Shenanigans

Wow, where should I start! The last two weeks have been ridiculously busy. Two weeks ago, I had to work late Tuesday and Thursday for parent-teacher conferences, which totally threw me off. I'm a creature of habit, and I tend to like my routine...Anyway, conferences went well for the most part, and I knew that when conference week was over, I got to go on Spring Break, so I was really excited! I haven't gone on a true vacation in  years, so I was really looking forward to it. Charley and I were planning to go visit my sister Allie and her family in Florida, along with my little sister Kelsey, but there was a catch...we had to drive there. That's right, two adults and a toddler in an SUV driving 27 hours across the country. It was an adventure, that's for sure!

We started the drive at around 5:30 on Saturday morning. I was still exhausted from the previous week, but definitely ready to get on the road. I had a portable DVD player all set-up to keep Charley entertained, but in true Lindsey fashion, I managed to leave the charger at home. Typical. Anyway, we were lucky, because Charley slept through most of the morning, and was pretty content to listen to music and look for cows as we drove through Iowa and Missouri. We'd made it through most of Kentucky, before she started to melt down. I have to give her credit, it was a long day. After being in the car for about 13 hours, we decided to call it quits for the night, and found a hotel in a little podunk  town in Kentucky. We slept for a couple of hours, and were on the road again by around 5:30 on Sunday morning. We made several stops looking for a charger for the DVD player, to no avail, but I was determined to find something to get that DVD player running. I was feeling a little bit guilty that Charley would be spending yet ANOTHER day in the car. I'd say the charger search added about an hour to our drive time, but when we finally got a DVD going, it was TOTALLY worth it! It was a long, but beautiful drive on Sunday, through Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. And when we got out of the car at my sister's house, and stepped into 80 degree weather, I think we all agreed that the drive had been worth it.


On Monday, we pretty much just relaxed at my sister's house. At least, we relaxed as much as anybody can relax in a house with two toddlers and a baby. It was a nice, easy day, and it was so funny watching Charley interact with her cousins, Preston and Lyla. She was very sweet with Lyla, who's almost 9 months old, giving her kisses and hugging her gently. Preston? He was another story. Preston is 2 and a half, and not afraid to give Charley a run for her money. Charley is used to being the center of attention, and this was the first time she had to share that attention for an extended period of time. On Monday, the kids were great. They played well together, shared lots of laughs...it was fun to watch. As the week went on, they had moments of wonderful playtime, and laughter. They also had many moments of driving each other crazy. I think my favorite quote of the week took place after Charley went to the bathroom. Both Charley and Preston are potty training, and they were pretty good about motivating each other. Except, of course, when they were annoyed with each other. Charley had gone to the bathroom, and was getting praised by the adults. Preston hadn't gone yet, but immediately after Charley stood up, he rushed over and flushed the toilet (which Charley had wanted to do). "Preston!" she shouted, "I am SO MAD AT YOU! Now, I have to poop AGAIN!" Ha! It was classic. They had several moments this week that reminded me of my relationship with my older sister when we were young. There were about two and a half years between us, but man, did we know how to push each other's buttons. Preston is 100% my sister, and Charley is 100% me. It seriously cracked me up!

Amidst the toddler ups-and-downs, we did a lot of really fun things in Florida. We went to the beach, the children's museum, and a really cool park, that was as much fun for me as it was for the kids! We also sat by the side of the pool and enjoyed the heat. We watched movies, chased kids around, made s'mores...it was great. Exhausting, but great. On Thursday, my sister cut my hair. I wasn't expecting much of a change, but when she was done, I was SUPER blonde, with a very trendy cut. It's funny, because it wasn't at all what I was expecting, but I LOVED it. I still love it! I think I was in need of a change.

We had a great time, but by the time we left on Sunday, I think EVERYBODY was ready to get back to their regular schedules. I could've stayed longer, but not with the toddlers, who'd had about enough of each other for awhile. The flight home went well, and Charley didn't throw a fit (thank goodness), until we started to descend and her ears popped. "MOMMY!!!" she wailed, "I CAN'T HEAR! I CAN'T HEAR!" I tried everything I knew, showing her to yawn, giving her gum...but she really didn't settle down until we were on the ground. Let's just say I was happy to get home, pick up my dog, who had a fresh new haircut after staying with my dad and Scott, and get her in bed. Then today, it was back to the grind.

Happy to be home!

Today was a typical first-day back after break. The kids all looked tired, and nobody seemed terribly inclined to work. I wasn't surprised. The kids were thrown off by my new haircut, that's for sure. My first student of the day said, "What's up with the haircut?" Later in the day, I got, "You look so different! I liked you better the old way." Ha! Kids can be so honest, and my students in particular do NOT like change. It didn't bother me, though, it was exactly the response I expected. Kids can be so entirely insulting, without intending to be that way. I actually lost it and laughed out loud at a comment a student made to a co-worker today. I mentioned something about Charley switching schools, and one of my students said, "You're moving?! I'm so excited!" Another student told me he hoped I moved to his apartment complex. My co-worker interjected to say that it might not be that comfortable for a teacher to live next door to a student, because teachers and students don't really need to know what happens at each other's homes. His response? "I'd like to know everything that's going on in Ms. P's life! I don't want to know everything that YOU are up to, though." I lost it, and had to leave the room. Kids are so brutally honest, and can be terribly rude, but that comment definitely provided a laugh.

Alright, time to get caught up on laundry. Have a good night!

Family Fun Night: Apparently How I Now Spend My Friday Nights...

Wow, what a week! Every time I think I couldn't get any busier, suddenly I'm surprised. The week started off with a bang. My dad had to go back into the hospital, after some issues with his recovery from back surgery. Unfortunately, it's now Friday, and he is still in the hospital. However, he's doing much better, and will hopefully be able to go home tomorrow. The one and only amusing part of his hospital visit is the fact that there have been some hilarious group text exchanges between my sisters, dad, step-dad, aunt, and me. I called my sister, laughing so hard I was crying the other night, because the conversation clearly demonstrated how much the medication was affecting him...he was so high on painkillers! Anyway, that's how my week started, and it never really slowed down after that.

On Tuesday, my work day was pretty good. The kids did what they were supposed to do, and I left to pick up Charley with a smile on my face. Then I checked my voicemail...There was a message from Charley's school informing me that she had head lice. LICE! Gross!!! I immediately pulled into the closest Target, and got a lice kit, so I could disinfect my house, AND my child. I've never had to deal with lice in my lifetime, so it was a new experience for me. Honestly, at school they only saw one bug (EEEWWWW), and that's all I saw too, as I combed through her hair for hours. After washing everything in my house, and disinfecting for several hours after Charley fell asleep, I finally felt like I could relax. Although, I've been compulsively looking through her hair, ever since!

