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.

Feeling Restless

Image from http://worldwide.aceharmon.com/ace-harmon/2009/1027

I'm feeling antsy. 

I have so much I want to do. 

So much I need to do.

I have areas of me aching to stretch and grow

to hinder atrophy

 test creative muscles

experiment

Facets yet to discover

Experiences to share

I think this is the worst case of 'Itch'

I've had in years.

The summer cannot come

soon enough.

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

Two Birds W/ One Stone - Southwestern Chicken Bake

I stumbled upon a gem for dinner a few weeks ago. Anyone who is... well... alive and doing anything at all knows how hard it sometimes is to get dinner on after getting home while also trying to prepare for the evening as well as the next morning. Throw in a child or two or more and it can truly be a struggle. I love quick dinners, especially "all in one"s that make it easier to just put the dish on the table and move on.

This is a very easy, healthy, and all-in-one that we've found acceptable by the entire family. 

Southwestern Chicken Bake (with or without the Southwestern...)
2 cans black beans (I've been using seasoned organic that I've found in my area)
1 can diced tomatoes (I use the garlic & oregano seasoned)
1 bag frozen corn
1 package chicken (I use skinless breasts, but do as you wish)
If you want this more Southwestern, add a can of chilies or other hot peppers to taste

Mix the vegetables together in your baking dish. Rinse the chicken and place on top of the vegetables, but wiggle them back and forth to get some of the liquid over the top of the chicken - it helps season them as well as preventing them from drying out. Bake - 350* for an hour.

I love the way the house smells with this dish. And the nice thing is that if you are in Virginia in the middle of July and can't stand the thought of turning on the oven, the crock pot works here, too. Prepare all the vegetables, add the chicken, and turn it on low in the morning, and by dinner time, you've got a meal that is delectable.

Add A Twist
The first night, we ate this with brown rice as a formal dinner. Two nights later, Steve and I were finishing the last of this dish and wanted a change. I shredded the remaining chicken and mixed everything together before reheating. Then, we added cheese and sour cream, and ate it as an elaborate dip with tortilla chips, which added a nice crunch factor. There are easily other 'tweaking's you could do to this. 

What I truly appreciate is that the beans offer protein and fiber, which fills us up, and it is gluten-free, for those who are limiting or eliminating wheat from their diets. It also includes a full serving of vegetables. It is such an easy way to get all that you require for dinner while still FEELING like you're cheating on whatever diet you follow. 

Two birds - you can bake it in the oven to warm up the house in the winter, or you can use a crock pot to keep the house cooler. You can eat it as a formal dinner w/ protein and sides, or you can mush it all together and make a munchie for parties or just a change of pace. This is a versatile meal that works on many levels. 

Oh, and the most important part? My husband, in the middle of mouthfuls, told me four times that he REALLY liked this and he was glad I made it again. Then, he requested this become part of our regular repertoire. THAT, my friends, is success. :-)

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!!

Silver Lining

I came home today and cried.

I caught 5 students plagiarizing. Deliberately. When I asked them why, only one student responded, and he blamed it on laziness.

My disappointment and anger over the incident left a bitterness in my mouth. It was quite tangible. And it made me realize something - 

I love my job.

Not the standardized tests and hoops we have to jump through. Not the constant meetings and incessant data entry and compilation. The every day interaction with youth and promise for our future. And there is promise for our future.

With the exception of one, I've never had these students before their junior year with me. And our school is large enough that I don't recall having seen three of them until they walked into my classroom in August. But in the 6 1/2 months I've had these classes, I've gotten to know my students. These 'kids' all have their own personality, their own hopes and dreams, their own fears and weaknesses.

It is frightening to think of the broad future and where we're headed as a society. It is easy to say our youth are typical teens who are lazy, disrespectful, and take the easy way out. But it is angering to blindly apply these labels to all teenagers.

We were young once. We all got tired. We all made mistakes. We all took shortcuts. But it is through these experiences that we learned more about ourselves, that we grew from our mistakes. And it usually stemmed from having disappointed someone.

I am still very angry at these students. I am even more disappointed in their choice of actions. All five have so much potential for their future. All five are smart, funny, interesting kids with eclectic tastes and  talents. All five made a mistake.

I just hope getting caught in flagrante delecto and seeing the sadness on my face was the point of recognition needed to help them move in the right direction. I hope this is a lesson that will stay with them even until they are the ones disappointed in their children, or students, etc.

And for myself, the sheer ability of this incident to illicit the reaction I had demonstrated to me why I will continue in this profession. I see so much hope and potential in tomorrow's leaders. And I appreciate knowing that I am instrumental in helping them all know someone expects more.

A Eureka Moment

One night this past week I was lying in bed, my night owl brain trying desperately to, again, conform to the morning person patterns on which our house runs. (I am the sole night owl. It has been a continuous struggle.)

Random thoughts sometimes fly on nights like that. I have no recollection as to what stirred these memories, but I was suddenly taken back to my junior year of college. Allow me to expound...

Early spring. I remember because I had been tricked by Mother Nature into wearing a light sweatshirt that was quickly revealed as being too light in the mountain-top gusts of wind that whistled past my frame. I was on my way to some obligatory meeting. I don't recall what; it obviously didn't make an impression on me. All I know is that I was feeling dread and wishing the time would go by so I could go back to "our" dorm room and cuddle w/ Steve and warm up.

As I walked across campus to the meeting, I saw, not even a foot away from the heavy traffic in the fading light, a minute creature huddled on the ground. I was astonished this was lying here and went to look closer. It looked like a baby mouse, but its tail was much too long for a mouse. I looked up and saw a knot of branches and leaves and figured it was a baby squirrel that fell out of its nest.

Photo Courtesy of: http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/cutesquirrels.html

So, I picked up the newborn and cradled it in my hands for the next two hours, trying desperately to transfer some of my waning body heat to it.

Steve was a trooper. His hands are always so warm, and he gladly took over the maternal cuddling of the baby. The two of us made up a bed in a shoebox, but the baby woke every hour during the night and squealed for his(?) mommy. He was cold and hungry. Every time he woke, Steve or I cuddled it again to warm it up. The next day, we got medicine droppers and fed it milk mixed with corn syrup until we could find someone to adopt him. Thankfully, we only had to wait until the end of the day, as it turns out a woman in housekeeping had raised squirrels before.

Why is this important? It's not. But it's curious. I realized I've always had an affinity for the name 'Sydney.' Steve and I named the baby squirrel Sydney the Squirrel. We would check in with the woman in housekeeping regularly until she informed us he'd been released to the wild. Our first 'child' together was named Sydney, and our first CHILD together is named Sydney. There must be a connection, somewhere.

Granted, Steve's great-grandfather was named Sidney. And my favorite character from A Tale of Two Cities is Sydney Carton. We didn't find out gender when we were pregnant, and the neutral name seemed to fit quite well. But I was so excited to realize I had used the name in the past that I woke Steve just to make sure I was remembering the name correctly. I had not thought of our squirrel in years. 

The human psyche is fascinating. Other than a desire to see Sydney, Australia, I have no idea why the name strikes such a chord with me. Regardless, my son has a name that suits him wonderfully, and has history in it - not only within his father's ancestry and literature, but within our Nichols Family history, as well. Fascinating, and beautiful.