Lose For Good!!

I hope to lose enough to feed a Third World country!

Anticipation, Resolution, Maturation, (or ARMing myself for change)

The supplies selected by JOR and SRR were bought, labeled and packed since the beginning of August. MGR had his classroom set up a week before "Hell Week" (teacher work week). I've been at work since 7/29. This house is definitely ready for the school year to begin!

I think all four of us are excited and anxious: What kind of support and ideas can I give the teachers in my nine schools? Will they be accepting of engaging students w/ technology? What kind of class will MGR have? Will they cause him nights without sleep and weekends without a life? Will JOR overcome his obstacles in writing to show off what his beautiful mind is thinking? Will SRR get over the stigma that homework is bad? Will both boys be accepted in their respective peer circles and have the opportunity to continue thriving?

This anticipation signals a "New Year", thus bringing about my usual resolutions: getting healthy, staying within my points, working out more, saving money, maintaining the house, etc. However, this new job as technology integrator puts me in a position to add more:
-To recite the "Serenity Prayer" when dealing with resistant and / or controlling people.
-To avoid negativity and micromanagement.
-To tune out people who like to hear their heads roar.
-To avoid mentioning new and innovative ideas to others. "Never teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Why bother?
-To leave work at work!
-Mommy, Wife, Employee.....in that order!!! (First two can be switched as needed.)

This year, year 22 in my teaching career, will start differently. The excitement will be there, but more for my boys than for me. This paradigm shift is due to my boys getting bigger and better and my job getting more frustrating and less important. This small fish in the big pond wants to find a way out of this stagnant swamp and into clear, rolling waters. This swim will take a little planning and a lot of growing. Keeping myself sharp physically, mentally and emotionally will help that growth. Now onto finding that path..... (and some swim lessons!) Happy New Year!!

Guilty!

Hi! My name is BJNR and I'm a slacker!!

While sitting on my deck, I ponder the fine art of doing nothing. Just for today, I am a lazy wife and mother. (That is, if you count only 2 loads of laundry being lazy.) It really isn't a bad thing. Or is it?

Society has put this enormous pressure on me to be in a constant state of doing: work out for 4 hours, take the kids to 30 places and buy them $700 worth of toys and other junk, cook a 9 course meal, wash all the linens, etc. While I can do some of these things some of the time, there are days like today when I just need to put on the brakes!

I am enjoying this downtime for the most part, but I feel that pressure gnawing at me: take the boys to the pool, clean my office, go for a run, work on my course, and so on... These little voices are making me crazy. Have I been so programmed by the 21st century that I can't relax anymore? What a horrible thought!

The mother guilt is the worst. While I dream of replicating last year's mountain excursion, finances and time were against us. Today, while many moms and dads are taking their kids out to do things, we stayed home and let the boys be....boys! They played with the neighbors, drew pictures, read books, rode bikes, ate snacks, and just let the wind take them today.

You know what? They not only survived, they had fun! They were creating games, getting exercise and using their brains. A great time was had by all!

Leave it to children to teach me yet another valuable lesson: It's OK to do nothing 'cause you end up doing something and this anything will mean everything in the long run!

Perhaps today I should declare my independence from doing......

Now, where was I? Oh yeah. My name is BJNR and I am a slacker!

Technology vs. Momology

Tomorrow, most of our technology integrator team will depart for Washington D.C. to attend the National Educational Computing Conference. I am looking forward to the experience, as I haven't been away to a professional conference since March, 2000! The conference, which lasts from Sunday to Wednesday, will feature the latest and greatest in technology education, both in pedagogy and product.

The professional in me is chomping at the bit to go, but the mommy in me is hesitant. The boys have already expressed their sadness due to my departure, especially my SRR, whose nickname "leech" has really stuck this weekend (pun intended). They both have been very clingy the past two days, saying how much they are going to miss me. While I know they'll be in great hands with Daddy, I will miss them terribly! This will be the longest I've been away from them. (My Noah's Ark trip to Chicago was only 3 days.) Hopefully, I can bring back some knowledge (and maybe some goodies) to help them get over my absence. Someday they will understand why I had to go and hopefully reap the benefits from my trip. Maybe a new Web 2.0 tool or piece of software could spark their talents. Maybe they can put Bill Gates to shame. Maybe I can retire early. Maybe I should stop the libations.....

Until next time......

Let's Dance!

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain.
This week gave me lots of opportunities to dance, as life handed me a deluge!! My dear friend had emergency brain surgery Sunday, SRR had an asthma attack Monday morning, work was hectic, and tonight we hosted my nephew's graduation party. My emotions ran the gamut of worry, gratitude, pity, relief, anger, disgust, frustration and euphoria.

Alas, some of the storms have left the area while some are still here, but are less intense. EJG is better, but not totally out of the woods yet. SRR's asthma is under control (no more bouncy places for him!), only four more weeks of work, and the graduation party was a hit.

You know what? I'm still going to dance. Why? Because I can!! I have a beautiful family, fabulous friends, food, clothing, shelter and good health. I cannot ask for anything more!! Crank up the music, I'm cuttin' the rug! Care to join me?

SOL

Not what you think. He's not in trouble (not at home anyway!). As a third grade teacher, he is charged with starting his students on their long journey through test-taking land. Third graders are the first victims in Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. They are tested in language arts (reading and writing), math, science and social studies.

At this point, I don't know who is stressed more: the students or their teacher! Don't worry Honey. You did your job and did it well. The rest is up to your kids! Hang in there...3 weeks to go!!

Hope....

This poor plant. It was buried under wet leaves. When I finally got to raking last weekend, this little plant caught my eye. It was bright green at the top and ready to thrive once the heaviness of wet, dead foliage had been lifted.

I can relate to this plant. For about four months, I have been suffocating under the heaviness of uncertainty: downsizing, finances, etc. While suffocating, I managed to grow, or shall I say grow up: questioning unnecessary spending, cutting back of "frills", being more frugal, finding ways to save money, and so on. Surprisingly, I have turned out a better person because of this heaviness. It has helped me to thrive and survive while being buried.

Luckily, it is good fortune that I have my position one more year. I am going to milk it for it's worth, personally, professionally and financially. Learning all that I can, growing all that I can, saving all that I can will help me survive like that poor plant. The wet leaves of doubt have given way to the sunshine that is HOPE. It is now that I also hope for the following:
-that EG's health continues to improve!
-that JG's employment status solidifies and her stress level diminishes. Enough already!
-that MGR figures out his academic future. Too many talents, too little time!
-that JOR and SRR continue to be the happy, healthy kids I adore!!
-that my siblings are doing well! I miss them!
-that my colleagues are in good places next year!
-that the children with whom I had the honor to work this week continue to show their gifts and talents on and off the stage. They are awesome young people!!!

Coda about that poor plant: it had to meet Mr. Lawn Mower. Let's hope my similarities to the plant end before that.....