Getting Bigger

I sat with most of our Cadette Girl Scout Troop this evening, listening to each girl read a poem or piece.  How much they've grown since we started our Daisy troop back in 2009!  Taller--one is even taller than me, which rarely happens (I'm about 5'7"+ so women are rarely taller than I am, much less tweens!)  Besides just being tall, they are so composed, so mature--young women caught between childhood and adulthood.  So even as they read "If" by Kipling and "The Road Less Traveled" by Frost, and even "Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives" by Prince Ea, they also read from The Velveteen Rabbit and Shel Silverstein.  And they giggled and danced around playing charades.  I've watched these girls grow up and I'm not sure I really even saw it happening, even though I've seen them pretty much every other week for over seven years now.  They were little, little girls and now . . . well, they're taller than I am.

And then last night, we went to middle school open house.  Middle school.  Talk about time flying.  Do you realize the kids are closer to college than to kindergarten now?  In less than four years, they could be driving.  I had been nervous about middle school for them, mostlly worried about how they would make new friends.  Academics haven't been much of a challenge thus far and they are both approaching the new school year conscientiously.  Still, honors classes, French, changing clothes for gym, 9 different teachers, school clubs, kids from three other elementary schools.  And teachers who are just . . . so clearly not elementary school teachers.  It's a lot to take in.  For them, too!

But I like my kids and the people they are growing into, so, for now, I'm only sort of nervous about the next five years.

-=-=-=-
Kid Tidbit from school already:  When his French teacher asked the class what French they knew, Bud quoted Hamilton, "Oui, oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Bud!"

Again

Looks like I'm behind again!

With the kids asking me not to post much if anything about them here and the rise in my use of FB, I just don't post as much as I used to, though I know that several friends and family members read this first.  So I'll try to do better.

Let's see.  Today, Bud is home with a cold.  I think it's his first sick day in a year or so.  In fact, if the rest of the week weren't so big--school field trip, chorus concert, piano recital--I would have sent him to school.  But as it was, I didn't want to risk his getting worse.

Now I'm just hoping Sis doesn't get it, because she also has the field trip and concert plus a giant two-night Girl Scout "glamping" weekend at a resort.  Wish us all luck.  The weather has been damp and warm, the trees and such have exploded, and everyone seems to be sniffling.

So, what have I been doing?

Well, I went up against the BOE and school administration with other parents in town and defeated an initiative to unlevel middle school, meaning cancel honors classes.  I've composed a long post about this in my head several times because I'm still quite conflicted.  See, there's a huge achievement gap in our town, meaning African-Americans and Latinos score very much lower than their white and Asian counterparts; they are also less represented in said honors classes.  I recognize this as a social justice issue and know that such scores likely indicate albeit unintentional systemic/institutional bias and even racism.  The Democrat, social liberal, and Unitarian Universalist in me wants to rectify this.  But then there's the mom in me that fears that my children's academic achievement would be stalled by a non-leveled class, especially because they've been in the special gifted and talented class for three years (and are still not very challenged academically--how would they fare in an unleveled class??!!)  Certainly unleveling can succeed if properly prepared for, but the district was trying to rush the measure through without invovling parents (without even really telling them) and with little preparation for the changes.  Their instructional plan for high achievers in "regular" classes?  "Raise expectations, provide support, provide understanding."  BS.  That's not a plan.  They also mentioned an honors option, which is really just more homework and projects AT HOME--meaning they don't get instructional time with the teachers and the bulk of their education is independent learning (tough for 7th graders!)  AND then there were mentions that the accelerated learners would help the typical kids.  Great.  Social nightmare for everyone and then my kids would still not be getting their instructional time with the teacher.  So, the parent in me rebelled, took to FB, organized letters and phone calls, and helped convince the BOE not to unlevel until there is a better plan.  We need a better plan and we need to help the students who are being failed by our district.  But I'm still very torn about defeating the unleveling, which is supported by the National Education Association (NEA) and other groups, though several studies say it doesn't change the outcomes for slower learners.  Probably because middle school is way too late to affect monumental change.  It needs to start in preschool!  So . . . . so.  So, we're not homeschooling or sending our kids to private school next year.  And if the district votes to unlevel with a better plan after next year, I will stay informed and involved and maybe even support the plan.  Or take a "gap year" for 8th with my kids and travel around!!

What else?  On Saturday, a friend and I went to a wonderful mandala workshop at Copper Beech Institute in West Hartford and had a lovely, creative, inspiring day.  We walked the labyrinth and had a picnic lunch before class and then made a freehand mandala and a literal gratitude mandala in class.  And I learned how to make colored Zen Gems!  So much fun!  I spent Sunday practicing my new-found skills.

Last week, Mama's office hosted a special "Take Your Child to Work" Day program and so the kids spent 13+ hours following along her usual day!  They were up at 5:30 a.m. and home a bit before 7 p.m.  They had a tour, a special talk on what the company does and how the US's financial system works (they even got money from all over the world.  Ours got Cambodia and the DRCongo), and then went with Mama to her meetings.  They also played Nerf battles with her co-workers, which was their favortie part.  I think they had new-found respect for Mama's long work day and challenging work life.  Sis said, "I'll never think waking up at 7 a.m. for school is early again!"

