Reality
There is a reason I go to work everyday. It’s not just to help to provide for my family. The reality it that I love what I do everyday.
When I graduated college, the economy was good. Union County was growing and there was a high demand for teachers. So before I had even graduated, I had two job interviews lined up. The position that I really wanted was at a new school in a really “nice” part of Union County. The other position was for Benton Heights. I didn’t know much about Benton Heights, but had heard that it was a “Title I” school which made me nervous. After talking it over with my cooperating teacher, I decided that I would interview at Benton Heights as “practice” for my other interview. When I went to the Benton Heights interview, I met the principal and went on a tour of the school. It was late afternoon and the students and most of the teachers were gone. I walked through those empty (carpeted) hallways. I will never forget the overwhelming feeling that I had that Benton Heights was the right place for me. The next day, I canceled my other interview. That same day, the principal at Benton Heights offered me the job and I accepted it.
Throughout my years at Benton Heights, I’ve talked to many people, including teachers, who have asked me things like, “Don’t you want to go somewhere where there is more parental involvement?” and “How can you teach when your kids don’t even speak English?” or (the absolute worse) “Do you have any white kids at your school?”
The reality of the matter is that I LOVE my school. I’m proud of my school. I’m proud of the families I serve. I’m proud of my kids.
The reality is that I have many parents that work more than one job. I have many parents that are taking English courses for the sole purpose of helping their children in their schoolwork. I have a father who lost his wife to cancer and is raising his two young girls by himself. I have a mother who is raising five children by herself because her husband is in prison. This is the reality. This is their reality.
In writing, the kindergarteners are working on books. They are writing and illustrating their own books using authors as mentors, their own interests and/or experiences, and blank paper. This story was written by one of my kindergarteners. This story was written by a six-year-old. This is his reality.
My Dad and Me
One day I was three and my dad went to work. Then they blamed the fault on my dad. One of my dad’s friends were putting the fault on him.
Then he went to jail. Because he did not come back. Then it was nighttime. We went to sleep. Then it was sunny outside. Then we played outside. It was so much fun, but we missed my dad.
Then we went to visit him. We were sad that he makes us not play with him.
Then he called us. And I wish that he came back.
And I wish that he was playing with us.
Firefly Toothbrushes
Another one of my very favorite things is the Firefly toothbrush. The Firefly toothbrush lights up which is super fun. AND it lights up for one minute–so as long as the light is going, they have to keep brushing. They LOVE them! And another plus is that they are cheap. I buy them at Target for $1. Can’t beat that!
Kicking Rocks
I really enjoy my job. I am so fortunate to go to work everyday and do something different. I get to teach kids how to read. I get to teach children to speak English with a southern accent. And no matter how many years I teach, my class is always full of five-year-olds. And I love five. Five is my favorite. At five, you are old enough to have some independence, but still so innocent. Even though I really do love and respect my kids, I sometimes forget that they are only five. Sometimes I think that “because I said so” should be enough of an explanation when I tell them something. This week, I had an “ah-ha!” moment with my five-year-olds.
Unless it is too cold, or raining out, my walk my class out of the cafeteria and around the building. I do this so that my crazy monkeys jumping beans active kindergarteners can get out some energy before returning into the room for literacy. On our walk back into the building, the kids have to pass through a gravel lot and onto a sidewalk. Everyday, the children kick rocks onto the sidewalk. EVERYDAY. They don’t do it to be naughty. They just do it because they are kids and the rocks are so tempting–they just have to kick them. EVERY. Day. And everyday, I tell them not to kick the rocks onto the sidewalk. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It’s not the same kids everyday. But everyday, at least one child has to kick rocks. I have tried everything. I have tried asking them nicely. I have tried scolding them. But they continue to kick rocks onto the sidewalk. EVERYDAY. Well, Tuesday as I was watching a couple of kicks shuffling through the rocks and kicking them onto the sidewalk, I asked myself, “why am I so bothered by this?” I have a very high tolerance for child-like behavior. My classroom isn’t the quietest in the school and my kids certainly aren’t the calmest. And I’m okay with that. So why am I so bothered by them kicking rocks onto the sidewalk? It’s because it’s disrespecting others. And that is one thing for which I do NOT have a high tolerance. So I decided I would explain my feelings to my students. I told them about how I didn’t like them kicking the rocks onto the sidewalk, because someone had to come and clean them up. And I told them about how buses unload our students in wheelchairs and they use that sidewalk. I told them their wheelchairs couldn’t work well if there were rocks in the way. I told them it was hard for teachers to push the wheelchairs through the rocks. I told them I really wanted us to work hard as a class to keep the rocks off of the sidewalk–because it’s the right thing to do for others.
