Peewee Football - Experiencing the Mob Mentality

My son is playing peewee football. He turned 8 last weekend; he was one of the younger ones on the team, most already at 8 years. His coaches have done a wonderful job of showing discipline to the boy as well as the player. One of the first lessons was to always help up whomever you hit. To check on the player, make sure everyone was ok. They answer instructions with "Yes, sir." They run laps when they're needlessly continuing to tackle after the whistle blows. The child receives instructions on how to be a team player as well as how to function in this dysfunctional world of ours.

Digression - In the past, I have taught A Tale of Two Cities to my freshmen. I love this book, long-winded though Dickens may be. In fact, one of the characters had an influence on how we named our son. But when it came to the storming of the Bastille, I always felt I was shooting in the dark. I tried to explain by how excited you get sitting with your friends at a football game. I tried to draw conclusions that the students would understand. But the truth is, I never fully understood, either.

Until this weekend.

Our peewee games have been met thus far with other teams who's coaches acted similar to ours. They all coached all kids, regardless of team. They all demonstrated what it is we hope our children will learn and practice so often it becomes second nature. And then we went up against our most recent opponent.

Before the game even began, there was a feeling - this peewee team was the 'little brother' of one of our arch rivals at the high school level, but the coaches and parents seemed to be trying to hide their feelings for the good of the littles on the field. My son was so excited just to be there, he danced at every play and congratulated every player who came off the field.

Long story, short - they scored and got a two-point conversion (the littles are too small to kick field goals). We scored and missed the conversion, but shortly thereafter, scored again and got it. We were up, 14-8 with two minutes left.

We had a horrible snap and the opponent managed to get the ball. They then ran it in for a touchdown.

This is where the story gets ugly and where my piece culminates. The defensive coach on the opponent's team ran onto the field, yelling for defense to come to him. He then proceeded to jump up and down yelling as loud as he could, "Who's field is this? Who's field is this?" over and over. There were still just under two minutes left on the clock. In peewee time, that is plenty to have the story continue.

Who's field is this? To seven and eight year old children. To littles who've been practicing hard for nearly two months, now. To my bear cub who just loved the game and was hoping he'd be able to make a big play. Who's field is this?

I was livid. I was shaking I was so angry, and I was in disbelief that someone could act so crass.

The ball snapped, and one of our players got past a block, and ran.

He ran that ball in for a touchdown.

I remember nearly every yard his little legs carried him. I remember jumping up onto the seats in front of me. I remember throwing my fist into the air.

I don't remember much else. I don't remember the sound of the crowd. I have no idea what the players or coaches were doing. I didn't even notice the sun blinding me or feel the late summer breeze. All I saw was our little guy outrunning their little guys and triumphing over the bitterness we'd just tasted.

I tasted mob mentality. Or rather, I lost myself in it. I have no memory of so much from that short 10 seconds. I cheered him on, then shook my fist at the other coach and yelled, "Who's field IS this?" and I remember one grandmother turning to me and saying, "THANK YOU."

It's scary, mob mentality is. It washes over one and sweeps one away. Dickens knew what he was saying when he likened the mob to the sea, bathing all of Paris with pitchforks, axes, and torches. And, even for someone who despises losing control, as I do, it is difficult to overcome. I finally had to walk away, turn my back on the game, and breathe deeply.

It wasn't the game. It wasn't the competition. That is merely part of life and something the littles need to learn - sometimes you lose (though, this time, {we don't keep score} we won 20-14).

He conveniently lost his teeth two weeks ago.

It was the blatant disregard for who we were watching that incensed me. That behavior is inappropriate at any age, but for littles who are trying so hard and just learning, it is especially despicable.

I have no doubt the opponent's parents and other coaches had something to say about the conduct of the one. No one from that side of the field left their side until our entire (parking lot) side had emptied. I don't blame them.

But now, the next time I teach AToTC, or any other piece that contains a mob, I'll know more of what I speak. Between you and me, I'd prefer to never feel that way again.

Making My Witchy Brew - Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Approximately two years ago, trying desperately to find something that would help my son breathe better and survive seasonal allergies, I heard about elderberry syrup. Now, I was raised in a home that practiced some herbal homeopathy. My mother is a very good cook and she would not only make teas and poultices for illnesses and injuries, but would also use herbs in cooking that served many purposes. I have continued that tradition.

Elderberry syrup was something I had not heard of before, which surprised me, but I researched it and found quite a bit that seemed to validate the fact that elderberries had medicinal qualities. I then began to look for recipes, knowing I was merely gathering ideas and that the final result would be my own.