Wednesday started off on kind of an unexpectedly great note. As a teacher, I have 3 observations every year, by two separate supervisors. My principal is responsible for two observations, and the director of special education for the school district is responsible for the third. I had the SpEd Director's observation scheduled for 1:00. I had all of my paperwork together, thorough lesson plans, and student data. I was very prepared. Imagine my surprise when she walked in the door at 9:30, to observe my group. I was caught totally off-guard! It's not that I wasn't prepared for that time... I knew exactly what I was going to teach. But I didn't have all of the paperwork printed and prepared for her. I just told her that I'd thought she was scheduled for one, but she was welcome to watch me teach at any time. She was very friendly, and opted to stay to observe the 9:30 group. The Wednesday group had children with several different disabilities, who were at very different reading levels, but they were all working on reading comprehension. I did a read aloud, directed an activity, had to correct my students a few times (I'm the mean teacher who takes away pencils when a student continues to draw pictures, after I've asked him to stop), and before I knew it, the lesson was over. The kids had done a great job! It wasn't perfect, but I was pleased with the work they'd completed. They left the room, and she took a couple of minutes to debrief with me. I honestly had no idea what to expect, because my methods aren't necessarily typical. I let the kids work on the floor, instead of at a table, and I was actually down on the floor with them. I wasn't sure if she would've considered that to be 'professional,' enough. "That was a great lesson!" she said. "They were so engaged, and I think they were really getting the concept!" She gave me some more positive feedback, and I was SO relieved. I am confident in my teaching, but when I'm caught off-guard, sometimes I crack under pressure. When it came down to it, it was actually better that she showed up early, because my 1:00 lesson that was so well-prepared, was a total flop. The kids were having an off-day, and it could've been a terrible observation! Someone must've been looking down on me! Ha!

Thursday was a pretty typical day, and today was as well. The kids were pretty focused, and overall, they were good days. Today was especially fun, because it was Family Fun Night at the school. While that meant I had to do a significant amount of driving, to pick Charley up and drive her all the way back out to the school in Forest Lake, it was a great experience! I know it's probably sad that the excitement of my Friday night was Family Fun Night, but I really did have a great time. Charley got to play games and meet some of my students, which was really an interesting experience for me. It was so funny to watch my students interact with her! One of my students, a 6th grader, who always complains about how much his younger siblings drive him crazy, treated her like a princess! He picked her up, tickled her tummy, gave her candy, and kept his eye out for her, the entire night. We saw him as we were getting ready to leave, and he picked her up and gave her a hug. It was so sweet! She's been talking about him all night. For me, it was so nice to see a different side of this student, who always seems to want to put on a show, acting like a little tough guy. Another student saw her, and I asked if he thought he was good with kids. "Are you serious?" he asked me, "I have 7 sisters, and I fed them all. I am GREAT with kids." It totally made me laugh. I decided NOT to remind this particular student that his sisters were all OLDER than him, and likely they had fed HIM, not the other way around. Ha! I think the most interesting encounter was with the student who spends the most time in my room. He has become very connected to me, and I know that. He likes to have my full attention, during the day, and he regularly asks about Charley. However, when he saw me, he just tapped my arm, without saying a word. He had a shy smile on his face, when I said, "This is Charley!" He grinned, as though he was embarrassed, and ran to be with his friends. It made me wonder...was he jealous? Was it weird for him to meet the most important person in my life IN PERSON? Did it make me seem more like an actual person, not just a teacher? I don't know. But it was definitely not how I'd expected him to react. In any case, it was fun to see my students outside of school, and how DIFFERENT they are when they're not in class. It might seem crazy, but it was really a fun night for me. 

Alright, time for me to get to bed. I'm doing the Polar Plunge tomorrow, and I'm preparing myself for hypothermic misery. I should probably be well-rested. Have a great weekend!

A Weekend for the Books!

It's been such a crazy couple of weeks, I haven't had any time to blog at all! Charley and I have been taking turns being sick, and giving each other colds back and forth. It's been awesome. Not really. It's really taken a toll on both of us though, as we've been going to bed early for the last two weeks! Until Friday, that is.

Several months ago, my aunt got me tickets to the Lady Antebellum concert in Kansas City. The concert was originally scheduled for December, but got pushed back to February 15. So, last Friday, Charley and I started our first Kansas City adventure in about 8 months. We got a later start than I'd originally planned, but my friend Kellie, who we were staying with, was at work all day anyway, so it wasn't a big deal that we didn't get out of town until noon. I'd had a busy morning, though, so by the time we left, I was already sick of driving, and ready for a nap. But nonetheless, I loaded up the car, and we started on the 7 hour drive. We listened to Lady Antebellum most of the way there, so I could get myself even more excited for the upcoming concert. When we pulled into Kellie's house, we got ourselves settled, and Kellie went out to dinner for Valentine's Day, while I stayed at her place with Charley and her son, Luke. It was really fun to spend time with the kids! They're really like cousins, and I'm always impressed with how well Luke and Charley play together, even though he's 4 years older than she is. More or less, he is REALLY good about tolerating her, and keeping her entertained. When Kellie got home, we all sat around on the couch and chatted for awhile. It was nice to catch up and relax.

I knew Saturday was going to be a busy day. Having lived in Kansas City, I always want to see my friends when I'm in town, but on this particular trip, there really wasn't any time. By the time we got up and moving on Saturday, I'd already come up with a list of errands to run before the concert, and I knew at some point Charley would need to see her grandpa. When we went to visit her grandpa, Charley was totally thrilled. She was congested and exhausted before we pulled into her grandparents' driveway, but the minute she got out of the car, she was raring to go! She played for a little bit over an hour, before we went back to Kellie's, so I could get ready for the night. Of course she only napped for about 15 minutes, so she was crabby as could be. I had my fingers crossed that she would nap in the car later, when we drove to my friend Spenser's house, where Charley was going to stay during the concert.

