A Well-Deserved Long Weekend!

Whoa, this week was a doozy! The long weekend couldn't have come soon enough! As the school year is winding down, the kids have more and more field trips and special activities. While these are fun for the students, they also create disruptions in the school day, which can be particularly difficult for the students I work with, who benefit from routine. If they have to miss out on an activity for one reason or another, it generally hits them hard, and they have difficulty expressing how they feel, so it comes out in anger. I was lucky and didn't have any huge meltdowns from my kiddos, but I seemed to be putting out little fires all week long. While that is one of my favorite parts of my job, I didn't anticipate putting out QUITE so many fires this week!

Outside of school, I've found that Charley is going through a phase that has come along a little bit too early for my liking. Charley is generally in bed by 7:30 or 8:00. This week, I think she was up until at least 9:00, with the exception of last night. Yes, that's right, on SATURDAY she was in bed at like 7:45, but during the week, when I have to be up at 5:30, she was wide awake until 10. Typical. Anyway, I think the change in her sleep pattern is due to a couple of things. First of all,  Charley is supposed to go visit her dad and grandparents in a couple of weeks. She has done it once before, and did just fine. This time around, we've been talking about it quite a bit, so she is prepared. However, she has been having a hard time lately, when it comes to her dad. She's in school now, and very aware of the other kids' families, and notices that many of the kids are dropped off or picked up by their dads. In turn, she's been asking a lot of questions, such as, "Can my dad come to our house?" and "Is my dad in our family?" It's heartbreaking. My response is always something like, "Yes, your dad can come to our house if he comes in town," or, "Your dad is in your family, but not in mine. He loves you, because you're his daughter." I think the hardest is when she suggests that I get married to her daddy. It's happened several times, and each time, I have to explain that her dad and I will not be getting married, but we both love her. Now, my relationship with Charley's dad has never been perfect, particularly since our separation and divorce. However, it is my firm belief that the things that went wrong in my marriage are things that Charley should never know. I want her to have a healthy relationship with her father and his family, so it's a goal of mine to impart as much positivity as possible when she asks about them. She is so observant and perceptive, that she's picked up on how our family is different from others, and it happened earlier than I'd expected. I'm muddling through, and hoping I'm telling her the right things! I'm pretty good at talking about these types of issues with my students, but they're 10. She's 3. She doesn't have the emotional maturity to comprehend or verbalize how she's feeling. It's certainly been a challenge for me the last couple of weeks, that's for sure!

Okay, enough of the pity party. I think another reason Charley's bedtime routine has been upset lately has to do with the fact that we were BUSY every night last week! I finally got my long-awaited tax return, and I'd been telling my family that once I got the money in the bank, I would go get myself some new glasses. To make a long story short, my glasses got broken (in half...monocle style...classy!) several months ago, and since my vision has never been that bad, I've just been doing without. Well, in the last two months or so, I've found myself squinting more and more, and finally gave in and went to the eye doctor. By the time it was all said and done, I'd spent a small fortune on new glasses and prescription sunglasses (BEST purchase ever), and spent much of my Monday evening out of the house. On Tuesday, we had some neighbors over for awhile, which was great, but somewhat out of Charley's routine, so she was up late again. The rest of the week is kind of mush in my brain, because the kids at the school wiped me out so drastically, all of the days blend together. What I DO know, though, is that our routine was disrupted, and Charley responded by staying up hours past her bedtime, which meant the time I usually have to myself to get things done around the house, was nonexistent. Nice.