I found one that seemed to suit my wants and needs. I followed the recipe the first time, and found the result to be delicious. Consistent use while coming down with a cold, or after suffering from one also showed that it worked. And this past fall's horrendous ragweed season proved the point even further, when I made it and gave it to the entire family on a daily basis. Within two days, we were all breathing much easier.

Ironically, last November, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a talk at a local college to hear Dr. Michele Tarter, a professor at The College of New Jersey, speak about Witchcraze - the history of witches. Essentially, the original definition of 'witch,' prior to 1486, is something to be proud of - it is merely a wise woman who helps others - either medically, emotionally, etc. The original witches were doctors and teachers. They cooked and counseled. They used homeopathy and lent a shoulder to cry on and offered hugs and hot tea.

I am a witch. As a teacher, I counsel, I educate, I offer hugs with advice. And, some days, I even offer hot tea. And at home, I certainly use healthy cooking and lots of love, listening, and herbs to try to take care of my boys. I am proud to call myself witch, and found great delight in having my students who accompanied me to hear Dr. Tarter call me a hag - a wise woman who offers advice.

That being said, I am making use of my 'witchy wiles' to share my recipe for homemade elderberry syrup. It seems proper that my first blog in the month of October be about a brew that anyone can make, and that can help you survive the re-awakened ragweed after Hurricane Joaquin passes us.

You can buy elderberry syrup in your local health food store or co-op. But it is ridiculously expensive, and if I make it homemade, I can use local, raw honey, which  provides increased protection against our local pollens.

You first need to obtain elderberries. I did some research, and found these to be priced well, organic, and the customer service is consistent. I buy in bulk, which will last us a few months, depending on colds and viruses we bring home to each other.

Put about 1 cup dried berries into a large pot. I am really tempted to buy a cauldron to make my elderberry syrup, but haven't given in, yet. I add 2-3 cinnamon sticks, 2-4 pieces of ginger, and approximately 8-10 dried cloves. All these spices have known antimicrobial or antibiotic properties, which can help a great deal if you're drinking this to get over a cold or the flu.

Add about 6 cups of water and bring to a soft boil. Simmer for at least 40 minutes.

Here's where you need to take note - Elderberries naturally have cyanide in them. Boiling the berries for this length of time removes the cyanide present in the berries. Just make sure you keep away from the steam when the mixture first begins to boil.

I tilt the lid, leaving space at the back of the pot so the steam is never in my face. And I do not allow my 6 year old near the stove when I first start making the syrup. After it has boiled down, allow it to cool. I have begun boiling in the evening and letting the pot sit overnight with a lid. By day, it has fully cooled and any other nutrients have leached out of the spices and into the water. Then, use several layers of cheesecloth to strain the liquid. Squeeze the detritus to get as much "good stuff" as possible. The remains can either then be composted or put in the trash.

Rinse the pot to make sure no pieces of berry or cloves are left, and pour the liquid back into the pot. Add local, raw honey to taste - I used approximately 1/3 of a cup to sweeten the mixture. One would think the berries would add some sweetness, but it is actually quite bland until the honey is added.

Store in the refrigerator. I give everyone about 1 tsp (using the medicine cups that come with children's medicines) once a day when you're treating allergies or protecting everyone from illness. I usually give 1 tsp every 6 hours when I am actively treating a cold or viral infection.

If you'd rather not take a teaspoon directly, it can be used on ice cream, pancakes, within tea, etc.! Happy brewing, my little witchy friends. If you try this recipe, please let me know how it turns out!

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Elderberry Syrup
1 cup dried elderberries
2-3 sticks of cinnamon
2-3 pieces of ginger
8-10 cloves
6 cups of water

***Update: I now also add dried Thyme and dried Hibiscus flowers - both are very good for upper respiratory infections. I also have begun to make honeysuckle syrup and can that, and I use the honeysuckle with the local honey to sweeten the elderberry concoction. Honeysuckle is also very good for upper respiratory infections. 

-Bring the ingredients to a boil, but stay away from the steam, as elderberries contain natural cyanide that will cook off.
-Allow the mixture to cool. 
-Strain the liquid through several layers of cheesecloth.
-Stir in local, raw honey to sweeten (about 1/3 cup)

Store in a large jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks!
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. And I still make ready use of western medicine when symptoms and common sense tell me it is time to go see a doctor. Use your head! Seek professional help for any questions to be safe!

A Little Boy's Dresser - Putting Dreams to Reality

Forgive me for my absence. I am quite ashamed at how much time has passed since I wrote a post. I have nothing to say except - this was a doozy of a school year. And I needed to distance myself from all that is scholastic for a time in order to feel the quickening that is necessary before I start to plan for next year.

