In the last half hour I have:
-finished making dinner (pork chops with roast broccoli and pecans).
-served dinner
-put away dinner dishes
-redirected GameBoyjr back to his homework.
-checked to make sure he was doing the correct homework.
-explained that I don't know WHY "sugar" is pronounced "shugar" in English. It just is.
-explained again.
-explained again.
-refused to explain it again, telling him "that's just how English is sometimes".
-reminded GameBoyjr that spelling homework should have all the words spelled correctly.
-yes. really.
-no, it's not a new rule.
-yes...I mean no...I mean...DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
-asked GameBoyjr to climb out of the laundry basket while he does his homework.
-told him that no, I don't think the teacher will be especially appreciative of his efforts to write inside a laundry basket.
-asked GameBoyjr why he was lying on the floor, only to have him explain, "I have to lie on the floor and pretend to be dead when Angel looks at me." Angel, the tiny dog, spends most of her time looking at him...because he's always doing something interesting.
Now I have to go and buy a gift card or something to give his long-suffering and always cheerful teacher. Because she has two kids in the class who do actually suffer from ADHD, along with GameBoyjr and his two rambunctious best friends.
Now he's singing old Boy George songs while spinning around on his knees.
Maybe I should just go for broke and get her a weekend at a spa.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Not a Stellar Day
I'm so tired that I fell asleep in the local book store.
When we got home, we had a message from Biker Hubby's mom...Biker Hubby's grandpa died this morning.
GameBoyjr is coughing his little lungs out and complaining of feeling "weirdish".
At least I got to see Rhubarb this morning and give her a hug or three.
When we got home, we had a message from Biker Hubby's mom...Biker Hubby's grandpa died this morning.
GameBoyjr is coughing his little lungs out and complaining of feeling "weirdish".
At least I got to see Rhubarb this morning and give her a hug or three.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Random
-Tomorrow GameBoy goes on his first honest-to-goodness car date. With a girl who's his own age. Hold me.
-My newest coworker has terrific, amazing classroom management skills...but no experience as a teacher, making lesson plans or grading.
-However. It's the child-wrangling skills that are important...you can't teach someone those unless they have a spark of talent for it. You CAN teach someone to grade papers and figure out lesson plans and syllabi. Whew.
-Saturday, the behind the wheel driving instructor will take GameBoy and his driving partner out and teach them "off road recovery". You could not pay me enough to make me be a behind the wheel instructor.
-It is true that a tiny dog can completely dominate larger dogs. My boy dogs are scared to death of the bitty newcomer. She, of course, walked in and assumed that she was in charge.
-I really have a soft spot for the new dog. Wonder why?
-I am trying to not revel in "I told you so" after telling GameBoy not to read H.P. Lovecraft because it's a level of scary beyond the rational world. He didn't listen and is now having some very twitchy moments involving windows. Heh.
-MangaGirl went out tonight with her grandfather to see an eclectic accordion soloist who also plays with a band called Circus. She was terribly excited and apparently the show was wonderful. I'm sure we can look forward to renewed accordion practice soon.
-I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving Day and I feel like baking pies. Lots of pies.
-I currently have no songs stuck in my head. Weird.
That's all.
-My newest coworker has terrific, amazing classroom management skills...but no experience as a teacher, making lesson plans or grading.
-However. It's the child-wrangling skills that are important...you can't teach someone those unless they have a spark of talent for it. You CAN teach someone to grade papers and figure out lesson plans and syllabi. Whew.
-Saturday, the behind the wheel driving instructor will take GameBoy and his driving partner out and teach them "off road recovery". You could not pay me enough to make me be a behind the wheel instructor.
-It is true that a tiny dog can completely dominate larger dogs. My boy dogs are scared to death of the bitty newcomer. She, of course, walked in and assumed that she was in charge.
-I really have a soft spot for the new dog. Wonder why?
-I am trying to not revel in "I told you so" after telling GameBoy not to read H.P. Lovecraft because it's a level of scary beyond the rational world. He didn't listen and is now having some very twitchy moments involving windows. Heh.
-MangaGirl went out tonight with her grandfather to see an eclectic accordion soloist who also plays with a band called Circus. She was terribly excited and apparently the show was wonderful. I'm sure we can look forward to renewed accordion practice soon.
