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October 13 Just for funThought I'd add a few of these....
My so called Life...OMGosh...
I have been so tired with the drama and events of the past weeks that I've come home and just zonked. The warm weather has brought out the worst in our kids and I have had fights, and conflict managements almost every day.
The past three days have (and I'm not kidding) having been taken up with resolving a fight that happened over a girl and two boys were pressured by other friends to fight and when one went down, a bunch of other kids decided to jump in and hit and kick. This was afterschool two days ago. The initial two boys are all ok with each other now, but I had to discipline them and entire next day I was on the phone with parents and meeting with kids in my office to try and track down every last witness who saw it so I could confirm it and then discipline the boys who jumped in on the fight.
Well, I did it. I got every last one of them and they all had to meet with police and I had to call parents. They've all been suspended and they were lucky they didn't get hauled off to juvy.
But this whole thing set off a horrid chain of rumors that other fights would happen and revenge and etc. which I had to spend all today tracking down..including a kid who said jokingly to a friend that someone ought to bring a bb gun (which was never on campus) and police were again called...and while dealing with this one of the kids from the original fight said some kid had called his cell phone and left a threat. This kid he didn't know but was the boyfriend of a girl who was friends with the his girlfriend who he and the other boy had fought over...
Are you still following this????? AS THE WORLD TURNS....
So then we had to call the police again so they could come up and hear the message and now that kid who lives over 50 miles away is now in trouble for making threats.
This doesn't even cover the conversations I had yesterday with upset parents. One set of whom seemed to be more upset that their son got caught than that he jumped into a fight that wasn't his and kicked a kid when he was down. The kid he was supposedly "defending" was his nephew. (Figure that one out)...
Then this set of parents wanted to dispute the suspension code which indicated that the events caused "school disruption". So I got to explain just how disruptive all these events were. Then she told me she hoped my investigation wouldn't be biased. I said, "How do you mean biased?" She was insinuating that the race of the kid who was jumped was the reason we were suspending the others. Boy was I mad. I managed to keep my temper and told her that the investigation was about anyone and anybody who would jump in on a fight and kick a kid when they were down, no matter what color the kids were and I was going to disicpline every last kid I could catch. She shut up after that.
OOOOOH that made me soooooo mad. I went into my bosses office and wondered aloud if that lady had thought I'd just made up the names. I must have spoken with about 20 kids..."Sure I said, I just pulled the names out of my butt.. and her kid's was one of them." Then we both started laughing so hard because it had been so stressful. She couldn't believe I'd said that--but it was my way of venting.
ARrrrrrgghhhhh. I think we've finally quashed every rumor and met with the factions of both sides and everyone (even the kids) agree this all got way out of hand. We are going to be doing some kind of asssembly about rumor and gossip.
What a week. And I didn't event mention the conflict managment I had to do on Monday with the girl who was so incensed (and rightly so) that a boy had asked her if she could fake orgasms. He said a friend dared him to ask her. So he did it. We had a loooooooong conversation about this. He said he didn't know what it meant. I had to tell him that it is never very wise to use words you don't understand and briefly explained the meaning (I think he knew very well what it meant, but didn't think I would discuss it). The girl was satisfied with the issue being dealt with and it all came out that the reason this happned is that she watched the movie "When Harry met Sally" and there is a scene in it where she is in a restaurant and she "fakes an orgasm" and the girl told her friend she could do what Meg Ryan did and her friends told a boy and that boy dared the girl to do it.
OMGosh.
This is my so called life.
October 02 Already October and other deep thoughtsWell, I've been back at work almost two months now and it started to get into my routine. It seems strange that it's already October, we've had picture day, the first dance and parent conferences are coming up.
I have to say that this has been a hard week. 3 school shootings in less than a week? Yikes. I have to say that it makes it difficult at times when I think of what someone could do to any school. You can have every emergency plan in place and training, but some nut can still do something terrible.
I pray daily that the Lord will protect my family and our schools. I wish there was something I could do to make it all "unhappen" for those miserable families.
On more positive notes, I've been challenged by some things in church--mainly to reaffirm God's calling on me to live the way he wants and to be less complacent (sp?--I'll check it later).
BG is growing daily in cuteness and talkativeness. She continues to adore her shoes and her favorite game is to try all of them on--one pair at at time. She gets mad when we have to take them off for bed. In fact, one morning when I woke her up to get her ready--she sat up in the crib all groggy and sleepy and uttered, "shoooooooooe". Her first thought of the day. I had to laugh. I think I'll be in trouble when she's a teen.