In that distancing from all academia, I have discovered about myself that, as much as I love to bake, or write, or draw, or build out of blocks, or paint - I am a creative person - and as much as I find solace and enjoyment and relaxation in any of these while I am enmeshed in them, I would not be happy making  a career out of any one of them. I get giddy over putting together a lesson that I think is wonderful and interesting for my students. But I also find tremendous satisfaction in baking for my friends and family or making a healthy, satiating dinner for my family. I get butterflies when a poem bursts out of me with nary a distinct thought from my own head telling my hand what to write. I can take a deep breath and sigh with exhausted contentment when I battle, and defeat, a big mess or pile of laundry. And I had an unbelievable amount of fun conquering the mess that was this dresser, making it something my 4 year old is thrilled to have in his room. I need to flex my creative muscles in a wide variety of ways in order to feel whole. And this dresser put my muscles to the test in more ways than one.

I got it for free. I subscribe to freecycle.com - a website that is, essentially, a list where people send out emails stating they have something to give or need - all for free. It is a way of preventing the landfills from overflowing. Last winter, a very nice woman posted that she had an antique dresser to give away. It had water and termite damage. It was in very rough shape. It originally had four legs that stood it at least another 10 inches off the ground, but one leg was broken (eaten) off. Since I knew I would need another dresser for my son, soon, I accepted it. He's small. It made more sense to just cut off the three remaining legs and bring it down to his height.  

In the process of priming it (two coats of Kilz - water damage stains soaked through almost immediately), I realized the bottom drawer was not worth the effort to fix. So, I broke off the sides and bottom and kept the front panel. My husband sawed off the braces for the bottom drawer, and we now have a nook where my son can keep his shoes out of the way and in one place, freeing up some space in his toy room.

My son loves blue. It has been his favorite color since the day he could point out colors. He always wants to wear blue. He wants blue food. He wants blue toys. At a birthday party yesterday, he chose a cupcake to eat solely on the fact that it had a blue cocktail umbrella in it. So, it was an easy choice for me to pick colors. He picked out two blues that he liked (though his absolute favorite is the darker of the two). I painted the entire outside of the dresser in this darker color - two coats. The insert panels and the inside of the dresser are the lighter shade.

For my son's 5th birthday in September, we're having a Star Wars themed party. He adores Star Wars (episodes 4-6). They have become his new pick for sick days, for rainy afternoons, etc. I found these drawer pulls on Etsy - the characters are outlined in glow-in-the-dark paint. They are a big hit with the little one!

The drawers (and the third front panel) I painted in a color that is actually a twilight purple. It is very dark, but not black. I wanted them to stand out from the blues on the dresser. Then, I scoured the internet, poster sales, wall paper selections - you name it! - for solar systems, planets, stars. I wanted a celestial background for his Star Wars characters to stand against. I finally resorted to checking a book out of the library on galaxies and making color copies of them. Everything I found was either cartoonish or obvious paintings/drawings of stars and planets. I just envisioned real solar systems. This was the only way I could make my vision come to fruition.

Using the store brand of Mod Podge (I really wish someone had just told me that this was essentially nothing more than a huge tub of liquid glue), I decoupaged the pictures to the front of the drawers, adding two coats to the top of the pictures. In this one, above, you can still see the last solar system drying.

My son, and his little buddies, all made July 4th t-shirts during one of our play dates. I had plenty of white and glow-in-the-dark paint left over, so I added little drops to the board in random sizes and places. I outlined, dotting out the stars, the solar systems in the GITD paint. In this one, above, you can see a faint bit of the glowing. After I was satisfied with the number of stars and the GITD paint, I added two more layers of glue/decoupage over the top to seal everything in and, hopefully, keep the added stars and dots from getting rubbed off, broken off, etc.

Above, you can see the very wet GITD paint. It shows up yellowish-white, then fades to almost translucent after it dries.

Once all layers of paint and decoupage had dried and seasoned, somewhat, I added the Star Wars drawer pulls. Darth Vader looks like he is about to fight off this spiral solar system. 

 My finished product. I have no idea how old this dresser was to begin with, but the frame was solid. And the remaining wood, even if a bit water stained, is in good shape. And I believe this is the first time something I imagined came out almost exactly as I imagined it. 

Here, below, is the matching 3rd drawer-front. I finished the top and sides of this the same as I did the drawers. I painted the insides of the drawers to seal out dust and dirt and then added contact paper to the bottoms to keep his clothes from snagging on anything. To the 3rd drawer-front, I added the 4 remaining drawer pulls and drilled hangers on the back. This will be a place for him to keep his hats, jacket, etc.

