On any given day you can see my sweet angelic mahhhvelous family being precious and perfect.
The sheer level of cuteness is about all you can take. 
I mean seriously....they can melt your heart.
Oh Lord, take me now!
But then, the other side comes out.
It's their Daddy in them.
Cause they get all nine kinds of crazy.
And act like they ain't got a lick of sense.
And I am all like WHOSE CHILLINS ARE THESE?
Cause I ain't never in my born days.
Guess what is in this squirmy wormy kid's hand...
Something slimy...
Something creepy and crawly...
And something that makes these sweet innocent pink unassuming girls squeal and scream at the top of their lungs...
Those poor sweet glittery girls.
But they immediately took charge and would have no part of snips and snails ... The law was laid down. There was no messin with girl power.
Unless you are four. And have a lizard in your hands. And wait for the girls to be preoccupied.
Then one more time you get the business...
And there is no returning from that.
There is no way one can risk the punishment of those girls on the THIRD TIME.
That would be a sure fire way of sealing your fate....
Guess what happened?Nancy -- I taught sixth grade too and LOVED every minute of it. It was somewhat hard to move from a classroom teacher to an assistant principal. Somethings I did were give my teachers a "free pass" in which I would teach one of their classes and let them have a free hour. I, of course, had to have some notice - but it was a win/win. Some teachers stayed in the room and joined in the fun.
When I moved to the Oklahoma Dept of Education it was harder. But I truly believe I was able to implement change at that level that I knew needed to happen. I felt like the voice of the teacher and the parent. I believe that is needed more.
Now, I am with a nonprofit education company and while I work daily with districts, I rarely see a classroom. But I do feel like I "teach" my twerps daily -- the important stuff. Like how to fart with their armpit and burp the alphabet. Seriously, can it get any better than that?
SOOOOO -- I say all that to say this...No one can take the teacher out of you. And you can make a difference in admin...your classroom changes from a room of sweaty puberty tweens to a lounge of dedicated loyal heroes who need your leadership. And can use a good armpit fart class. Amen.
Anonymous said...
I have a very hard time balancing home (3 kids) & work... balancing isn't the right word... I should say: accepting the rejection I get from my mother for working outside the home. How do you keep up with the house/meals/kids/work? Have you ever received criticism for not being a SAHM?~heather
Honey, I don't keep up with it all. I have a housecleaner who comes every Friday and I buy prepared meat from Whole Foods for dinner and I count swimming as baths. I let small things go -- like having clean socks on or brushing teeth before bed (please if you are a dentist don't judge me.)
But I am getting ready to say something that might be the most impactful thing I will ever write on this blog. And that really isn't sayin much considering I just talked about armpit farts, BUT..if you ever listen and reread and meditate and take anything to heart...please let it be this...
Judgement in others is the insecurity we feel in our own decisions.
I will give you a minute.
Judgement in others is the insecurity we feel in our own decisions.
When I stayed at home I was extremely judgemental for career moms. It had NOTHING to do with them, but everything to do with my insecurities in the decisions I had made for myself. Sweetie, you have to live your life for what is right with YOU. And when you are happy and fulfilled you will be a WONDERFUL mom.
Kelley said...
I have a sweet 6 mo old little boy and I just found out that I am expecting my second child. Whew...they will only be 14 mo apart. How far apart are your boys? Did you plan it that way? What are the pros and cons of children so close in age?Thanks!
My boy twerps are 17 months apart. We did not plan it, but we do not plan anything. Ever.
In the early months is was HARD. I will be honest. Very hard. And it is kind of a blur for me. But now? Now? Oh how I love it. There is nothing NOTHING that blesses a momma's heart more than to see her two spawn love each other, care for each other, feel compassion for one another, and build a lifelong friendship.
We are VERY laid back parents. But one thing we do not tolerate, even for a minute is to NOT be friends and show compassion to your siblings. People will come and go in your life. Friends will change, schools will fade, churches will come and go...but your brother and sister will always be your brother and sister. And they will ALWAYS be there. And you must always be there for them. Cause I know this, at the end of the day life is about one thing: OTHERS. And who better to invest in than the one who has experienced every step of life with you? Don't mess with the family.
Dana and Daisy said...