Luckily for me, Charley fell asleep in the car on the way to Spenser's place. Unfortunately, when she woke up, she sounded like she had a frog in her throat, and she was insistent that she didn't want me to go anywhere. If I had been at home, I would've canceled my plans for the evening, because clearly she was sick. But I'd been looking forward to this concert for 6 months! I knew she was in good hands with Spenser (who's in nursing school), and his fiancee Nadia. She cried when I left, but within minutes she was fine. Phew! That meant, it was time for Kellie and me to drive to the concert! We drove about 30 minutes into the city, before we came across the Sprint Center, as well as the Power and Light District in Kansas City. It's a really neat little area, with a huge reputation for nightlife activities. We met up with some of our good friends, Ali and Nick, who were also going to the concert, and had a drink before hand. It's funny, when I'm with Ali and Kellie, it's like time never passed. We can keep each other entertained for hours. Of course, Ali asked me how my dating life was. "It's been a few weeks! You never know, something HUGE could've happened in a few weeks in your life!" I laughed. It's true, when I was doing the online dating thing, I had quite a list of people going, and in 2 or 3 weeks, I might have met and ruled out 2 or 3 different guys! Ha! She mentioned that she wants me to write a private blog for my girlfriends, complete with the nicknames of the men I've met (almost all of them have nicknames...), and the hilarious details that happen to everybody, but nobody actually has the guts to talk about. Very few people have heard the ridiculous details of my online dating experiences, Ali being one of them, but apparently she thinks people would be horribly amused by the blunders I've experienced. Something for me to think about... Ha!

When we got to the concert, Kip Moore was playing. We went in, found our seats (which were AMAZING, by the way), and immediately joined in with the crowd, singing along. At one point, Kip was literally 7 rows away from us, singing from the stands. It was awesome. He was a really good performer, and definitely got me hyped up for Lady Antebellum. When Lady Antebellum finally took the stage, I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself! You see, I believe everybody has a band or two that really grabs them. Lady Antebellum is one of those bands for me. I listened to their music all the way to Minnesota from Las Vegas, a year and a half ago. I've connected to so many of their songs...Listening to their music seriously helped me cope with my divorce. Is that weird? I don't know what it is, but some of their songs put into words exactly what I was feeling during that time. Needless to say, when they took the stage, I'm not sure I was prepared for what was to come. I knew EVERY word to EVERY song. Kellie and I sang along at the top of our lungs, and had the time of our lives. Shoot, we're both single moms, and we had a chance to let loose! We definitely took advantage...It was hands-down the best concert I've ever been to. And today, I have a sore throat. Figures. Totally worth it, though!

Not only was the concert great, but Kellie and I also ran into some old friends of ours. They were actually parents of a wonderful little girl I coached on a competitive team, years ago. I always liked their entire family, and had such respect for the way they raised their kids. Anyway, it's always funny when you haven't seen people in the better part of a decade, and they catch a glimpse of you from a distance, and come running. We met up with them afterwards for a drink, and had a great time. By the time we left, it was close to 11:30 (I know, it doesn't seem late, but I still had to pick up Charley, and drive another 45 minutes back to Kellie's place). Apparently we should've stayed a little bit longer though, because Kip Moore made an appearance at the bar shortly after we left. Typical. Damn.

As we drove home today, Charley slept in the back seat, and I put Lady Antebellum back on the stereo.  I made memories I'll never forget, and had so much fun, it's totally worth the fact that I'm pretty sure I'll be going to work sick for the next week, until I get a day to sleep in! With all of that said, I'm aiming for an 8pm bedtime tonight. Have a great week!

The Ultimate Virgo

As I'm sure you all know, the last week or so has been incredibly cold in Minnesota. In fact, I've only worked with students 2 days in the last week. On Martin Luther King Day, my school district had a teacher in-service day, so we didn't have any students. Then school was canceled on Thursday, I had a funeral to attend on Friday, and school was canceled again today...and tomorrow. Now, I know it probably sounds crazy, because I have been paid to stay home for five days this year so far, but I actually MISS my regular schedule. My students haven't been able to get into a routine since winter break, which they need...but I need it, too! I'm such a creature of habit and I thrive on routine. Sometimes I don't know what to do when I have too much spare time! Now don't get me wrong...I have plenty to do. I've been working on my business and finishing paperwork for the school, along with frantically cleaning my house (I'm pretty sure it's cleaner than it's ever been). But, strange as it seems, I miss my students! I'm PRAYING we have school on Wednesday!

When I have extra time, I find myself doing a lot of work (I use that term VERY loosely) on the internet. Sometimes I'm researching daycares, other times I'm looking at rental homes closer to the school...  The last few days have been no exception. Charley has been under-the-weather, so we've been relaxing on the couch quite a bit, and my 'research' has become more 'looking around online because I'm bored,' than anything else. The other day, I was on Facebook, and someone posted 12 Signs You're an Aquarius. So, naturally, I had to look up, 'Signs You're a Virgo,' to see how it fits in terms of my personality. HA! I am the ULTIMATE Virgo. It's weird to me that when I was born determines ANY of my personality tendencies, but seriously, it's pretty accurate. One of the Pinterest posts states the following about Virgos:

Loves: organization, constructive criticism, being of service, health and hygiene, and dealing with details

Hates: crowds, people who complain, interrupted schedules, people moving their things, and making hasty decisions

Another post cites that, "No need to worry. A Virgo will do the worrying for you."

Ha! It's like someone read my mind. I love organization, and helping people. Details are SUPER important to me, so when I look at a project that I know I won't be able to execute perfectly, I don't even attempt it, just in case it doesn't come out right. I've been working on that, actually... When it comes to the things I hate, I genuinely can't stand people who complain. Everybody has struggles in their lives. Everybody has things that are difficult, and circumstances that are complicated. But my philosophy has always been, if something's not right, CHANGE it! I've changed my path many times in the last several years, and I'm better off because of it. As I tell my students (frequently), "I don't speak whine." I thought it was just my personality. Apparently it's a Virgo thing! Oh, and the worrying thing? I'm pretty sure I've made myself physically ill worrying before. Good to know it's a Virgo thing, and I'm definitely not crazy. Ha! 

I think my favorite Virgo-related post is the one that states, "Virgos are not really complicated, but at the same time, they are. The reason being, on the surface they are so calm, collected, reserved and down-to-earth. Inside however, there is a WHOLE lot going on, especially in their minds." Ummmm....Hi. That is TOTALLY me. I'm frequently praised for my ability to remain calm in stressful situations (let's just say a child throwing a fit doesn't phase me even a little bit). But just because I appear calm, and seem like I know EXACTLY what to do, doesn't mean that's the case. Sometimes I'm internally freaking out, but keep a calm demeanor on the outside. I suppose it's a skill in the workplace, but the tendency to overthink anything and everything has gotten me in trouble in other areas of my life.   That's a Virgo trait I think I need to try to use only in certain situations...

