Life

Sometimes life is crazy but it is balanced with some relaxation too.
Sometimes my boys cry and whine but they laugh and learn too.
Sometimes I feel like I am a one-person show...in the circus but I also feel supported and helped.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Pretend Pirates and Friends

Today, I have spent the majority of my day wiping my nose (thank you, little ones for passing the germs on to Mommy! Or, I guess I can thank the 8th graders who still think it is acceptable to pick their noses, cough into thin air wipe snot with forearm: they, too, could be the culprits!)

Once I returned home from work, though, after picking up Simon from pre-k, I have spent the other part of my day taking care of pretend pirates and a pretend friend. Yes, my friends, you read that right: my boys' imaginary creations have been more high-maintenance than they have been! Nolan, my 2.5yr old has had me help tuck in his pretend pirates for bed, but then instructed me to "just sing them a song if they cry, Mommy," while he left on his pretend wheelchair! Nolan never returned. to care for the pirates. I too left the pirates alone, and have yet to hear even the slighted peep from them.

Simon, my 4yr old, has a pretend friend named Katie. This just so happens to be the same as his bff, Katie, from pre-k3 and pre-k4. Since Friday evening, I have made dinner for pretend Katie, tucked her into bed, brushed her teeth, bathed her, and read her books. Today, Simon asked that I move over to allow room for Katie to sit beside him. Just when I thought that I had been replaced, Simon sang me his new song he made up:
I love my Mommy
She is so great
She is the wonderfulest
I have to pick up fate.
* Not bad for a 4yr old. He sang the words with rhythm that tended itself to rhyme!


Katie did not go to preschool today, for Simon feared he might get confused and play with the wrong Katie. Where does he get this stuff?

So, I am sure that pretend Katie will be around for a few more days, at least. However, I think the pirates will have to go hunt for a treasure.

Friday, September 3, 2010

My new love

Well, I have successfully made it through two whole weeks of my second year of 8th grade! (I buzzed through eighth grade a few years ago and for the first seven years of my teaching experience, I taught 7th grade) And. I. have. a. new. love.

No sick-o's it is not an eighth grader...it is my SmartBoard (an interactive white board)!

I have been lucky enough in the past to beg borrow and steal) time with a smartboard over the past several years, but this year, I have my very own: mounted in my classroom, nonetheless! Because of this, and my new responsibility of 8th grade language arts and math, I am pumped about the start of the year. This also translates to me spending all of my free time teaching myself how to use the SmartBoard. I am turning into a real techie.

I have also started another EDA class for my masters titled Leaders in Diverse Communities. It is too early to tell how this class will unfold.

Needless to say, gone are the days of taking my boys to the park outside to play in the sprinkler...school is in full swing! Plus, Simon starts his second year of preschool on Tuesday.

I miss my boys terribly, but also treasure the time I do have with them during the day and maximize the quality as best as I can. (Yes, this sometimes means that the boys may help me do laundry, but we make it fun!)

Happy Labor Day everyone. Enjoy your long weekend! I know I will!