The next month or so wraps up the year's extracurriculars, for the most part, as well as their time at elementary school.  There will be several special events and middle school orientations.  Plus the school play.  But I'm anxious that it's all coming to an end.  I've really loved their elementary school, especially their teachers, and am nervous about the move to middle school, particularly because most of the kids of my informal moms' network are going to the other middle school.  Which means I sorta start from scratch, just like the kiddos (though, several of the kids in their special class will move on to honors at the middle school; I just don't know those parents as well.)  But we have the summer to get used to the transition.

And I won't even get into all the summer plans . . . .

Settling In

I can't believe it's been nearly two weeks since I posted last; that might be a record.

All is well.

Just busy.

School started and the kids are back in their routines.  Same teachers, same classmates.  That makes the transition into a new school year easier, if a little boring.  Next year, in middle school, will be exciting enough, though.

A few things have changed--the day of Girl Scouts, the timing of kung fu.  And Sis has radically changed her extracurriculars.  She has dropped piano, added horseback riding, and switched from figure skating to speedskating.  I'm so proud that she's trying something new, stretching herself, taking a risk.   I'm trying not to think of the real risks, as she suits up in helmet and kevlar neck protector!  But they take all the precautions, even have huge mats on the walls of the rink.  She was exhausted after the first session, which included more than an hour of conditioning--including hopping up the stairs and also doing crossovers up the stairs!!  But she hung in there and did it.  Then she spent about an hour learning the positions of speedskating and trying it out, all on special skates!  She really was pretty amazing!  A mom of a nationally-ranked skater said Sis would do well, that she was already taking to it quickly and she had strong legs.  She does like to go fast.

After she hobbled off the ice, we soaked her in Epsom salts and gave her some ibuprofen.  The next morning, she woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to go again.  She had horseback riding that evening, which also involves strong legs--with all the posting (essentially standing in the stirrups to keep weight off the horse).

For myself, I'm getting organized for our first GS meeting tomorrow and for historic house tours starting at the end of the month.  Hospice is ongoing; I'm with the same woman I visited in the spring and summer.

In addition to school and activities, the church year has also started.  It was nice to be back, after a bit of an absence in the spring when they canceled our early service.  Good to see friendly faces, important to reflect on September 11th.  I'm a lay minister, mostly in charge of meal coordination for people in need.  One of our summer recipients was up and about after extensive back surgery; she looked great! And I'm helping to teach a young member how to crochet.  I also signed up to be on the religious education steering committee. Meetings are before church, which is easier than weeknights.  There was also a book (re-)sale, at which we always find great items.  Mama got a book on the daughters of Genghis Khan.  I picked up The Hare with the Amber Eyes.  Sis picked up a few YA books.  And they chose for me a book on New England's stone walls.  I made an appreciative "ooooh" sound when they handed it to me, as Mama apparently predicted I would.  They all say I make that sound when I see an old stone wall (I love old stone walls.)  They say I make the same sound for raptors, butterflies, old houses--and a much gruntier sound for snakes!

Then we went for a delicious pancake and omelet breakfast, one of our favorite parts of going to church.

That's how the last two weeks have gone.  The temperatures have started to drop at night but are still warm for me during the day.  Our dogwood tree is already changing, though, most likely because of the moderate drought and stress of the extra heat.  I think we set a record on Saturday and will again tomorrow.  Ugh.  Bring me fall!

Class Engaged!

Today, I had the honor and pleasure to be invited to give a Zentangle lesson at a local elementary school by a friend and neighbor who teaches there.  She had taken my very first Zentangle class a few weeks ago and wanted to share it with her fifth graders.  This was the perfect time, as school is winding down and kids are getting antsy to be indoors.

And it went wonderfully well.


I gave them each a kit with tiles, a pen, pencil, and a special Zentangle bookmark.  And then I began drawing on my easel.

We started with the word "Zentangle"--a combination of Zen (which refers to Japanese meditation--I didn't mention Buddhism) and art, or a tangle of lines.  Zentangle drawing is an art in which you can elicit meditative feelings of calm and focus by creating repetitive patterns in beautiful works of art.

I started with some questions:
Have you ever felt angry, sad, scared, nervous, tired, bored, frustrated?  How did your body feel when you felt those emotions?  How is it different when you are happy or satisfied or excited?  I told them that meditation was a way to transcend some of those emotions, especially the negative ones, a way to rest and calm their bodies and minds--by using their breath!  Everyone breathes, you can do it anywhere, without any supplies, like when you're tired of waiting in line or scared to go into the doctor's office.  And so we tried a short breath meditation--in through your nose, out through your mouth.  Feel the change in temperature, the breath over your lips, the rise and fall of your chest.  A few of them giggled, some huffed and snorted and sighed, but they tried it for several moments.   I tried to stay away from cliches like "being grounded" and "center yourself."

