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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Saying Goodbye

My seniors just left for the day. I have 5 classes left with them before their AP exam, and 12 classes left before the year is over. I am having a harder time now than in the past saying goodbye.

What is so special about the majority of my seniors is that I had most of them when they first entered high school as freshmen. They were in my first Pre-AP classes in 9th grade. Most continued on through the AP tract to rejoin me their last year, as high school seniors, in my advanced placement class.  Some, however, decided to drop down to college-bound English during their 10th or 11th grade year, which means I had a handful last year, as well. Some I've grown especially attached to I had for three of their four years of high school. And some merely roped me in this last year of their high school career. 

And now it is time to say goodbye.

I hate to say that I'm not quite ready to let them go. I'm not prepared to not be present in their lives. I'm certainly not ready for them to forget me, though I know I have to accede that I am not the foremost thought in their lives. I feel completely invested in their futures. I hope for them to be successful, to grow, to achieve their potential. I want for them to find their feet and their place in this world. I hope they will come visit me and stay in touch and continue to let me know how they fare.

This is my blog, but the post is not about me - it is about the students, the investment I and every teacher put in to their lives and futures, and it is about letting go. And as difficult as this is for me, I am still excited for all they will experience as they grow, bloom, and live.  And I can only hope I've done what I need to to ensure their success and happiness as they reach their roots down and rise up to meet their individual suns.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Kites, Kites, and Impending Nap Time!

This past weekend was the annual Kite Festival in the valley. I've always wanted to go but something always came up - either I was at a track meet, or was ill, or was swamped with work. Last year, it was rained out. But this year, we finally got to go and use the kites we've been holding on to for several years, just waiting for this opportunity to break them out.

Here, Steve is busy getting his shark (I know - shocker, isn't it?) elevated.


I was busy trying to ensure the little one didn't fly away with the dolphin kite he was using.  


Mommy and Syd get very skilled at flying. At one point, I had them both up in the air, by myself, before handing the dolphin off to Syd. 


Syd loved his dolphin. He enjoyed looking at all the kites going (I heard a report that there were 8,000 people there. Crazy! Thankfully, we got there early, right after music class, so we were gone [and on our way to a lengthy nap] before it got too busy.) but was quite content to fly his own.



Daddy and Syd with their aquatic animals.

It was a beautiful day. Rain storms were called for the afternoon, and rightly so - we're in the midst of the beginning of a springtime noreaster. But the sun was shining while we were still there. The weekend would be perfect if I were granted a snow day for tomorrow!!  Hint, hint...

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Milestones and Tradition

It seems that, other than the obvious, Easter weekend is becoming a weekend of milestones for my little one. It was on Easter Sunday, three years ago, that we surprised our family, who had given up on us, with the news that we were pregnant.


It was on Easter weekend Syd's first year that he had his first real illness - Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (see my girlfriend and co-worker, Christie's, blog posting on that particular illness here).


It was on Easter weekend last year that Syd took his first trip to the zoo.


This year, Syd moved from his crib to a BIG boy bed! Our crib came with a toddler 'wall.' Syd anxiously worked on the baby gate while Daddy installed the wall to the crib. Syd did very well, for his first night. What really got us tickled was that he still called out at 5 am that he wanted to get up. I don't think he realized he had that option, now.








Last, this is also his first year to participate in Easter Egg hunts - and actually get candy. Understandably, we severely limited the sugar intake, but the fact is he is now officially inducted in to the non-secular traditions that accompany this holiday.




All in all, it has been a tremendously fast three years. I wouldn't change a thing, even though he is a morning person and I, most definitely, am not. Steve told me that even through high school, he regularly got up at 5:30. I cannot fathom that in the least, but I look forward to not having to fight Syd to get to school on time.



Happy Easter to everyone! I love you all.