Below, you can see his 3rd-drawer front hanging in his room. His bed faces it, so he'll be able to see his solar systems glowing.

Here's my little Snickerdoodle photo bombing the finished dresser.

 The finished dresser. This, too, faces his bed, so he'll be able to see the GITD solar systems and drawer pulls at night. He has also begun moving his shoes under the cubby the 3rd drawer made.

 My little escape the first few weeks of summer gave me a chance to truly stretch creative muscles I hadn't used in quite some time. And this was such fun. My son helped paint some of the blue, too, but even though the end product was for him, the process was for me. He always had input on how things were done, though. I know he'll outgrow this dresser at some point, but I'm hoping that doesn't happen for a long time. And after it does, I'm still keeping the drawer pulls. :-)

What ways do you find to stretch yourself - either creatively or mentally? I'd love to hear your stories!

Because it is My Name - Thoughts on Raising a Well-Behaved Child

My son is 4.

He is a good boy. He is kind and compassionate. He shares his food with me whenever I ask. Sometimes, I ask just to see if he's willing, even if I "change my mind" after he says yes. And I am happy to say that he always does, though he sometimes hesitates at first. 

He is interested in many different walks of life and happy to chat with everyone we see. He is generally very helpful around the house. He says please and thank you and I'm sorry. He loves his friends and his family, and, though still a small child, is pretty good about sharing his toys.

But lately, he has been getting quite an attitude.

He has begun to sigh when I ask him to do something.

He has sassed back when I've corrected him or instructed him to do something.

I have caught him rolling his eyes at me when I do not give him what he wants immediately.

And tonight, he went too far. He not only sassed me when I told him to eat his dinner, he did so with the mimicky, high-pitched voice that warranted an immediate response from me.

I am frustrated with this increase in attitude. Steve and I do not spank, but we are very clear in our expectations and, I like to think, very consistent in our responses to misbehavior. We treat each other with respect and make it a habit to model the behavior we expect from our son. We certainly do not sass each other, nor do we perform the mimicky voice he pulled this evening. I have to presume he learned some of this from outside the home, and developed the rest on his own as he tests the limits.

We do not spank, but we do correct.

As I commanded his attention, directing him to look me in the eyes, I suddenly remembered this scene from The Crucible. I was surprised to discover that, by about mid-January, I missed my 11th grade curriculum. I have taught The Crucible for the past 8 years, and suddenly, quotes from it come floating to me at the most random moments.

PROCTOR, with a cry of his whole soul: [...] how may I teach [my son] to walk like [a man] in the world? [...]Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! [...] How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

It is my name. My son has my name. Everything I do and for everything I strive - I must teach my son, guide my son - so he is worthy of my name, and so I am worthy of the title of 'Mommy.' 

There is a meme floating around cyberspace that says, if I remember correctly, "Leave a better planet for our kids? Why not leave better kids for our planet!" How can I ensure my son will be able to help in some capacity when he's older? 

I corrected him. Immediately and clearly, but calmly.

Will it happen again? Of course. He learned this somewhere, but he is also of the age where he is testing limits - seeing just how much he can get away with before he is called on his behavior. He will also forget. We all forget. The only thing I desperately hope he remembers the first time around is when safety is involved. The rest, I may be frustrated or disappointed, but I understand repetition and consistency are necessary.

I love my son - so much so that I insist on his being respectful to others. So much so, that I will not allow him to get away with sassing others. He is a good boy and I am proud of him, but I know there is still a lot of work ahead of us all.

Image courtesy of https://www.google.com/search?q=image+the+crucible&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uCdPU9CLPKnJ8AHVsIDwDw&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=692#q=image+of+john+proctor+the+crucible&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=8J6YJmzhtL-x5M%253A%3Bd5X0d6V06YPOFM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fandreirublev.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F05%252Fcru11.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcelluloidheaven.org%252Ftag%252Fjohn-proctor%252F%3B720%3B384

Reminiscing while Juggling Tasks - Making My Love Known

We've been hit with the 3rd largest snow storm in my town's recorded history. It isn't THAT much, in terms of what I've seen as a child growing up w/ lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan in Waukesha, Wisconsin, but it is enough, what with our hills, curvy roads, and mountain passes, to side-line everything in the surrounding area for a few days.

