I was doing special ed today. I was incredibly busy until 2PM, and then it dropped off. I had a doctor's appointment at 5, but was free after 3:30. I ran home to do stuff in between.
I am going to a church convention tomorrow and Saturday, so I am going nuts doing laundry, trying to pack, and getting things settled with my girls (who are going to two different places) and my pets (BF will look after them.)
Because I have had depression for most of my life, but have also experienced what I now know are "hypomanic" episodes, I have just been diagnosed by my psychiatrist as Bipolar II. I now have a new medication that I will start taking; hopefully that will put me on a more even keel.
Day two not smoking! Go, me!!
I will hopefully post after I get settled tomorrow; I am looking forward to my one night free of kids and pets! I will be alone in my hotel room, just me, my stuffed tiger, Chauncey, and my Nook. Bliss. =)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
So I Haven't Blogged for a Couple of Days . . .
I've discovered a new hobby - pinning things to my boards on Pinterest.com. It is addicting - as Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak says, it's like digital crack for women. Pinterest is also good for us "popcorn-brain" people because you can jump from picture to picture - oooh, shiny! I have spent ALL AFTERNOON pinning to my board.
Today marks the beginning of Lent. I attended the 7 AM service at my church. (Then I had to wait for the dishwasher repair man at home. To his credit, he did not say, "Ma'am, you've got something on your forehead.") For my Lenten discipline, I have decided to quit smoking. I got up this morning and put on a patch, but it still agonizing. I have done this before, so I hope I can do it again. (I also told my boyfriend he needs to quit too, so neither of us are smoking!)
I tried to kind-of fast today. I ate breakfast, but did not have anything else until some cheese just now. I just can't give up cigarettes and food on the same day; that's just cruel and unusual!
Today marks the beginning of Lent. I attended the 7 AM service at my church. (Then I had to wait for the dishwasher repair man at home. To his credit, he did not say, "Ma'am, you've got something on your forehead.") For my Lenten discipline, I have decided to quit smoking. I got up this morning and put on a patch, but it still agonizing. I have done this before, so I hope I can do it again. (I also told my boyfriend he needs to quit too, so neither of us are smoking!)
I tried to kind-of fast today. I ate breakfast, but did not have anything else until some cheese just now. I just can't give up cigarettes and food on the same day; that's just cruel and unusual!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Today has been a good day. I woke up early, ate breakfast, and went back to bed. When I got up again, I went to a local park, hiked a short trail, and shot a roll of 35mm film. I used to be good at photography in college, and I knew what to do from loading the film in the camera to developing it (black and white). I'd like to get back into it.
After I got home from the grocery store, I ate lunch while reading People magazine's tribute to Whitney Houston. I didn't watch her funeral because I knew I would cry.
I am playing the piano at my best friend's wedding in April, so I practiced the pieces ("Linus and Lucy" is the postlude - my suggestion!). Then a couple of friends came over, and we hung out for a bit.
Now I am just kind of hanging out at home with the dog and cat and relaxing. It's what I need, after my busy week!
After I got home from the grocery store, I ate lunch while reading People magazine's tribute to Whitney Houston. I didn't watch her funeral because I knew I would cry.
I am playing the piano at my best friend's wedding in April, so I practiced the pieces ("Linus and Lucy" is the postlude - my suggestion!). Then a couple of friends came over, and we hung out for a bit.
Now I am just kind of hanging out at home with the dog and cat and relaxing. It's what I need, after my busy week!
Friday, February 17, 2012
My three-year-olds and I had a "come to Jesus" meeting first thing this morning. The discussion resulted in a (slightly) better day. Two of my boys were acting up, but I put their names on the board and told them they'd lose recess if they didn't turn it around. It worked! They got to play with their friends on the playground.
They had been asking me to read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," so I did read it to them today, at the end of the day. They know that is a treat, and they love it.
Came home and took a nap. Then it was time to drive the girls up the road to meet their dad. In the car, Older Daughter had a "slap bracelet" type watch. In the dark, I couldn't see what it was. I asked, "Do you have a knife?" She was like, "Yeah, I'm gonna shank you, Mom." Then she turned it so I could see the watch face, and slapped it onto her wrist. =)
They had been asking me to read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," so I did read it to them today, at the end of the day. They know that is a treat, and they love it.
Came home and took a nap. Then it was time to drive the girls up the road to meet their dad. In the car, Older Daughter had a "slap bracelet" type watch. In the dark, I couldn't see what it was. I asked, "Do you have a knife?" She was like, "Yeah, I'm gonna shank you, Mom." Then she turned it so I could see the watch face, and slapped it onto her wrist. =)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Homework
I helped Younger Daughter with her math homework! It was about geometry - angles - and I failed high school geometry (but managed to get an A in summer school). The angles corresponded to letters, answering jokes. By figuring out the punch lines, I was able to help her determine which angles were which. Go, me!
I. Am .So. SORE. I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my back yesterday, and it hurts today. More and more as the day goes on. But we made it through.
I had a pre-K class today. I was supposed to sub for a special ed teacher, but one of the regular teachers had a sub fail. So I was in the class, which was fine.
I am dealing with it with Biofreeze gel and ice packs. OW.
(This is yesterday's post. I had saved it as a draft instead of publishing it. Duh.)
I had a pre-K class today. I was supposed to sub for a special ed teacher, but one of the regular teachers had a sub fail. So I was in the class, which was fine.
I am dealing with it with Biofreeze gel and ice packs. OW.
