Parents' Eyes

Never think you have been alone in your journey. We have been with you every step of the way. Usually just watching but sometimes steering, just a little. When you crashed on the rocks we too crashed and when you sailed high we did as well. We hope for you a restful time of peace before being forced again to test the ever changing waters. Always remember a quiet cove is just around the corner.

Like a Bag of Bricks

I have been very aware of the enlargement tools for the computer screen for many years. Often at work when I can't read a number sequence, small print of listed ingredients, or when I need to enlarge a computer screen on my projector at work for students, I utilize this feature. Just Friday, I was teaching the students working on research for Science Fair in the Computer Lab, to use this enlargement tool instead on sliding forward the screen.(I was severely warned against this practice by the lab teacher who also does a Jim-dandy job of managing cafeteria and line behavior) They were very impressed by the enlargement process and were much more willing readers I might add. But did this hit home with me? NO! I didn't see that I should ever really use the enlarger but dah! Today while I was doing some Windows Update Installations and had to see small print, I enlarged and failed to turn back to 100% when finished. I just sat down to check my email,....Presto Chango! for the first time in months(years?) I can comfortably see. Yes, comfortably! If you are a young person this seem odd to you, I know. Those of us 50+ understand. Another benenfit of large print is that it cuts off the ad margin of Facebook and other sites! Well enough said. I am a happier, more relaxed person due to the 150% magnification of my screen.

Something Old, Something New

I'm always amazed at the lengths people will go just to cheat. It would be easier just to master the skill or fulfill the obligation as expected or required. This year alone I experienced the sign language cheaters, the paper grading cheaters, the take test for a friend cheaters, the copied from home ahead of time cheaters, the paper in the lap cheaters, and the so obvious that I'm cheating that I can't be cheating cheaters. I'm sure that I've forgotten one or two by now but you see my point? You plan, get in cahoots, hide things, develop a language...for crying out loud just spend 15 minutes preparing! Just read the assignment! Just put your effort into your work not your plan to be unprepared! If you hate to put out the effort just own up to it and fail! I hate the stunned look when I discreetly pick up the paper and whisper that I won't be able to take that grade. Never do I accuse, point the finger or use the dread word but it hangs in the air between us. They know that I know, and that is all that matters.

Remembering

As my daughter has begun her first week of substitute teaching it reminds me of my first teaching job. I remember that some kids showed up on the work day and started talking to me and I couldn't understand a single word they spoke. Little did I know that that was the least of my problems.

I remember leaving that class every day after rearranging my seating chart just one more time, thinking that I had to figure this job out! How to get them quiet, clean, fed, out to recess, in from recess, keep them awake, help them get along, what to do all day, what not to do! I sometime still wonder if they ever learned to read.

I would get on the freeway after a long, frustrating day and forget to get off at my exit. I would get up the next day and for some reason always feel hopeful that this day would be better somehow. Maybe it was. I know the other staff members had bets placed on the date I might resign but I had no intention. For some reason I just kept coming back and kept trying to figure out how to do this job. I had never had a job I couldn't do so I just kept at it.

They even let me come back the next year and somehow it seemed better. To start with I had a reading program, all new shiny and ready for use. I had some level of respect from my colleagues just because I came back. I didn't feel like I had been given the roll of kids with the stacked deck. I also had just a drop of experience that went a long way. In fact the second year I didn't change my seating chart every day, every week, not even every month. It didn't have to do with the seats just me.

So as I think of Becky, I hope even when she has a hard day that she still will have hope. Even when her feet ache, her heart aches, and her head aches that she takes on her next assignment with an optimistic hope. I know teaching isn't for everybody but there is nothing greater than a great day at school.

The Effects of No TV

Well the TV in our TV room has sound but no picture. We watched the Cowboys game in our bedroom. The result was a loooong nap for James, and paper grading time for me. The Cowboys did have an amazing game thanks in part to my new favorite player, Myles Austin. After dinner we had coffee in the TV room to the sounds of the TV. It seemed to work almost, until something I heard caught my attention. When I turn to get the visual--no visual. It was just weird. And to think we needed the background noise of the TV to resume our coffee routine. As James then went out to spray an ant bed, he left me at the picture less TV. 2 minutes later when he came in he commented. "You're gone already?" I had moved to the computer. Now he and Jimmy are reading the owner's manual of our 12 year old big screen in hopes of a magical cure. I think by tomorrow at this time James might realize that this has opened a door to buy a new fancy, spancy TV with all the modern bells and whistles. Merry Christmas Family!

Not Sick, but Not Well

Should I have capitalized but? Who really cares with the exception of Becky and Laura? This has been a challenging week in every way. Last week I had a severe allergy related head cold. It was gone this week but left in its path a very tight, rough, screeching, case of laryngitis. I can't tell you how many times I've reassured people, no, I'm not sick or in pain just screechy! If that is true then, why by 2pm Tuesday when both the principal and vice came in for an extended walk through did I just want to cry and put my head down and say "Have you no decency?" It turned out that the review got rave reviews with my only shortcoming being no visible examples of exemplary work but that is beside the point. Who thinks that was a good idea? Ok to the point, if I wasn't sick why did I care? If I was sick, why wasn't I smart enough to know it? The rest of the week seemed to follow pattern with uncontrollable excitement stemming from the sex ed video and the current trend of throwing bottles of food coloring on the bus! If I were in my usual form this week would not have wounded me. In my lesser state, I met Friday with exhaustion. I even had an hour afternoon nap. I hate the idea of a nap. For others, have a nap. For me, no, no, no.(with the exception of the 7 minute pre-bedtime nap) Other signs that confuse me: being frankly honest with parents in conferences and on the phone, playing tennis, running like heck, but not being good enough, and for one small moment being irritated that key staff members failed to show up for student control during an unusual gathering!

So was I or am I sick? I'm not in pain, no fever or chills, no headache or body aches just a shortness of breath by the end of the day that comes from trying to talk when the body doesn't cooperate!

PS I emailed my friend and told her I'd be cheery by Monday.

Words of Romance

About a month ago I heard the most romantic words I had ever witnessed. "I could never say no to a fella with a ponytail and a backward cap!" But this morning I came upon a close second. Walking through the halls of my work place very early this morning I overheard words that rang out the language of love, "Buckwheat is a nice enough looking guy, AND he does seem to know how to treat a woman..." Well what an endorsement! Surely Buckwheat is a match made in heaven! What is the point of this posting? Who knows? I just found all this interesting.