On Wednesday, on our way back from lunch, we walked through the gravel lot like we do everyday. And just like every other day, I saw a couple of my kids kicking rocks. I sighed and decided it was just a losing battle but then I noticed something. They weren’t kicking the rocks onto the sidewalk like they do every other day. They were kicking the rocks OFF of the sidewalk. As we lined up to go into the building, no one said anything, but everyone was looking down at the sidewalk, kicking, and making sure the sidewalk was clear of rocks. Everyday since then, my kids have done the same thing. They kick rocks. They clear the path. Every. Day.
Another Favorite Thing
Another one of my very favorite things is the Pampered Chef Suds Pump. You just use a small amount of liquid hand-soap and fill the rest with water. It makes a lovely foam that the kids love and they aren’t wasting a lot of soap. I have them in all of our bathrooms and in the kitchen. I still use an antibacterial, undiluted soap when needed, but typically the Suds Pump does the job. And I do have one Suds Pump by Pampered Chef, but my others are other brands. You can use just about any foaming soap dispenser–Bath & Body Works, Method, Dial, etc. The Suds Pump is definitely one of my favorite things!
Cleaning Out the Pantry
I am the world’s worst about packing my pantry and freezer when I find a good deal. Which is okay, as long as I remember what I have and remember to use it before it expires. Lately, I’ve noticed that my pantry and freezer are pretty full. I decided that for three weeks, I would only prepare meals from things in my pantry and freezer.
The Rules:
#1: I am not allowed to buy anything for my freezer or pantry. Even if it’s buy one get two free on super double coupon week! 
#2: The only things I am allowed to buy at the store are produce, dairy, and eggs.
#2: Meals must be well-balanced. No substituting brocoli with pretzels because I have an over-abundent supply of pretzels.
I am allowing myself one exception. I am allowed to go to the store if we are having guests for dinner. We will be having Life Group at our house and hosting our adoption support group this month, and while I don’t mind feeding my family my “creations,” I’m not going to make our guests eat our turkey, rice, and cheese casseroles.
I’ve made it through the first week, and so far, so good. I went to the store yesterday, and stuck to my plan and only purchased produce and dairy. I’ve had to make several substitutions already, but it’s been okay. It’s helped me to be creative and luckily, none of us are picky eaters.
The picture of the pantry in this post is NOT my pantry. I can only wish my pantry was that neat and organized.
My Favorite Things
So I thought it would be fun to start posting about some of my favorite things. One of my very favorite things is the Ergo. Now, in our house, we are ALL about baby-wearing. The baby or toddler (or even preschooler at our house) enjoy being close, they like being up and part of the action, and it’s good for bonding. But the primary reason that we like baby-wearing is that they are constrained.
I know this sounds silly, but I don’t know what I would have done for the last year without the Ergo. My sweet little Rayna is a little…..errrr……high-maintaince. She doesn’t like the stroller, car seat, shopping cart, etc. If she’s strapped in, she isn’t a fan. She doesn’t mind being held, but her preference is to be running ahead full-force without looking back. But, by the grace of God, we purchased the Ergo when she was just a few months old and she LOVES it. She gets so excited when she sees me put it on–it’s very sweet. We’ve also used the Ergo for Molly. Molly has had some very minor attachment issues (more on that later) and there are times when I have used the Ergo to calm her down.
The weight limit on the Ergo is 40lbs so both the girls (30 and 22lbs) have a way to go before they outgrow it. And it is VERY comfortable. Even with Molly in it, it doesn’t hurt my back or shoulders like some of the other carriers have.
The Ergo comes in many colors, but when I ordered mine I bought pink because it was on clearance and about $40 cheaper. If I had realized how much Brian would be wearing it, I would have splurged for a gender-neutral color. But Brian’s such a good sport–he never complains about wearing the pink Ergo!
So have you ever seen Oprah’s “favorite things” show? Well, like Oprah–I thought I would give each of my readers their very own Ergo! But then I remembered that I’m a kindergarten teacher and don’t have any money.