Hours after I read about my Virgo traits, and confirmed that I am truly, in every sense of the word, a Virgo (perfectionistic, goal oriented, driven, etc.), I went to a staff party for Kenwood. It was a really nice party. Great food, wonderful people...and they all embraced the fact that Charley came along as my date! I'm grateful to work with such wonderful people. But anyway, that same evening, my boss gave out holiday gifts and awards to all of the staff. What was my award? The GO! Getter Award. It couldn't have been more fitting, based on what I'd just been reading about myself (that totally sounds weird). My boss went on to tell everyone how I needed a change, and I just up and started a new career, which is why I'm consider the gym's go-getter. I really appreciated that! It's nice to have such a positive relationship with everybody in the gym, even though I'm not there much anymore. I honestly think that regardless of how frequently I'm there, my Kenwood friends will always be more like family to Charley and me!

So, here I am goal-oriented, overthinking, and BORED. I've got to get out of the house tomorrow, in spite of the cold! Have a good week!

Target Kids

It's been pretty busy, as usual, but a really productive week. Between Winter Break and snow days, this week represents the first full four consecutive days of school since mid-December, and boy, it was clear the kids have gotten used to having their days off. Lucky for them, they have tomorrow off too, due to a teacher work day. It might be nice for the teachers to have the day off too, but I'm actually looking forward to going in and getting some paperwork done. My plan is to be productive. We'll see if that happens, but it really is my intention! It'll be nice to have a day surrounded by adults, too!

Today was a really interesting day at school. It was one of those days where it seemed like I had all of my students in my classroom a times they weren't supposed to be there, because they needed help with something, or they were having trouble in their classroom with one thing or another. I like being able to offer a, "safe place," to my students, but it certainly makes my day more challenging. Especially because so many of my students have problems with behavior, and come bounding into my classroom during the middle of a lesson, and don't pay any attention to the fact that there are 5 other kids in the room who are working on something. It's okay, though, days like today don't come along very often, so I can deal with them when they do. I felt like I made a connection with a particularly challenging student, too, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. This student is one of those kids who always seems to get into trouble when he's with his peers. He can be deliberately rude and disrespectful at times, but at other times, he can be very sensitive. Today, he was having an issue in class, and instead of throwing a fit and getting himself into trouble, he chose to come down and talk. So, we talked. It was probably a 30 minute conversation, during which he spilled his guts about how he felt like he got singled out in class, and how he always gets in trouble for doing things that other students were doing, too. I listened to him, asked him a lot of questions, and gave him some suggestions on how he could handle himself differently, so he wouldn't get into trouble. I think this is where my experience in the general education classroom was really helpful. When I taught fifth grade, I VIVIDLY remember several students who were consistently getting into trouble. They distracted their classmates, disrupted lessons, had disrespectful moments...I remember how frustrating that was, when I had a classroom full of students. I told my students about that experience, and asked him to think from his teacher's perspective. I told him that sometimes kids become, "target students," who end up taking the blame for things they didn't do, because they have a pattern of bad behavior. Then I asked him what simple changes he could make in the classroom, so he could build some of her trust, and gain independence. He had some really good ideas, and impressed me with his maturity. He didn't get defensive or mad when I talked to him about his role in the situation. He simply expressed how he felt, and listened openly to my feedback. I was most impressed when, responding to my question about talking with his teacher directly, he said, "The thing is, the things I say now can affect my future. I have trouble because I'm not sure what to say or how to say it without saying something I shouldn't." Wow. How insightful, at such a young age! When he came back to see me at the end of the day, he announced that he was having a great day. "Did you talk to your teacher?" I asked, proudly. "Not yet," he replied, "I'm having a great day because of talking to you!" How cool is that? It reinforced the fact that so many students just need someone to listen, and need to feel like they're being heard. I didn't just tell him what he wanted to hear, but I listened to his side of the story, and told him I understood why he was upset. It was that simple. It was probably the most mature, open discussion I've ever had with a 12-year-old, and it came as a complete surprise. But definitely a pleasant surprise!

Even though it was a crazy day, and I was glad for it to be over, my students did get a lot accomplished! Now they're off for a four day weekend, while my colleagues and I will be working as usual. I went to pick up Charley after school, and she was excited to see me. There's really nothing like walking into your child's daycare and watching her run as fast as she can to give you a hug. I love those moments every day. On our drive home, I was stuck behind a truck that had some really smelly exhaust. "Mommy, that truck smells bad! It's making my nose on fire!" she said. I asked myself...Is she seriously 2? I mean, I know she will be 3 soon (WAY too soon, in my opinion), but sometimes her vocabulary and the things she says are shocking to me. She's going to talk circles around me by the time she turns 10!

On another note, I've decided to take up a new hobby or two. Now, realistically, I don't have time for hobbies that take a lot of energy to learn. I'm all about fitness as a hobby, but that's kind of a daily thing I should be doing. I'm thinking about things that I can do once or twice a month for fun, and to meet new people. Any suggestions? I have a couple in mind, but I'll have to try them out before I can really consider them to be hobbies.

Alright, time to feed my kiddo! Have a great weekend!

Cleaning Up!

As usual, things have been busy, lately. For those of you who have been living under rocks for the last two weeks, it's been absolutely FREEZING in Minnesota. I mean seriously....freezing. I hate the cold. I know when I lived in Vegas I missed the seasons, but I don't think I ever missed temperatures below zero. Anyway, due to the extreme cold, I had snow days on both Monday and Tuesday. Talk about a nice surprise! Snow days are definitely a perk to being a teaching in Minnesota, that's for sure.

I learned on Friday afternoon that school would be closed on Monday. I was looking forward to an extra catch up day, because even though I was fresh off of winter break, I hadn't accomplished all I'd wanted to get done over the break. Normally, if I have a break, I take that time to clean my house, pay bills, do my laundry, etc. However, I was staying at my dads' house over the break, so I didn't really get the opportunity to do the deep clean I'd been planning on doing. So, I figured Monday would be the day! Then, I got a message from some friends asking if I could watch their kids on Monday, because their kids' school had closed, too. Now, as much as I'd been looking forward to cleaning, I knew having the kids over would be WAY more fun for Charley. So, I agreed to watch their kids while they were at work. It was such a fun day. We did some painting, which the kids loved, but I was about done with in 15 minutes (it's SO messy!). It's funny, though, because I look up art projects online, but they never turn out exactly as planned. I have great ideas, but I am just not artistic. My older sister got that gene, but clearly, I did NOT. Anyway, the kids had a great time, and I followed them around the house all day, cleaning up behind them as they blew from one room to the next. That's one of the negatives about living in a small duplex. There's just not enough room for a bunch of kids to play, without making a massive mess. That's okay, though, I accepted that my house would just be a mess for the day, and enjoyed the fact that the kids were having such a great time.

