Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Halloween in Regland...
Halloween in our house has historically been a HUGE deal. I used to plan my kids costumes in the summer. There were elaborate plans, big purchases...much hype. Often my kids were Star Wars characters - Luke skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Jango Fett, Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan... We have also had Dorothy and the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter galore, George Washington, Ninjas...I shudder to think of the money that was spent on these costumes. The only saving thought I have here is that my children have always been REALLY into imaginative play and wore the heck out of those costumes. I think that my exuberance for Halloween has been burnt out. This year I did not plan anything ahead of time. A week before Halloween three of my kids announced that they were going to be football players and for the most part they had everything they were going to wear in their closets. Wally did decide to be Harry Potter for the second time in his life, but I given the amount of time he spends reading and rereading the books, I was willing to buy him another Harry costume that should fit him for years to come. He really did make an awesome Harry Potter! This year my kids planned their costumes and they did not notice that my approach was different. This was their deal and they were just as happy with how it turned out and I barely spent any money. It just goes to show that the amount of money that goes into an endeavor does not necessarily impact it's success. There is so much hype around Halloween and getting the "right" costume too many of us get sucked in. I am closing the door on that phase. Cha-Ching....
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Opinionnaire
Tonight in class we had one of the most interesting discussions that we have ever had in FSS....Students had to give their initial, gut reactions to 12 statements. They had to decide if they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each statement. The statements were:
1. All men are created equal.
2. Girls should act like girls.
3. It's okay to be different.
4. Nobody is all bad or all good.
5. Some words are so offensive that they should never be stated or written.
6. Under our justice system, all citizens are treated fairly in our courts of law.
7. The old adage, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you" is true.
8. Speaking standard grammar proves that a person is smart.
9. A hero is born, not made.
10. No one is above the law.
11. Education is the great equalizer.
12. When the law does not succeed in punishing criminals, citizens should do so.
I learned a lot about my students today....It was very enlightening.
1. All men are created equal.
2. Girls should act like girls.
3. It's okay to be different.
4. Nobody is all bad or all good.
5. Some words are so offensive that they should never be stated or written.
6. Under our justice system, all citizens are treated fairly in our courts of law.
7. The old adage, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you" is true.
8. Speaking standard grammar proves that a person is smart.
9. A hero is born, not made.
10. No one is above the law.
11. Education is the great equalizer.
12. When the law does not succeed in punishing criminals, citizens should do so.
I learned a lot about my students today....It was very enlightening.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous is as Miscellaneous does...and Miscellaneous should be done outside of class, actually after it has already taken place. Just sayin. True? True.
Greatest and Worst Learning Experiences
Lessons Learned
It is something to try to do the assignments that I parcel out. I have been struggling over writing about my greatest or worst learning experiences for a couple of weeks now… Originally I was going to write about the birth and death of my daughter Jacqueline…but those 36 hours were really just 36 hours in my life (I may write about them later). Although the little time I had with Jacqueline, October 5-7, 1999, was powerful and is emblazoned in my memory, the impact that Jacqueline had on my life was far greater than those three days. 18 months after Jacqueline passed away, my brother Johnny at the age of 28 died of a heroin overdose. A week after my brother died, I gave birth to my son Braden, and 18 months later I gave birth to my daughter Georgia. 5 years later, my grandmother, Gladys passed away at the age of 96. In the last decade I have had a front seat to the cycle of life and it has provided me with my most poignant lessons.
In a way my daughter Jacqueline made me believe in nothing…but myself. Enduring losing her made me reconsider how I was choosing to live my life. Her loss led me to believing in myself in a way that I never had previously. I realized that I needed to be a force in my own life, that I could not allow myself to let life keep happening to me. If I was in an unacceptable situation, I needed to change it for me and for my children. Not taking control of my life had resulted in dire consequences for me, but more importantly for my children. If I did not become a force in my own life, I would continue in a destructive existence that was unfulfilling and suffocating. Jacqueline’s death and the feelings of loss that resulted, made me realize that life is finite and that I could not assume that things will work out because it should, shouldn’t it? I came to realize that I could not assume that the worst thing I could imagine would not happen – it already had. I got pretty good at imagining the worst things that could happen. As time continued to pass and I lost my brother and then my grandmother, I realized I could sit back and just let things keep happening to me or I could try to enact positive changes in my life.
On the plus side the losses I have experienced taught me that I am stronger than I ever imagined. I realized I can and will survive any situation in which I find myself. I have come to believe that there is power in feeling my losses, grieving them and then going on to live more fully, honoring those who are gone. It might sound cliché, but for me it is true that facing the sadness, the devastation, has allowed me to feel the joy that is possible in the simplest experiences like watching my other children as they grow, reading a book, walking outside, or laughing with a friend over nothing. I have realized that happiness is not necessarily a destination, but rather a matter of embracing and appreciating everyday moments as they are intermixed with the seemingly endless trials of life. There is no guarantee that people that are here today will be here tomorrow, people die, cherished friends fade in and out of our lives, so I want to appreciate and enjoy them while they are here.