With the craziness of the week, I was so excited for the weekend! Saturday, I ran some errands while my mom watched Charley for a couple of hours. Even just a few hours to myself on a weekend is always appreciated! When we got home, we made some dinner, chatted with the neighbors, who were outside gardening, and went to bed early. It was great. I went to bed with the intention of sleeping in, because I knew I wouldn't have to work today, because the gym was closed. Sleep in? That was wishful thinking. Around 5:00 a.m. I awoke, to my phone ringing. "Why the $#%^ is my mom calling me at 5:00 on her birthday?" I thought to myself. Sure enough, it was an unfortunate accidental dial, but nonetheless I was wide awake at 5. By the time I got myself back into a sleepy zone, Charley had decided it was time to get up. At 6. Awesome. We had a great day, though! We met up with a friend of mine and her kids at the Como Zoo, and had a wonderful time. Charley didn't stop talking about her new friends, the buffalo, polar bear, and giraffes, until she fell asleep! It was nice to get out of the house and do something fun on such a nice day. After the zoo, we went to my mom's for her birthday dinner, which was nice. Charley got to play with one of her cousins, and we all had a chance to celebrate with my mom. It was a nice way to spend a pre-Memorial Day Sunday!

So, my goal for tonight is to sleep past 6:00 tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that I can subconsciously communicate with Charley that JUST because the sun comes up, it doesn't mean it's time to get out of bed! Have a safe Memorial Day, and a great week!

Girls Nights...Two in a Row!

Whoa, what a weekend! Remember a couple of weeks ago when I talked about having a night to myself,  and packing it full of activities? Well, this weekend was the same way. Packed from beginning to end...but it was amazing!

On Friday afternoon, Charley and I went shopping with two of my girlfriends. We grabbed dinner, and shopped around the mall a little bit. Charley needed an outfit for my mom's upcoming retirement party, so we looked for that, and I did a little bit of window shopping for myself. Now that I know the space I'll be moving to, I've been keeping my eye out for FURNITURE, as opposed to things for myself. Anyway, we got home late (well, late for Charley), and she went to bed right away. I was hoping she'd be so tired she would be inspired to sleep in on Saturday morning. No such luck. She was up bright and early, at 6:00, and ready to start the day. I'm generally a morning person, but 6 a.m. on a Saturday should be too early for anyone, right? We had kind of a lazy morning, and didn't even make it in to gymnastics. It was one of those days where you know you have lots of time before something starts, and so you move slowly...and then you realize that your leisurely morning lead you to suddenly be running behind! So, we skipped the gym, and I took Charley to my mom's house, where she would be spending the day and night. I went immediately to Ikea, where I met up with a friend of mine to browse, and get some ideas for my new place. She's moving soon, too, but to a very different style of apartment, so we were definitely searching for different things. I got some ideas, particularly for toy storage. I don't know about anybody else, but I swear, Charley's toys have completely taken over my current place! It's out of control. So, I picked up some storage bins, and found myself genuinely excited to bring them home, and start sorting through her things!

I didn't go straight home, after Ikea, though. As I mentioned in my last post, I had booked a massage for Saturday. When I went to check in, and said I'd never had a massage before, I got looks of downright pity from the receptionists. "Oh, you HAVE to get massages," they said, "Make it your me time." Well, I figured I would have the massage and go from there. I was early for my appointment, so I went into the Tranquility Room (basically a replica of the waiting room, but with soft music and hot tea), and waited to be called back. As I sat there, 6 other people came through the door, waiting for their appointments. As the massage therapists started coming out to get their 2:00 appointments, I was certain I'd be the first one called....or the second...or MAYBE the third. Nope! Sure enough, I was the last one called back, because my therapist was running a few minutes late. I kept telling myself, "This is your relaxing time. Don't get irritated by something little." So, when I finally got called back, I was more than  little bit excited. I got to the room, got under the blanket, and explained that I wasn't really experiencing any pain, but I just wanted a relaxation massage, with medium pressure. Well, if I received medium pressure, I have NO idea what deep pressure could feel like. 90% of the experience was incredible. I was relaxed, and felt great. The masseuse kept concentrating on a couple of ridiculous knots in my back, and while she was working on my left shoulder, she kept asking me if a certain area was painful. "Not on a daily basis," I replied, "But I can definitely feel it right now!" She kept working on it, and said, "Hmmm....I think you should get that checked out. It feels like you have a tendon...but there's not supposed to be a tendon there. In my 15 years doing this, I've never felt anything like it!" Ha! Typical. One of those things that could only happen to me...Or my friend Kellie.... Anyway, the massage was great, I left feeling relaxed, and I'm ridiculously sore today, so I guess it was probably effective.