That being said, today is Valentine's Day, and while I did have something special and unique planned for Steve (we don't usually celebrate this as a special day, since I'm thankfully conscientious of how important he is to me), the weather has side-lined it. It may end up being a birthday surprise this summer when there is no chance of a blizzard ruining it. :-)

Instead, though, I did what I felt was next best - and what I strive to do on a daily basis - I wanted to demonstrate to him, and to my son, what true love looks like. Steve had to go to work. He purposely drove a work jeep home so he could get in and out over the past two days, swinging by to pick up his employees, coming home an hour or more late due to impassable roads, etc. So, what could I possibly do to make his life easier once he got home from making sure the entire valley had water? That his employees were safe?

Yes, a hot dinner on the table is essential. But so is a driveway that is maneuverable, a happy child waiting to play with him, work clothes cleaned, folded, put away. I am happy to take care of my family when they do so much to take care of me. And Steve is such a kind soul - such a good Daddy - such an uplifting friend and confidante and positive influence in both our lives. He is worth the sore back I will have the next few days.

So, I bundled the kiddo up and we went outside to play. I cleared out enough for his car to come home and dug my car out so today's sunshine would make short shrift of the thaw. Syd loved the huge pile I made near the mailbox, and climbed to the top over and over, yelling in glee as he crested.

Then, no snow day is complete without the signature snowman. I have a kit that my wonderful sister gave us for Christmas several years ago, but I hadn't fully expected Syd to last this long in the snow (the past few days, we've lasted 30 minutes, tops). He proved me wrong and we built this guy, using gravel and mulch for the face.

My thoughts drifted back to my childhood, after we moved to Virginia. There was a huge snowstorm when I was in high school, and when I think of it, I automatically remember my entire family getting so excited because we'd missed our Waukesha snow so much. My mother couldn't make it into work, so she was home with all of us. We made a HUGE snowman in the driveway - at least 6 feet tall (if you know the women in my family, that is huge!). My mom went inside, gathered together several water bottles, and filled them with water and food coloring, and we completely decorated our snowman, giving her a dress, a face, hair, etc. I know we have pictures somewhere, but I will have to really dig to find them.

My point is, in building our snowman below, and the subsequent activities, I thought very fondly of the time Mom and I spent together outside, forgetting chores and roles and just playing. I truly hope that Syd grows up to have fond memories like these of the two of us, especially since we'll be sharing all snow days together.

After the snow man, Syd and I rested in the seemingly warm snow. The temperatures have risen to the high 40s, and it was downright pleasant to lay in the snow, staring up at the cerulean blue sky with nary a cloud nearby. I was struck by this picture, and I wish you could truly see just how beautiful it was with the sparkles from the snow reflecting off his skin.

He got tired of laying and started throwing snowballs at me. So, I did what any good Mommy would do and began to wrestle with him. Here, he is struggling to stand back up.

He continued to throw snowballs, so I talked him into building a snow fort so we could attack Daddy when he got home. This shows how tall it is! We'll both be able to successfully duck down and block any snowballs coming our way.

I built a fort for Daddy, too. After I finished, Syd wanted to test them out, so we had a snowball fight. Here's a solid launch he let fly. Suitably, it looks like it is in the shape of a heart! After a long day fighting snow, keeping us in water, and just being out and about, I know a snowball fight with our new forts will help Daddy forget his stress and kick off his weekend perfectly.

After we came inside, I got laundry going so we would have dry clothes to get into for our next trip into the white wonderland outside. Then, we baked a cake. One square pan and one circle pan. Cut the circle in half and attach with frosting to perpendicular angles of the square to form a heart. Syd loves to bake with Mommy, and Daddy will still have something special waiting for him at home.

How do you show your love in simple ways? How do you pass the time when the weather is bad? Share your ideas and perhaps we'll try yours next snowstorm!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone - and Happy Memories with the simple things in life.

A Gift of Thanks - Ice Candles

 One year, when I was a child, I wanted to make something special and unique for Christmas presents. I pored over library craft books (this was waaayy before the Internet) and found this fantastic idea for ice candles. The creations were each unique from each other due to the way the wax cools around the ice as it melts. The closest thing I can think of to relate it to is the from the movie Sweet Home Alabama, when the lightning strikes the sand and turns it into glass sculptures.

Fast forward quite a few years. My son is about to finish his first year of preschool. Not only have his teachers helped see him through some of his biggest milestones (potty training, teething his last molars, etc.), they've also protected him through 2 lock downs (one in immediate danger zone), cuddled him through strep and a handful of ear infections, and rocked him to sleep on his off days. They've done an incredible job keeping him stimulated, learning, caring, and independent. They've instructed, consoled, encouraged, and corrected him. They are angels. And I want to give them something unique and special to show them Steve's and my appreciation for all they've done the past 9 months. But what could I offer that wouldn't be overdone, or useless, or ruin a diet? Then I remembered the ice candles.

