Winter's on the Wing

Today I drove up to Boston, on business.  This is one of three trips I do each year.  I assist our marketing and publications efforts by talking to myriad scientists at our booth in the exhibit hall at the Hynes Convention Center.  Have I said how much I cherish these trips?  Sure, it's work, BUT all I need to do is get my own self out of bed and dressed each morning (and not at 5am, neither!).  No cooking, cleaning, chauffering, or overseeing of kids' activities.  I can read the newspaper (well, USA Today is technically a newspaper) each morning as I munch on some breakfast in a nice bathrobe without worrying about anyone walking in on me.  Alone time.  

I have to admit that I was psyched when I exited from the Orient Point Ferry this morning and saw that the rain was mixing with snow in Connecticut.  I love driving in the snow.  I suppose this is a throwback to my undergraduate days in upstate NY.  But I also think I'm ready for winter to arrive.  Yesterday I wrapped a bunch of Christmas presents before dinner.  Hanukkah is all set to go (and the kids know this -- because if the presents weren't wrapped already, they'd be snooping all week while I'm gone).  Holiday snapshots of the kids are in envelopes with stamps on, ready to be mailed after I arrive home.  Yes, part of this is the geek compulsiveness, but it's also that any extra projects at home require advance organization...there are only small chunks of time here and there, to work on them.  Whew, I feel pretty good now.

Time to iron my business clothes for the week and unpack.  Oh yes, and I just turned the heat in the hotel room up to 73.   

Teach Your Children Well

Monday night I attended the parent-teacher conferences for my two elementary school students.  Boy did we hit the jackpot this year (I mean this in a good way -- usual sarcastic M.O. aside).

My fifth grader was in a really bad spot last year at this time.  I thought for sure the teacher was going to dress me down or throw a chair at me.  My son wasn't handing in a lot of homework, his attention was constantly wandering in class, his behavior was disruptive, he wasn't fitting in socially, he wasn't showing his intelligence...and it went downhill from there.  The teacher was enormously frustrated with him in just about every way.  But we perservered.  By the spring, we'd worked with the principal and the school social worker/psychologist and done some evaluations to determine that my curly haired fourth grader fit 80% of the profile of an ADD child.  Lo and behold, the teacher tried a few basic strategies with repetition and focus -- and all the behaviors improved pronto.  At the end of the year, the principal told me she had the ideal fifth grade teacher:  a stickler for classroom behavior and a stickler for academic performance, all rolled up in a patient personality.  I couldn't wait!

This year's conference had taken a complete 180 degree turn.  This fifth grade teacher is exactly what the principal promised, and my son's performance shows that he excels in a supportive environment.  Dare to be different as long as you are encouraged to be your best, no matter what.  My little guy's second grade teacher also fits this bill.  Son #3 dances to his own tune:  literally!  He loves the latest teeny bopper artists like Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Hudgens, and loves to draw butterflies and make paper snowflakes.  He holds the second highest record for jumping rope at the after school program.  He worships his girl friends and everything that is theirs.  Instead of telling him that he's a sissy, his teacher gets him to bring out his unique perspective and talents in his writing and in the books he chooses in the classroom.   He is also excelling academically.

In addition to their approach, both of these teachers have bright eyes, warm smiles, and animated voice and body language.  Their faces come alive when they are discussing individual students.  I'll bet this really helps my boys relate to them as people as well as educators.  Three cheers for the fabulous teachers out there (including my wonderful friend Jen who home schools her four children).  I have come across a few stinkers in my time, and am thankful for the winners!

Speaking of which, I hope that all of those I hold dear are able to reflect on something positive during their Thanksgiving celebrations.  Keep smiling!

What Have You Done Today to Make You Feel Proud?

This morning, I was doing the post breakfast ritual of brushing my teeth and washing my braces so I could pop them back in, and from the bathroom I heard the bickering of the two older offspring as they ate their cereal:

"Stop chewing with your mouth open!"

"I can chew however I want.  Stop being so annoying!"

"Well, you're annoying me."

"You don't have to pick on me all the time."

Blah, blah, blah.

By the time I was finished in the bathroom, I'd heard enough.  I went over to the table and told them I was tired of that game and that we were going to play a new game called Fill in the Blank.  I told Son #1 that he was to look at his brother and fill in the blank at the end of this sentence:  "Something that you do that I think is really great is..."   With a sarcastic smile he replied, "Nothing."  That earned him 15 minutes early to bed tonight, and the turn passed to Son #2, who said "Math."  Definitely true there.  

Finally my oldest wanted to play.  He said, "Well, you're great at farting."  Although I was hoping for a different kind of answer (something that would instill pride in his younger brother) I really couldn't disagree.  If you haven't yet read the November 16 posting, see that for reference.   And, BTW, my niece and sister-in-law want to see "Fartacus:  The Musical" on Broadway someday.  It might be a welcome addition to the mix after Spamalot closes.

No Raisin in the Son

At 6:40 this morning, ten minutes after his alarm clock had rung, I went upstairs to rouse my twelve year old.  Thus began the weekday ritual.

"What kind of cereal would you like?"

"What do you have?"

This part sometimes changes, based on the contents of the pantry.  "Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Honey Bunches of Oats, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, Special K, Raisin Bran, Cheerios, and Honey Nut Cheerios."

"Does Raisin Bran have raisins in it?"

I looked around for Allen Funt's camera, and then recalled that the dear funny man had gone to meet his maker some time ago.  Then I looked back at my son, who seemed to be conscious but whose eyes were still closed.  Come on, this kid's an honor student.

"Apples and oranges.  No raisins."  Then he cracks a smile.  I continue.  "Oddly enough, that's how they came up with the name.  Bran flakes and raisins."

"Well, I don't want the raisins.  Can I just have a bowl of bran flakes?"

So I go downstairs and shake out a bunch of the cereal onto a paper towel, push the raisins to the side, and then slide the flakes into the bowl.  I repeat the process until I have a whole bowl of flakes and a handful of raisins on the tablecloth.  My ten year old, who's now ready to eat his breakfast, asks what I'm doing.  I explain.

"Can I have his raisins?"

I guess that's why I had more than one kid.

Quote by Robert Frost

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."

I do cryptoquotes to keep my mind active, and occasionally I see a really excellent saying like this.

Happiness Is a Warm Hug

Tonight I ran a bunch of errands after dinner (primarily to get a few more Hanukkah presents for the kids...shh, don't tell 'em).  It is quite the blustery evening, so I was cold when I came in the house, and my hands were REALLY cold!  Son #3 dragged me over to the couch and he climbed on my lap to warm me up.  Son #2 came into the room and said, "Let the Human Furnace do the job."  Son #3 insisted that he was the Human Furnace Junior.

Anyway, the two of them each took one of my palms in their hands and warmed them.  Then they each hugged me on either side, then gave a big group hug in the middle.  Sigh.  Snuggle.  Next time you feel chilly, hug someone for warmth.  Or just hug someone you love, because you love 'em.  Hug someone because it just feels good.  Hurrah for hugs!

You've Heard of Spartacus?

We have the silliest things happen at the dinner table sometimes.   Son #2 broke wind during the meal, and Son #3 said, "Nice going, Fartacus."  No idea where he got that, but we thought it was funny.

Today ended Son #1's soccer season.  Cold, windy day.  Both of the other kids were actually wearing long pants, and the littlest didn't mind wearing a hat.  Soccer dude didn't give me a hard time about wearing a long sleeved shirt under his team jersey.  This was not a winning season, but I think all the kids stretched themselves with regard to skills and positions.  How can that be a bad thing?