-I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving Day and I feel like baking pies. Lots of pies.
-I currently have no songs stuck in my head. Weird.
That's all.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Future Mad Scientist
Twice a year, our local university's chemistry department holds a "Chemical Illusions" show. The faculty and students set up showy, flamboyant and smelly experiments guaranteed to wow the most standoffish non-scientist.
GameBoy is in chemistry this year, and attending the show was extra credit for him. GameBoyjr's teacher also gave extra credit for attending the show. GameBoy is taking behind the wheel driving lessons, and tonight was his night driving class, so he met us there later.
When we got there, the chem students were out in the hallway, merrily mixing up ice cream with liquid nitrogen and handing it out to eager kids (and not a few parents). We got some ice cream and sat in the lecture hall, front row.
The show involved a lot of things exploding, a lot of liquid nitrogen and not a few quarts of methanol and methane. You haven't experienced the wonder of chemistry until you've seen a tower of flaming bubbles or a vomiting jack-o-lantern; or flaming gummi bears. GameBoyjr, the true scientist in the sibling group, was transfixed. His hand shot up at every opportunity to answer questions and he shouted things out like a real scientist. ("A long time ago, what did folks consider to be the only elements?" "WATER, AIR, EARTH AND FIRE!!" "Uh. That's right...little guy...how old are you, anyway?"). He helped out with an experiment, too.
The final presenter was a professor emeritus who disdained blast shields, handled liquid nitrogen with his bare hands, eschewed safety goggles and had flames follow him up and down the aisles like puppy dogs. He was, frankly, scary. Even the other professors thought so. I mean, when the experts leap to attention, grab not one but two fire extinguishers and don protective gear just to WATCH the presentation...well, we were on the very front row and I was very nervous. Watching him pour liquid nitrogen on the counter and having it spill over and boil around on the floor by our feet made me squeak a few times. When he wrote in flames on the blackboard, I leaned over to MangaGirl and whispered "Someone's going to lose an eye."
GameBoyjr, though, thought this was the best, most wonderful thing he'd ever experienced. I looked over at him and the expression on his face reminded me very strongly of the first poetry reading I ever went to...I remember clearly thinking "This is ME. This is what I am going to do with my life." That's exactly what he looked like. I could tell that in that moment, GameBoyjr found his people.
At least I'll always have someone to make me liquid nitrogen ice cream.
GameBoy is in chemistry this year, and attending the show was extra credit for him. GameBoyjr's teacher also gave extra credit for attending the show. GameBoy is taking behind the wheel driving lessons, and tonight was his night driving class, so he met us there later.
When we got there, the chem students were out in the hallway, merrily mixing up ice cream with liquid nitrogen and handing it out to eager kids (and not a few parents). We got some ice cream and sat in the lecture hall, front row.
The show involved a lot of things exploding, a lot of liquid nitrogen and not a few quarts of methanol and methane. You haven't experienced the wonder of chemistry until you've seen a tower of flaming bubbles or a vomiting jack-o-lantern; or flaming gummi bears. GameBoyjr, the true scientist in the sibling group, was transfixed. His hand shot up at every opportunity to answer questions and he shouted things out like a real scientist. ("A long time ago, what did folks consider to be the only elements?" "WATER, AIR, EARTH AND FIRE!!" "Uh. That's right...little guy...how old are you, anyway?"). He helped out with an experiment, too.
The final presenter was a professor emeritus who disdained blast shields, handled liquid nitrogen with his bare hands, eschewed safety goggles and had flames follow him up and down the aisles like puppy dogs. He was, frankly, scary. Even the other professors thought so. I mean, when the experts leap to attention, grab not one but two fire extinguishers and don protective gear just to WATCH the presentation...well, we were on the very front row and I was very nervous. Watching him pour liquid nitrogen on the counter and having it spill over and boil around on the floor by our feet made me squeak a few times. When he wrote in flames on the blackboard, I leaned over to MangaGirl and whispered "Someone's going to lose an eye."
GameBoyjr, though, thought this was the best, most wonderful thing he'd ever experienced. I looked over at him and the expression on his face reminded me very strongly of the first poetry reading I ever went to...I remember clearly thinking "This is ME. This is what I am going to do with my life." That's exactly what he looked like. I could tell that in that moment, GameBoyjr found his people.
