Feeling Thankful

The last few days literally flew by. We had all kinds of events planned at school, so my students' schedules were totally out of whack. With all of the excitement at school, by the time Wednesday night rolled around, I was ready to relax. Charley and I watched a movie, and Charley went to bed early. For some reason, on holiday breaks, I get the inkling that I should stay up late because I'll get to sleep in. I don't know why I always do this... It never actually happens. Charley was up at 6a.m. and of course, upon waking up, I instantly regretted staying up until midnight. Oh well, live and learn, right? Ha!Anyway, as Thanksgiving rolled around, I thought about all of the things I have to be thankful for, and there are just too many to list. I suppose I could go with the generic and say I'm thankful for family, friends, a job I love, wonderful co-workers, a great home, etc...The list could go on. But I won't bore you with that. Let me fill you in on our Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving was really nice this year. Charley and I went over to my dads' house around noon, to socialize a bit before eating dinner around 4. One of our long-time family friends from England was in town to celebrate her first Thanksgiving, and I wanted to make sure Charley and I had plenty of time to visit with her. It was a nice, relaxing afternoon with family and friends. My dad cooked the turkey, several sides, and dessert. I was responsible for the mashed potatoes. Now, historically I've been pretty good at making mashed potatoes, but it's been awhile since I made them for a group. I wanted to make sure we had enough...Well we did...We probably had 5 pounds of mashed potatoes....And went through more than I would like to admit! Anyway, they were pretty good, so I was relieved that my contribution to the meal wasn't a total flop.

After dinner, I noticed Charley starting to get little red bumps around her lips, the way she does when she is around peanuts. There were no peanuts in sight, though, and all she'd eaten were potatoes, turkey, and cranberries. I figured it must've been a reaction to the cranberries, and smeared some cortisone on her face. The bumps went away, and we all sat around the house for awhile. Around 6:30, I suggested that we check out some of the Black Friday deals. Now, there was a time (pre-Charley), when I was a pretty heavy Black Friday shopper. I'd go out in search of big deals, early on Black Friday. Well, many shops were actually open last night, so I figured since we weren't doing anything, that we should check them out. So, my dad, his friend, Charley, and I went shopping on Thanksgiving. It felt kind of weird to be out shopping on a holiday, but it was kind of fun. We didn't go super early, so we missed the crazy lines and the rush of people at Target and Old Navy. But it definitely was an adventure...I got some great things for Charley, and a couple of things for myself...but leaving Target with only 5 (small) items...we looked kind of silly. People were walking around the store with multiple carts, breaking up into groups to get everything on their lists, carrying all kinds of electronics around the store...It was quite a sight. Charley took it upon herself to run around through the aisles, perusing the stores, while I attempted to simultaneously look around and chase after her. Let's just say, chasing Charley definitely won in that contest. Actually, I should probably be grateful for that. She probably saved me from spending a ton of money on things we don't need. Ha!

When I ask her to pose for a picture, this is what I get...

When we got back from our little excursion, Charley asked for some more turkey. She hadn't eaten that much at dinner, and I was certain she was still hungry. Besides, I knew she wouldn't sleep on an empty stomach, so I brought her some turkey. Within minutes, I noticed that the little red bumps were appearing again, and this time her lips were beginning to swell. I asked my dad what he'd seasoned the turkey with, and he said it was just olive oil, salt, and pepper...all things that Charley has been totally fine eating. But there was no denying it...the turkey seemed to be the problem. We were at my dad's house, which is about 45 minutes away from my home, and although I had an Epi-pen, I really didn't want to use it if I didn't have to. So, again, I slathered cortisone on her face, and raced to Walgreens down the street (thank goodness they were open),  to pick up some Benadryl. By the time I got back, the cortisone had already begun to reduce the bumps and swelling, but I gave Charley the Benadryl just to be on the safe side. It helped her fall asleep, too...Lucky me! Once she went to sleep, I started looking up the brand of turkey we'd eaten, to see if there were any additives listed that she could be allergic to, and I couldn't really pinpoint anything specifically. It looks like I'll have to take her back in for allergy testing. Yuck! Poor kid. I had the same thing done to me when I was 4, and I still remember it vividly. "It will only itch if you're allergic," the nurse told me, before she started pricking my back with small vials of allergens. I'm sure she didn't anticipate that my entire back would be inflamed for days afterwards...but it was! I'm just hoping that Charley doesn't have the same experience!