After the massage, I finally made it home to start sorting through Charley's toys. I am pretty sure my dog was silently cursing me, as I dumped toys all over the floor, and started sorting them into the appropriate bins. He was not amused. But I got started sorting, both in Charley's room and the living room (which was probably the least efficient organization method ever), and at some point, I ended up cleaning under the bathroom sink. I'm still not quite sure how that transition took place, but nonetheless, it did! Once I started in the bathroom, I ended up cleaning it from top to bottom, throwing out old makeup and lotions, sorting all of my things into appropriate categories (hey, I was on a roll, I figured I'd go with it), and scrubbing the tub and the sink. Meanwhile, I still had toys and bins out all over the floor in both the living room and Charley's room. I made a conscious decision to clean Charley's room first, and move into the living room later. Then, I realized I hadn't checked my phone in awhile. I'd missed 5 text messages, and realized that I was supposed to be across town for dinner with a girlfriend in 45 minutes. So, I gave up on the task at hand (realizing I'd be up until 1 a.m. finishing my various projects), threw on some clothes, glanced in the mirror and accepted that I looked like a mess, and raced out the door.

Dinner was awesome. I met up with my friend Lindsay, and we chatted for hours with a glass of wine by the fire at Tavern on France. Lindsay is one of my oldest friends, and she's one of those women that I can go weeks if not months without talking to, and when we finally DO catch up, our friendship is still exactly the same. We both have a lot going on right now, so it's been hard to get together. It seems like whenever I'm available, she's working, or busy, and vice versa. But I'm so glad we made it work last night. She asked me about my life, my upcoming move, and of course, Charley. She's the child of a single mother (who's totally amazing, by the way), and she said some really nice things to me, mostly about me making time for myself. Looking back, this was one of my New Year's resolutions, and I haven't done it very well. It's just that, with Charley in school all day, I feel guilty sometimes, asking for people to babysit on the weekend. And at the same time, I don't want to put anybody out. "You HAVE to do it, Linds," she said, "You have to take care of YOU, and make time for yourself sometimes. And Ryan and I will babysit." Ha! It was a generous offer, and I know I'll take her up on it. She made it very clear that I wouldn't be putting them out at all, and I know she's right. She's not the only one of my high school girlfriends who has made that offer, and I really need to start taking advantage of that every once in awhile.

Anyway, Lindsay is recently engaged, so I was asking all kinds of questions about the wedding. It was really nice to hear her plans, and get an idea of her vision for the wedding. She and her fiancee are so well-suited for each other, and I honestly enjoy watching them interact. He met us out last night, and he just blends so smoothly into the conversation. He's a genuinely nice person, and watching the two of them together...how well they complement each other...it's inspiring. They make each other happy. Really happy. Each one of them seems to put the others' needs in front of their own, and it works. THEY work. And I'm so happy for them!

Alright, that was a LOT of rambling for the night. I'm exhausted. I hope everybody had a great weekend!

It's All Coming Together...

It's been a very busy and exciting week for me, and I haven't really had a chance to sit down and write about it. In my most recent blog, I talked about how much my life has changed in the last year, and how much I've changed, as a result. For the most part, I would like to think I've changed for the better. And it seems like the universe has finally aligned, to help me out! I'll fill you in on the last week, and get to the excitement that has come my way!