We also bought plane tickets for Christmas so we can go visit hubby's family in Texas over the holiday. Anyone with tips for flying with young kids--advice appreciated.
We are looking forward to it. Hubby's sis and bro-in-law still have not seen BG nor all her boy cousins. (She is the only girl grandbaby). It ought to be pretty interesting.
We found someone to watch the cat. I must admit I was stressing about this. Our cat is a big softie and it really does affect him when we leave. Kenneling him will make his hair fall out I fear...(when he was in the shelter we rescued him from he shed so badly it was unbelievable). Anyway, a family friend will stop by to visit with him, feed him and clean his box.
Hubby and I are ok. We are trying to make time to hang out together aside from the computer games we play together as relaxation. Any one have some advice on inexpensive, fun dates?
Well, off for now.
September 22 Life Experience...So How much of life have you lived? Thought I'd post this....
The first month of school....is over.Well, tomorrow will mark the "official first month of school". It got rather crazy the past two weeks and I had lots of discipline issues. It seems that things need to get sorted out in the beginning of the school year. Thursday and Friday this week were a bit more normal paced and I felt better about things (it helps that the cold was dissipating too).
Tonight we our church community life group (CLG) met for the first time after summer hiatus. It was nice to see everybody again. There are 3 families who have been going and a new one joined us tonight. All have kids 5 or under. Our church is going through an "Experiencing God" study called the "Reality of God" (or something...we only just got the book tonight and I've missed the past two Sundays to hear more because we've all been sick)--but it looks good.
It will get me back into reading a devotional daily each evening. I was doing well for a while and then whammo, Hubby got sick and summer hit and I fell out of it again.
I really struggle with being consisitent with it. I'm not a person who likes a lot of routine (some I do, but some I don't)--and yet I am organized and am a hard worker. I just keep plugging away though.
Right now I've been having anxious thoughts about things and need to take them to God. I know it's about letting go and trusting God and I suppose it is still residual feelings from this summer but I keep thinking about what would happen if my Hubby died or my baby died and how would I cope or not fall apart. I guess I'm still processing my feelings about Hubby getting so sick so suddenly--it's the suddenness that is so anxiety provoking and brings up the feelings that "wow--we really have no control over anything"--a car could hit us and "BAM" that's the whole enchilada.
I like control. I'm not as control freaky as I used to be when I was younger, but growing up with a great deal of chaos makes me like control and hate surprises. I don't like feeling powerless and at the mercy of outside forces.
I know I'm not....and that God is there... but I still have those feelings at times and because I struggled so much with them when I was younger they can be very strong. I never got paralyzed by them and would always try to act courageously through my fear--but oh...it was awful...I don't want to go through those kinds of things again--I feel like I've had my share (even though I know it doesn't work that way)...
Living with fear is not what God wants for us, I know. But it sure is hard to let it go at times when it looms so large...
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God, which passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus" Phil. 4:6-8. September 20 WHooooosh...time flew byWell, I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus (not intentionally)...Everyone has been fighting off nice juicy colds and we spent the weekend blowing our noses. Such fun.
I've just been zonked each day from work. Last week I felt I hardly had time to think. Just mini crises all through the days. Some of it has settled down because I had to suspend a few kids for doing really stupid things. I don't like doing it, but they merited it and it also sends a message to the the other students. We also had Back to School Night and our first Rally. Can we say "TIRED"?
So I've just come home, crawled into bed after making dinner etc. and read a book until I fell asleep. I haven't felt like writing much either because throughout the busyness and work and cold I was PMS ing and felt rather "poopy" as we say in this house.
This is the first day I've actually felt a bit better. So I'm still going to take it easy and rest tonight. I'll try to write something more interesting later...
TTFN September 11 9-11 RememberedMy entry today was about my daily life in my workplace. I have not forgotten what this day means and I do not forget how it has changed our national life for good and for bad.
I have some very powerful memories tied to that day and it is very difficult for me to write about them. I saw the second plane hit the tower on live TV.
I spent most of each class period discussing with high school sophomores and juniors why such a thing happened and how we could cope.
I spent most of that day wondering if a very good friend of mine who was an Army Captain and worked in the Pentagon was dead. Turns out she had taken three days of leave.
Sept. 11 was one of the three days.
I think the best way we can remember those who died is to live our lives the best way we know how and not let fear rule us.
I choose to travel on planes
I choose to hug my hubby and baby everyday
I choose to treat every kid who comes into my office with dignity
I choose to help others
I choose to learn from my mistakes
I choose to get involved
I choose to live the best way I can and help others
I choose not to watch any of the movies and/documentaries on the event. Otherwise it will become less "real" and more like a "made for TV movie".
