Tag: Elementary school

New chapters in life

decisionsformyfamily2 Comments

With both of my girls heading to school full-time this year, it has been difficult for me to stay focused.   No surgeries to schedule, no scans or appointment to get to and no child arriving home after just a few hours of school for lunch.  A few weeks ago I finally settled myself into the reality that my babies were growing.  I decided that although I still need to be home for bus stop and homework duty, I needed to spread my wings a bit.  I spent many nights after the rest of the family was in bed thinking about what my day would look like.

I started to think about jobs and what that would look like. I reached out to some old work colleagues for advice.  One stood out, the person said,  “say what you believe and get your family/work boundaries established early”.  As I looked around I saw part-time work that required weekends or night hours.  The only times I have missed putting my girls to bed was when I was in the hospital after the mastectomy.  My girls play soccer as well as many other things and I love being the proud momma on the sidelines win-lose or draw.  Many headaches, much thinking and the words, “get your family/work boundaries established early.”

I turned to what seemed to be the most logical place available, our local school district employment board.  I sent a few applications for things, went for an interview 2 weeks ago and received final word today.  I am now officially a cafeteria/playground assistant at one of the local elementary schools.  I will work a few hours a day but will have off when my girls do, go in after they are well on the way to school and will be home in plenty of time to get them from the bus.  Sounds perfect!

I have not worked outside of my home for 9 years now….I am still amazed as I think about that.  I will admit that I am a bit nervous and excited about the next chapter in our lives. It is a long way from CEO of IBM, (what I always told my mother I wanted to be when I was young) but for a first grader who can’t open that darn water bottle….pretty important :-).

Thank you to all who provided thoughts and advice.  I appreciated it all!

In the blink of an eye…

decisionsformyfamilyLeave a comment

I remember being a child and always wishing time would speed up.  I always wanted the next thing, to be able to ride my bike further than 4 houses, to be a teenager, to go to High School or to drive.  Now in what seems like the blink of an eye a year has passed.  One year ago I was preparing for major surgery and my daughters were preparing for Kindergarten and 3rd grade.  Today was their last day of school and with it comes one proud mommy!

Daddy and Madi at the bus stop on the first day
Daddy and Madi at the bus stop on the first day
Daddy and Madi at the bus stop today
Daddy and Madi at the bus stop today

Madison’s report card from Kindergarten is based on the Beginning, Developing and Secure scale.  Each report had shown improvement and she ended the year with all
Secure’s..so in my eyes straight A’s.  More importantly she is reading well, telling time and can count money with the best of them.  Heading into the summer before first grade I can’t ask for any better!

November 2006- My Girls
November 2006- My Girls

Megan finished the year with straight A’s all the way through with Principle’s list 4 straight quarters.  The kid is scary smart and loves to learn.  I honestly do not know where it comes from but I love to see it!

As things in my life now fly by, I see my girls anticipating the next thing.  Megan can’t wait until middle school and Madison is already planning the rock concert her band will play some day even though she has only been taking guitar lessons for 5 months.  I try to tell them to enjoy life but I guess I never listened.  All I want if for my girls to stay babies.

First day of school Sept 2012
First day of school Sept 2012
Last day of school June 2013
Last day of school June 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know I have said it a thousand times throughout my writings but I am so proud of my girls. I have watched confidence grow where insecurity used to be, assertiveness in place of timidness and a will to succeed that with the proper encouragement from frank and I will carry them trough life.  Great school year girls!  I love you both!

Excited about learning, a different view

decisionsformyfamilyLeave a comment

rewards-for-good-gradesI never knew just how fun learning could be until I could view it through the eye’s of my children.  I was less than a stellar student.  My grades were good in high school and actually excellent in college but for many reasons grade school was really difficult for me.  Not only did I not enjoy school, I think I can honestly say I hated it.  Maybe it was the small catholic school where everyone knew everything about everything, or the comparison to my more academically inclined siblings.  Maybe it was the latch key kid thing at age 7, the divorced parents, or the…or the….

It does not matter.

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger” -Friedrich Nietzsche

I have lived by this quote my entire life.  So many live in the shadow of their own past, fall victim to things they can not control, allow it to affect how they live their lives.  Others use experiences to shape who they become.  I decided on this route.

From the time my girls were babies, I have tried to do anything and everything to make learning fun.  I never want them to experience what I did.  I have spent many hours reading to them, hours sitting at the table working on workbooks with them and many a fun afternoon performing science experiments with them.  My husband and I both welcome and encourage questions on just about anything and we do not hide current events from them.

Who knows what the future holds.  All I can do is what I feel is best for my girls at the time, what I think will help them to grow into strong, intelligent, self-sufficient young women.  Along the way I receive such joy as they grow each day.

With each day I learn, who knew just how fun learning could be!