Today is one of those days that I swear I have a hundred different things swimming around in my head. And it is probably because it has been a while since I have purged my mind on my blog. So, here it goes: (And no, I won't give you all 100 things, that would be crazy! I'll just give you the highlights)
Item #1: How far do you go to see that someone who hurt your child is punished? Over the weekend, I was with my family and my sister-in-law was telling us about a kid who hurt my nephew on the bus. The way she handled it, which is by far a much more mature way to handle it than I would have was to talk to the principal. She explained to the principal, that if this was an unusual show of behavior for this kid, then she was fine with him being talked to, but if this was behavior that was somewhat of a pattern, then she would prefer that he be more harshly punished. I actually thought that this was an interesting way of looking at the situation. In general, I am a believer in harsh penalties {remember Spencer's 'swear club' punishment?} but this was the first time that I agree with maybe not dealing out a harsh punishment. However, how do you tell if it is a pattern or not? Do you rely on the parents or go by behavior at school? And does all of the naughty things that kids do always get reported? {Like I said, these are my random thoughts - stuff just swimming around my head}
Item #2: I am losing my mind. I used to be able to multi-task with the best of them. I could do several things all at the same time, and get them all done, no sweat. Things were always done to the best of my ability, and in somewhat of a timely manner. Not any more. And Lisa can attest to it. During Melissa's birthday party that we had here, we were making breakfast and I swear I could not remember from one minute to the next what I was doing. I can't even count how many times I misplaced the stupid spatula. And seriously it was a good thing Lisa was here because she knew where it was everytime I asked. I don't know if it is because I am worrying about exponentially more things all of the time now as opposed to when I was younger and had fewer kids and less to worry about, or if it is just an age thing, or just me, but sometimes I really wonder about myself.
Item #3: Why is it that it seems like some people go from one presidency in the church to another? What is it about those people as opposed to others? {I know this sounds somewhat hypocritical because I myself am in a presidency, but for the record, this is my first one EVER.} Is it that those people have some perception of being ultra-spiritual, really organized, out-going, with it (mentally) or more qualified than others? Really, I can look around at the people specifically in my area, but I'm sure that you have the same kind of things that go on around in your area, and I can see SEVERAL people who would be really fantastic at being in a presidency, yet they NEVER have. And I know, people don't really petition or aspire to high positions in the church, but sometimes, I really think people are under-utilized, and talents are being wasted.
Item #4: I teach piano. And there are some students that I want to fire. I feel like they are somewhat wasting my time and more importantly wasting their parents money. I could just let them keep coming and keep on taking their parents money each month, but I don't want to. When I have people calling me up all the time asking my if I have openings, and having to turn them away, it makes me ill. Because I would love to take them over some of the ones that I have. At the same time, it is not an easy thing to do. Especially for my personality. I hate to be the bearer of bad news so to speak. And also, I CRY! That's right, I cannot call them up with a complaint or concern and not cry. It is flat out embarrassing and doesn't really seem very professional either.
The biggest complaint that I have over the people that I want to fire, is the fact that they just don't practice and they don't care to either. Then they complain that I give them such boring stuff and they hate the songs. I really do try to make things interesting. I search all over for some good stuff, and I try to find them good stuff, but you can't just always 100% of the time, play fun stuff. Sometimes, you have to suck it up and just get through the "boring" stuff so that you can play harder, more fun things. Truth be told though, I have given them "fun" stuff and they don't practice that either. So what do you do?