Sometime during the day on Monday, I learned that I would have Tuesday off from work, as well. Woohoo! Charley's school was open, so I decided I would take her to school on Tuesday and take advantage of that time to really clean my house. I didn't just want to surface-clean, because I do that all the time. I wanted to go through papers, boxes, closets, and junk drawers, and clean EVERYTHING out. So, I took Charley to school, and started my clean-up. Whenever I do serious housecleaning, it makes me feel good. On Tuesday, it was like I was cleaning up all of the negatives from my past. I cleaned out boxes of papers that I've moved with me across the country, but not really looked at in 5+ years. In some of the boxes, I found awesome memories, like a book my gymnastics team put together for me when I was graduating high school, a book my student teaching class had written for me before the end of the semester I worked with them, old yearbooks, pictures of Charley when she was first born, and a plethora of other things. It was fun to look through old pictures, but it legitimately made me feel old. Especially when I found the picture of my friend Lindsay and me at my birthday when I was 5...that was decades ago! Anyway, I cleaned for hours. By 1:00, I'd cleaned out my closet, the front closet, my desk and office area, and both of my junk drawers (which were legitimate junk drawers, full to the brim with random crap). I'd really accomplished a lot! What's the problem with cleaning out closets and junk drawers, though? The fact that I'd cleaned all day, and my house still looked messy! I took a little bit of a break, then got back to work, cleaning the rest of the house. By the time I finished, I felt totally accomplished, and relieved. I'd dealt with a lot of paperwork and junk that I'd been avoiding for a long time. And now, it's gone! Totally out of my life! Phew!

My attempt at a Pinterest project. Art isn't my strong suit...

When I picked Charley up from school, I was exhausted, but glad to see her. Her favorite teacher is still in school, and doing her special education student teaching this semester, so she's not there anymore. Her replacement came up and introduced herself which I appreciated. However, she wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy. Charley's old teacher was bubbly, loud, boisterous, friendly...Basically the perfect personality for a preschool teacher. This new girl, who's probably 21 or 22, introduced herself politely, but she seemed pretty rehearsed. She was like, "I understand that working here is a privilege, and it's really a partnership between us and the parents to ensure that all of the students blossom academically, and socially, etc." She might have been saying the right words, but honestly, I prefer teachers who can just carry a conversation and tell me how the day went. I was skeptical. On Wednesday, I went back to work, and it was a pretty good day. When I went to get Charley from school, though, her new teacher mentioned to me that Charley had been off-task, and had to be reminded by her and several of the other teachers to behave. My guess is that Charley was probably talking out of turn, which doesn't surprise me at all. What DID surprise me was the choice of punishment. "Charley wasn't behaving as well as she did yesterday, so instead of doing stations, she had to sit out at do a worksheet." Ummm....what? She's 2. The thought of expecting a 2-year-old to stay on-task all the time is unrealistic, in my mind, but giving a 2-year-old a WORKSHEET as a form of punishment? That's ridiculous! She can't read. The teacher gave me the worksheet, which was basically a piece of paper with scribbles all over it. When I asked Charley how her day was, she said, "It was great!" She didn't even realize she'd been in trouble. I'm not one to complain much, especially to teachers, but this time, I'm going to have to say something. It's a Montessori school...Worksheets are not exactly part of a well-rounded Montessori school. I'm also looking for other daycare options, because quite honestly, it's not worth the extra money for me to drive totally out of my way to take Charley to daycare and do worksheets. I think I'll find somewhere for her that's closer to my work. 

Okay, enough of the rant about Charley's school. I have a funny story from school this week, that people might find amusing. On Wednesday, in social skills, we had done an activity were the students were discussing emotions, and how they felt in certain situations. The kids described what happened to their bodies when they felt happy, sad, etc. So, Thursday, I extended the lesson, and had the kids play charades with emotions words (excited, upset, thrilled, surprised, etc.). One of the assigned words was confused. A child pulled the card, and the boy sitting next to him (I'll call him Alex) saw part of the word. Before the word could be acted out, Alex shouted, "CONSTIPATED!" He looked surprised when all of the students, teachers, and paras in the room erupted in laughter. The teacher I work most closely with, looked at him and asked, "Do you know what that means?" "No," he stated. "It means you can't poop," she told him, matter-of-factly. His face turned red, and he immediately burst out laughing. He was embarrassed, but definitely handled himself well. He was able to laugh at himself, and in a group like that, that was something worth celebrating. As much as that group can be crazy, that comment totally made my day.

Alright, that's all for now! Have a good weekend!

A Crappy Start to New Year's Eve...Literally...

Alright, I'll keep this one short and sweet. For the last week and a half, I've been dog-sitting at my dad's house, while he's in Paris with my sister and stepdad. Life's rough, huh? Anyway, dog-sitting has been going great! The dogs are taking short walks every day, in spite of the frigid weather, no fights thus far (knock on wood)...Basically all has been well in dog land. Until today! My dad's housekeeper was scheduled to come over on Thursday, to clean up before they got home from France. She texted me last night, however, to let me know that she would be coming over today, instead. It wasn't that big of a deal. It meant that I will now have to pick up around the house twice, instead of once, but it wasn't the end of the world. I wanted to be out of her way, and usually she stays most of the day. So, when I left around 9 to take Charley to school, I asked her to let the dogs out when she had a chance. I was in and out all day. I let them out around 2:00, then went to pick Charley up from school. This is where it gets a little gross.

Charley and I got back to my dad's house, and the dogs were out on the porch. I called to the dogs, to let them outside, then opened the door to the living room, where I promptly stepped in a pile of dog poop. "EEEEEWWWW!" I squealed, as I felt it squish under my boot. I took my boot off, and raced into the other room to get paper towels to wipe it off. In the process, I managed to step in ANOTHER pile of poop in my sock. "GROSS!!!!!" I shouted! Then, I carefully removed my socks, while inspecting the somewhat camouflaging floor to make sure I didn't step in anything barefoot. It's like the moment it crossed my mind, it HAPPENED. "OH MY GOSH! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!!!!" I yelled. Poor Charley isn't used to me losing my cool, and started crying. I wasn't actually mad, I was just surprised, disgusted, and totally unprepared for crap that had apparently been intended to surround me. Yuck!