In a movie you have touching or dramatic music playing in the background to highlight the human drama ocurring.
In real life there is none of that--only guts and tough decisions to follow your training and values to the end--even if no one is watching--and no one knows it but you.
I would like to live my life like that.
9-11-2001 "I choose to remember". What I know about Fart Bombs...I know a great deal about these items and I thought I'd just share.
A few years ago we had kids bring them on the bus (the regular bus--not a school bus) and the bus driver, bless his heart, had a bit of a sense of humor and sent me the empty fart bomb bag with a note which said, "I hope the reader of this note has had a better day than I"...
We call the transit company and got him a Starbuck's card as there was no way to identify the kids--of course we made the obligatory announcments (no fart bombs, stink bombs allowed). The next year we had one or two more (usually near the end of school to liven things up).
We found out that our local 7-11 sold them and our principal went to meet with him. We pleaded with him not to sell them (they can't make all that much money from them but (or should I say "butt" to no avail).
I know that Fart bombs smell like sulpher--you know--rotten eggs...I just love that smell in a crowded classroom or hallway.
Last year we had a girl get something new from the flea market (yes--a girl) and they were little vials full of fluid which smelled like (you guessed it--rotten eggs). She gave one to a friend and that friend dropped it in the band office. I caught them and suspended them (one for possession and the other for use. ) Boy, were they mad.
I know that the smell does not dissipate for a looooong time.
I was telling this to another administrator and she said the when she taught Home Ec. many years ago a kid dropped on in her class. She just locked them all in with her and made them sit in it. No one ever did it again.
This year a boy decided to buy a few and "because he did not have room in his locker" threw one against the wall into the hallway as kids were leaving for lunch. Guess who had room enough in his locker for the two other packets I found?
He bought them at the 7-11. My boss and I were wondering what would happen to us if we bought one and "accidentally" dropped it right outside the door to the store. (Not that I would of course--but I'd like to see how much he likes it.) Aarrrrgh.
So, I'm sure I'll have opportunity to learn more about fart and stink bombs as the year progresses. At least once I'm sure.
TTFN
September 08 BG has a fever...Yesterday Hubby came home with BG in his arms and looked so sad--he was almost crying (not from panic or anything, but because BG felt poorly). She had a 100 degree temp (which isn't high) but she was very listless and not herself AND the old "seal bark" cough was starting up. So it seems croup has hit us again. When she gets sick it just seems to settle in her throat.
We gave her tylenol and she did manage to eat--but she went to bed a t 5:15 which is not usual for her. Thankfully the humidifier and elevating the bed seemed to help and she only awoke once or twice with the coughing and did not seem to need anything else.
Also thankfully her regular checkup was scheduled for today at 3:30 pm so Hubby stayed home with her today (she still had the cough and a 99 temp this am) and they probably coming home from the DR. as I write this.
It is hard when your child is sick. She was just soooo tired and wanted to be held. I could tell she was feeling a bit better this morning--but she was so out of it yesterday.
Today at work was the "event lottery" where the teachers all sign up to supervise one or two night events at the school. My stomach was upset all morning because of this. I hate it.
The first year on the job my secretary did the sign up lotter at lunch and the teachers went crazy....I could't believe it. They took papers out of her hand and were talking over each other and her. She was rather upset. AFter that I had to be in there to do it. Would you think adults could handle something like this?
The system we used had been in place for years (I was just following it). No matter how it is done someone has to gripe. The way we do it now is actually faster and more simplfied (based on a teacher's suggestion). We draw names out of a hat and the person drawn gets to pick a slot. There are more slots than teachers so when we run out of names we put a second set of names in the hat and draw out the "lucky" few who have to supervise two events. This year there were 7. (Mind you they do get paid for this).
I tell them ahead of time and post the calendar of events and since no one wants to do this before or after school we have to do it on their lunch. They have 5 min. to get there. I start on the dot. Some folks who came late were annoyed that they missed their name being called (it went back into the hat so it could be drawn later).
Ah well. Every year I state that if anyone has a better way to do it --tell me. I don't really care how it is done.
Actually (as one teacher told me this am) they usually sign up for the same things anyway. (As I've noticed). This teacher suggested that next year I just send around the one for this year and see if anyone wants to swap....but then he said--someone would probably complain that it was unfair....you just can't win.
To me, one or two events is not a lot. When I taught at the high school you had to do four AND you had to show up at the school at 7:30 am and sign a big list. It was first come, first serve. But it worked.
