A couple week's ago, I got to go to Charlotte's class and share some photos and anecdotes from Paris. They were in the middle of their France unit. I showed photos of Notre Dame & the Sacre Coure, the ole Eiffle, some mounted police officers and a police car that seemed 180 degrees from a standard issue Crown Victoria. I also got to use Ms. S' SMART BOARD for my presentation, which made me want an Ipad even more.
They asked questions like, how many photos did you take? Do all police ride horses? Is that a castle too? I showed them some of the few trinkets I had, Eiffle Tower keychain that I got for free, Charlotte's Eiffle tower Christmas Tree decoration, a Euro (a coin, not a bill) and a $2 Euro just to add some more material.
They were the sweetest, cutest audience to which I'd ever presented. Daniel was very forgiving of me when I called him Nicholas too. Charlotte was very happy to have me here...she requested I do it when she heard about the France unit last October. The camradiery in her class is AMAZING, especially when compared to Natalies...they all go to each other's bday parties, regardless of gender.
I cannot believe they will be doing assessments for the new Kindergarteners in a few weeks. I think I will miss it more than Charlottte.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
The week ends...
Yesterday, I had the great honor of chaperoning the Daisies. Charlotte and her troop went to Madison Fire Station #7 and OMG, did the Kindergarteners bring the cute! Charlotte checked in with me often, hung out with her nice friends and we all had fun. I love her class, I love her Daisies troop. I am so glad I had a second student at SMG because Natalie's class is so completely different. I am still in shock at the savvy "mean girl" behavior of her class, that started in freaking Kindergarten. And, apparently, nothing can be done but lip service. It's an unlucky class for my sweet, empathetic, kind and plays-by-the-rules Natalie to be placed in but the universe just isn't always fair. Charlotte and I will help her get through. We are both her biggest fans.
Auntie is coming to visit with Olivia and Jillian tonight. Tomorrow, I'm back at SMG to volunteer for the rummage sale. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to volunteer there but I've always been a time giver, in addition to opening my checkbook for tuition, monthly giving, etc. They do learn some good lessons at the lil parochial too.
Tomorrow night, we party with the Texans for St Patricks Day. It's Bill's bday and CJ is throwing him a party, because they like to party. And kids are always included as well...Jamie and Izzy are becomming good friends to our two ones. I love them all!
80 degrees today, yesterday and likely tomorrow. March 16! No winter this year...I can count on one hand the days we actually accumulated snow. I fear global warming is alive and well in 'sconnie.
Time to get the girls! TTFN, SI.
Auntie is coming to visit with Olivia and Jillian tonight. Tomorrow, I'm back at SMG to volunteer for the rummage sale. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to volunteer there but I've always been a time giver, in addition to opening my checkbook for tuition, monthly giving, etc. They do learn some good lessons at the lil parochial too.
Tomorrow night, we party with the Texans for St Patricks Day. It's Bill's bday and CJ is throwing him a party, because they like to party. And kids are always included as well...Jamie and Izzy are becomming good friends to our two ones. I love them all!
80 degrees today, yesterday and likely tomorrow. March 16! No winter this year...I can count on one hand the days we actually accumulated snow. I fear global warming is alive and well in 'sconnie.
Time to get the girls! TTFN, SI.
Friday, March 2, 2012
3rd Grade Performer
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive.
And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Howard Thurman
Natalie rocked it last night.
Charlotte and Natalie had swim west last night at 5 and 5:15 respectively. Charlotte finished up comfortably at 5:30 and Natalie had to scoot out of the pool at 5:45, get showered and dried in order to be at school for her concert at 6:25. We made the time crunch.
Up in the risers, I watched our 3rd grader shine like a bright star. I've always been sadly shocked at how early the mean girl behavior begins. There was some of that going on last night but sweet Natalie rose above and sang her heart out. Smiling and singing next to a group of girls too cool to really get into it. I hope you always let your beautiful light shine, my dear. And, always, always be better than the haters. You did such a great job with your performance and your spirit and soul were brighter than the sunshine you bring to a sometimes not friendly school environment.
And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Howard Thurman
Natalie rocked it last night.
Charlotte and Natalie had swim west last night at 5 and 5:15 respectively. Charlotte finished up comfortably at 5:30 and Natalie had to scoot out of the pool at 5:45, get showered and dried in order to be at school for her concert at 6:25. We made the time crunch.
Up in the risers, I watched our 3rd grader shine like a bright star. I've always been sadly shocked at how early the mean girl behavior begins. There was some of that going on last night but sweet Natalie rose above and sang her heart out. Smiling and singing next to a group of girls too cool to really get into it. I hope you always let your beautiful light shine, my dear. And, always, always be better than the haters. You did such a great job with your performance and your spirit and soul were brighter than the sunshine you bring to a sometimes not friendly school environment.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Input, Output: Hallmark
Kellie Hampton is my hero! I love her writing, her passion, her love for her "two ones" but mostly, I love the massive amounts of good for which she uses her Internet microphone. Case in point:
Input, Output: Hallmark
Input, Output: Hallmark
Reinvention of self
I've never been overly ambitious but being a working mom definitely kicked me into gear. I am not at peace with beng a working mom, though. I am not at peace with giving up control. I am not at peace with child care outside of my own.
I grew up with a SAHM who had to scramble to raise 5 kids, on her own pretty much. My dad came home and did the old school discipline, drop in on our lives stuff. He tried, but he was a product of his upbringing. I didn't want to be alone at home with no $$ or no way to stand on my own. I think I tended toward the working mom profile, but didn't want to admit it. Plus, we needed my income anyway. Plus, I get to deal with adults who transparently play political games and mean girl behavior that is far more annoying than the most epic of toddler tantrums...it's kind of a sacrifice for income, sometimes.