At least I'll always have someone to make me liquid nitrogen ice cream.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
I Want to Rock and Roll All Night
Last night we wrapped up a really busy day by driving two counties away to attend a release party for my headmaster's new album.
As difficult as work can be sometimes, the man is an extremely talented musician and performer. The whole place was jumping and when the teenagers ran down to the stage to dance, I went with them. I did check to see if I was embarrassing my own kids, but I wasn't. GameBoy and MangaGirl and their friends were definitely rockin' out with me. It was super awesome fun. GameBoyjr and the elementary school took the stage to sing one song (they're all on the cd, since they recorded a track a couple of years ago) and that was amazing.
After the party/concert, Biker Hubby and I took everyone to a late dinner out. It's been a long while since our whole family went out and just had FUN.
Last night was one of the times I can look at us, at our family and think "Wow. We've come so far since last year!" Having GameBoy dance with me, smiling and laughing with his friends; MangaGirl rocking out on the dance floor, singing at the top of her lungs; GameBoyjr and Biker Hubby standing up in the audience, singing so loudly I could hear them at the front of the room; GameBoy giving me a spontaneous hug during a slow song...the whole night blew me away.
As difficult as work can be sometimes, the man is an extremely talented musician and performer. The whole place was jumping and when the teenagers ran down to the stage to dance, I went with them. I did check to see if I was embarrassing my own kids, but I wasn't. GameBoy and MangaGirl and their friends were definitely rockin' out with me. It was super awesome fun. GameBoyjr and the elementary school took the stage to sing one song (they're all on the cd, since they recorded a track a couple of years ago) and that was amazing.
After the party/concert, Biker Hubby and I took everyone to a late dinner out. It's been a long while since our whole family went out and just had FUN.
Last night was one of the times I can look at us, at our family and think "Wow. We've come so far since last year!" Having GameBoy dance with me, smiling and laughing with his friends; MangaGirl rocking out on the dance floor, singing at the top of her lungs; GameBoyjr and Biker Hubby standing up in the audience, singing so loudly I could hear them at the front of the room; GameBoy giving me a spontaneous hug during a slow song...the whole night blew me away.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A Ponder
My headmaster encourages (insists) that teachers with Facebook accounts friend their students. I friend students if they initiate it, but I've grouped my Facebook friends and the group marked "students" is unable to see my status updates or links posted on my Facebook site.
One student has just noticed this. He is...incensed, hurt, upset...by this. He's been posting petulant things on his Facebook account about my blocking him. I've assured him that I've blocked no one. I'm not, however, doing much to respond to his whining.
Today at school, he asked me if there was a way to block some people on Facebook but not others. I told him, truthfully, that I wasn't aware of any way to do that.
I'm annoyed at what I perceive as this child's sense of entitlement to my private life. Though I LOVE social media, it is definitely true that people of my generation use Facebook very differently from teens and preteens. I see it as a way to connect and reconnect with my high school and college friends and keep up some professional social networking. I'm not posting profanity or anything inappropriate, it's just that it's my private life, dammit. The students get a huge chunk of my time and energy and I'm resentful that this kid wants more. He tends to jump on teachers if they're online and instant message them to death. Obviously, he's got issues, but I've got my own, personal children with issues. That part of me is for them, not students.
So I'm wondering...what would you do?
One student has just noticed this. He is...incensed, hurt, upset...by this. He's been posting petulant things on his Facebook account about my blocking him. I've assured him that I've blocked no one. I'm not, however, doing much to respond to his whining.
Today at school, he asked me if there was a way to block some people on Facebook but not others. I told him, truthfully, that I wasn't aware of any way to do that.
I'm annoyed at what I perceive as this child's sense of entitlement to my private life. Though I LOVE social media, it is definitely true that people of my generation use Facebook very differently from teens and preteens. I see it as a way to connect and reconnect with my high school and college friends and keep up some professional social networking. I'm not posting profanity or anything inappropriate, it's just that it's my private life, dammit. The students get a huge chunk of my time and energy and I'm resentful that this kid wants more. He tends to jump on teachers if they're online and instant message them to death. Obviously, he's got issues, but I've got my own, personal children with issues. That part of me is for them, not students.
So I'm wondering...what would you do?
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