Don't parent teacher conferences feel like a grade card for parents? It seems like were doing okay.
Our oldest son is doing well. His abilities are way above grade level for reading and math. He's kind and courteous. He's eager to help. His main flaw is that he reads too much. Instead of participating in class, he'd rather participate in a dragon battle, change bodies w/ someone, or other fun things in books. I think there other more fatal flaws out there.
Next was our kindie's conference. He's fortunate enough to have a teacher who appreciates him for who and what he is. Her main thing is could his homework make it back to school, completed? Mmmm. Sure, as soon as I find the superglue to glue it in his folder and the duct tape to tie him to the chair. She loves how sweet, tenderhearted, and kind he is to everyone. He has no enemies. Overall, about what I expected. Yeah Chip!
Our last conference was our second grader. The teacher thinks he's the brightest kid in the class. She appreciates how funny he is & how he tries to be fair and kind to everyone else. She just wishes he'd be fair and kind to himself. Perfectionism is a terrible burden to bear. We know, but we don't know how to help with that one either. Really, he's pretty well liked and he seems to be getting past all his IEP worthy difficulties in language. Once he settled into the new room and routine, he's taken off well.
All our kids got mostly good checks on their take-home sheets. So I guess, everyone passed.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Princess D and the stuffies
It seems our four year old, princess D, has a new calling....to immerse herself in stuffed animals. Tonight, she's sleeping with "my cow." She and the giant cow are on the floor, because her bed is FULL of the other stuffies the girls share.
During the day today she was lovingly tending her mommy bunny and baby bunny. "Look mom! The baby fits in the mommy's tummy, and comes out her back." Mommy bunny also had a handle because she's a purse.
She has to have them in pairs too, because there's always, always, a mommy and a baby. She was estatic to get mommy elephant in July, because she had "baby elephant" since Christmas. The elephants are her favorite, because they remember everything just like her. I think that's why she's sleeping with the cow tonight. It's lonely. It's okay. Mommy D is here.
During the day today she was lovingly tending her mommy bunny and baby bunny. "Look mom! The baby fits in the mommy's tummy, and comes out her back." Mommy bunny also had a handle because she's a purse.
She has to have them in pairs too, because there's always, always, a mommy and a baby. She was estatic to get mommy elephant in July, because she had "baby elephant" since Christmas. The elephants are her favorite, because they remember everything just like her. I think that's why she's sleeping with the cow tonight. It's lonely. It's okay. Mommy D is here.
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed.
One tackled his sister and they fell fell in giggly glee. Yes, the littles are still here, and a la Harry Potter, they solemnly swear they are up to no good. Sometimes, I wonder if they do have the invisibility cape. The way fruit snacks, pretzels, and juice disappear around here is amazing.
It wouldn't be a big deal either, if Princess P wasn't supposed to be gluten free. But she is. And we still have not reached the point where she's gone 24 hours without raiding something, whether it's a sibling's cereal bowl or scaling the shelves for those pretzels while her brother is nursing. She's not convinced that her owie behind is that big a problem. She's just happy the tummy ache from the milk is gone. She's been dairy free willingly for about a month now, and her mood has improved immensely.
We've tried different solutions already. We store the "safe foods" on a different shelf. We try not to serve forbidden snacks in front of her. We bribe her w/ yummy alternatives, which she eats quite happily. She just wants both!
Why not ban gluten from the house? Well, I have this person around called a husband. He and our oldest son would stage a rebellion. I also have three other kids who are not GF. My grocery budget is already equal to my rent, and I just don't have the funds to double it....and other silly things like that.
So that leaves us with trying to outsmart a two year old. I guess our lack of success says it all. We'll just keep trying. We've almost gone a whole day once, it's just a couple more hours the next one, and the next one.....
It wouldn't be a big deal either, if Princess P wasn't supposed to be gluten free. But she is. And we still have not reached the point where she's gone 24 hours without raiding something, whether it's a sibling's cereal bowl or scaling the shelves for those pretzels while her brother is nursing. She's not convinced that her owie behind is that big a problem. She's just happy the tummy ache from the milk is gone. She's been dairy free willingly for about a month now, and her mood has improved immensely.
We've tried different solutions already. We store the "safe foods" on a different shelf. We try not to serve forbidden snacks in front of her. We bribe her w/ yummy alternatives, which she eats quite happily. She just wants both!
Why not ban gluten from the house? Well, I have this person around called a husband. He and our oldest son would stage a rebellion. I also have three other kids who are not GF. My grocery budget is already equal to my rent, and I just don't have the funds to double it....and other silly things like that.
So that leaves us with trying to outsmart a two year old. I guess our lack of success says it all. We'll just keep trying. We've almost gone a whole day once, it's just a couple more hours the next one, and the next one.....
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Happy birthday #1.