And then we started.  They pulled out their kits, with the tiles, pen, pencil, and bookmark.   I worked through the steps at my post-it flip pad and easel (with big black marker and gray shading marker)--gratitude and appreciation, corner dots, border, string, tangle shade, initial and sign, and appreciate again--while they followed along on their tiles.  We did a pretty typical first tile--z-shaped tile with basic strings crescent moon, hollibaugh, florz, and printemps.  I told them about a lot of variations (which only make sense if you know Zentangle)--drawing squiggles or loops in their borders, putting dots between auras in crescent moon, shading the spaces behind the lines in hollibaugh, shading the lines of hollibaugh, putting dots in the spaces behind the lines of hollibaugh, drawing printemps or crescent moons in the spaces of hollibaugh, putting other shapes at the intersections of florz, making big and little spirals in printemps, connecting the lines of hollibaugh to the lines of florz, putting a few printemps in the spaces of hollibaugh or florz.  Several of the kids gave the variations a try.  It's a lot like the first tile I ever did in my own first Zentangle class last year on retreat.  While they drew, I kept a somewhat constant Zentangle narrative going, while I walked around the room:

• If they can write "iSCO," they can do most of the strokes in Zentangle patterns
• No eraser = no mistakes (but, just in case, I pretended to mess up and then showed them Bronx Cheer to cover it  up)
• What does a "hollibaugh" really look like?  Nobody knows!  There is no right or real in Zentangle.    The names are non-descriptive, just a way to give us a shorthand for talking about the art and to each other
• Shade as part of the design (not trying to create consistent internal light source)
• Look at tile at arm's length
• Turn it around to look at it from several angles--no right side up!
• Go your own pace
• Everyone is different so make it your own
• Go back to your breath meditation if you get frustrated
• Borders are made to be crossed
• Lines don't have to be straight 

While they finished up their first tile and placed it on my tablecloth for the class mosaic, I  showed them the Apprentice video chapter 6 of Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas talking about how they were inspired to create the steps of Zentangle.  I then explained that Maria and Rick didn't invent patterns (those are everywhere--in nature and human-made items), that they came up with the list of steps to access meditation through art.  We looked at the class mosaic and saw how the tiles were all different, all creative and all individual--with same instructions!  Then I distributed Apprentice letter to parents and announced that they were all Zentangle Apprentices.  Harkening back to the beginning, I asked them how they felt now.  "Good," they yelled.  I told them they could tap into this feeling, creativity, and beauty whenever they needed or wanted to.

      

I was there about an hour and they were so focused, curious, and excited.  I even gave them two extra tangles (zander and pokeroot) because they wanted to learn more, even though I had to rush them.  I pointed to the tangled border of their Apprentice letter to parents and said there were so many patterns--they could even make up some!  (If they'd name them after me.)

I was surprised with how hesitant they already were at 10 - 11 years old to make a mistake; most of them admitted being very hesitant when looking at a blank piece of paper and asked to create something.  But once we got the dots, borders, and strings on the tiles, they settled in.  Still, at each step, they wanted reassurance that they weren't "wrong" and that their designs were "good."  Both the teacher and I kept reiterating that there were no mistakes, that they made the creative choices, that different was okay.  Even still, at the end, a couple of students wouldn't join their tiles to the mosaic. 

But they begged the teacher to do more Zentangle patterns.  I left the Apprentice DVD with the teacher and two extra tiles for each kid (plus some extra pens in case some broke.)  I told them they could look up Zentangle online and find all kinds of patterns, that they could make greeting cards or pencil cases or whatever they wanted.  The teacher said it was the most focused her class had ever been all year.

Maybe next year, we should offer the lesson in the beginning of the year, and then the teacher can introduce new tangles as they go and the students can add them to projects at Valentine's Day or Mother's Day; they can tangle when they are anxious about a test or done with their work.  I know I would have loved it when I was a student, just like these kids did.  Just like I love it now.

The Show Went On

I can't even put the wonderful experience of the weekend into words.  The kids' elementary school musical was phenomenal!

Well, for an elementary school production.  But I'm a proud mommy and I thought it was marvelous.

Way back in January, they had been nervous about auditioning for the show, even though everyone gets a part.  Still, standing up and singing in front of people is very intimidating.  But they did it and both got into the ensemble.  Bud had a callback and had hoped for a small speaking part.  Instead, he became one of the dancers.

For months they practiced every week.  Hours.  The last week, they rehearsed until 8 pm on Tuesday, 6 pm on Wednesday, and 9:15 on Thursday.  And behind the scenes, many parents were busy.  I stepped in to coordinate the healthy snacks for the performers during the show (the last person left no notes and, of course, I wasn't involved last year so it was a steep learning curve all the way through the weekend.)  Mama served as a backstage runner/stage door manager so someone else could see the show on Saturday.  I bought make up, found the right shoes, filled out forms to buy t-shirts and DVDs, and designed our congratulatory ads for the program.  We did a lot of driving back and forth.  Other parents spent everyday at the rehearsals and nights making sets and costumes and props.  So much hard work by so many dedicated and enthusiastic people.