(This is yesterday's post. I had saved it as a draft instead of publishing it. Duh.)
Hmm. I don't know what happened to yesterday's post. I did blog, but it was pretty short.
Anyhoo, TODAY. 3-year-olds. Off the chain.
It started right from the get-go, when they ate breakfast in the classroom rather than in the cafeteria like they usually do. Then they got to visit the Mobile Science Center, which was very cool and a lot of fun. So they were wired up from the change in routine and the excitement of trying out all the different "experiments." Most of them did pretty well, but a couple of them had to be removed for not sharing or for hurting their friends. And then there was the boy who was dropped off by Mommy, who proceeded to cry for about half an hour because he missed her. Lady, that's why they have school buses!
After the science center, I brought them back to the room. I started doing circle time, and they were talking to each other, fooling around, and not paying attention. The assistant told them to listen and stop playing around, and I had to stop midway through and give them a talk about sitting on the carpet with their legs folded, hands in their lap pockets, listening ears and watching eyes on, and a bubble in their mouths unless it was their turn to talk.
When we went outside, five of the 19 students owed me time on the wall (watching while their friends played). Two snuck by me and I had to cart them back over. One little boy had been screaming inside the room like an Irish woman at a wake, so he owed time, too. Another little boy can't keep himself to himself. Anyway, I had to use my "mean Ms. P. voice" and tell them to "get on that wall! Now! Or I'm going to call Mommy!" (waving my cell phone at them). Of course, I don't have Mommy's number, nor do I have the authority to call her, but they're too young to know that. I did let them play after about five minutes; they're only three, after all.
Lunch was a fiasco (in the room again because the Mobile Science Center was using the cafeteria). That threw them off further. At one point I had about five children crying, screaming, and saying repeatedly that "I WANT MY MOMMYYYYYY!" (I did wonder how they would react if I started pretend crying and wailing that I wanted my mommy, too, but I didn't try it.)
Most of them slept at naptime, and they were better behaved when they got up. They ate a good snack (Cheetos! Yum!), and we had another circle time. The little boy who had been wailing this morning actually sat pretty well for this circle time, so I praised him highly for turning himself around; he got to choose his center first afterward. I am hoping that rewarding positive behavior helps reinforce the idea that this is how we behave in school. The children like to sing silly alphabet songs, so we started with "A is for Alice, who met an alligator" and ended with "James and Judy, James and Judy, jumped all night, jumped all day" for our letter of the week, J.
By the time we had center time, they were playing pretty nicely together. What a difference a nap makes when you are three! (And none of them peed their pants at naptime - YAY!)
I was happy to put them on the bus at the end of the day. Wow. And I have the same class tomorrow. They are so cute, though, it's hard to stay mad at them. At the end of the day, many of them hugged me and told me, "I love you, Ms. P.!" This is why I love teaching, even though at times it gets chaotic. The rewards are just so great.
Anyhoo, TODAY. 3-year-olds. Off the chain.
It started right from the get-go, when they ate breakfast in the classroom rather than in the cafeteria like they usually do. Then they got to visit the Mobile Science Center, which was very cool and a lot of fun. So they were wired up from the change in routine and the excitement of trying out all the different "experiments." Most of them did pretty well, but a couple of them had to be removed for not sharing or for hurting their friends. And then there was the boy who was dropped off by Mommy, who proceeded to cry for about half an hour because he missed her. Lady, that's why they have school buses!
After the science center, I brought them back to the room. I started doing circle time, and they were talking to each other, fooling around, and not paying attention. The assistant told them to listen and stop playing around, and I had to stop midway through and give them a talk about sitting on the carpet with their legs folded, hands in their lap pockets, listening ears and watching eyes on, and a bubble in their mouths unless it was their turn to talk.
When we went outside, five of the 19 students owed me time on the wall (watching while their friends played). Two snuck by me and I had to cart them back over. One little boy had been screaming inside the room like an Irish woman at a wake, so he owed time, too. Another little boy can't keep himself to himself. Anyway, I had to use my "mean Ms. P. voice" and tell them to "get on that wall! Now! Or I'm going to call Mommy!" (waving my cell phone at them). Of course, I don't have Mommy's number, nor do I have the authority to call her, but they're too young to know that. I did let them play after about five minutes; they're only three, after all.
Lunch was a fiasco (in the room again because the Mobile Science Center was using the cafeteria). That threw them off further. At one point I had about five children crying, screaming, and saying repeatedly that "I WANT MY MOMMYYYYYY!" (I did wonder how they would react if I started pretend crying and wailing that I wanted my mommy, too, but I didn't try it.)
Most of them slept at naptime, and they were better behaved when they got up. They ate a good snack (Cheetos! Yum!), and we had another circle time. The little boy who had been wailing this morning actually sat pretty well for this circle time, so I praised him highly for turning himself around; he got to choose his center first afterward. I am hoping that rewarding positive behavior helps reinforce the idea that this is how we behave in school. The children like to sing silly alphabet songs, so we started with "A is for Alice, who met an alligator" and ended with "James and Judy, James and Judy, jumped all night, jumped all day" for our letter of the week, J.
By the time we had center time, they were playing pretty nicely together. What a difference a nap makes when you are three! (And none of them peed their pants at naptime - YAY!)
I was happy to put them on the bus at the end of the day. Wow. And I have the same class tomorrow. They are so cute, though, it's hard to stay mad at them. At the end of the day, many of them hugged me and told me, "I love you, Ms. P.!" This is why I love teaching, even though at times it gets chaotic. The rewards are just so great.
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