Rocking a new sweater. She's so grown up!

This morning, we woke up at my dads' and enjoyed being lazy around the house. We went to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, and then I took my English friend, Lily around the city. We drove through Edina, where I grew up, then into Minneapolis, St. Paul, Como Park...It was actually really fun to drive around and show her what a Minnesota city is like! We haven't seen each other in at least 5 years, too, so it was nice to catch up a little bit. By the time we got back to my dad's house, Charley and I were exhausted and really ready to get home. So, here we are. It's been a busy couple of days, but we've both enjoyed it. I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and has a great weekend!

Ready for a Break! Thanksgiving Break, That Is...

I've been thinking about how it's been over a week since I've blogged for the last couple of days, but honestly, I couldn't think of anything in particular I wanted to write about until today. Today was...well... rough. Well, rough in my terms, which probably isn't all that bad to some people. But it seemed like a pot that was starting to bubble (probably due to the upcoming Thanksgiving break) finally boiled over, and my normally orderly students were bouncing off the walls! But before I get into that, let me talk a little bit about the last week or so...I'll try not to be too ADHD and bounce all over the place, I promise. Anyway, here we go...

Over a week ago, there was a big snowfall in Minnesota. Shocking, I know. Anyway, as usual, I found myself totally unprepared. It's funny... For some things, I am always totally prepared (work, scheduling, etc.)... but when it comes to the weather, I always seem to be caught off-guard and find myself stuck in the mud, in a sense. Well, the snow hit, and fortunately my neighborhood was plowed fairly early, so I was able to get around pretty easily, and within a couple of days quite a bit of the snow had melted. But then it snowed again. And I didn't have a shovel. Typical. I shoveled all the time growing up, but give me a break, I lived in Las Vegas for 4 years, and the last two years I lived in a duplex, where the landlord shoveled us out all the time and a shovel really wasn't necessary. I suppose I got a little spoiled in that sense. Anyway, I got myself a shovel and now I'm a little bit more prepared for the impending ice storm that's supposedly coming this way over the weekend!

I've been working twice a week at the new gym, and I have to say, I'm impressed with the quality of training, particularly in a community education program. I don't have anything against community ed programs, but when it comes to gymnastics, you generally get what you pay for. In this case, however, the girls are really well-trained...and they want to learn! So they're really fun to work with. I'm having fun getting to know them a little bit, and figuring out where I can be the most helpful and best-utilized. I have to admit, I was a little bit nervous about committing to weeknight hours, mostly because I'm afraid I'm going to burn out...but now that Charley has a place to go (that she LOVES), I'm finding that the long days really aren't that bad. And I LOVE having a weekend. I told someone the other day that this is the first time in 13 years I've had a full weekend, and that's true. Gymnastics coaches almost always work weekends. So I'm enjoying being able to relax like a normal person (well, not quite like a normal person...I'll always be a total busy-body), two days a week.