Over the weekend, I worked quite a bit. I judged team tryouts at the gym on Saturday, which was such an interesting experience. I've never actually had girls try out for a team before. It was a bit overwhelming, because 30 girls signed up, but 63 actually SHOWED up to try out for the team, and there were a limited number of spots. It was fun to see so many kids who were interested in becoming competitive in gymnastics. It's definitely my favorite hobby....And I love watching girls with some drive trying their hardest to do well! Just before tryouts, one of my regular private lessons texted me to see if I was available that day. I explained that the gym wasn't available due to tryouts, but that I could take her daughter on Sunday morning. Her response was, "But that's Mother's Day! Your day to be celebrated as a mommy!" She would've been happy to bring her daughter, but wanted ME to take a day off. That was so sweet! I appreciated her thoughtfulness. My Saturday evening didn't quite go as planned. I had been planning a night without Charley, but my mom had to cancel, so we ended up snuggling up on the couch watching The Little Mermaid. It was kind of a nice way to spend the night!

On Mother's Day, I woke up to several "Happy Mom's Day," text messages that got me off to a great start. Charley and I went to the gym, where I coached 2 private lessons, then Char and I played for awhile. That play time was probably one of the best Mother's Day gifts I could've gotten. We just got to have FUN together. After the gym, we met up with my family for brunch, which was wonderful. After gorging myself on a strawberry waffle, Charley and I had to race out of the restaurant, because we had somewhere to be...a town house we were looking at! And I had a good feeling about it. I know that a few weeks back, I wrote about a house that I absolutely adored. It felt like home. Well, I wrote an email to the landlord and told him I absolutely loved the town home, but couldn't commit to a May 15 move-in date. His tenant had mentioned that he owned several properties, so I asked him to contact me if he had anything becoming available in June or July. Sure enough, he responded and let me know that he had a unit available July 1st, in the same community...even the same floor plan as the original house. It wasn't even listed yet, so I had no competition. I was optimistic about it, and couldn't wait to check it out.

It was so interesting pulling up to the town home. The first home in the area that I'd looked at was home to a family. This particular unit was home to a single dad and his son. It was so funny to see the difference between a home decorated by a woman, and a home decorated by a single man. In the first house, there was art on the wall, family pictures everywhere, and it was very homey. In the house I viewed Sunday, there was a couch and a TV downstairs, a couch and a TV in the loft, minimal cooking utensils in the kitchen, and a bed and TV in both upstairs bedrooms. It just highlighted a major difference between men and women! Now, I certainly preferred the decor in the first home, but the lack of decor in the second home made it easier to visualize how I could decorate it for Charley and me. How we could make it OUR home. I fell in love with it, and put in an application on the spot. I was very honest with the landlord, and told him my finances haven't been perfect in the years since my divorce, but things have started to turn around for me in that area, after a long period of financial difficulty. He told me he understood, and basically told me that as long as my references checked out, the place would be mine as of July 1st.

So, all week I'd been anticipating a phone call from him. That phone call came today. Now, like I said, he made it clear on Sunday, that pending my reference check, I'd be able to move in at the beginning of July. But there was still that degree of nervousness, not knowing if it would fall through at the last minute. When I listened to the voicemail, he told me that he'd love to offer me the town home, and wanted to set up a time to fill out the paperwork. I was ECSTATIC. I'm pretty sure I was smiling all day (until, of course, one of my students decided to cop an attitude....I was, 'Serious Lindsey,' at that point... HA!). Anyway, when I called him to set up the time to sign the paperwork, I told him how excited I was. He surprised me with his response. He said, "Well, you know, I called your references. People like you Lindsey. They really do. That's about the best thing a landlord can ask for in a tenant." I was caught off guard, because I wasn't expecting the compliment. I mean, my references weren't the personal references I usually rely on for character evaluations. They were the principal at my school, the owner at the gym, and my current landlord. I've always had great interactions with all three of these references, but there was something about the way the statement was made that gave me a very warm-fuzzy feeling. Yeah, I know, I'm a dork...but it was nice! And I got the place, so I'll be forever grateful to those who helped make it possible!