Our oldest son is ten today. He's always been considerate. I went into labor around noon, and he was born at about 5:30 in the afternoon. He was the decoy baby. First babies are always so perfect. They are content, quiet, cheerful. He was such a great baby we had five more.
Fortunately he's grown up to be that way as a kid as well....except for the quiet part.
He's changed lives around him from the get go. When I was not working due to morning sickness with him, I walked to the park. I met Mr. M's first real employer's wife there.
He's drawn his father into coaching soccer, PTA, and other social settings. His full, fast paced schedule made me get more organized. He's recognized at school not just as a team player, but a team builder.
He has great character He's open about his faith w/o pushing others away. He's smart, athletic, and fun to be around. It's not just me. The kids from his school tell me these things too.
My blue eyed blondie has a bright road ahead. Here's hoping we can keep him on it. Happy Birthday baby...(..mo-om.)
Fortunately he's grown up to be that way as a kid as well....except for the quiet part.
He's changed lives around him from the get go. When I was not working due to morning sickness with him, I walked to the park. I met Mr. M's first real employer's wife there.
He's drawn his father into coaching soccer, PTA, and other social settings. His full, fast paced schedule made me get more organized. He's recognized at school not just as a team player, but a team builder.
He has great character He's open about his faith w/o pushing others away. He's smart, athletic, and fun to be around. It's not just me. The kids from his school tell me these things too.
My blue eyed blondie has a bright road ahead. Here's hoping we can keep him on it. Happy Birthday baby...(..mo-om.)
Monday, October 20, 2008
weekend wonderland.
I think this weekend was probably the best weekend we've had as a family in a long time. I almost pinched myself because it went so well.
Friday night was soccer practice in the mud at the middle school. Phoebe and Silas found a glorious mud puddle to keep them occupied. They looked like two pigs in a pen. Phoebe was wearing crocs, so her shoes would just hose off later. Silas was wearing Phoebe's old tinkerbell shoes....We bought him his own BOY shoes after that. It was really fun watching him run around in the light-up glitter shoes for a day or two though.
Saturday morning, Mr, M took our oldest to his game, and the rest of us stayed home and watched cartoons and ate junk food. Saturday afternoon we all went to help a friend paint his house. Way too much testosterone in there. I played with the kids in the back yard, and made a snack run w/ the youngest four, who followed instructions and stayed in their strollers in the store. Leaving the store was the weekend's main hiccup, and it wasn't any of THEIR fault.
After we had loaded the groceries, the kids had climbed in the car, and I had started the engine, Princess P yelled "MOMMY!" I looked and she wasn't buckled....so I turned around to fasten her in. The van somehow put itself in reverse, and scraped the paint and mirror off another car. ACCCKK! The poor guy didn't have insurance on the car, and said he'd just glue the mirror back on and not to worry about it. I still got his phone number. He's a pastor at a Missionary Baptist church downtown. I'm pretty sure if he can't afford insurance he can't afford to fix the car either. But still, it was amazing to receive such mercy over such a major screw up. Our van now has some red paint streaking as a memento.
Back to our almost perfect weekend. We get the snacks back, the kids all wait their turns and graciously share with the unrelated child they've been playing with. About the time they start getting bored, Mr. M decides it's time to go.
We go home, eat and realize our toilet is busted. Mr. M graciously provides us with a bucket to flush it with. Sunday is church, lunch w/ grandparents, football, and AWANA. We're not home at all, so the busted toilet doesn't bother us.
Lunch w/ grandparents was at Joe's Crab Shack. It couldn't have gone better. We arrived right when they opened, and set the kids free in the sand and play area. They came in and washed just in time to be fed. We left just in time to miss the disco ball and loud music.
Football was great, other than the mystery of the missing banana, and the mystery of the missing mouth guard. Coach had an extra mouth guard, and no one checks your underwear, so Chip still got to play, and he did what he was supposed to! Grandma and grandpa were there. His team won. It couldn't have been better.
AWANA was crazy hair night. All of our kids had a great time w/ orange hair coloring and gel.
Today it's back to reality. I have a toilet to replace, dishes to catch up, and a floor to find again, but it was a really wonderful weekend.
Friday night was soccer practice in the mud at the middle school. Phoebe and Silas found a glorious mud puddle to keep them occupied. They looked like two pigs in a pen. Phoebe was wearing crocs, so her shoes would just hose off later. Silas was wearing Phoebe's old tinkerbell shoes....We bought him his own BOY shoes after that. It was really fun watching him run around in the light-up glitter shoes for a day or two though.
Saturday morning, Mr, M took our oldest to his game, and the rest of us stayed home and watched cartoons and ate junk food. Saturday afternoon we all went to help a friend paint his house. Way too much testosterone in there. I played with the kids in the back yard, and made a snack run w/ the youngest four, who followed instructions and stayed in their strollers in the store. Leaving the store was the weekend's main hiccup, and it wasn't any of THEIR fault.
