle I'm a bit addicted to has been melting weirdly. Just one side has been decreasing, while the other side stays looking brand stinking new! Well the type A OCD personality in me was quite perturbed by this. So I tried to fix it. This is what happened. Duh!
Yikes! Next time I'll just go with the candle warmer.
Can Are
Today I saw a little boy crossing the street. He struck me in his red and blue striped shirt with blue cargo shorts and his little chest puffed out to the on coming traffic. I was struck the same way when I got to meet this beautiful little girl, Julianna, who is just 1 year old. She had the sweetest haircut that I wish I myself could pull off accompanied by the sweetest little features on her round face.
The boy with his "broad" chest wasn't overcome by the thoughts of I can't _________ (fill in the blank). This sweet little girl wasn't completely consumed with thoughts of Am I pretty. Both, with his proud stance and her round eyes can and are.
My heart ached a little bit for them. For him and his future of potentially feeling inadequate and questioning his abilities. For her, the future of possibly questioning her beauty and under estimating her worth.
Today my heart was sad for Adam, Eve, and for us. Sad that sin seemed to be the more appealing thing, the more affirming thing, the more valuable thing so long ago and today. Sad that they and we struggle with such identity crisis when our true identity is found in Christ alone. Oh, how they were so wrong. Oh, how we were so wrong. Oh, how I was so wrong.
The boy with his "broad" chest wasn't overcome by the thoughts of I can't _________ (fill in the blank). This sweet little girl wasn't completely consumed with thoughts of Am I pretty. Both, with his proud stance and her round eyes can and are.
My heart ached a little bit for them. For him and his future of potentially feeling inadequate and questioning his abilities. For her, the future of possibly questioning her beauty and under estimating her worth.
Today my heart was sad for Adam, Eve, and for us. Sad that sin seemed to be the more appealing thing, the more affirming thing, the more valuable thing so long ago and today. Sad that they and we struggle with such identity crisis when our true identity is found in Christ alone. Oh, how they were so wrong. Oh, how we were so wrong. Oh, how I was so wrong.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Link Love Monday
Now, I am not the biggest fan of Halloween but don't you just LOVE this. You can do it yourself! She gives the tutorial right here.
How stinking adorable are these rings!? Want more? Slip on over to Love Stitched or visit her etsy.
And then there are these yummy things. Mini Maple Pancake Muffins. This Bakerella is always cooking up something delish!
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