Before you can begin, you must collect as many tin cans as you need in the size you want. The only stipulation is that these must be of the "old school" design - meaning, both ends must be able to be cut off in order to successfully extract the candle from the can. I don't know how recently the "stackable" cans came out, but the bottoms are rounded and cannot be cut off. Avoid these for this purpose. Below, I have two pumpkin cans - one upside down so you can see the ridge that enables the can opener to cut the bottom off.

You will also need whole candles to fit in the middle of these - if they're too long (as you'll see in my picture below), heat a knife and cut these to the desired length.

Next, I was able to garner a large quantity of slightly used crayons off of freecycle.com. I discovered each teachers' favorite colors and began to separate the crayons. This was a practice in 'browns' 

First, peel the crayons. 

 Mark the insert candles with the length requirements and cut them with a heated knife to make the cut cleaner and prevent damaging the candle as a whole. 

 Using an older (or buying a cheap pot just for this purpose) pan, melt the wax.

 I used a popsicle stick to stir the wax as it melted. This is a lovely chocolate brown color.

 As the wax melts, pour a tray's worth of ice cubes into a freezer bag (thicker than regular storage baggies) and hit on a safe, hard surface to break the ice up. You do NOT want shavings or tiny pieces. Try to keep these fairly large. You may purchase a bag of from a store, too. I used our basement floor, since it was concrete, as I didn't want to damage the surface beneath the baggie.

 Pour the ice chunks around the center candle.

 Using the baggie (or newspaper) as protection, pour the melted wax over the ice. One key note of advice: make sure you have enough melted wax to come to the top of the can. As you can see, my practice candle was, thankfully, practice. I did not have enough wax to fill it. After the can is filled, let it sit long enough for the wax to harden. I initially put them into the freezer to speed that up, but only long enough for the top to solidify. After that, pull them out so the ice will melt.

 I let them sit overnight. Then, pour out as much melted ice as possible. Placing a towel on the counter, cut the bottom of the can, but leave the bottom on. Very gently, and pressing as evenly as possible on the bottom piece, push the candle out the top of the can. There will be pieces that break off, but you should be pleasantly surprised with the myriad of designs that appear.

Here's the collection of candles I made for Syd's teachers. Notice that the cans are full to the brim with the various colored waxes.

After extracting, these are each unique. I hope his teachers are able to enjoy these, and I hope it conveys, in some small part, our appreciation for their time, energy, and love for our son.

It's odd. I've been a public school teacher for 8 full years, now. I've always enjoyed the letters, the notes, the small gifts my students bring me - before the holidays and sometimes at the end of the year. But I find myself pondering the thank you gifts we're giving my son's teachers more than expected. It is an interesting dichotomy of thought, and it makes me appreciate the time I have with my students even more.

A Summer Break Revelation

The school year is nearly over. We have our AP English Lit. test tomorrow, final SoLs are next week, then we have a week before exams hit. My 8th year in this public school is done and I am officially past the statistical "I-am-burned-out-&-must-leave-this-career-for-something-else" point. The first few summers, I tried to find summer jobs to help out. But let's be honest - I was teaching and coaching a spring sport and barely even saw my own bed much less had time to look for a job before all the returning college kids snatched them up. 

Then, I got burned out on coaching the same year we became pregnant. Very convenient combination to use as a reason to resign from coaching. That summer, I enjoyed myself tremendously and I took advantage of every spare minute I had for myself, knowing that would all change.

The first summer I was home with baby was nice. I got a lot of reading done, but not much else. Syd was crawling and I was still nursing. I wrangled baby.

The second summer was better - we could go outside and play more. He could go swimming and we were involved in more activities. He was in swim lessons. We still did a lot of playing with blocks, but we started having play dates and music classes.

Last year, I was prepping him for preschool. We discovered Play-Doh and all it's awesome possibilities. We had swim lessons and play dates and visited Daddy at work. And I downloaded coloring sheets that focused on letters of the alphabet. We colored these and practiced the sounds, and I decorated the walls with our motley-colored crayon alphabet. We reviewed these regularly. We sang, we danced, we grew.

My son will be nearly 4 this summer. After paying for preschool this year as well as replacing our HVAC over spring break, I thought a part-time job would help with a few other repairs that needed to be done, plus offer a little wiggle-room for some entertainment. However, my summer search for a job fell to the wayside weeks ago. I pursued it for about two weeks before deciding not to worry. Then I had a revelation.

