It's Kindergarten for Crying Out Loud

I will preface this by saying that most of my teachers' nickname for me (especially as I got into high school) was "Chatty Cathy". I like to talk to people. I like socializing - especially when it's a choice between solving a quadratic equation or talking. So, I'm a little biased.

In Joe's classroom, they have a color scale for behavior. Good to bad the colors are purple, blue, green, yellow, red and I think there might be an orange (luckily we haven't found that out from personal experience yet!). Joe is usually on purple, but when he goes down, it has been for talking with only two or three exceptions the entire year. I would definitely be inclined to be more supportive of his teacher if the whole no talking thing weren't so ludicrous. Kindergarten goes from 7:45 until 2:20. Kindergarten. They have a twenty minute recess (except for when it's taken away as a punishment for previous bad behavior - kindergarten, people!!), and they have twenty minutes for lunch and bathroom break. Talking isn't aloud during Centers or while they're being militantly marched through the halls, and, if they are pressed for time during lunch, there's no talking during lunch either. (Thank you No Child Left Behind!)

So, I'm definitely in favor of being respectful and following the rules, but I'm also a strong advocate of not setting children up for failure. Case in point. A girl in Joe's class was sent to the office and her mother was called because she was talking and then she fell asleep on the floor during quiet time and wouldn't get up because she didn't feel well. Call to the mother, definitely valid. Moving her down on the behavior scale? Give me a break! So, needless to say, I'm not a big fan of the current set up. Let them run! Let them play! And for crying out loud - don't keep them there all day!! Anyway. That is my rant for the day. (And yes, Joe was on "yellow" - for TALKING!).

Couldn't have said it better!

Any of you mothers of little girls should appreciate this rant. I know I did.

Beautiful

Emily usually doesn't get into mischief (that doesn't include teasing siblings anyway), so I didn't really think anything of it when she was occupying herself quietly downstairs while I got Mary ready for the day. I'm watching a friend's girls this morning, so we were trying to get ready before they got here. I called Emily upstairs so I could get her ready, and up she came sporting this killer unibrow.I forgot that I had left my foundation and mascara in the downstairs bathroom. She said that she wanted to be beautiful like a princess for her friends, so she put on my makeup. I don't think she quite knew what to do with the foundation, so she just got that all over her nightgown and the bathroom floor. She was quite proud of the results. She thought she was one hot chick. I probably shouldn't have encouraged her by taking the picture, but I couldn't resist. So, what do you think? Did she achieve her goal?

Peaked yet?

So, on a commercial yesterday, the actress for a new drama or comedy (or whatever) said "I think I'm one of those people who peaked in high school." Pretty common phrase. I was thinking about peaking, and I definitely don't think I peaked in high school (if that was my peak, whoa is me!) or even shortly thereafter. In fact, I'm kind of hoping I still haven't peaked. But, then I thought, if I haven't peaked that means I'm still going uphill (except for those times when I'm aimlessly meandering through the underbrush). Maybe that's why everything takes so much effort, I'm just not at the pinnacle yet. At least there's a purpose in the daily struggle, right? I hope the view is worth it up there!

Last night, the girls were taking it in turns to wake up between 1 and 4:30. At 4:00, they both got up and were playing in the toy room and then we heard them when they came to the landing and were reading stories. Matt put them back to bed - again.

At 8:00, Emily stumbled out of bed and Matt picked her up. She groggily mumbled, "I don't think it was wakey time before." Yeah. I think you may have something there!

The Bad Bag

At a primary training meeting, Ashley's mom made a really good comment about dealing with bad behavior. She said that you need to empty your "bad bag" every week and start fresh the next Sunday. Somebody made the comment that this is applicable to our own children as well. I smugly thought to myself that I don't hold grudges against my children; I don't have a bad bag!

Oh, ignorant, arrogant fool that I am! Today I was thinking about how I interact with my children. I thought about the situations that cause me to go from zero to total freak out in 1.6 seconds and I realized that the only explanation is that I have packed past grievances/confrontations/tantrums into the bad bag, ready to be withdrawn at the first sign of trouble. If I didn't have that bad bag, would I handle the situation differently? Would I be a little more patient? Would I be less likely to jump to conclusions as being forgone, more likely to give the benefit of the doubt and allow for the possibility that they have grown (or I have)? Maybe. Don't I owe my children to find out?

This and That

I had some random pictures on my camera that I thought I would post.

Giggle Monster

I know I'm biased, but I think that Mary has the cutest laugh.

Midnight Musings

I have a confession. I am a woose when it comes to scary movies and macabre subject matter. AI - you know that movie with the Sixth Sense kid (which incidentally gave me nightmares but I still loved) gave me nightmares. After seeing Batman Begins, I was freaked out for a month. I was like a five year old who was afraid to turn out the light. I know. Completely embarassing (good thing I'm sharing it!). So, I was hesitant to read the Twilight series because of the obvious elements. I read it, and it was fine. There's nothing in there that should have freaked me out. It really is pretty tame in that respect. And yet. For two nights (the two days I was reading New Moon) I couldn't sleep. Every time I dozed, I would go into some bizarre lucid dream about the series. I'm thinking my brain was just trying to find resolution (because, sheesh, could it take her any longer to get to a point!! She's worse than Nathaniel Hawthorn!). Well, I finished New Moon at 4 am yesterday when both the girls refused to sleep anymore (joy) and last night, I dreamed about fighting a typhoid epidemic in my fair city, playing softball with Drew Barrymore and the local teenage crimefighting ruffians and testing alternative transportation methods (the last of which was a tricycle complete with tow ropes and roller skates for passengers - Matt and I decided that we would just stick with our o zone killing minivan - much more practical!). So, everything's back to normal. My subconscience has apparently found peace.