Ok, so that's essentially why I'm so excited about things going on in my life today. This weekend, my mom offered to watch Charley on Saturday, until first thing Sunday morning, so I've already planned an Ikea date with a friend, and booked myself a massage...Funny story about that massage... It was actually a Christmas gift from a couple of my friends. When I told one of my friends that a couple had given me a massage for Christmas, her response was, "Together?!" It was one of those things that you say...then you hear it how it must've been heard...then rephrase it. Ha! Well, a couple didn't GIVE me a massage....they purchased a gift card for me to receive one. So I'm finally taking advantage, and I'm looking forward to relaxing. Sorry, that was totally off-topic. Anyway,  after that, my plan is to start boxing up Charley's toys. I have to do it while she's gone, otherwise she will be so mad at me! In the last week, she's developed a liking for repeating phrases like, "Ugh, that's SO ANNOYING." I've got my hands full. Good thing she's cute!

I'll leave you with a quote tonight. I came across this on FB the other day. "It's not what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you that matters. Count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles." I'm counting my blessings. I've had a LOT happen to me...a lot of negative things happen to me. But I'm still counting my blessings, because I have a lot to be thankful for right now. On that note, goodnight!

Baby Steps or Giant Leaps?

So, tonight Charley and I went out to dinner with an old friend of mine. This particular friend is one I've known since grade school, but we didn't really become close until I moved back to MN from Las Vegas. She's very sweet and supportive, and she is one of Charley's biggest fans, so naturally Charley adores her, too! Anyway, as we spoke tonight, she mentioned that she'd  glanced at several of my old blog posts a little while back, and she can't believe how drastically my life (and my blog) have changed, in such a short time. "I was reading about your online dating stories, and you're just not in that 'date around' place at all anymore. It feels like all that was so long ago!" she stated.  She's absolutely right.
I'm no longer interested in meeting dozens of people, and going out on lots of dates. I can't think of anything that sounds more exhausting and deplorable. At this point, I recognize that I've grown up. I'm ready to settle down. And as much as I'd like to forget some of my dating trials and tribulations of the last year and a half, I also need to acknowledge that even the worst moments served a purpose.

This all comes up, because my conversation with my friend prompted me to glance back at some of my first blog posts. I can't believe how many things I'd forgotten about writing down (some are slightly embarrassing)...and experiencing! It's like a running joke in my family that my sisters and I remember everything. EVERYTHING. Down to specific statements someone else made 15 years ago. Positive or negative, we remember it all. Don't try to tell my sister Kelsey you didn't say something, because she will not only be able to tell you word-for-word what you said, but she will also tell you what you were wearing, who else was there, etc...My memory is good, but hers is ridiculous. So it surprised me to look back at some of my posts, and see that there were SO many things that have happened in the past year that I didn't remember. I take that to mean they weren't as important, because I tend to remember the important things. So, I guess it's kind of nice for my own sake to keep this blog. It kind of gives me a chance to chronicle my life, and the opportunity to compare my past and present states of mind. It is funny, too, because I was at a very different point in my life, and that is evident in my writing. I guess I would like to call the initial phase of my blog my transitional phase. Now, I've moved into much more of a settled mode. What brought that on? A desire for self-improvement. I've always been a 'fixer' and tried to make things better or easier for everybody else in my life. But when I actually re-examined MYSELF and looked for how I could make my life more fulfilling, I came across a quote that seemed fitting: 

"Your life will improve only when you take small chances, and the first and most difficult chance you can take is to be honest with yourself." 

Several months ago, when I was attempting to run GO! Gymnastics as a full-time job, I was struggling. I found myself so concerned about making ends meet, that I couldn't focus. I couldn't get anything done or be productive, because I was overwhelmed. When I was honest with myself, and determined that I needed to start looking for full-time jobs, suddenly, I felt the pieces fall into place. I took a risk, and applied for a teaching job...My first time in a face-to-face, special education setting since 2007 (although I guess many would say my classroom of misfits at Lynch could qualify as special education... Ha!). It was a chance. And a chance I'm so glad I decided to take. It's not just that I wanted the job at the school... I NEEDED it. I craved the structure, daily routine, and consistent paycheck. It was the right job, at the right time, and I feel fortunate to have a job that I love.