You know about my new grandbaby and the less than perfect timing of it all, but I want to embrace the joy this baby brings to our lives. I have only met the mom one time, and don;t have a good relationship with my step son. I want to ask all kinds of questions of her, like "Did your millk come in, how is the nursing going, is the baby cranky or colicky, are you sleeping at all, is Daddy helping, how is your incision healing,etc etc.My question is: how should I approach these delicate and personal subjects with someone I do not know very well without her thinking I am a total freak and closing the door altogether on communication?p.s. I only have facebook as a communication tool with her. And Steve is no help at all, he does not even call every day and ask how the baby is, but I would like to.
I think you are honest. I think you are you. Cause you are one of the most loving people I have ever seen. Why try to be anything else....Maybe something like this.
I just wanted to send you a quick email so you could read on your time and maybe while the baby was asleep. I wanted to first let you know how proud Steve and I are of you. The fact that you have brought forth this precious angel is amazing. And your decisions are so brave. And I do not know if I have told you or not, but thank you. Thank you for being such a giver. I admire that in you. (No need to talk about the circumstance. She knows. She is aware. She does not need to be reminded.)
I know we are not the "closest" in our relationship. And I do not want to try to be something I am not. I know I am not your mother or sister or even friend. But I do hope to earn a friendship with you. I think we both have a lot to give.
I want you to know I care. I care about how you feel, how she smiled at you today, how you slept, how she slept, how she looks when she yawned, how you are healing, your joys/frustrations/hopes/and fears.
I would like to email a couple times a week and check on you and our angel. If this is not comfortable for you, please just let me know and I will respect it. If I cross a line and ask questions you don't want to share, just say so and we will talk about the weather. :)
Basically, I want you to know ...I care. I care about that precious little girl. But I also care of you. And you have already taught me so much with your selflessness and love...I hope to be able to return the favor to you. May I?
Love,
Dana
From Email
What state do you live in?
Georgia Please don't stalk me and kill me. Please don't be a man in your forties wearing whitey tighties and staring at my pics online.
From email
I have been reading your blog for several months now, and since you seem to have tons of knowledge, I would like to ask some advice. I am starting my first year of teaching in the fall after staying home for two years with my children. (TRIPLETS – 2 boys – 1 girl) I will be meeting my future class before this school year is over. Do you know of any fun activities to do for good first impressions and any advice on how to get ready for my first year of teaching? I feel some what outdated since I have been secluded at home raising my kids and not staying up on all the new stuff in the teaching field. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks.
Ohhhhh - how exciting. First get the book by Susan Winebrenner called Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom. Don't let the title fool you. Get it. It is wonderful for all kids.
Second - I love the Harry Wong book - First Days of School.
My favorite first day activity was 2 truths and a lie. I gave each kids a note card and told them to write two truths about themselves and one lie. They would read it aloud and the class would have to guess the lie. We learned some GREAT facts about people.
For example:
I have hiked the Grand Canyon in 11 days.
I have never made Rice Crispy Treats.
I adopted a baby.
Then you all have to guess the lie. Anyhoo - I also like the All About me Bags -- but I did an ABC Book of Me. They had to do a scrapbook form A to Z on them with a paragraph on each page and pics. This really was a chance for the kid to share THEM. I did one too.
I always did a "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade" speech. And I had lemons I threw out when I talked about the challenges the year would bring....but we would all have the choice to chop up our lemon and make lemonade....and we did just that. During the year, I would keep some lemons at my desk and throw them to a student if a challenge would arise and ask them, "What are you gonna do with that lemon? It is your choice!"
BUILD COMMUNITY. Make them love one another, defend one another and above all else teach them what life is all about: OTHERS. Invest in others. Do community service projects. Adopt a nursing home. Adopt a pet shelter. Let them chose. Give. Give. Give. And always believe in them more than they believe in themselves. It will become contagious.
I love you all!!!!
I was on my way to work the other morning and glanced out my passenger side window to see the most adorable little sight I had ever seen. 
Pull out my camera. And take pics. So I can share this sweet little thang with you. And I think the forty eleven people who had to stop and wait behind me appreciated the fact I had them slow down and smell the roses. Or the geese. However you wanna look at it. 
My chillins have decided to turn on the camera. Due to the fact they have never actually seen their mother's entire face, but only fragments covered by a black box named Nikon; it is starting to affect them. I think. Maybe. They need attention. They need human contact. They need therapy.