It's just amazing how I dread this one day each year..Everyone is so tense about it--and I really don't see why...It's not like people still don't have the ability to swap with each other later in the year if things come up...
People are really funny sometimes.
Sigh. September 06 Yay for kids!I had two former students stop by after school to see me today. It was very nice to see them.. One girl in particular I had been worried about because of an incident last year--she is a very courageous person-- and seems to be doing well now and is involved in high school.
She's even trying out for the school musical! I was very encouraged to hear that.
We have some really neat kids.
I know I have to deal with the miscreants, but even they are quite likeable (even though they can drive the teachers crazy)...
On another note I had a rather unbelievable parent today. Now I like this lady...but sometimes I wonder how much people think.
She and her husband are requiring their son to take ALL his books home everyday (not the school). This means his backpack is full in am and pm when he gets dropped off and picked up (he does not walk to and from school).
yes this makes his pack huge--but only until he goes to his locker.
They wanted him to be able to store his backpack in my office (thus using it as his personal locker?). The counselor came in this morning with the kid and this request. I said No way. All he needs to do is put his things in his locker as soon as he gets to school and take out what he needs for the next two periods (1 and 2) then go to his locker after 2nd and get what he needs for 3 and 4, go to his locker and lunch and have what he needs for 5 and 6.
So he tells his mom this after school and she caught up with the counselor outside. (I was doing hall duty). She seemed disappointed that we were not "accomodating" her son. Then she said she wanted the school to photocopy all his books so he wouldn't have to carry them home.
Last year in a few of the 6th grade classes there were enough books that kids could have a set at home and at school. It is not possible in other grades (way to expensive to buy two books for every kid)..
If she wants them copied she can go to kinko's herself--or shell out the money and buy her own copies! yeeesh!
It would be nice if we could afford to buy two books for each kid--but that is just not possible.
Ah well. All in all it was an ordinary day.
TTFN September 05 This week has been the pits for blogging!Yeesh...Didn't do so well on my blogging the past week. Not too much to report on the work front. Things are still going smoothly (as they can be) so far (knock wood).
We had a restful Labor Day weekend. I spent way too much time playing computer games--but we did go to a Labor Day picnic ( our old church has one on this day and we went to see old friends). Baby Girl had fun running (well walking) around but got a bit cranky due to teething and it being her naptime.
She's still having trouble. Today she kept chewing on her fingers..so out came the tylenol. I think she must have like 4 molars pushing in AND some of the front ones next to the incisors on both sides. I'd be cranky too.
We read some books of course and she is now enjoying "reading" to herself while sitting next to Mommy or Daddy.
She's also trying to "jump"...I can't exactly explain what it looks like--but it's funny.
Let's see...what other boring stuff have I been doing.
I am switching our retirement IRA's to another company because I don't like the one we've been with--poor returns in my estimation. And we'll meet with the lawyer soon to sign off on the updated will.
I know... It sounds thrilling. I just can't wait until we get it done, switch retirement accounts and increase our life insurance polices. I will rest easier. I know God provides--and I do trust that. But I want to make sure we are being practical as well as faithful.
I'm still mulling over what I'd like to do for a bible study/accountability group and have yet to write the proposal. I know I'll get there, but I want to take care of these other issues first.
I also need to do more research about the mentoring group for the school--it becomes much harder once work really gets full swing. I can only do bits here and there. But I don't give up--it will get done.
Nothing else earth shattering here.
I'm still pondering some rather eternal questions--touched off my Steve Irwin's death. It was just so random and bizarre ( I know if I had to go I'd want to be doing what I loved--and I imagine it was rather quick--but still).
Then when I think about how my husband and I both had rather bizarre encounters with illnesses that are uncommon and survived--i wonder why? And why couldn't that stingray's barb hit his ribcage instead of underneath it and into his heart?
I'm not tying to be morbid or anything--it just seems so senseless.
I know that we can take our questions to God--sometimes the world just seems so dangerous, inhospitible and scary when things and people you care for can be gone in a car crash, illness etc.
I guess that's why we have to put our values in what is eternal and not earthly. But it's hard. Sometimes I just want to say "It's not FAIR" and make someone fix it.
That is where I must trust in God's good character and love for his creation.
TTFN... September 04 Catching upI've been able to read a few blogs this week, but only at lunch while at work so I really didnot have time to reply. Haven't had much time to blog though, but tomorrow I'll play catch up.