Now, with all of that said, since I started teaching in the classroom again, I feel like my life has come together. At this point, I have a few loose ends, but for the most part, I feel like I'm on the right track. I didn't get into the house Charley and I loved (I just couldn't commit to a May 15th move in date), but there's another home in the same community that's available July 1, so I have the potential of moving at that point. I can't wait to move, and get settled in a new home. I take that back... I LOATHE the whole moving process...but I can't wait to get settled in.  I'm looking forward to living outside of the cities a bit, and getting more involved in my community. With that said, part of me hopes a home in my desired community becomes available early to mid-June, because I'm anxious to make the move! Sorry, sidetracked a little....I was saying, I feel like my life is on the right track. I'm becoming more assertive, and standing up for things, where I might have backed down in the past. I'm finding that I actually ENJOY simple things like walking around the block with Charley when it's nice out. Charley continues to be well-adjusted and hilarious, so I guess I'm doing alright in the parenting department. My life is far from perfect, but after looking back and reading about my last year, it's clear to me that all of the steps I've made toward self-improvement, no matter how insignificant they might have been individually, have translated into giant leaps in terms of where I am in life right now. I'm glad I've started to take chances. With no risk, there's no reward. So, I will continue to take small chances, and see where they lead me. So far, so good! Goodnight!

Honesty and May Day Fun

I walked around Lake Calhoun yesterday, and I found myself in a very reflective, positive mood. I turned up my music, walked quickly, and enjoyed the weather. I wasn't surprised by the number of people, because it was a beautiful day. But it seems there were even more people there than usual, because the Cystic Fibrosis was going on. I found myself to be an unintentional participant in the fundraiser. Whoopsies! But even through all of the people and the hustle and bustle, I enjoyed doing something by myself, FOR myself. Walking. It was great, and it gave me an opportunity to think.

Today, I feel the need to write about honesty. This isn't my typical kind of post. I think the whole concept of honesty comes to mind at this time of year, because it was about two years ago that my life changed because of dishonesty, and I had the opportunity to start over. I'm a very honest person. I have told my share of white lies, particularly to Charley (she thinks every meat is chicken, matzo balls can pass for potatoes, and sausage is the same thing as pepperoni). However, when it comes down to the real issues, I'm honest. I've actually gotten BETTER at being honest in the last year or so. Not that I lied, before, but sometimes I'd hold back a little bit, simply to avoid an argument or hurt feelings. In working with my students, though, I've come to admire their honesty, and....dare I say....started to be more upfront, myself!

Now, don't get me wrong. There are times when their honesty can be downright rude. Like the time a student told me he thought I was little when I started working at the school, but now I seem like I'm normal sized. Hmmm.... So essentially, he told me I'd put on weight. He's right! But I was like, "Thanks a lot you little *#@%," Ha! Many times, their honesty is amusing. Such as the time last week, when a student told me he didn't like the project we're working on.  I'm having one of my writing groups re-write the words to Frozen's "Let it Go," to teach about long division. When I spoke with one of my students about it, he said, "You see, Ms. P, the boys don't really like this assignment."
"Why not?" I questioned.
"Well, the thing is, we don't really like to think that much. You like to think. But we don't. We'd rather just relax."
His reasoning was almost as hilarious as the delivery of the statement. He was totally polite, calm, and serious. It was as though his thought process was totally rational, and he was convinced that I would understand his point of view. It was hilarious! So, I politely and calmly stated, "Well, my friend, you don't come to school to relax. You can do that at home. You come to school to think. So get busy thinking, because you're not talking your way out of this one!" He gave me a defeated grin, and waved at me as I walked out of the room. I love my students!