So Charley was crying, the dogs were outside, then my sister tried to FaceTime us from France. Her timing couldn't have been worse. Anyhow, I cleaned everything up, got Charley situated, then got another phone call. I wasn't on the phone for more than 2 minutes before I looked over and noticed that Charley was lying on her belly, making me a little present of her own. Now, 3 weeks ago, this would've been no big deal. But she's potty training...which means NO diaper. "Are you KIDDING me?!" I exclaimed. I rushed her to the potty...although of course she had already gotten most of the job done in her pants. In 20 minutes, I think I cleaned up more crap than I have ever dealt with in my life. Gross.

This, apparently, is how I was intended to spend the last night of 2013. Cleaning up crap. Metaphorically speaking, I HAVE been doing a lot of that lately, so maybe this was just the literal manifestation of what I've been doing in other areas of my life! With that said, Charley and I are going to spend our New Year's Eve at home tonight. I'm going to have a glass of wine, go to bed early, and think about how this crappy New Year's Eve must be bringing about a very exciting and wonderful New Year in all areas of my life. Happy New Year!

New Year Reflections

As 2013 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the events of the last year. There's no doubt the last two years have been the craziest, most up-in-the-air, yet exciting years of my life. I've had my share of ups and downs, and as a full-time single mom, I know there are many more of those in my future. But overall, I'm happy with the progress I've made in my life. I've become more confident, assertive, and motivated than I've ever been. I've also learned some things about myself that have surprised me a bit. I know I've said it before, but I'm very self-reflective. I'm always looking for reasons for my actions and the things that I do. On the outside, I might appear to be an extreme extrovert. Any of my co-workers would call me a liar if I said I was introverted. But in some ways, I really am. I carefully pick and choose what I share with people, and when things go wrong, I always think about how my actions could've been different, and what I would do if I was in the same situation in the future. I learn from my mistakes, but that doesn't mean I don't stumble a little bit, making the same mistakes a few times over, before I REALLY figure out how to make changes for the better. But when I figure it out, I figure it out. Then I DON'T make the same mistakes again. With all of that said, I've decided that as we go into 2014, I would make a couple of lists for 2013: Top 10 Events, Top 5 Revelations, and Top 5 Resolutions. This could be lengthy, so read at your own risk!

Top 10 Events
1. My divorce was finalized. Although I have been separated for more than a year and a half, at this point, it was only a year ago that my divorce was actually final. It set me free in a number of ways. Most importantly, receiving my divorce decree really gave me the closure I needed to put my marriage in the past. Even though I hadn't felt married for several months before I left Vegas, the finality of the divorce really was necessary for me.
2. I started a business, along with my stepdad, and one of my closest friends. GO! Gymnastics is still up and running, by the way. It's not something I can do full-time at this point, but it's going strong, and I'm hoping to watch it build in the next few  years.
3. Charley broke her leg. This was NOT one of my favorite events of the last year, but it did make an impact on my life. Poor Charley was incapacitated for several weeks, but she really impressed me with how well she coped. She managed to get where she needed to go, in spite of the seven pound cast on her leg. And my arms were like rocks for about a month and a half. Thanks for that, Charley!
4. I started teaching IN THE CLASSROOM again! This might be the most exciting event of the last few months for me. It is exciting, it's challenging, it drives me crazy, but it's also the best possible thing I could've done for Charley and me. I craved the interaction with students and teachers that I wasn't able to get through teaching online. The position is really a perfect fit for me.
5. I've made some great new friends. I know this isn't one particular event, but it's been so incredibly important to me. There's nothing like having old friends, and I always say mine are the greatest. They are! But none of them who live here have kids (except for you, Katie Maddaus), and it's honestly easier to socialize when there are other kids to play with. I feel so blessed that I actually LIKE Charley's friends' parents. They're great. It's a nice feeling to be able to know that Charley is going to have kids to play with, while the adults socialize.Plus, playdates are over before 9, so Charley and I both get to bed at a reasonable time. I must be getting old, but I need my sleep! I guess I feel like it's such a symbiotic relationship to be friends with your kids' friends' parents, and it's really a great perk to having kids! Thanks again, Charley, for expanding my social circle.
6. I completed the Tough Mudder. For many of my co-workers, the Tough Mudder was a breeze. For me, it was the ultimate physical challenge. The obstacles might have been easy for me, because I'm strong. But I absolutely HATE running, especially any sort of distance. So even completing a 10-12 mile obstacle course was a feat for me. I might have been the slowest participant in the history of the Tough Mudder, but I did it, and for me, that was enough.
7. My dads got married. After 12 years together, it was about time. I was happy to be a part of the ceremony, and can't wait for the upcoming reception.
8. My niece was born/I got to meet my niece! I am a sucker for kids (everybody who's ever seen me around children knows that), so it was really exciting to get to meet the newest addition to the family.
9. Charley started preschool. This changed my relationship with Charley drastically. It's a big part of the reason that my social life is lacking on the weekends. I always said I didn't want to have a child, just to send her to someone else and not raise her. Well, now that she's in preschool, it's a much bigger priority for me to take advantage of every minute I have with her, after I pick her up.
10. I sent Charley away to see her father and grandparents...without me. This was a huge step for me, because prior to this, I hadn't spent more than 12 hours away from her...ever. It needed to happen, but it wasn't easy for me. She was totally fine and had a great time, of course. I probably struggled significantly more than she did. But it also showed me that she is well-adjusted enough to know that she can be safe with someone other than me, and I will ALWAYS come back. It gives me a little bit of freedom looking into the future, too.