Therein lies the angst. I need to better define who I am, so I can model this for my kids. I was bemused earlier this year when Charlotte made a gingerbread man holding a sign that said, "I can go to work just like my mommy." I am a worker, yes, but fought with my boss to get his approval to leave my job early to pick them up from school on M, W, F. Prior to that, I worked 9-10 hour M-Rs and had off Friday with my babies. I took a pay cut to do it and it also makes up for the four times a year I need to travel for a few days. I just want those little spouts to know their mama also needed to put food in their bellies, shoes on their feet, and as an aside, private school tuition into the family budget due to the terrible state of Madison schools these days. God willing, those college savings accounts will also be well-used.
I was annoying about it. I still am, complaining about work, complaining about stress, about not being present while feeling this angst...a vicious cycle.
I am good at my job. Very good. I need to work on myself and redefine this working mom role on the mom side. I need to find a comfortable place, finally. I am better than I was but I need to grow more.
I grew up with a SAHM who had to scramble to raise 5 kids, on her own pretty much. My dad came home and did the old school discipline, drop in on our lives stuff. He tried, but he was a product of his upbringing. I didn't want to be alone at home with no $$ or no way to stand on my own. I think I tended toward the working mom profile, but didn't want to admit it. Plus, we needed my income anyway. Plus, I get to deal with adults who transparently play political games and mean girl behavior that is far more annoying than the most epic of toddler tantrums...it's kind of a sacrifice for income, sometimes.
Therein lies the angst. I need to better define who I am, so I can model this for my kids. I was bemused earlier this year when Charlotte made a gingerbread man holding a sign that said, "I can go to work just like my mommy." I am a worker, yes, but fought with my boss to get his approval to leave my job early to pick them up from school on M, W, F. Prior to that, I worked 9-10 hour M-Rs and had off Friday with my babies. I took a pay cut to do it and it also makes up for the four times a year I need to travel for a few days. I just want those little spouts to know their mama also needed to put food in their bellies, shoes on their feet, and as an aside, private school tuition into the family budget due to the terrible state of Madison schools these days. God willing, those college savings accounts will also be well-used.
I was annoying about it. I still am, complaining about work, complaining about stress, about not being present while feeling this angst...a vicious cycle.
I am good at my job. Very good. I need to work on myself and redefine this working mom role on the mom side. I need to find a comfortable place, finally. I am better than I was but I need to grow more.
What's in a name
I get a lot of compliments on their names. Yesterday, when I was volunteering at lunch duty, Kristin Sleeth told me she always remembers Natalie is my daughter, because she loves her name but couldn't use with her own last name for her kid. She asked what my Kindergartener's name is, Charlotte, and responds, oh that is a beautiful name too.
If I have any regrets about your names, it is not including mine somehow. Natalie called Charlotte, "Baby Coco" mostly in utero but also called her Baby Hannah. Lance suggested Hannah Marie on the morning of the day Charlotte was born. My OB liked Anna, said Hannah is overused. I liked Charlotte all along. Strong, solid, classic, like Natalie. And Elizabeth, such a classic beauty of a name. I won't ever be insulted if they choose to go by their middle names.
We were thinking Grace for Natalie. My second cousin had a baby Grace in August of the same year. He happens to be named John which was a duplicate family name for my uncle, his cousin John so choosing Grace would not be an unprecidented move. Plus, they live in Oregon and I have seen them maybe once or twice in the last ten years. But, we wanted an original. When she was born, we thougth Kirstin and actually called her that for several hours. I called people and told them we weren't totally decided on the name but she is here, 3 weeks early and we are in love. By mid moring on 9-10-02, we had decided on Natalie Grace. One of the night nurses came in and told me Natalie Grace is so beautiful, it gave her shivers. Uncle Todd said she was probably bopping from room to room saying that to everyone, Jane Smith...so beautiful it gives me shivers!
Natalie Grace and Charlotte Elizabeth, my beautiful little souls.
If I have any regrets about your names, it is not including mine somehow. Natalie called Charlotte, "Baby Coco" mostly in utero but also called her Baby Hannah. Lance suggested Hannah Marie on the morning of the day Charlotte was born. My OB liked Anna, said Hannah is overused. I liked Charlotte all along. Strong, solid, classic, like Natalie. And Elizabeth, such a classic beauty of a name. I won't ever be insulted if they choose to go by their middle names.
We were thinking Grace for Natalie. My second cousin had a baby Grace in August of the same year. He happens to be named John which was a duplicate family name for my uncle, his cousin John so choosing Grace would not be an unprecidented move. Plus, they live in Oregon and I have seen them maybe once or twice in the last ten years. But, we wanted an original. When she was born, we thougth Kirstin and actually called her that for several hours. I called people and told them we weren't totally decided on the name but she is here, 3 weeks early and we are in love. By mid moring on 9-10-02, we had decided on Natalie Grace. One of the night nurses came in and told me Natalie Grace is so beautiful, it gave her shivers. Uncle Todd said she was probably bopping from room to room saying that to everyone, Jane Smith...so beautiful it gives me shivers!
Natalie Grace and Charlotte Elizabeth, my beautiful little souls.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Flu in the House of Two Ones
Natalie came home last Friday with a soar throat and 102 temp. Charlotte came down with it yesterday (Tuesday) and is on the couch. Natalie is back to herself but poor Charly has the sad, sick eyes even while she tries to crack a smile.
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