Okay, let me get to the events of the last couple of days. It's interesting. When I was in school, I remember being overly excited about holiday breaks, because I got a couple of days off to relax and be with family. Some of my students are excited about Thanksgiving break next week...others are not. Not at all. But they can't verbalize that or even really recognize their stress, so they act out in different ways. Teachers anticipate this type of anxiety as breaks approach, but it seemed to hit earlier than usual, this year! Anyway, I've got a couple of kids who are a little bit out-of-sorts, because they aren't really sure what the break will bring. So, it's my job to try to redirect them, try to get them to talk about their feelings, and understand their underlying motivations. Easy, right? Ha! Not so much. But I try. The week started off alright, but the kids have gotten progressively more anxious, hyper, and distractible.  Today was no exception, and a few of my generally well-behaved students, were a bit off. Naturally, I had an observation today. Great timing, right? My observer came in while I had one student writing an apology letter, and two students going back to class. When my other students came in, they got right to work, but one student consistently interrupted. The phone rang (which never happens), several people came in to pick papers up from the printer, and when the lesson was over, one of the students in my next group (who was WAY off today) barged into the room, and exclaimed, "What are you doing?! Playing a GAME?" It was the perfect ending to the lesson. Totally summed up the distractions that had appeared throughout my normally effective math class. There's something to be said for working in a resource room, though... You've got to be prepared for anything, and if nothing else, at least the observer got a picture of life in the resource room!

While it's been a bit of a crazy week, it has had some great moments. One little girl (who is absolutely adorable), has been coming in looking sad, with her hair covering her face all week.  Today, I said something to her about it. She made mention of her mom not having time to do her hair in the morning, because she had to get to work.  So I pulled her hair back into a little ponytail...and her attitude changed instantly. Her classroom teacher told me later in the day that her students were having conversations about what they're thankful for. My little girl said, "I'm thankful for teachers that help me a lot and do my hair." That made me feel so good. Something that seems so insignificant made a difference in her day. 

Alright, it's time for me to head to bed. Charley and I went to our friends' house for dinner tonight, and I'm exhausted. It was a nice evening, though. The kids played, my friend and I got to catch up, and Charley fell asleep within a half an hour of getting home. It was just what I needed at the end of a long day! Have a great weekend!

Something Special

Ok, while this post will summarize my last week or so, quite a bit of it will focus on Charley, so be forewarned. Since I posted last, I've celebrated Halloween, had my first full weekend off in a very long time, worked two jobs, attended two meetings (thus writing two sets of sub plans...my teacher friends will understand why that's annoying), developed laryngitis, gotten my iPad fixed, and finally gotten caught up on sleep. Phew, that was a lot of information for one sentence. Anyway, the week was jam-packed, but in spite of losing my voice, it was a really successful week.

Before I get into the events of the last week, I suppose I should touch base about Halloween. Charley and I went over to my friend Michelle's house to trick-or-treat with her two kids. Michelle's husband dressed up like a scarecrow and sat outside, waiting to pass out candy to the kids, while we took our kids out to get some candy. It was quite an experience! People were pulling kids in trailers, there was a horse and carriage taking kids through the neighborhood...even a haunted house at the end of the block! The funny part is, Charley and Michelle's daughter Evie, didn't notice any of that. They were too busy chit-chatting and playing music on Evie's light-up Elsa dress. The girls nearly got trampled several times by older children, but they were lost in conversation and totally oblivious. All three kids ended up with tons of candy, and because Charley can't have anything with nuts or peanuts, I ended up with quite a stash myself...A stash I actually brought into school. Not without eating a Reese's though...Do you know how long it's been since I ate a Reese's? Mmmmm....Heaven.

Anyway, by the time we got home Friday night, I was exhausted. I was coming off of a 21+ day working streak and two of those days had been 13 hour days. Charley was tired, too. As much as I've been busy, she generally has to come along for the ride whether she wants to or not, so she was wiped out after trick-or-treating. Charley fell asleep on the couch, and I was in bed before 10. It was great. Over the weekend, Charley and I enjoyed not really having anything scheduled. We had chores to get done and errands to run, but nothing we absolutely HAD to do. Except, of course, for meeting up with Jackie and Chris, Charley's new babysitters.