Stimulus Bill Breakdown

Here's an article that breaks down the Senate's new Stimulus Bill and compares it to a break down of the bill the House passed. I thought it was helpful info. http://www.cnbc.com/id/29063134

Also, Matt had commentary about an article discussing a proprosed bank fix on his blog. http://politicalhicken.blogspot.com/2009/02/interesting-bank-fix.html

Making the Bed

Matt and I have an "argument" periodically about making the bed. Not who, but how. I don't mind making the bed at all, and I do every day. But, I insist on making the bed "the right way" which translated means: the bedding is able to tuck nicely under the pillow and then cover the entire pillow. But, I like to sleep with it down a little further. Matt likes to have his toes (that hang several inches over the end of the bed) covered by the blanket. Both of these preferences aren't aided much by my correct bed making principles. Hence the argument. He doesn't understand why I insist on making our bed in a way that doesn't suit us, and I argue that I need to make the bed the right way. Finally, the other day, it dawned on me. Why was I insisting on doing something that clearly didn't fit my needs and my husband's needs? Did it matter exactly HOW I made the bed? Perhaps I needed to tweak things so that, yes, the bed was made, but in a way that fit us.

Then I thought. How many times do I do that? I get so caught up in my idea of how I think things are "suppose" to be that I stubbornly ignore the fact that it isn't the right thing for me. Maybe that's part of my people-pleasing-itis that I struggle with - I even try to please the imaginary people that might possibly think about one day being anywhere near a situation where they would stumble upon my less than kosher bed making habits. Well, acknowledgment is the first step to recovery, right?

Latest Annoyance

So, today, Joe had his 2nd Quarter Awards Ceremony at school. He got three awards, which is great! But, accompanying the certificates were three coupons for free kids meals at different restaraunts. That's great. A nice sentiment. But, they're places that I can't just pick up a meal for Joe and go. At least Matt or I have to go and eat with him. So, we HAVE to spend money for Joe to get his award. I guess that's not that big a deal, it just seems like such a racket. They obviously aren't giving the kids a reward, they're giving the parents a guilt trip trap in order to get their business. Okay. That's pretty cynical. But, that is my latest annoyance.

Poor Babies!

We went to the doctor today. 7 shots and 1 finger poke (that had to fill two of the little tuby things). Emily had two shots. This was for her three year check up (yes I'm a little late!) and I thought she was up to date. Apparently, they forgot to tell me at her fifteen month, eighteen month AND two year check ups that she needed another couple of shots. Luckily it's not TOO late.

She is just above the 95th percentile for height, and the 75th for weight.

Mary, Mary, Mary. I have been remiss! She missed her twelve and fifteen month check ups. This was for eighteen months. So, we had some make up work to do in the shots department. Five shots, and then finger poke tests for lead and iron. She was a little less than thrilled. I think the worst part of shots at the doctor is that total look of betrayal your baby gives you as you're pinning them down to the table while this total stranger stabs them repeatedly. I suppose I'd have the same look on my face if I were in their shoes! She was very cuddly afterwards, though, so I guess she has forgiven me.

On a better note. She is above the 105th % for height and the 75th for weight. I'm not surprised, but then - wow! Based on the median test of Matt and my heights, the girls should easily surpass six feet. No surprises with Mary. She is SOOO tall already. It's crazy seeing it on the growth chart, though. It makes it seem more real. I suppose one of our kids was bound to be like that.

Next

Last night for family home evening, we were talking about The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Matt asked the kids in turns how we were doing on various things that it counsels families to do in order to be successful. Joe and Emily both gave sweet, simple answers to each that came. Then Matt asked Emily "What about 'working together'?" She responded, "Can I have another word, please."

Merry Snow Day!

I woke up with Mary last night at about 1:30, and I saw snow falling in the lamplight. I love that sight! There is something so comforting and wonderful about seeing snow fall at night. As expected, the phone rang at 5:40 to inform us that school had been cancelled, so we let Joe sleep in. I went down at around 7:00 to make breakfast before Matt went to work. One by one the kids came down, filled with Christmas Morning excitement announcing that it had snowed. That made it even more magical - seeing it through their eyes. We played in it this morning - for the first time this winter everyone was healthy and uninjured, so they all got to play unhindered. So, Merry Snow Day, everyone!

The Crazy Stroller Lady Retires

It's a sad day in Whoville, folks! Yesterday was my farewell run as the crazy stroller lady. The distance was great. The fresh air was fabulous. The uninterrupted time to chat with Joe about his day was priceless. But, alas, my prego body just can't handle pushing 40+ lbs of awkward stroller through mud and brush. My stomach muscles and ligaments are pretty sore today. I wish there was pavement!! So, at least for the rest of this school year, I will rejoin the carpool lane. sigh.