I swear by all that is good and just and pure and holy that my twerps do not know how to act. As soon as the camera is whooped out, they turn into my husband's spawn.
And I am all like, "Act like you got some sense."
And for a moment they calm down. And ask "WHY?"
And since I cannot respond to this with any reasonably good answer, I say "Go forth and carry on amongst yourselves."
I am a lover, not a fighter. I accept all. 
Welcome to my Sunday morning worship experience. As many of you know we are in the process of looking for a church. And church shopping can be equated to threading my eyebrows in my book. Although I have never actually threaded my eyebrows, I have seen people in the mall do it. And it looks painful. And I saw smoke. Which always leads me to scream, "Help me baby Jesus. Help me Allah. Help me Tom Cruise. Use your witchcraft to get the fire off of me." Sorry, I digress.
And IJ looked down and said, "ARE YOU TAKING PICTURES IN CHURCH????" 
And I was all like, "There are soooo many people no one will notice." 
On my trip back to the great state of Oklahoma last week, I was DYING for some good Mexican food. Cause where I live, we have no true Mexican restaurants. Only Latino. In the Deep South I have found excellent restaurants, yummy fried food, fab sushi, mouth-watering ahi tuna, but nothing, no one, no place has been able to satisfy the Mexican hunger within. I have found no fix to tame the inner Mexican of CG.
Soooooo, my BFF from Oklahoma - Feather - took me to the most FAB Mexican restaurant in tall the land. I kid you not. I have been to a bakajillion Mexican restaurants, and this my friends, this place fulfills Maria, my Mexican momma who dwells within me. And Feather, she makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. And yes, it's her real name,
So here is the deal, if you are EVER in the Oklahoma City area, you must promise me one thing. You must swear by all that is true and just in this world that you will go to TED'S MEXICAN ESCANTITA and order like you are a hostage. And then burp.
And call me and tell me how I am your new BFF cause I just introduced you to the new lover of your soul. Amen.
Soooo, my girlfriend and I got all gussied up to go see The Boss - Live. I mean seriously, even if you think Bruce Springsteen is no longer in his prime...you have to respect The Boss -- everyone knows his songs...his sound...his ability to tell the story of the working man. He is a legend. And I love him. So I flew a kabillion miles back to the motherland of Oklahoma to see my main squeeze perform live. And I was feelin all young and hip and cool...until
I looked over and releazed a baby born in 1988 could be in the bar that we were being young and hip and cool at. 1988. That's when Jimmy Swaggart confessed on TV and cried and I cried that morning with him getting ready for church and all. In 1988, Die Hard with Bruce Willis opened up....and Prozac was introduced. All in all, it was a good year. I was 11 and 12. And I was in the 6th grade. And I let my hair grow out and didn't make cheerleader - the only year I didn't cheer - my life knew no meaning. Amen. Anyhoo....1988 - I no longer felt young and hip and cool. But I did a toe touch. To honor 1988 and all.
But then we arrived at the BOK center for The Boss...and for THREE hours I was transfered to a place between heaven and bliss. Kinda like shoe shopping, but with an ipod. And I danced and sang and screamed an whoo hooed and laughed and cried and danced and danced and DANCED...in my heels. Just keepin it real. 
Here is the HANDWRITTEN songlist for the night. Written by THE BOSS HIMSELF. I know. I will give you a moment. 
He started off with Badlands. Great Song. Great intro. Got us up and movin. Excellent choice Mr Spring. Then he did some goodies and some weird ones. Ya know, they always do.
I simply looooove our new neighborhood. Love love love love. Like big pink fuzzy heart with glitter LOVE my new neighborhood. 
When I was a little girl and would daydream of being a mom, I always pictured me having a swarm of youngins round the plantation and I would give them kool aid and cheap cookies. Kinda like VBS, but without the altar call.
One thing that was NOT in my dreams was the long range semi automatic gun with scope. But hey, you can't predict everything.
For example there is NO WAY I could ever predict that my genetic code could produce this precious angelic spawn.
Or that I would ever say, "Quit putting butter in the balloons!"
Some things just can't be prepared for. Motherhood is number ONE on that list.
But I love every minute of it.