When I started coaching at the gym in North Branch, the program director found a family that was willing to take Charley while I was at work. On my first night in the gym, the director introduced Charley to Jackie and Chris, the parents of one of the girls I work with. They were very friendly, but Charley was not entirely sold. I think she knew that meeting them eventually meant she would have to be away from me. She's such a mama's girl. Anyway, I talked to Jackie about getting together over the weekend, so Charley and I (well...all of us) could get a little bit more comfortable with one another. We went over to their home on Sunday night, and it was like being at home. While I chatted with Jackie and Chris, Charley got acclimated to the space, and played with their daughter. I felt much better about leaving Charley with them, and Charley definitely seemed comfortable. On Monday when I dropped her off, she ran in without an issue, waved goodbye, and apparently did just great. When they brought her to the gym, Chris said, "It was like she's known us her whole life." I guess she was singing and dancing to her iPad, and, of course, making sure she had the whole family's attention.

She always wants to get dolled up!

This is where the focus of my post really turns to Charley. I am seriously so lucky to have a child like her. It's not just because she's smart. I know she's smart. She always has been. But she is just so adaptable in social situations, particularly with adults. I don't know what to attribute that skill to. I mean... there are probably several factors involved. For one thing, she's being raised by a single mom. She has to come along with me, most of the time, more by necessity than by choice. Maybe that's impacted her social maturity. She's also spent time with friends and family, who act like Charley is just part of their families. She's used to fitting in, even when she's the only child in the room. I could also credit all of the coaches and parents who treated her like one of their own, at Kenwood (and Sasso's in Vegas, for that matter). They didn't have to. In fact, they could've been annoyed that she came along while I coached. But they never complained. In fact, on the days Charley was NOT with me, I generally got questions about her. "Where's Charley?" disappointed moms would ask. Ha! I loved that. I'm often amazed at how easily Charley can wrap someone around her finger, and have that person totally engaged for long periods of time. Men, in particular. Even the most straight-faced, inexpressive men will engage in conversation with Charley and usually crack a smile at the very least, within minutes of meeting her. It's impressive. It's also a little scary (I'm thinking of her teenage years).  Anyway, this all relates back to Jackie and Chris' house, because Charley didn't know them well, but seemed to be able to adapt to their house rules quickly and easily. According to Jackie, "She is so polite! And very sweet. I call her Little Miss Manners, because she always says please and thank you. She is such a sweet girl!" What more could a mother ask for?

This kid loves a good hair cut.

 It's funny, because I had at least 5 conversations about manners at work last week. Most of the issues stem from the fact that teachers will greet students as they walk by, and the children say nothing in response. That's happened to me several times. I'm not one for being ignored, so I've been known to say, "EXCUSE ME! Come back here, please. When someone says 'Good morning' to you, it is rude not to respond." I think any time someone communicates with you, and you don't respond, it's rude. It's just not how I was raised. I require my students to say hello when they enter my classroom, and say goodbye before they leave. And you know what? They do it every time.In fact, some of them have started a little contest with me, getting creative with, "See ya later, Alligator," "In awhile, Crocodile," "See ya soon, Baboon," trying to come up with rhymes so they say goodbye last. It's cute. Their peers might not recognize the need to respond to adults, but my students do (well, most of them do) and I appreciate that. It's a social skill we generally don't think about teaching, because it seems like common sense politeness. But kids aren't necessarily learning this at home. I would say that my friends' kids are exceptionally polite. They have great parents. That's why we're friends! But unfortunately, at this point, politeness is the exception, not the rule. This is why I appreciate that Charley shows those social skills outside of the house. From the Target cashier, to the dad watching his daughter get her hair cut at the salon, to the older women checking out her macaroni and cheese at Noodles and Co. last night, Charley makes no exceptions. She's friendly with everyone (everyone she doesn't think is a 'creeper,' that is). It makes me feel like I'm doing something right. She truly is, something special.

With that, I'm going to relax on the couch and try not to talk for the rest of the night, so this laryngitis goes away. I'm hoping to sound like a human before Monday. Chances are slim, but I'll give it a shot. Have a great weekend!