I have grown to appreciate how honest kids can be. For better or for worse, they'll tell you how they feel. It's funny, because I feel like my students are far more open and honest with me than I would EVER have been with a teacher. If a teacher got a haircut that didn't look good, I'd still make a comment, and confirm that it looked great! If I had a crush on a boy in my class, the last person I would tell about it was my teacher! But my students tell me if my hair looks "poofy" and come to me if they have trouble with whoever they're "going out" with. But boy, are these kids honest, and often blunt. Do they bend the truth, if they think they'll get in trouble? Of course they do. They're kids. But if they're mad, for one reason or another, they have no issue letting it out!

Now, I decided to post about honesty today, for a reason. I think we, as adults, can learn a lot from kids when it comes to upfront, honest communication. It takes skill to be honest, and tactful at the same time, but it's something I'm working on. When I say that I'm working on it, I'm not implying that I have been dishonest. If anything, the only person I was really dishonest with in the past was myself. But I also hold back quite a bit, in order to avoid confrontation or uncomfortable situations. I did that in past relationships, and I generally found myself frustrated and annoyed...or very uncomfortable. Like the guy who asked me every time I saw him... "So...do you have any concerns about us, so far?" Ummmm.... the fact that he asked me EVERY time I saw him if I had concerns was a concern for me...Duh! But I'd just be like, "Nope, I'm good." I didn't want to deal with the discussion that was to follow, so I avoided it like the plague. In fact, I've avoided the, "What are we?" conversation several times. Danced around it like crazy, because it was so awkward, and I knew that once we had the conversation, I'd have to admit that I didn't really see things moving forward. That happened with 2 different guys...and I just let things taper off with them. Mostly because I wasn't secure enough to just come out and say, "You're a great guy, but you're not the one for me." That's an area where honesty is key, and I have gotten SO much better about it. I still have a hard time communicating what I want and need (my students certainly have NO difficulty in that area), but the last time I knew a guy wasn't right for me, I came right out and told him.  I swear, these kids are teaching me something!

Alright, before I wrap up here, I thought I'd share a project I did with my students this week. Thursday was May Day, and while that doesn't mean much to most people, it means a lot to me. As a child, my mom would help my sisters and I put together May baskets to deliver to our neighbors. We filled them with flowers and candy, placed them on the neighbors' doorsteps, rang the doorbell, and sprinted away, so we wouldn't get caught. Of course, all the neighbors knew it was us, because we became known for this little act of kindness, but we loved doing it. The whole purpose was to do something nice for someone else, with absolutely no expectation of receiving anything in return. The reward was in knowing that we made someone's day. Well, I decided to carry on this tradition at the school. The door to the classroom stayed shut most of the day, as the students worked busily, putting candy in baggies, and creating May baskets for all of the teachers in the school.   They placed them in the teachers' mailboxes, with little notes that said something like, "Dear Ms. P,
Happy May Day.
From,
????"
The major part of the lesson for the kids was that it's nice to do something for someone else, just for the purpose of being kind. They were really excited to do that. I can only recall one student asking why he didn't get candy, too, which is impressive. The others seemed content to bag the candy, and make their teachers' day a little bit brighter. With that said, they were successful. It's definitely a tradition I will continue in future years.

Totally random side note... I've had several people add me on Google+ recently. I've got my e-mail through Google, clearly this blog is through Google, and it seems that Google+ is the next step for me... It's confusing to me, though. I'm not even sure how or when I signed up for it, but I clearly recall a year ago, when I pulled it up for the first time and saw EVERY picture from my phone uploaded on the site. I'm not sure the world needed to see 40 Charley selfies... I quickly figured out how to fix that, but for some reason Google+ overwhelms me a bit. Anybody have experience with it, and have any tips for me? How does it compare to FB? With the option to add everybody, will it add everyone I've ever sent an e-mail to?That could be awkward... Ha! I'm just curious :)  Alright, no more rambling. Have a great week!