Funny

The other day, Julia came in to my office and said, "Mom, when I turn 11, are you all going to die?" I responded no of course, but asked her why she wanted to know. She said, "Because Emily total me that when I turn 11, I will be so old that you guys are "just going to die.""

Question

At what age do you think it appropriate for a child to walk around (with 3 other children of the same age) an amusement park by themselves? Imagine that there will be adults there that the children will be required to check in with at predetermined intervals of time.

So...

...with the exception of the "locked blog" and the Elementary PTA blog, I have decided to cancel all other blogs and do it all from here. As it is, I am having a hard enough time keeping up with this, my main blog; I can hardly expect to keep up everywhere.

I may or not not import all entries from my various other blogs. I do not plan on deleting them, just not updating any further.

I will also be updating the blog roll with some new additions, as well as deleting those that are inactive.

***UPDATE***Done! the blogroll is current!

End Of The Year Teacher Gifts

Over the course of my time as a Mom to school age kids, I have done many varied things to show our appreciation to their teachers at the end of the year. I am going to share some of those ideas here.

Perhaps my favorite gift was the one we made the year Emily was in 4th grade and Katherine was in 2nd. I had two pocket size photo albums (Creative Memories Mini Picfolios to be exact) that held wallet size pictures. I had the kids make a book that we called, “What I Learned In Mrs._________ Class This Year.” They wrote their words on cut to size pieces of card stock and we slipped them in the book. We ended the book with a wallet size school picture from that year. Some of the things they wrote were related to academics (“I learned how to add double digit numbers!”) and some were more like life lessons (“I learned about how to be a good citizen.”) The teachers loved it! Emily’s teacher specifically, sent home a really nice thank you note a couple of weeks in to summer. I remember how cool Emily thought it was to get mail from her teacher over the summer.

Periodically throughout the year, I send in supplies with the kids to stock the classrooms…pencils, glue, crayons in the younger years, tissue, wipes, paper towel etc. I have done this as an end of the year thing as well…to restock the teachers/classroom for next year. This year, I am going to be a little more creative about it and send in bunches of pencils attached with a note that says, “You’ve got the “write” stuff! Thank you for all you do!” You can get packs of 20 pencils at Ocean State Job Lot for as little as $1, so it’s inexpensive enough to get multiple boxes, to make sure the teachers start the year off well stocked. I love giving the teachers something I know they will use (or their students will use) and with the way the budget has looked over the past couple of years and into the future, I just don’t think you can go wrong with supplies.

This year, for all of Julia’s teachers and specialists, I want to do a little more than I might usually. This has been a remarkable year of growth for her, and it’s due in no small part to the help and attention she receives at school. As many of you know, I “dabble” in photography a bit. I have been busy making note cards with some of my scenic pictures…pictures of flowers in bloom for the spring, the beach for the summer, colored leaves for the fall, and a white ,snow covered landscape for the winter. I am putting together a seasonal package, with note cards from each season included. I have little cellophane bags that I will wrap them in, with a pack of flower seeds attached on the outside that will have a tag that says, “Thank you for helping Julia grow!”

For the bus drivers I plan on giving a car freshener with a note that says, “Thank you for bringing my child to and from school safely!” Simple, but effective.

In years past, I have sent the kids in with homemade baked goods, and, I have also gone the “gift card” route. I have done Dunkin Donuts, Borders, and Target in the past. I like these ideas, but I also like making it a bit more personal.

Of course, with each of these ideas, I attach a personal note of thanks from myself, and in most instances the kids. Nothing warms the heart more than a note from a student showing appreciation for all they have learned!

Spring...Right Around The Corner

It's a beautiful day in in good old New England...near 60 degrees, sunny, and a picture perfect clear, blue sky. I have been craving, in a big way some outdoor time...time to be outside in the elements, just taking it all in. I decided that today would be the perfect day to head south...to the Cape Cod Canal. I always forget how much I love that place until I return. It's just so peaceful...so beautiful...and just what I needed to lift me a little further out of the depths of the winter blues. Because let's just face it...I am a happier person when I am outside and not freezing...surrounded by nature...totally in tune with the world around me. Nothing speaks to me on a deeper level.

Another Conversation

Me: "Em, do you think you will do ok on your math test today?"

Emily: "Yes, Mom because I get proportions and ratios like I get Dad is not from this planet."

Conversation

Ryun: "So, why are you in such a funk?"

Me: "It's March, oh and I hate school, hate homework, am sick of Mardi Gras, I hate the bleeping weather, I am a woman so I am a hormonal mess any way, and oh, did I mention that it is March?"

Cue Ryun's "God help me."

Poor guy.

Ugh

The other night? I had a dream that it was raining glass. We (my immediate and extended family) were at my parents house. We were all outside at the pool, on a beautifully sunny day, that changed suddenly and without warning. It was immediately dark and stormy. At first, it was small slivers of glass falling and we were not sure what it was. Suddenly we heard the motor of a plane that sounded like it was in trouble. We looked up at the tree tops and indeed saw a plane that was coming spiraling down. At that point, we realized it was glass falling from the sky and we ran in to the house and found the hallways and floors of the house were also covered in glass. For some reason, Julia was the only one without shoes on. We were all searching frantically for her shoes so that she wouldn't step on the shattered glass and cut her feet. It was me who realized that they were outside in the middle of the front yard. I told everyone that I had,to get them and that I didn't think it was dangerous for me to do so. The need to get her sneakers was very high, almost dire in nature, even though I knew that she cold have been held, or sat down in a chair. I went outside, feeling calmer than I should have been (or, in reality would have been if this was "real life"). The last clear image from the dream is of me, standing on the front stairs, looking down the hill of the front yard at her shoes. The shoes, despite it being dark and stormy, were standing out, practically glowing.

This was one of the most unsettling dreams I have ever had. I have looked up the most of the clear and obvious images from this dream and included them here.



To see broken glass in your dream, signifies a change in your life. Alternatively, it could be symbolic of an aspect of your life that is in pieces. You will find that a situation will come to an abrupt and untimely end. If you are walking on broken glass, then it suggests that you will be experiencing some heartache or pain.

To dream that a plane crashes, suggests that you have set overly high and unrealistic goals for yourself. Your goals may be too high and are impossible to realize. You are in danger of having it come crashing down. Alternatively, your lack of confidence, self-defeating attitude and self-doubt toward the goals you have set for yourself is represented by the crashing airplane; you do not believe in your ability to attain those goals. Loss of power and uncertainty in achieving your goals are also signified.

To hear the tapping of the rain on the roof, denotes spiritual ideas and blessings coming to mind. It may also suggests that you will receive much joy from your home life.

To see or wear sneakers in your dream, suggests that you are approaching through life with ease and little obstacles.

A couple of things strike me. Clearly the reason Julia had to have her sneakers, despite there being other options, is because I am concerned with the upcoming "obstacles" in her life...in particular, kindergarten. The sneakers represent ease and little obstacles, which is exactly what I am hoping for her. My willingness to go out in to a storm of raining glass is indicative how far I will go to make sure I am doing everything I can for her.

I am still trying to figure out the glass part. I don't quite feel like my life is in pieces, although there are some parts that could use, um, a little assembly. I am certainly hoping I am not going to be experiencing any heartache or pain any time soon.

I have made it perfectly clear here on a number of occasions that my self confidence is practically nil. Uncertainty? Self defeating thoughts? Yup, got those. The airplane imagery is as clear as day.