black friday madness

it cost me lots of trips driving all over town and a little sleep...but i did score us a laptop at an unbeatable price! i would definitely do it again! But only at my secret store where people line up mere hours, and not days, before the store opens...

managing children

i think managing children is the single biggest challenge of being a teacher. i have certain kids that i feel like i'm in a near constant battle with depending on whether it is a good or bad day...or week.

but i had a reminder today of something important that is easy to lose sight of when you're locked in "battle" with certain younglings. the reminder was that these bad behaviors don't come from nowhere -- that the most difficult kids to deal with often have a heart wrenching situation outside of school.

while that doesn't excuse bad behavior, it's the key to seeing that they are not the enemy and that your battle is not with them, it is for them.

WOW!

My son's new favorite word is "Wow!". He opens the fridge at Grandma's house and says "Wow!". We put his jacket on and he says "Wow!". Splashing in the bathtub gets "WOW WOW WOW!". But the occasional throwing of food on the floor still gets an "Uh-Oh!" ;)

and it goes on

Thanksgiving approaches and my big sis is getting ready to take the stand in the murder trial of her best friend. Then just after the holidays it will be her birthday and the first anniversary of the murder - forever linked now. That's bad enough, but let's not forget Best Friends 3 sons, who are now facing their first holiday season without either one of their parents. The waves from one horrible day in January just keep crashing down...

seriously

dearest amiga,

i love you! you are truly a wonderful person and i have been so blessed to have you in my life. but seriously...

quit picking assholes to be involved with. it does not matter if underneath it all they have a heart of gold. they are assholes and you will never change them.

let go of the exes. i won't pretend to know how painful this last break up was for you, but you are only drawing out the pain...

quit swimming in sadness. there are horrible things in the world. i don't need you to explain that to me. i don't need you to try to make me feel it. my empathy skills are just fine, thank you. i just don't need to "go there" over every single tragedy that i brush up against.

[sigh]

i don't believe that a word of this would actually get through to you. you would only be hurt and more sad and probably extremely pissed off at me.

you are a good girl...i just wish you could be happy!

my dear son's newest habit is *not* like a slap in the face...

it is one! My little angel has picked up the habit of slapping people (whomever is holding him) whenever his fiery little temper is set off! He's learning not to do it, but in the meantime it is oh-so-fun!

things change

sandy eggo was fun...but revisiting that life was strange. that old way of life fits me about as well as my pre-baby pants do (some parts better than others, and with some discomfort). it's not just that i'm a mom now...it's also that i'm married. i have never been so uncomfortable going out in my life as i was when we hit the gaslamp ! i felt like an old lady with my shirt all buttoned up just praying nobody would hit on me.

that might sound a bit ridiculous but most of my years living and going out in sandy eggo i was single, and my old partner in crime still is. Plus, she attracts a steady stream of male attention...which i wanted nothing to do with!

SOOOOOO.....i would love to go to sandy eggo and go out on the town again...but next time my dear husband must come!