Tonight though I read/heard the sad news that Steve Irwin ( of Crocodile Hunter and Australia Zoo) died in an accident while filming an underwater documentary on Monday. A sting ray got him in the chest.
I know he 'd had some unpleasant publicity about a year or so ago, but I really liked to watch him--he was so fearless and funny. I feel very bad for his wife and children--they are about 8 and 3 years old.
I always thought a croc or snake might get him someday--but not something bizarre like this.
It made me feel sad. August 28 Are You Impulsive?Ok, I had to do this one.....My very cautious and careful hubby thinks I'm impulsive (well I am--more than he is--which is probably about 90 percent of the population...lol)
Sooooo here are the results. Won't Hubby be suprised!
Excercising my right to excerciseWell, I went back to Curves today. It was not easy to make myself go after work, but I did it. I had planned on starting it again in mid-June when I went on vacation--but that is when I sprained my back so badly.
Soooo, I went today. I took it pretty easy (there is no way I want to screw up my back again--I can't describe how much it hurt...)
I think I'll set my goals to twice a week at Curves for now until I get used to it and make sure my back slowly gets stronger.
If I'm really motivated I'll do my Pilates CD at home for a 20 minutes on the third day.
I'm hoping to do better at this....I'm making sure I eat breakfast now and that does seem to help me during the day.
I feel good that I went...Now I just have to make it a habit and that's always the hard part for me.
Why are bad habits so easy to establish and good ones so difficult?
The other item I've been thinking and praying about is starting up an accountabilty group within my church and hosting it at my house. I need to draft up a plan and present it to our Community Life Group leadership and see what happens. I'd like to see it begin next year...I need to find prayer support and possibly a babysitter.
I've been feeling like I needed to get more involved and Choir just did not work for me. This may be another way to become more connected and serve in the church.
I'm still praying about it and asking God to help me develop it.
I'm also trying to develop my mentoring proposal at work (for at risk- students). I'm not sure how that will fly with the staff so I'm taking it slowly and will build support.
Finally,
Pray we get a new campus supervisor soon (a good one who can also use a computer and do clerical work at times if needed).
I'm really getting tired of parking drama.
TTFN August 25 Imagine...Imagine you are a driver heading up a road and to your right you see bright red curbs with the local PD symbol on them and signs which clearly say "No Stopping Any time".
Imagine in addition to this there are two large orange cones in the street near the curbs which block the right turn lane into a large blacktop area.
Imagine there are cones all across the entrance to the blacktop.
Finally, Imagine a person in campus control jacket and walkie talkie out in the road waving people on.
Do ANY of these things say to you as a driver "Wow--it looks like I can park?"
Sigh.
The person in the jacket is me. It gets very tiring the first few weeks of school because no one wants to follow the parking rules. We put them in our newsletter, mail them home, tell them at orientation. Somehow, there are always a core few who refuse to pay attention.
Yesterday the police were out giving tickets. Didn't seem to make an impression upon a few parents trying to enter the school campus today.
We are actually going to get a sandwich board sign which says "lot opens at 3 pm--no parking".
How many times do you have to say something?
Arrrrrrgh.
Other than parking drama, the opening of school has been ok. The kids are excited to see each other and so are the teachers. It'll probably last until mid-September and the honeymoon will be over.
Home has been fine--tomorrow we are taking BG to the zoo again for an hour or so. It's kind of nice that now we are members we can come and go and the zoo is rather close.
Sunday is the church picnic and I'm looking forward to that too.
BG is having terrible teething times right now. Her mouth is just erupting with teeth and she's crankier than I've ever seen her. I feel bad that it hurts.
Let's see....
Other stuff. Well, last night the deadbolt broke on the door and Hubby had to go out and get a new lock set. He wasn't too happy about it since he'd already come home in a grumpy mood from work, but he went and got the stuff at Home Depot and fixed it.
I made sure dinner was ready when he got back. So he felt better. We ended up watching some stuff on the History Channel. They had a very interesting program on George Washington Carver. I think I'm going to check out some books on him--don't know too much except the typical "peanut" stories..but there was a great deal more to him than that.
BG is a full fleged walker now and starting to run--the pitter patter of little feet has come at last.
She's also adding new words --it's fun to see how she says them.
Hubby and I are tired from the first few days with kids at work, but after next week we'll hit our stride again. I'm just glad today is Friday.
My arms are sore from directing traffic.
I got an MA for that? LOL! Ah well, whatever it takes!
TTFN August 22 51 Questions about MeWEll, I saw this on Crystal's blog so I'd thought I'd try it. However, because of an agreement I made with my hubby there are a fewthings I can't answer.
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