It is something to try to do the assignments that I parcel out. I have been struggling over writing about my greatest or worst learning experiences for a couple of weeks now… Originally I was going to write about the birth and death of my daughter Jacqueline…but those 36 hours were really just 36 hours in my life (I may write about them later). Although the little time I had with Jacqueline, October 5-7, 1999, was powerful and is emblazoned in my memory, the impact that Jacqueline had on my life was far greater than those three days. 18 months after Jacqueline passed away, my brother Johnny at the age of 28 died of a heroin overdose. A week after my brother died, I gave birth to my son Braden, and 18 months later I gave birth to my daughter Georgia. 5 years later, my grandmother, Gladys passed away at the age of 96. In the last decade I have had a front seat to the cycle of life and it has provided me with my most poignant lessons.
In a way my daughter Jacqueline made me believe in nothing…but myself. Enduring losing her made me reconsider how I was choosing to live my life. Her loss led me to believing in myself in a way that I never had previously. I realized that I needed to be a force in my own life, that I could not allow myself to let life keep happening to me. If I was in an unacceptable situation, I needed to change it for me and for my children. Not taking control of my life had resulted in dire consequences for me, but more importantly for my children. If I did not become a force in my own life, I would continue in a destructive existence that was unfulfilling and suffocating. Jacqueline’s death and the feelings of loss that resulted, made me realize that life is finite and that I could not assume that things will work out because it should, shouldn’t it? I came to realize that I could not assume that the worst thing I could imagine would not happen – it already had. I got pretty good at imagining the worst things that could happen. As time continued to pass and I lost my brother and then my grandmother, I realized I could sit back and just let things keep happening to me or I could try to enact positive changes in my life.
On the plus side the losses I have experienced taught me that I am stronger than I ever imagined. I realized I can and will survive any situation in which I find myself. I have come to believe that there is power in feeling my losses, grieving them and then going on to live more fully, honoring those who are gone. It might sound cliché, but for me it is true that facing the sadness, the devastation, has allowed me to feel the joy that is possible in the simplest experiences like watching my other children as they grow, reading a book, walking outside, or laughing with a friend over nothing. I have realized that happiness is not necessarily a destination, but rather a matter of embracing and appreciating everyday moments as they are intermixed with the seemingly endless trials of life. There is no guarantee that people that are here today will be here tomorrow, people die, cherished friends fade in and out of our lives, so I want to appreciate and enjoy them while they are here.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Favorite picture that represents my life at this moment.....
Ok, so I really have been trying to simplify my life, but somehow I cannot shake DRAMA...it pervades every aspect of my life. Well, that is sorta bullshit. I am Drama personified and all drama is magnetically drawn to me like a moth to a flame...It seems like it anyway. But really I like this picture because of the awesome accessories....
Dead Fish Not Floating
Somedays I feel like my life is some big joke that exists primarily for the amusement of others. On a good day I can laugh about the absurdities in my life...other days not so much. Yesterday sucked, but maybe I will write about that another time. Today I woke up on a mission to complete a lot of stuff (see yesterday someone who shall not be named told me I don't do enough - oh yeah that is another story)...so I hopped out of bed at 4am and ran downstairs to do some laundry and dishes. When I got downstairs I was greeted by Georgia's dead fish stuck under a cement basketball decoration (which I am sure was greatly enjoyed by her fish, whatever his name was). What the hell - did it drown? LOL...I am not sure how it got caught smushed up against the glass next to this basketball, but it did. I thought dead fish floated - not this one. Yesterday Georgia and Braden were washing the fish bowl with what seemed like an inordinate amount of soap. I cautioned them to rinse it REALLY well. I doubt that really had anything to do with whats-its-name's death...I didn't want to touch it so I moved the fishbowl to the table and sat at the counter and did my grading. I thought about putting it in Georgia's room and letting her discover it, but that did not seem right. I thought about flushing it down the toilet...I didn't. When Georgia woke up I told her that something sad had happened. She cried - she decided she wanted to bury it in the backyard (later, after school), then she got out of bed and took a shower. I still have to get the fish out of the bowl. Yuck. Dead fish not floating.