After we had loaded the groceries, the kids had climbed in the car, and I had started the engine, Princess P yelled "MOMMY!" I looked and she wasn't buckled....so I turned around to fasten her in. The van somehow put itself in reverse, and scraped the paint and mirror off another car. ACCCKK! The poor guy didn't have insurance on the car, and said he'd just glue the mirror back on and not to worry about it. I still got his phone number. He's a pastor at a Missionary Baptist church downtown. I'm pretty sure if he can't afford insurance he can't afford to fix the car either. But still, it was amazing to receive such mercy over such a major screw up. Our van now has some red paint streaking as a memento.
Back to our almost perfect weekend. We get the snacks back, the kids all wait their turns and graciously share with the unrelated child they've been playing with. About the time they start getting bored, Mr. M decides it's time to go.
We go home, eat and realize our toilet is busted. Mr. M graciously provides us with a bucket to flush it with. Sunday is church, lunch w/ grandparents, football, and AWANA. We're not home at all, so the busted toilet doesn't bother us.
Lunch w/ grandparents was at Joe's Crab Shack. It couldn't have gone better. We arrived right when they opened, and set the kids free in the sand and play area. They came in and washed just in time to be fed. We left just in time to miss the disco ball and loud music.
Football was great, other than the mystery of the missing banana, and the mystery of the missing mouth guard. Coach had an extra mouth guard, and no one checks your underwear, so Chip still got to play, and he did what he was supposed to! Grandma and grandpa were there. His team won. It couldn't have been better.
AWANA was crazy hair night. All of our kids had a great time w/ orange hair coloring and gel.
Today it's back to reality. I have a toilet to replace, dishes to catch up, and a floor to find again, but it was a really wonderful weekend.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
judgement day, school style
Yes, yesterday was report card day. It's funny how much you learn about your kids on this day, not just from the "report card", but from their attitude about it.
It was Chip's first, and he could have cared less. He's in Kindergarten, I guess that's appropriate.
What's not appropriate was a minus in counting. He can count to 29. How high are they supposed to count the first quarter of kindergarten? Of course, when he counts at home, he bounces as he counts, preferably on a bed. They probably don't allow that at school. He also had an "I" for neatness. Looking at the pile of old bills, drawings, dust,etc. on my computer desk, or the war zone called our family room, I think it's pretty clear where that came from. It's a wonder it wasn't an "N". And of course, the lovely comment of "looking forward to conferences."
Bob is my academic guy. All those S+'s. All those +'s for study and behavior habits. He was in perfectionist kid heaven. But again, that comment, looking forward to conferences. What's that supposed to mean?
Then our oldest....He was really thinking we were just going to hand him a new game for his DS. Then reality sank in. He didn't get straight A's. He hadn't earned his new game. The B+ in language we would have overlooked. But a B in Math, from a competitive mathmetician who placed 2nd in Mathletics?
I think the comments explained this one. "Two areas he can improve on is paying attention in class, and slowing down to improve the quality of his work." Time to review life skill fact #153. "Even if you've done it a million times, you have to do it right THIS time. Much of your adult life will involve repeating tasks you've already mastered, and going to classes for things you already know." Followed by kid eye roll and "can't I have a game anyway?" Nope. No game, but here's your $10...which he promptly lost because he wouldn't stop playing the thing to put it away. I told him, if I find it, I'm keeping it....and also pointed out that if he hadn't lost that, and the $6 he had before, he would have enough money to buy his own game at the resale dealer.
"Really?"
"Really."
"no fair!" And back to his game.
Time for life lesson #25. If you don't take care of your stuff, you just won't have stuff.
and #2, IF you really want something, you'll be willing to work for it...seek and yea shall find.
But he's not receptive to life lessons right now. He's in the middle of a game! No C's. He gets to keep his DS. He's okay with that.
He also got the best comment of all. "I appreciate his respectfulness of others and genuine friendliness." So he got an A+ in the areas that really matter. And truthfully, I couldn't be prouder of any and all of them.
It was Chip's first, and he could have cared less. He's in Kindergarten, I guess that's appropriate.
What's not appropriate was a minus in counting. He can count to 29. How high are they supposed to count the first quarter of kindergarten? Of course, when he counts at home, he bounces as he counts, preferably on a bed. They probably don't allow that at school. He also had an "I" for neatness. Looking at the pile of old bills, drawings, dust,etc. on my computer desk, or the war zone called our family room, I think it's pretty clear where that came from. It's a wonder it wasn't an "N". And of course, the lovely comment of "looking forward to conferences."