We were all atwitter on Friday for the hour or so between their arriving home on the bus and their needing to be back at school.  It was a long wait for all of us.  Finally we got the kids freshly showered and deodorized (imagine 80+ sweaty kids without deodorant under hot lights with no air conditioning in rooms together.)  I got the snacks and paper goods into the car.  Off we went.

After getting them where they need to be and setting up the snacks in the cafeteria, Mama and I took our seats for the first show.  So excited for them, so nervous for them.

And they both shined!  Lit up the stage!  What can I say?  I only watched them.  Sis was in a flowery dress with a pink bow on her head.  Being shorter than almost everyone else, she looked about five years old.  Sweet and cute.  She doesn't like dresses, being "sweet" or "cute, though she likes pink but not bows.  We told her she was a great actress to pull off the role!  Bud started in a dark suit with a cap, then removed the jacket to show his suspenders and hiked his pants like knickers (with this handy little elastic thing.)  Later, he'd put on a band uniform.  And he danced and danced with great expression and joy.  Of course, I got all teary.

We saw them perform twice--Friday and Sunday--and spent Saturday helping backstage.  The kids got into costume, then went into hair and make up, and then waited in the cafeteria for their various cues.  They ate fresh fruit and veggies, had lots of water, and talked relatively quietly with their friends.  Sis played UNO and read.  Bud ate lots of fruit.

After each show, we went out, mainly to a late supper at a local place.  Just like real Broadway stars!  They told stories with their friends, wolfed down fries and shakes, sang songs together, gave one another back rubs, and signed each other's special shirts.  The adults sat, ate, and marveled at the kids' energy.  Bud especially talked and talked about the whole thing; I wish I could remember everything he enthused about.  (If I do, I'll insert it here.)

And then it ended much more suddenly than it all began.  Three days, three performance, the end of the show and the weekend.  But we all made a lifetime of great memories and, I think, awakened a little bit of the performing bug in each of them.

I'm glad they have one more year in elementary school so they can do it all again.

A Bee in My Bonnet

Yesterday was the 5th-grade spelling bee at the kiddos' school.  And they were two of the 12 or so kids to compete, having scored highest in the grade on the qualifying test.  They weren't terribly enthusiastic about it, didn't obsessively study or anything.

And I was a nervous wreck.

But there we all were yesterday--the contestants, the whole 5th grade, the parents, and several teachers and staff.  I realized quite quickly--actually, I knew it from my own elementary school class spelling bees--that these contests were as much about mastering your nerves as the English language. And so it proved.  The majority of the children (most of whom I know, being in the accelerated class with the kiddos) could spell the words they went out on.  They rushed or got lost in the middle or misspoke without realizing it.  Ugh.  Agonizing to watch, even after our two were eliminated.  Perhaps especially as it got closer to the end with four really confident and competent spellers.

And then, one by one, they went down and there was a winner.  And I think the majority of us were glad it was over.

I mean, really, when do you ever need to spell a word aloud?  Seriously, we're hardly responsible for our own spelling at any point because of autocorrect.  It's an old-timey skill that we still encourage in kids, despite the lack of necessity.  Interestingly, Mama's European coworkers say there aren't, for instance, German spelling bees (is that because their spelling makes sense??).   That said, the real skills--mastering a body of knowledge, keeping your cool under pressure, being a good sport even after you've lost--are very important.  And ones that I definitely believe should be encouraged.

I just don't need to watch it in real time.  I've already suggested they throw next year's qualifying test. But both said it was fun and that they'd be glad to do it again!

Fall Fun: A Mystical, Magical Weekend, Part I

What a weekend we had!  I'm going to post in two parts, as it is very dense with photos and texts and fun.

Friday:
On Friday evening, our school hosted it's annual Halloween festivities, this year outside as "Trunk or Treat."  Various parents volunteer to decorate their cars and pass out candy; there are also games and a bake sale.  We were there right at opening time--Sis as Black Widow and Bud as Link  (from videogame Zelda)--because experience has taught us that the check-in line gets long quickly.  The kids had 30 tickets for visiting the cars (this prevents multiple visits and un-registered visitors) and some tickets for games and such.  And I let them go . . . . they wandered around the school parking lot with friends, while I wandered around with the other adults.  It was chilly but not the worst we've had (one year it was cold AND so windy that we lasted about 15 minutes, enough time for the kids to make one circuit.)  There were lots of cool costumes--'50s waitresses, (too many) zombies, Katniss, various witches and princesses, a cute Barney, a chunky mouse, My Little Pony.   It was a great way to kick off our Halloween season.  Only one more year of this--I'm going to miss it.

Saturday, through the afternoon:
After our usual kung fu and ice skating, we took off for annual visit to the faerie houses at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme (see 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009.  We've gone every year (except when they took a hiatus for a scarecrow exhibition, 2010) since it began.  It's one of our favorite family traditions and permeates our fall and spring as we make our own faerie houses.  This year the theme was Whimsical Castles.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Merida's castle tower and standing stones, one of my favorites.