Halle, Halle Blackberry
I went out Friday night with a group of friends. While I was out having fun I misplaced my blackberry. When I woke up on Saturday I was panic stricken that I could not find my phone. I realized that it was a bit absurd to be SOOOOO upset, but my blackberry makes me feel like I have a little bit of control over my life even though a lot of what I have to do is determined by my four kids and my job. Having my blackberry allows me to keep on top of my email and be reachable if my kids need me. Ok, honestly I also get to SOCIALIZE if I have it and apparently I am a social being. I get to check my facebook and I get to email with friends throughout the day even if I have to drive three hours to get my kids to and from school (of course not when I am actually driving) or whatever other inane things I need to be doing...When I stayed home with my kids I used to talk on the phone nonstop. I don't like talking on the phone anymore, but I do like texting, emailing, facebooking about my life, reading the responses and keeping connected with what is going on in my friends' lives. When I am having a good or bad day I like putting it out there and receiving the reactions - they often make me laugh and make it easier for me to move through the day.
I was a bit perplexed about how out of sorts I felt without it. I was slightly shocked that I replaced it within 24 hours (albeit with a preowned one) and that it was in my hands by Monday at 6 (SIGH HAPPILY). I now have insurance on my blackberry....7 bucks a month, but I realize now having insurance gives me peace of mind. I am not sure how I feel about an object having that much importance in my life, but I am embracing the reality of it. She is important to me and SO I am naming her. I posted about the need for a name on facebook and my friends and I have determined that she shall be christened Halle, Halle Blackberry. I hope we have a long and fruitful relationship....and if you need to judge me for it - oh well. When I start naming my clothing - I will be worried and seek intervention...promise.
I was a bit perplexed about how out of sorts I felt without it. I was slightly shocked that I replaced it within 24 hours (albeit with a preowned one) and that it was in my hands by Monday at 6 (SIGH HAPPILY). I now have insurance on my blackberry....7 bucks a month, but I realize now having insurance gives me peace of mind. I am not sure how I feel about an object having that much importance in my life, but I am embracing the reality of it. She is important to me and SO I am naming her. I posted about the need for a name on facebook and my friends and I have determined that she shall be christened Halle, Halle Blackberry. I hope we have a long and fruitful relationship....and if you need to judge me for it - oh well. When I start naming my clothing - I will be worried and seek intervention...promise.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
What a ride....
I am teaching Freshman Seminar, Self and World for the first time...My bright idea for this course was for everyone to blog about their freshman journey....Clearly, this is not my freshman journey persay...But it is my first personal blog and it is my first time teaching this course. Originally I thought that we would just have a classroom blog, but through discussion in class we decided to add a personal blog to the mix instead of journaling in a notebook. Of course, one of my students wondered why I was not blogging too...Since I am a team player - I am going along for the ride and because of this student, and she knows who she is, I am creating my personal blog. I will admit that a friend of mine has been bugging me to start a blog as well, so I have been contemplating beginning a blog for a while. Apparently my life or my take on my life seems to be ripe fodder for a blog. We will see. Irregardless, I love to learn and if my students are figuring this blogging thing out...well I should too.
I love my job. I actually feel excited when I walk into TC3 and honestly look forward to seeing my students almost each and every day (I am human, so sometimes I am over it, just like they are over me :)). My wish for each of my students is that they will get to figure out what they are passionate about and get to do it everyday. One of my favorite things about teaching at TC3 is learning about the stories of my students. Each and every one has a story that makes them unique. I consider it my job to help them embrace who they are and harness their personal power as they set out to accomplish their goals. I am constantly surprised and impressed by what we have all endured and what we are capable of accomplishing when we put our minds to it.
In addition to being passionate about my job and consequently the success of my students, I am a MOM....I have four children; Harrison, Wally, Braden and Georgia. I was able to stay home with them for about ten years and only went to work full time about two years ago. It has been a big adjustment for all of us and is constantly a juggling act, but I think it is good for them to see me working hard at a job I enjoy and more importantly one that adds meaning to my life.
I love my job. I actually feel excited when I walk into TC3 and honestly look forward to seeing my students almost each and every day (I am human, so sometimes I am over it, just like they are over me :)). My wish for each of my students is that they will get to figure out what they are passionate about and get to do it everyday. One of my favorite things about teaching at TC3 is learning about the stories of my students. Each and every one has a story that makes them unique. I consider it my job to help them embrace who they are and harness their personal power as they set out to accomplish their goals. I am constantly surprised and impressed by what we have all endured and what we are capable of accomplishing when we put our minds to it.
In addition to being passionate about my job and consequently the success of my students, I am a MOM....I have four children; Harrison, Wally, Braden and Georgia. I was able to stay home with them for about ten years and only went to work full time about two years ago. It has been a big adjustment for all of us and is constantly a juggling act, but I think it is good for them to see me working hard at a job I enjoy and more importantly one that adds meaning to my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)