Bob is my academic guy. All those S+'s. All those +'s for study and behavior habits. He was in perfectionist kid heaven. But again, that comment, looking forward to conferences. What's that supposed to mean?
Then our oldest....He was really thinking we were just going to hand him a new game for his DS. Then reality sank in. He didn't get straight A's. He hadn't earned his new game. The B+ in language we would have overlooked. But a B in Math, from a competitive mathmetician who placed 2nd in Mathletics?
I think the comments explained this one. "Two areas he can improve on is paying attention in class, and slowing down to improve the quality of his work." Time to review life skill fact #153. "Even if you've done it a million times, you have to do it right THIS time. Much of your adult life will involve repeating tasks you've already mastered, and going to classes for things you already know." Followed by kid eye roll and "can't I have a game anyway?" Nope. No game, but here's your $10...which he promptly lost because he wouldn't stop playing the thing to put it away. I told him, if I find it, I'm keeping it....and also pointed out that if he hadn't lost that, and the $6 he had before, he would have enough money to buy his own game at the resale dealer.
"Really?"
"Really."
"no fair!" And back to his game.
Time for life lesson #25. If you don't take care of your stuff, you just won't have stuff.
and #2, IF you really want something, you'll be willing to work for it...seek and yea shall find.
But he's not receptive to life lessons right now. He's in the middle of a game! No C's. He gets to keep his DS. He's okay with that.
He also got the best comment of all. "I appreciate his respectfulness of others and genuine friendliness." So he got an A+ in the areas that really matter. And truthfully, I couldn't be prouder of any and all of them.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Good morning to you. You live in a zoo.
Mr. M left for work at six this morning. He must have had some psychic premonition about the kids....or he just looked out the window and saw it was raining.
Wednesday mornings are always a challenge. The two older boys get home from scouts around the time they should be going to bed Tuesday nights, but still get to visit with grandparents, take showers, etc. By the time they get to their rooms, it's at least an hour after they should be asleep.
Last night, after they were in bed, as we were finishing up in the kitchen, we heard some clinking noises from upstairs.
"Honey, could you go see who that is? It might be Chip with that late nap he took?"
Nope, #3 was fast asleep. It was our oldest, still awake and trying to stay that way, at 10:30.
At that point, I knew getting him up this morning was going to be fun.
This morning getting everyone out of bed wasn't that bad. It's just baby girl, our kindie, and our oldest were ALL in fine form. To stop the screaming two year old, so my morning headache would cease, I used every parent's favorite bad parenting device. The T.V. Curious George worked wonders for her, but what I gained in noise control, I lost in focus with the older boys,
Eat breakfast at the table. Do you know where your backpack is. Yes you have to wear socks. Take your umbrella with you. I know it's not raining now, but it's supposed to rain all day. Lunch? You want a school lunch today. Where's your lunch? No, trail mix and milk is not a complete meal. Stop whining. You poured the cereal; you eat the cereal. If you don't go to school today, you don't go to practice tonight. Stop watching the t.v. and put on your shoes, find your folder, eat,etc. I'm such a witch in the morning.
Click! They're out the door. Finally. I forgot to make sure our kindie had his library books.
At least they all had backpacks, umbrellas, and wore jackets. And they're together. So hopefully, they'll stay that way.
I wish I could leave at six am every Wednesday.
Wednesday mornings are always a challenge. The two older boys get home from scouts around the time they should be going to bed Tuesday nights, but still get to visit with grandparents, take showers, etc. By the time they get to their rooms, it's at least an hour after they should be asleep.
Last night, after they were in bed, as we were finishing up in the kitchen, we heard some clinking noises from upstairs.
"Honey, could you go see who that is? It might be Chip with that late nap he took?"
Nope, #3 was fast asleep. It was our oldest, still awake and trying to stay that way, at 10:30.
At that point, I knew getting him up this morning was going to be fun.
This morning getting everyone out of bed wasn't that bad. It's just baby girl, our kindie, and our oldest were ALL in fine form. To stop the screaming two year old, so my morning headache would cease, I used every parent's favorite bad parenting device. The T.V. Curious George worked wonders for her, but what I gained in noise control, I lost in focus with the older boys,
Eat breakfast at the table. Do you know where your backpack is. Yes you have to wear socks. Take your umbrella with you. I know it's not raining now, but it's supposed to rain all day. Lunch? You want a school lunch today. Where's your lunch? No, trail mix and milk is not a complete meal. Stop whining. You poured the cereal; you eat the cereal. If you don't go to school today, you don't go to practice tonight. Stop watching the t.v. and put on your shoes, find your folder, eat,etc. I'm such a witch in the morning.
Click! They're out the door. Finally. I forgot to make sure our kindie had his library books.
At least they all had backpacks, umbrellas, and wore jackets. And they're together. So hopefully, they'll stay that way.
I wish I could leave at six am every Wednesday.
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