Hagrid's hut

Hobbit hole

Not a faerie house, obviously, just a colorful handprint on a tree from some other program.

As usual, I like doors and gateways, especially those set in trees.

  

  

And I preferred the more natural-looking houses to the ones made of painted plywood, found objects,  etc.  In fact, the bright green Oz and gold Thai palace, among others, seemed out of place.  

  

 As usual, the kids' favorite part was finding the hidden object in each castle--Merida's quiver (or was it her bow?), the Sword in the Stone, the little bear--some were much easier than others.  (But at least they were all there; one year, we looked and looked for a hidden object, only to learn later that i had been missing for days!)  It wasn't too crowded and the people there were friendly and well-behaved (one year, we kept coming across children who were touching and moving and even breaking things, without any hindrance from parents.  This drives me to distraction.)  It was another great faerie house year.

We had a little time before our dinner reservations so we took the kiddos to the Stonington Lighthouse Museum.  It's a mid-19th-century stone house light, with an easy 29-spiral step tower.  I think it was the kiddos first lighthouse climb!  And they really enjoyed the visit.  Besides the tower, we looked at the various exhibits, including the cistern uncovered below (visible through glass in the floor), antique doll's house, map of lights on Long Island Sound, and other local historical objects.    There was also a fourth-order Fresnel lens, like the one which would have been in the tower.  The kids were pretty amazed that the lighthouse keeper would've climbed the spiral steps and even gone out on the ledge around the light to clean the windows--it was high and narrow, without much of a rail.  Even though you can't even go out on the ledge anymore, I went downstairs before everyone else, a little nervous for the height.

After the museum, we headed for dinner in Mystic, to a seafood place on the river.   The view (nothing like fall colors and white houses lining the water, typical New England) was great, the food just as good.   We could even see the ship where we were having our Girl Scout overnight in the distance.  We supped on pumpkin soup, clam chowder, a seafood pasta, buttered fish, and oysters, with a delicious tres leche cake for dessert.  I was a little edgy--having been the person to organize the trip and the responsible person during the overnight--and kept checking the time (besides, I'm recognizing how anxious I am on a regular basis, but that's another post.)  I couldn't be late after I emailed the troop to be on time!  But we managed to finish dinner and even take a few pictures along the river before heading a few miles down the road to Mystic Seaport . . . .  and then it was time for the big part of our weekend to start.

School Nights

It's been back-to-back school events this week, just like last September.  Tuesday found us at the annual Pajama Night, with bedtime stories; Bud and I were again readers.  Separately.  He read Grumpy Cat, Please Mr Panda, A Penguin Story, and We are in a Book (Elephant and Piggy.)  Several people told me he did an awesome job reading and doing the voices very enthusiastically; he is always so proud to go read to the "little kids."  I dress up as a colonial lady, representing the historic house, and try to read museum- or history-related books, including Homespun Sarah, Ella's Trip to the Museum, A Night at the Museum, and, with a tenuous connection, Extra Yarn.  I like reading to the kids, who can never figure out what I'm dressed as!

It was our first time in the new school.  Bud and Sis's old school transferred to a new building--a phenomenal new building with lots of light, open spaces, and colorful artwork, including a large "Be Kind" mural.  It's a little bittersweet that their old school isn't their school anymore, but we were proud of our town having such a wonderful building.  It even has heated floors!

This week was also Open House, which I attended alone while Mama took Bud to kung fu and Sis along with them.  Of course, it was the same three teachers as last year, only they have a different one for homeroom now.  The Reading/Writing teacher spoke about all the strategies she's teaching them for analyzing and critiquing readings and for creating well-reasoned, persuasive and expository writing--and the interdependence of the two (a Common Core focus)--all while stressing independence and personal responsibility in their homework and organization.  She likes to use historical fiction such as The Witch of Blackbird Pond and My Brother Sam is Dead, as well as essays by Peter Jennings, Ken Burns, and the like.  She thinks the kids are amazing but wants to be sure to challenge them so they learn, though she worries about the stress they put on themselves.  The Math teacher said much the same thing:  the kids are bright but put so much pressure on themselves to understand concepts right away--sometimes even after only one example!  She did say, however, that they are starting sixth grade math--long division, this week--and that it was the easiest time she's ever had teaching it in her long career (she was a middle-school math teacher before) and she thinks that is because of the Common Core approach to breaking down concepts so that they understand the theory and not just memorize it.  (I know people bitch a lot about Common Core, so this was gratifying to hear.)  Finally, we met with the Social Studies/Science teacher, who talked about how the units are the same in their class as the other fifth grades, but they either a). can get through material faster or b). go more in-depth with their studies and experiments.  They'll be doing the senses--not just hearing, sight, taste, etc--but the brain functions behind the obvious, plus the solar system and other topics, and a trip to the science museum; they alternate these with the Age of Exploration, including the early colonial period and the Revolutionary War (see connection to reading and writing?  One is a colonial novel, the other, Revolutionary)--then they come to the historic house!  It sounds like it will be a great but busy and challenging year; already, I've seen an increase in the homework and the encouragement of more independence with assignments.  I also chatted with some of the specials teachers--the art teacher who is having them do optical illusions for their annual art fundraiser; the PE teacher who just had them do "pacer" tests for endurance and speed; the music teacher who is also in charge of the chorus Sis and Bud are joining; and finally the Spanish teacher, who suggested they watch the Spanish-language Sesame Street for practice.