Top 5 Revelations
1. I haven't spent enough time with my old friends. I know I rave about them, and honestly I feel like I could call any of them at any given moment and know they'd be there for me if I needed them. But I haven't been able to give those friendships the attention they deserve. I haven't intentionally neglected my friends, but in the hustle and bustle of my life as a single mom (who now commutes about an hour and a half every day), it's easy to neglect those relationships that have always been intact. It's important to me that they know they ARE priorities to me, so I need to get out more and socialize with them.
2. I don't take enough time for myself. This goes along with my first revelation, I think. Spending time with my friends when Charley isn't around IS taking time for myself to have fun. I haven't really had the opportunity to do that in the last few months...at least not as much as I would like. I haven't had much Charley-free time in general, and by the time she goes to sleep at night, it's hard for me to spend a lot of time focusing on myself. I usually just do the dishes and go to bed. I'm so exciting, I know! But it's become a way of life for me, and it's something I'd like to change.
3. I have incredible people in my life. If what I've put out there in the world is being paid back in terms of friends, I must have made an amazing contribution to the universe. I seriously find myself surrounded by the most wonderful family, friends, co-workers. Shoot, my co-workers ARE my friends and many of them are like family to me, too. Not everybody is that lucky. Charley and I have great people who care about us all over the country, and for that, I will always be grateful.
4. I still have NO idea what I'm doing when it comes to dating. I've tried dating quite a bit in the last year or so. It's really hard for me! I think it can be a pattern for me to get wrapped up in things quickly, and then back off because I get scared of commitment. It's not that I want to date a lot of people. I legitimately HATE dating. But the thought of integrating someone new in my life, making somebody a priority...that's intimidating! I've already got Charley to take care of, and I'm so busy, it's overwhelming to think about adding another person (or people, if he has a child), into the picture. With that said, I'm totally open to settling down. That's really what I want. But I definitely want to build a friendship with someone first, and get to know them on that level, before talking about dating. I think that's been my issue with online dating. If you find someone you like, you rush to claim them (although usually it hasn't been me doing the claiming), and go from point A-Z in a fairly short period of time. For some people, that's great! For me, it doesn't work. I tried it once, and it really didn't work. Friendship works for me. It would be nice to be friends with a romantic interest before anything else, and to make that friendship a priority. This is what I'm talking about when I say I've made the same mistake several times. Rushing into things, then running away. Again, something I've now recognized, and will now change.
5. I'm still the ultimate people-pleaser. I have to give myself credit here, because in the last year I think I've gotten better at standing up to people and telling people things they didn't necessarily want to hear. However, I still have a hard time trying to please everybody. It's something I've done my whole life, and I'm working on changing it. Parts of my people-pleasing habits, I won't change. For example, I love to let people I care about know I care, in my own ways. I might text a funny quote that makes me think of them, or send them a post on Facebook every once in awhile. I like to do things for people that I think they will like or enjoy. But I'm beginning to address my issue of trying to please everybody and make everybody like me.

Top 5 Resolutions
1. Give myself a break! I'm going to aim for at least 2 nights out every month, whether it's with my girlfriends, or new friends...it doesn't matter. But 2, Charley-free nights every month, just so I can remember that I'm something other than a mom.
2. Never miss out on anything because I was afraid to take a chance. I made this resolution last year, and I think I'm going to continue it. I've taken a lot of chances this year. Some have panned out, others have not. However, I don't regret anything, because I DID take risks. It's a good resolution, though, so I'm sticking with it!
3. Have patience with myself. My goal is to trust that everything happens for a reason, and sometimes, that reason isn't apparent right away. Ok, this might not sound like much of a resolution, but I tend to want things, work for them, and get them fairly quickly. That's how I've been since the day I was born. However, it's made certain aspects of my life difficult, particularly my personal life. I haven't been terribly patient with myself, and I don't really cut myself much slack. In 2014, I'm going to try to relax just a little bit, and let life lead me wherever it does.
4. Stop trying to force things to happen in my life. I'm going to try, again, to let life take me where it's supposed to lead. I do believe that there are certain parts of life that are already in the works in the universe, and I just need to stop trying to control everything. If that means I'm going to be moving north in the next year, because that's where my job is, so be it! If it means I'm going to be single for another year, that's okay! If it means I'm going to settle down and start building a relationship, that's even better. Regardless of where life leads me, I'm going to stop trying to make things happen before they're supposed to.
5. Build my business. GO! Gymnastics has already hosted a number of events and parties. I want the business to really take off in 2014. I think part of me was always meant to own a business, but I also think that maybe I'm not meant to BE my business. I want to learn to delegate and help the business become even more successful in the next year.

Well, there you have it! That's my life in 2013...and what I'm hoping for in 2014. Here are some pictures that have captured my life in the last year.

Me, a year ago, at Lindsay's birthday party!

Charley, a year ago, playing at Beth's.

At the zoo, over the summer. 

Tough Mudder 2013

P.S. I want to give a shout out to my sister, Allie, who will be celebrating her birthday by the time she reads this. I love you Allie, and I'm so glad we've grown closer over the last few years!

Charley and me a couple of weeks ago. My crazy little handful!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Well it's been a week since I've blogged, and my life hasn't slowed down even a little bit! Since I haven't been working at the school, I've managed to squeeze in a few private lessons, do some Christmas shopping, and even bake cookies with Charley. It's been months since I baked cookies, but it seems as though I've still got it... Charley's happily gobbling them up! There's a reason I don't bake often, though...When I bake, I end up eating what I make! So, I'm peddling these cookies around like crazy, because let's be honest, at this time of year, I could really do without the extra sweets lying around the house!




I love this time of year. It's my absolute favorite. In spite of the -12 degree weather (which I royally despise), I just like being out and about during the holidays. For Charley, it really should be the holiday season all year round. She learned about a dozen Christmas carols at school, which she sings at the top of her lungs, regardless of where we are (the gym, the store, a restaurant, etc.). Oddly enough, most people seem to find this quality in her to be endearing. She is just so happy to sing, Jingle Bells, at the top of her lungs, and she has NO shame. People everywhere seem to just eat it up! I think Charley's finest moment, this holiday season, was when she called Santa on me, and told him I was naughty. I'm not exactly sure what I did to offend her, but it must have been significant, because I'm kind of anticipating a giant lump of coal in my stocking this year! Charley, meanwhile, has been making out like a bandit in terms of gifts! It's not even Christmas yet, and she already got a bunch of Hannukah presents from my dad and his side of the family,  as well as a ton of gifts from my students at the gym. I can't believe that the girls I teach got CHARLEY Christmas gifts, along with me. I just think that is so nice. We are surrounded by some really wonderful people. One mom told me today, "Our lives are better, now that you and Charley are in them." What a kind, and sweet thing to say! And I know she was being genuine, because she really is a great person. People seem to be nicer this time of year, and I really do appreciate that. Anyway, my point here, is that Charley and I are surrounded by wonderful, generous people, who love us as much as we love them, and that's something I'm very grateful for.