Allow me to digress for a moment - I said our AP test is tomorrow morning. 7 am sharp. My seniors have been working diligently towards this moment and I have the utmost faith that if they are able to calm their nerves and focus, they will do well and surpass their own expectations. I am in awe of some of my students' abilities. I want to ask them, and their parents, what they did to ensure not only the basic understanding of concepts but also the depth of focus, analysis, etc. that allowed these students to reach this level of success and achieve their potential. How do I raise a child who will make use of what has been given him? How do I make sure he grows to appreciate his potential and not waste it in teenage angst?

I was downloading worksheets for Syd to work on this summer. I still have some alphabet ones from last year, but what I was more focused on as I looked through the hundreds offered here was the expansion of his knowledge. Yes, I want him to remember what I and his wonderful teachers have worked with him on this past year. However, I want to push him, too. I want him to stretch so that even if he isn't ready for the level of work, he is still striving for that level - but not to the point of frustration.

And then it hit me. No longer was my summer schedule just made up of play dates and music lessons (translation - bang on a bunch of drums and dance in bubbles), movies and parks. I had already built in consistent library dates. I was searching Pinterest for fun science ideas and basic math. I found printable worksheets for cutting and tracing and connecting alphabetical as well as numerical dots. I downloaded flashcards for sight words and cue cards for rhyming and alliteration as well as worksheets for blending sounds. I had activities that discussed weather and seasons and comprehension. I even found simple math - addition and subtraction, and started planning in my head how to use M & Ms to accomplish this.

I was, in fact, developing a curriculum for my toddler.

I am, after all, a teacher. And I know I know I know he is not ready for some of these - I had accidentally found myself in 1st grade-level activities a few times. But I also know he's a smart cookie. And I know, too, that we won't have the constant stimuli that a school room with 17 three and four year olds will have. I wanted to be prepared. And isn't the first rule - in fact, the cardinal rule of teaching to be over-prepared so the students don't have time to get into trouble? 

Ever since my first summer with baby, I have developed a "plan" for the summer. I allot time to work on my own classes; I plot milestones for us; I plan activities. But my job this summer, rather than working in retail or keeping on top of parks and Sesame Street and keeping house, is to keep son. To raise my son. To stay focused on his character and his education and to help make memories that he will cherish later. And to establish a basic understanding that education, in any form, is necessary and required and enjoyed. 

We will not complete all that I have downloaded. I will be surprised if we make our way even halfway through. But I have it here in case he shows an aptitude for any of it, and I have a ready stock of crayons, toddler scissors, and tape. I'm looking forward to trading in my SoLs and AP tests and deep, analytical novels and essays for Little Critter, Berenstein Bears, and lots of crayons and Play-Doh.

Track Meets and Swinging

Syd had a field trip yesterday. He had a glorious time going to Feet Meet - a Special Olympics sponsored track meet for little ones. Here he is with his best friends, Z & H. We call them the 

"Three Amigos" 

and they are truly attached to each other.

Here, he is showing off his blue ribbon.

He had a perfect day!

We were able to finally get his swing set up. It took a bit of finagling, but it is safe and he should be able to get hours of entertainment out of it. And best, he won't have to bide his time at the park any more w/ other kids who love the swing as much as he does. His visible concentration is because he's practicing pumping on his own so Mommy doesn't have to push. He's not quite there, but it won't take long.

Syd's first year of preschool is coming to a close. It is amazing the changes that have taken place w/ our little one. I am thankful he's more independent and able to do things on his own so I can get more accomplished. I look forward to continuing to help him grow and develop. I am excited for what changes and challenges and victories are yet to come.

But I will never forget my precious baby. 

And he will always be my precious baby.

Do not cry because it is over --

Laugh because it happened.

Dr. Seuss

Motivation

GUESS WHAT???

WE'RE POTTY TRAINED!!

This is a... what word do I want to use? Struggle? Battle of wills? for nearly a year. I fully planned on being done with this by the time school started in August. Syd had other plans.

I will not bore you, nor gross you out, with details. But suffice it to say that this last gem pictured here helped seal the deal. 

We were shopping and Syd grabbed this off the shelf. It was more than we usually spend on a "non-occasion" gift, so we agreed that he only gets this after he's potty trained. It hung here for about a month with nothing happening other than talk. 

"That's mine when I'm potty trained!" "Yes - want to try going on the potty?" "No. Maybe later."

Finally, I took it down and hid it. It had lost its luster. It took a week before Syd realized it was missing.