It's been a long week, mainly because the first three weeks of school were incomplete.  This is their first five-day week.  And we're all feeling it, even with one more day to go.  The weekend will be mostly busy (most of are weekends are, now), but it will still be a nice break from school.

Kidbits

I never thought I'd hear myself say, "You can only sword fight with weapons of the same material."  Sis had her wooden "fantasy" sword, while Bud had his plastic lightsaber.  And I just knew wood would crack plastic.  So we all had a lightsaber battle.

My new name is "Darth Mommy, Sith Lord of the Rock Wall."
-=-=-=-=-

Quiche.

Quiche is the word around our house these days.  See, I've had the ingredients to make that for days and have mentioned every night for dinner.  And then we always have something else.

We even started singing about it.  "The quiche will come out tomorrow.  Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be quiche."  Or "Quiche, I'm going to eat it tomorrow!"  You name the musical, we made up a quiche song.  Drove Mama nuts, made Sis snort water out her nose.

We finally ate the quiche, to much fanfare, last night for dinner.

-=-=-=-=-=-

The cooler weather has taken us outside.  Yesterday, for their day off, we played our version of tag/hide-and-go-seek.  This involves my searching after the children, who try to hide and not be seen, with frequent location changes.  It's more a game of spy because the object is for them to watch me while I don't see them.  We all stealthily circle the house trying to "win."  And once I see them, we just start again.  There's no running or actual tagging, just spotting.  It sounds kinda lame in the description, but we all enjoy it.  And sometimes I do manage to surprise them!

They also play real tag in the morning at the bus stop, especially now that there are more kids.  Besides our usual foursome--my two, the girl in their class, and the 2nd grader--there are two more girls (1st and 3rd grades?) and a 4th-grade boy (the kindergarten girl only rides home in the afternoons.)  And they've been playing tag (well, not the 4th-grade boy, who is not quite warmed up to us yet.)  Invariably they tag me and I try to sneak up on one of them to no avail.  These other kids are fast and don't realize I won't run, especially with my cup of tea in hand.  Sometimes they tag the 2nd-grader's dad and he runs very fast.  It's a wonderful way to start the morning, actually.

Hot Topic

It was not a great school day.  For various and sundry reasons that I won't delve into here, there was confusion about school dismissal today and policies regarding excessive heat warnings.  See, today was the hottest Sept. 8th since 1919 in the area; Central Park hit 97F and we were above 92F something (heat index over 100F.)  Now, they might not seem like much to my Texas readers, but recall:  neither our schools nor our buses are air-conditioned.  Inside today, temperatures reached over 100 degrees, with just small windows open and inadequate metal fans.  These are schools built for winter--my kids can wear short sleeves all winter long without being cold.

So, after much brouhaha, they were dismissed early and home by 1 p.m.  They had ice cream, air-conditioning, and mostly just sat around wilted, reading.  But at least they weren't nauseous like they were last week in slightly cooler temps.

The Superintendent thinks there will be school tomorrow, though I think that is foolhardy--the schools will stew overnight and the humidity will be even higher tomorrow.  If it is, I will go fetch them around lunchtime.  Because, regardless, no one will be learning if it's that hot.

School Report

The first two days of school have gone as well as the first two days of school could go, which for us means pretty well.  It's crazy-hot in the schools, which are un-air-conditioned, but the temps will break some this weekend.  The kids have connected with their friends (both classmates and bus mates) and teachers and have nothing to complain about.  Well, except that time has been taken off recess and put to math instruction time.  Only 15 or 20 minutes of moving in an 8-hour day.  On the up side, they have PE twice this year!  Which means on those days they'll get to move twice.

Otherwise, they have Spanish, art, music, and library, plus reading, writing, science, math, and social studies.  I think library includes computer skills sometimes.

And the all-important lunch.

But now for a three-day weekend of sleep, snacks, cats, and video games.  There will be two more holidays in each of the next two weeks, for the Jewish High Holidays.  So we're getting off to a measured start this year, which is just fine.

Have a good weekend!

Last Day of Summer

Tonight is our last summer's eve; tomorrow is our last day of summer.  We are pretty much living in limbo now--all of our summer activities are over and all of our school prep is over, too.  We're just waiting.

There isn't much anxiety here this year, mainly, I think, because they are returning to the same classroom, same teachers, same classmates, together.  Otherwise, a lot of the moms in town and online seem anxious, perhaps even more so, this year.  Anxiety about teachers, classmates, lunches, uniform, bus stops and schedule.  Just a lot of anxiety. It can be so hard. This makes Buddhist priest and author Karen Maezen Miller's comment on FB, "Parents, you are overthinking it" all the more timely.

