Selfish

Over that past school year, I feel like I've missed out on some things in my childrens' lives. What, I'm not sure. I'm usually trying to keep them busy so they can give me some space. I think I've just missed them. I've missed being with them. Even when they drive me nuts. School is out for the three of us and since we've been on summer vacation, all I've wanted is to keep them to myself. This is unusual of me...really. I've loved having them to myself. We haven't really hung out with anyone else. We've had so much fun together. Just the three of us.
I've loved waking up in the morning and not rushing out the door. I've felt so much more relax and they seem more relaxed as well. I've even felt like I'm doing a decent job as a mother. I feel more patient. Sometimes, Arden wakes up in the morning comes down the stairs and just looks at books for like an hour. Maya loves to just play. I've loved it. I've had them all to myself during the day and it's been so good. It's moments like these I treasure.
I am grateful I can stay at home with my children.

Lessons Learned this Year.

I decided I wanted to take a part-time teaching job this school year. I loved my job. There were ups and downs during this year and I'd like to record what I learned from these experiences, for my own benefit. If anyone is reading this, you can just skip it and go surfing on the net.

• I found out that I love teaching. My class sizes were small and my students were wonderful. I had a lot of fun and I got attached to a lot of them.
• I like charter schools.
  

• I also learned that it takes a lot of your own personal, unpaid time to: grade papers, grade tests, plan lessons, research lessons ideas, etc.
• I learned a lot about the Spanish language while I taught it.
• I learned to distrust the media even more. My school was targeted and attacked by the media because a large number of the teachers and administrators are Middle Eastern. The media accused the school of being being linked to terrorists and other ugly things.
• I also learned that I'm more naive than I thought. I thought this teacher who was supposed to be supportive of the school was one of the people who gave half of the misinformation to the media, just to benefit themselves.
  
• I learned that working, taking care of the house, and being a mom is really hard. I have a new admiration and appreciation for those single mothers with small children. How do they do it? I guess you just have to let go of some things.
• I learned that it is heart breaking when your child is sick, throwing up, and you still need to go to work because your other children (students) are also counting on you.
  
• I learned that even though I really like teaching my place right now at this time in my life is at home with my children. That is my most important role.
• There is more I've learned, but I cannot remember it all. Overall it was a good experience.
  

Petit Theft

Every child that is born into a family is unique. They have their own personalities, likes, dislikes, and their quirks. However, they often share similar experiences or make the same mistakes/choices.
This past Thursday, after enjoying a lovely day at the Wheeler Farm, we ran some errands. One of them was taking a trip to Home Depot. I got what I needed...a board to make a headboard for my bedroom and a plunger...for you know what. As we were at the checkout counter I noticed Maya had a container of Bubble Gum Tape. I told her to put it back that we were not purchasing it. Then, we headed to the car. It was a windy day and we barely were able to put the board in without breaking it. As I was getting Maya in her seat, I noticed in her hand a small pencil cap looking candy that was still in its wrap.
I asked her: "Where did you get this candy?"
Her response: None.
"Did you get this candy from the store?"
She looks at me on the face and says, "no."
Arden's response: "Mom, she took it from the store!"
So, we get out of the car and back inside the store. The cashier who attended us was busy, so we went to another cashier...a male cashier at the contractors/big orders section...I wanted her to feel a bit intimidated.
As we are in the line waiting, I tell her, "You'll need to give it back. We don't steal." Then, I notice I might have cut in front of this gentleman. I asked him if he was in line. He said he was, but this (as he points to Maya) was more important. It's our turn...
The cashier asks me what he can do for me. "I believe we have a small petit theft incident that needs to be addressed. And may be we could look a bit stern..." I tell him this as I point down to Mayita who is invisible behind the counter. The cashier smiles and gets it right away. He steps from behind the counter and looks at Mayita.
"Did you take something from the store?" he asks. But she doesn't respond.
We continue the conversation, "it's not okay to take things from the store without paying for it, etc."
I have Maya hand back the candy and I ask her if she can say sorry to him. She doesn't, but she looks very serious and I can tell she is aware that she has done something wrong.
The cashier thanks her for bringing back the candy and tells her to not do it again. Maya still looks very serious.
As we are walking out of that section I notice the older gentleman sitting back on the bench watching this whole event...I briefly think, he needs some popcorn to enjoy the show. I smile at him and he says, "They need to learn these lessons at an early age, otherwise it might be too late."
Although I don't want my children to be thieves, I do appreciate these moments when 1. There is an opportunity to teach them a life lesson.
2. I take advantage of it.
3. I don't overreact, but still can get the point across.
4. I notice the crime has been committed right away and not when we are almost home and need drive back to the store.
As we were getting back in the car Arden tells Maya, "It's not okay to steal, you can go to jail."
"That's right Arden. I'm glad you know this. I don't think you remember, but a long time ago you stole something..."
"Oh, I remember mom."
That was about 3 yrs. ago, and the lesson is still ingrained in his head...although, I did overreact that time. And this time, I forgot the plunger at the store.

Pumpin'

My morning started pretty well. I got up and actually worked out and watched the last 10 minutes of one of the matches of the World Cup. I even sorted and put away most of the 6 loads of laundry I washed yesterday. I had a great day planned for the children. After breakfast and a quick bath, I was going to pack a lunch and take them on a field trip to Wheeler Farm and we would have a picnic at the farm. We'd be out of the house around 10 and we'd be back around 1:30. They like to visit the farm.
However, it took us about 3 hours to get out of the house today. It took them that long just to get dressed, plus we had some nasty issues with a clogged toilet that I tried to unclog. Arden waited until the last minute to go potty. Apparently, it was too difficult to walk 30 steps and use my restroom. Instead, he used the clogged toiled (he had been told to NOT use it) and when he flushed, well...you get the idea. I spent a good deal of time cleaning and sanitizing.
I guess I need to regulate these kids better. Apparently, telling them it's time to go is not working, nor is it just telling them to NOT use the clogged toilet enough.
By the time we left the house it was around 12:30. I told them they missed out on going to the farm and if they did a better job getting ready tomorrow, then, we could try again. I took the kids to the city playground. I was feeling frazzled by then. I had brought some magazines to read while the children played at the park. In my mind, they would play and I would relax. I didn't get to sit and leaf through my magazines, instead I walked around from one play structure to the next carrying our leftover lunch, water bottles, etc. One of the last structures we went to were the swings. Swings are okay. I just don't like to stand there and push. I'd rather be relaxing. By that time, I decided to give up on the relaxing part and just do it, just push. I figured it would be the usual, Maya would ask me to push faster. Arden would ask me to keep giving him some pushes, while he struggled to pump while I tried to teach him the correct 'pumpin' technique...
Well, Maya did ask me to push 'faster'. This time it was a little bit different. I gave Arden a push and the swing didn't slow down. He kept pumping and pumping. He pumped for 20 minutes straight and the swing did not decrease in height. I was proud of him, but he was really proud of himself.
That made my day!Then, the rest of the day went pretty well. When it was time to go to the pool they even got ready without much delay...only 20 minutes.