This weekend, after being warned numerous times over the past month and having the Easter Bunny inexplicably take his last few remaining diapers after dropping off some candy and dinosaurs, we switched, with no looking back. And he is golden. He has done so well. I know he could have done this earlier, but we had to wait until HE decided to do it. He gets his stubborn honestly - from both sides of the family, and, as I've been learning, from both sides of both of us. 

After his first fully successful day, he asked for his Lego helicopter. It was still in hiding, which shows he hadn't lost sight of his goal. We told him he has to make it a week. 

4 days and counting!!

Quick Update

We had yet another snow day today. The snow started late last night, as Steve and I were headed to bed, so we missed out on all the "soft, fluffiness" and only got to play in the cold, hard, icy snow that broke off the car in sheets and crumbled to dust when you tried to make a snowball this morning. 

But isn't he daggone cute? A former student knitted this hat for Syd this past summer.  We had a lot of fun making footprints and trying to make snowballs, but the wind eventually blew us back indoors.

The household is finally getting healthy again and today was relaxing. All in all, it was a wonderful day. 

I'm Pretty Sneaky - Black Bean Brownies

What can I say?

I've begun to earn the reputation at school of always adding some vegetable or another to baked goods. Zucchini bread; carrots to applesauce cake, etc. Well, this time, I made Black Bean Brownies!!

Let's be honest - who doesn't get so caught up on balancing life, work, family, chores that we make mistakes w/ our diet - or providing for our families in that arena. This way, you don't have to worry or feel guilty about missing some component. Making these this evening also followed on the tail end of a trying virus that had Syd eating almost nothing, so getting protein and roughage in him while he ate chocolate is worth it all!

The best part? My boys like them!!

1/2 can (of 16 oz cans) of black beans, rinsed and drained
3 eggs
4 Tbsp flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp oil
vanilla
nuts - which I woefully left out - but here's hoping Syd continues to outgrow his allergy!

Blend it all (except the nuts) in a food processor and pour into a greased baking pan. Bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes. The top should be set and the edges should be starting to pull away from the sides of the dish.

Happy Veggie Baking! Let me know how your recipes turn out!

Bittersweet Weekend

 This weekend was long and bittersweet, for several reasons.

The Sweet:

We finally got a decent snow. My school system is desperate to get a minimum of 10 inclement weather days this year, or we are required by the state to start after Labor Day next year. Now, anyone who is familiar with the Murphy's Law knows that if we start after Labor Day next year, we will lose all our teacher work days and carry school into July because that is when we'll get our 10+ days. 

We were closed with Hurricane Sandy. And now with the remnants of Storm Iago. Apparently, this is a year for the 'named' weather.

That being said, the snow was welcome for 3 reasons: 

1. Simply put, it offered us a day at home.
2. It is much better timing than hitting this upcoming week (our first round of SoLs is the 30th). 
3. We're closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Thus, we have a 4-day weekend.

 Syd snoozes. He sure knows how to sleep hard! I only included this because, well, it's cute.

 We got out of school early on Thursday. I had just enough time to get to the grocery store and get home before the sleet started. By 3pm, it was snowing. Here, Syd and Daddy play in the snow after dinner. It is an excellent way to use of the last vestiges of energy! It also offered excellent Daddy-son time, as Steve had to go out of town the next day for the entire extended weekend for business.

What isn't shown above is that this was a beautiful, wet snow. This took me back to my days in Wisconsin when our lake-effect snow would come. It was perfect and wet and heavy and made the best snowmen. Knowing the area in which I live, I knew the packing ability would diminish by dawn, so in the half-light after dinner, we made Sydney's first snowman. The next morning, Syd and I went back to take pictures before the sun did its damage.

 Not bad! Mommy did most of the work on the base of the body, but Syd and Daddy helped with the middle ball and the head. Syd placed every piece of accessory himself.

The Bitter:

Unfortunately, while we were gearing up for the weekend and Daddy's business trip, I was awaiting news from my sister about Pop pop. He passed away Thursday. 

Yours was a beautiful life, Pop pop. You are loved, and you are missed. I only wish I could be there in person to give Grandma a huge hug and say goodbye to you.

In addition to all that was going on this weekend, Skye had been quite ill. 

Kitty Skye died on Saturday. 

This was difficult to handle solo because Syd was witness to everything that occurred with her.

Skye, you were a wonderful kitty. I still wait to hear your soft padding coming down the stairs and your squeak hello. I love you.

The Lesson:

Life, and all it entails - it's joys and sorrows, ebbs and flows. It brings to mind the song by The Byrds:

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!