I'm doing my own overthinking--I have long lists of possible breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners--what they'll eat this year (which is always a smaller list than the year before.)  And I've remembered to get at least some of these things for when I pack lunch day after tomorrow!

And I'm looking forward to the structure of school, for all of us, probably thinking it will create more positive changes than it actually will.  More regular bedtime, regular meals together, more help with household chores.  I've let a lot of things slide this summer.  For example, these last three days of summer?  Unlimited screentime here.  Movies, tv, whatever computer games or programming.  And you know what?  They are getting along and loving it.  And it's easier for me than policing them.  Why not let them do what they like most these last few days, especially as I heavily restrict it in the school week?  Besides, we did a few things these last few days--we made brownies for the teacher luncheon yesterday and delivered them, and then today had a long playdate at a friend's house; tomorrow, we have piano.  And as you know, we had a pretty big list of Summer Fun that we worked on--I'll have to do a final check.

Soon enough we'll be consumed by kung fu, piano, homework, Girl Scouts, ice skating, book club, church Sunday school, alarm clocks, church and all the like.  But for now, it's hot and we're hiding inside, lollygagging.  Which is a pretty fine thing the last few days of summer.

Summer Fun: Breakfast in Bed

I was treated to breakfast in bed yesterday morning.  The kids had apparently cooked up the scheme the night before, let Mama in on the plan, even had a menu all ready.  And within a few heartbeats of my waking up when two cats had a disagreement, the kids were in my room, ready to go.  Sis had even consented to Bud waking her up early (she is on adolescent time and will easily sleep til after 9 a.m.; he still regularly sees 6:30 a.m.)

Look at this menu:  see the GF options?!  So sweet.  They had carefully recorded all of the things they knew how to prepare and could serve easily for breakfast.  And made notes of what I could have.  With dessert!  Sis was apologetic about the lack of GF sides; she said they'd work on that.  And I loved that ice cream is annotated "only some times.")

In the end, I had a single scrambled egg, some rice puffs, a half-and-half lemonade/iced tea.  Service was prompt and courteous.  Then we all munched on candy while watching tv.

When asked the occasion, they replied, "Because you put up with us all summer!"

I'd do it again, eggs or no.

Countdown

Just a couple of weeks until school.

We have the uniforms; we have many of the supplies.

We're trying to remember to fill in reading logs and do some math.

Now, we're trying to get the house in fall order.  I know people spring clean; we school clean.

This year, that includes a new armoire for Sis (whose room doesn't have a closet.)  The small, three-drawer dresser we got for the nursery just doesn't work anymore.  And so we're moving things around to accommodate it.  The nursery dresser is nice, but we're not sure where to put it now.

Soon, we'll tackle some items in Bud's room, to give him more space--see, he has a closet, but it is filled with stuff from Mama and me.  Which means purging and relocating.

Fun, fun, fun.

We'll be having some fun, too, these last two weeks, but our minds are already half on school.

Doodle All the Day

Experimenting with doodles today, my last scheduled day of quietude until September 3!   I've gotten a new doodle book and magazine and so played with some new ideas; also, I tried my hand at a version of Things that are Awesome:  Summer Edition (see this post.)

Actually, I also made birthday presents for Mama, Sis, and Bud yesterday, but I can't show those yet.

Girl Talk

When I was a kid, "the talk" came in 5th grade.  The girls were gathered on the industrially-carpeted floor in the communal space between the four classrooms to watch a filmstrip while all the boys got extra outdoor recess; moms weren't invited, but they did have to give permission to participate.  The whole talk was very abstract, as I recall it, with flowers and how it feels to be a girl, and we got a booklet and a coupon for a product starter kit.  I don't remember much else, probably because I knew about menstruation before the talk (I started after my fifth-grade year, when I was 11.)  I did like the booklet, with its pastel colors, and its chatty informational style.  Amazingly, you can see the whole thing here.  I was very excited, though, about the starter kit that came in the mail after I sent in my coupon, filled with different kinds of pads in a big pastel box.  I kept it under the bed for a long time.

Things are different now.

First, the talk comes in 4th grade and it's after school, very optional.  In fact, our neighbor girl told me that she and her mother are totally against the school providing such information, that parents should teach this when the time comes.  Sigh.  I told her families have different beliefs and that we believe in science and education and this was about biology.  But then, as you know, my kids have had the UU OWL class, about sexuality health already and know a lot about biology and its spiritual dimensions.