So, as is their tradition, my dad, stepdad, and sister went overseas for Christmas this year. They're in Paris! I, meanwhile, am dog sitting at their house. Thus far, the dogs have been great. My only complaint is that, while trying to transfer a sleeping Charley into her make-shift bedroom, I tripped over the door frame and completely wiped out. Talk about a terrible way to wake up from a nap! She screamed, but wasn't hurt. I had her pretty tightly wrapped in my arms, and she was still in her coat, so she had some extra padding. My legs, arms, and back, however, will be feeling the fall for the next couple of days. It was such a stupid fall! But not the first time I've had trouble WALKING. I mean seriously, I can do all kinds of acrobatics, but I can't walk on my own two feet. Maybe it's a result of being tired from all the work I've been doing. Ok, I'll be honest, I'm certain I'm overtired and was just being clumsy. Lucky for me, she wasn't hurt, and we both had at least a few minutes to relax for a nap.

We went to my mom's for dinner tonight. Traditionally, she always made lasagna, but she decided to mix it up tonight and make a different pasta dish. It was awesome, and over dinner we talked about how Santa might make a surprise appearance, when Charley went to get her jammies on. I took Charley into the bathroom, put her on the toilet (we're in the midst of potty training, and finding success with frequent bribery), and we heard some jingling outside the door, as my mom shouted, "Santa's here!" Charley shrieked," Santa!!! I went peepee on the potty!" Love it. She's very proud of her potty training success, and will tell anybody who will listen exactly how many times she's pottied in a given day. Anyway, Santa came by and brought some presents, which she gleefully opened. Her favorite was a set of Disney Princess shoes. Apparently the shoe obsession is hereditary.... And she can't blame me directly. It all started with her Nana!

Alright, time to get busy wrapping presents. We're going to Charley's friend's house in the morning, and I've got quite a bit of wrapping to do before the night's over. Lucky for me, I was able to get her from the car to her bed without incident tonight, and she's out for the night. Merry Christmas!

Feeling Lucky!

So, it's been awhile since I've blogged, but I've been so busy, I really haven't had time! I've got a LOT to catch up on. Today, I thought I'd focus on my new job, and Charley. When I started my new teaching job in the middle of November, I wasn't quite sure what I was walking into. What I've found, is that my new students are awesome, and I am totally at home in the classroom. I've finally got my own room, so routines are becoming more established, in spite of the upcoming Winter Break...which I'm certainly looking forward to! I haven't had a full day off since Thanksgiving, and even then, Charley and I were running around from house to house, so it wasn't terribly relaxing. I will definitely take advantage of the extra time to relax over the break. I've only got three more days with students, but who's counting, right? Ha!

The students I work with are amazing. They all have such distinct personalities, and sometimes they say the funniest things. Today, one student told me, "I'm not normal, I'm exotic." Another one went on and on about his girlfriend. He told me how she'd given him her phone number, and how he didn't just like her because she's pretty...he likes her personality, too. When he finished his story, he suddenly realized who he's been talking to. "Wait, why am I telling you this?! You're a teacher!" he exclaimed. I laughed. He's a piece of work. He's probably the most difficult student I've ever worked with, for a number of reasons. For one thing, he has a horrible home life. That means that anything established at school, stays at school, and doesn't really get reinforced at home. I asked him today if he's looking forward to the break. "Not really," he said. "I like it here. This is the first time I've ever liked school." While that's very flattering, I know that the reason he likes school right now is because he's comfortable with me. He knows he can push boundaries, and I will consistently respond with consequences. It's true, kids crave rules and structure. But at the same time, I choose my battles wisely. If the students are working on an art project, and he is working on a different art project, I leave it alone. If he's doing a similar task, and not bothering anybody, it's not worth getting worked up about in my book. But because of this, he wants to spend his entire day in my classroom. He knows that he acts up in class, and has a hard time dealing with authority figures. So, he'd rather not be in that setting. But he's a bright kid, and needs to spend more time with his peers. So, I spend much of my day trying different techniques to entice him back to his classroom. The problem is, as soon as I get him there, he'll do something to get in trouble so his teacher sends him back to me! Essentially, he's "in trouble," but getting exactly what he wanted in the first place. He's a work in progress, but I see a lot of potential in him, and if I can figure something out to keep him motivated to stay in the classroom a little bit more, I think he has a very bright future. Any of my fellow teacher friends have any suggestions? I've been using a token-reward system, and it was great for about a week. But just as I knew it would, the system stopped working. Kids are always keeping me on my toes! Any ideas would be appreciated.

Even though my students are challenging, I absolutely adore them. They keep every day interesting, and I know I'm blessed to have found them. They bring as much joy and excitement into my life as I could possibly hope to bring into theirs. I think I'm going to try to write down a student quote of the week. Last week's quote goes as follows:

Student (after losing his class' Christmas party): "There's NO magic in Christmas anymore!"
Para: "There is magic in Christmas."
Student: "No there's not! There's just crotchety old ladies, who like to crush my Christmas dreams!"

*Side note- I was equally impressed at a fourth grader's use of the word crotchety, and relieved that the statement wasn't directed at me.

I seriously enjoy my students for all of their quirks, and creativity, that's for sure!

So, I mentioned in my last post that Charley had gone to Kansas to visit her dad. I was really nervous about the trip, more for my sake than for hers. I knew she'd be in good hands. She would have a chance to spend time with her dad's entire family, and they are wonderful people. However, I knew I would be bored without her, and I'd miss her like crazy. I definitely missed her, but managed to keep myself busy, so I didn't think about it so much. I did some Christmas shopping, spent time with friends, worked quite a bit...I honestly did anything I could to keep myself distracted. When I drove to pick her up on Monday after work, I literally cried, I was so excited to see her. She was less enthused about seeing me, than I was about seeing her. But after a little bit of snuggling at home, she was over any possible annoyance with me for sending her away, without me. She's been much better behaved since she's been home than I ever could've imagined. I'm one lucky mom!

Charley and I were at a friend's house tonight, and my friend mentioned something to the extent that I seem to have a calling for teaching. She was at my house a couple of times when I was teaching online, and said she just thought teaching was the perfect job for me.  I think she's right. It's what I'm best at. Whether it's in the gym or the classroom, I understand how to communicate with kids, and most of the time, I can get them to do what I would like them to do. Most of the time. Ha! If only I could communicate as effectively in my personal life, as I do with my students! Maybe I would have more success...Huh, that's a thought to ponder.

Okay, it's time for me to get Charley to bed. Here's a fabulous picture of her with Santa, though! She had more success when her Nana and Boppa took her, than she has in previous years with me!