The talk was given by a school nurse, very direct, entertaining, informational, and practical.  She put the girls AND moms at ease as she discussed:

• the biology of puberty (the physical changes), from widening hips, growing breasts, appearance of sweat glands, increase in hormones, growth of pubic hair, and then advent of MEN-STROO-ATION! (I can still hear it as talked about in Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret?) and the actual process of ovulation, etc etc etc.  She kept saying that their bodies were practicing for being pregnant . . .and then she said they should wait a long time, after college, to have babies;
• and the emotions of adolescence (the experience of puberty), like moodiness and lack of concentration and tiredness;
• practical hygiene issues--changing pads and underwear, keeping clean with morning showers, and the one that surprised all the moms--changing pillowcases every night to reduce blemishes from the bacteria and oil gathered on the pillow.  Who knew?
• and practical issues for handling it at school--how to have a little pouch with pads, extra underwear, maybe some wipes; how to get to the nurse if you have an accident or cramps--just say, "I'm going to throw up!" the nurse said; also that it's a private issue and no one will know that you are having your period unless you tell them.
• Cramps--exercise to move the muscles and release the endorphins, heating pads, tylenol and ibuprofen if needed;
• she even passed out pads that they opened and unwrapped--of course, one girl stuck it on her forehead (not MY girl.)  The pad was so small that I said it must belong to an American Girl Doll!  When did they start coming in small sizes?  It is so much more appropriate for young girls.
• Sleep, eat right, keep clean, listen to your body for rest, and exercise--girls are strong, the nurse said, and we're the only ones who can make babies and we can handle periods.  

It was all very straightforward and even empowering.  And a huge milestone in a young girl's life (the talk, I mean, not even the period.) The first of many coming up.  

I hope I can meet them all with such calm directness.

So Proud

Sis was awarded the student-of-the-month "Character Counts" for her class.

We are very proud.

And surprised.

She hadn't told us--I read it in the monthly class newsletter this morning.  So Mama and I are thinking up ways to celebrate.

Music to Our Ears

Last night, the kiddos had their first Beginning Orchestra concert.  Very similar to their Beginning Strings concert last year, they played three songs, including one that was just scales.  I don't remember last year's much, except that I teared up and that Bud's cello ended up in the auditorium (cellists leave their instruments on the side of the stage, per teacher's instruction, to pick up after the concert, but we were leaving earlier; many others were in the same boat.)

This year's concert was almost exactly the same and, despite prior knowledge, his cello still sat in the auditorium until later in the evening.  But we were prepared.  The kids brought decks of cards to do magic trick swith their friends  During the concert,  Bud sat as first cellists--there are only two--and Sis said seats weren't earned but were based on sitting next to someone you wouldn't chat with.  I guess Bud is too chatty even to sit next to the viola-players.    Sis is nestled amid the violinists so that all you can see are her bangs; she too is chatty apparently and wasn't sitting next to any of the friends I know.

The songs were "Jingle Bells" and "Ole Joe Clark" which I have heard dozens and dozens of times on various instruments.  Music only parents would clap for.

Still, it's a great opportunity, this elementary school orchestra and I look forward to many more.

Even if we'll always have to wait to retrieve the cello.

Back at It

Mama to work; kids to school.  Today we are officially back to our routine.  And, despite all the Sunday complaining, it all went pretty smoothly.  The kids even confessed to being glad to be back.

I'm easing into it myself, with grocery run, prepping the pipes and yard for a deep freeze (snow Tuesday and 4F on Thursday morning!) and other chores, which includes quality time with as many cats as possible.  Today I managed three out of four.  Patron snuck up to eat Albus and Hermione's food and then came to see me on the couch!  Albus, who was nearby, didn't budge until Patron started playing with some of his toys on the floor.  At one point, I had them both chasing toy mice and balls around.  And, until Hermione ran him off, I bet Patron was upstairs more than an hour or so.  Progress!  Mojito would have none of it.

So, tomorrow a consistently dwindling forecast for snow, certainly not enough to keep the kiddos at home.

But the perfect excuse for me to stay home and play toss with the cats again!

Best Bus Stop in the World

This is our first year of having company at our school bus stop.  And the kids love it!  There is one girl in their class and one little girl in first grade, both of whom live up and around the corner.  We didn't really know them well before this but had been on a waving basis with the mom of the little girl.

And now the bus stop is their favorite time of the day.  They play soccer or basketball, chalk up the driveway, walk across the rock wall, run around the house, and play on the swing set.  There is lots of squealing.  And smiles.  At least until I yell, "Bus!" as it rounds the corner.  (I can always hear the brakes in advance.)  After school isn't quite as much fun--they all quickly separate, but the three older ones sometimes reconvene after homework.

The little girl's grandparents (it started with one set, now it's the other; both visit for a long time, from China) bring her every morning, sometimes one, sometimes both, and often with her little sister.  Her grandparents only speak Mandarin, so I get to practice my "ni hao" and "tsi jian" each day.

It's so much fun that the girl in their class has been arriving earlier and earlier.  Yesterday she was 23 minutes early!  And she might have been even earlier--we noticed her peeking through the window watching and waiting, which she did perched atop a lawn chair she'd dragged to the window.  Yes, a little stalking-ish.

But the kids are thrilled.  There's no dawdling in the mornings now.  And they're making friends.

Can't wait until there's snow!!!  (Though, that might be a little messy BEFORE school.)