Item #5: I've been asked why I prefer afternoon kindergarten. It is mostly just because of Jenna. I have nothing against morning kindergarten. I put Melissa in morning kindergarten because it was best suited for her. She was/is a morning person. She loved to walk to school with the other neighbor kids, and I would go walk and pick her up when school was over, come home eat some lunch and then put Spencer down for a nap and she and I would have one on one time and it was great. Spencer and Jenna, are not morning people. Spencer still isn't and if it weren't for the fact that he wants to get out to the bus line for a good seat I would have to be on him every minute to get ready for school. Jenna doesn't even eat breakfast. For one, she doesn't like it, and even if it is the one thing that she does like (roll-up pancakes) she really doesn't eat much. Around 10:30, she finally decides she is hungry and then she'll eat a sandwich, or something not breakfasty. So, I worry that morning kindergarten will be tough for her. And yes, I know that eventually she will have to go to school in the morning, but I think by then she will be older and better able to handle it. Although, I may change my mind for her. After talking to the school about her speech, her particular speech problems aren't critical enough to insure that she'll get any help this year. However, if she is in a class with not very many speech problems, they will have room to take her. If there is a class with a lot of need though, they won't. I just worry that she'll be perceived as less intelligent just because of her speech. Because less face it, it happens. So, if I find that there is a class with less speech problems and she could get some help in kindergarten and not have to wait until first grade, I will move her to mornings.
So as to not bore you any further, I think I will stop there. Who knows, maybe if I still can't sleep tonight because of all the crap going around in my mind, I will purge more tomorrow. OK, just one more little tidbit. Ever since Friday night, I have been having dreams about climbing up mountains. In my dream, I don't know why I am climbing, sometimes it is a path that is icy and slick, other times it's rocky, another time, I was climbing up a path that had water cascading down it. I have no idea why I am climbing, all I know is that for some reason or another I have to get to the top. And even like last night when Jenna woke me up from one such dream because she had a bad dream, when I went back to sleep, I started climbing some more. I keep thinking that it is because there are so many of this kind of stuff going on in my mind, and so much that needs to be done, or whatever, but I am hoping this purging of my random thoughts will make them go away. Either that or some of you will have good comments to help settle my 'issues' . So, here's hoping to a restful sleep tonight... I'm just sayin'.
6 comments:
Long posts mean long comments, right?
I agreed with Cindy's idea of how to punnish. I should do that with my kids more often. (let it go more if its a first time).
#2- hysterical. I was laughing the whole time
#3-I don't mind that people are underutlized because I am one of them. I was in the Primary pres for 3 months, and that was long enough. I feel bad for those who want to do more, but aren't asked. For them I would say to find a way to serve because they are always looking for help.
#4-FIRE THEM! Why put up with it? Maybe you just aren't a good fit with the students (no offense!) Your piano teacher was great for you, I hated her. H-A-T-E-D H-E-R. I hope she doesn't read this, but she was mean, she gave me boring stuff because she always saw me as the little one in the fam, I think we had a major personality difference. Great teacher, not for me. You might be doing the kids a favor! Just write them a note so they don't see you cry!
I worry about the same thing with Katelyn as Jenna. She is just not a breakfast eater either. I'm not either actually, it's not my favorite. But in the morning she wants chocolate milk and then nothing until 10 or 11.
Good luck with the piano students. That's hard. I don't think I was a very good piano student for the year or so I took.
#1: I agree with that philosophy. Especially regarding a kid doing something harmful to another kid. The punishment should be harsher if it's a repeat occurence.
#2: I'm sure I have "motherhood alzheimers." Welcome to the club.
#3: I have never been in a presidency of anything. Actually, I haven't really done much of anything in the church...except choir director. It seems I will have to die...or stop going to church to get out of getting called to that time after time...
#4: AMEN! I know who you are talking about too, because when I taught them, I felt the same way. Or maybe you have others...I don't know. But, yes, I used to lecture my students about wasting my time. I even told a few that if they didn't bother to practice, then don't bother coming to lessons. And I meant it.
It's really easy to tell the ones whose mother is just sending them away for 1/2 hour/week, and the ones who really want to learn.
Good luck.
p.s. you are welcome to look through my music anytime. I have a lot of simplified fun stuff.
#5: I signed up both TJ & Peter for afternoon Kindergarten/preschool next year. I'm not sure if this was the right move. All of their extracurricular activities are currently in the afternoon. We've always done mornings. Always. I don't know if they'll let me switch it now, though.
It just occured to me at this very moment that I forgot Kindergarten round-up for TJ.
Crap.
I know what you mean about the "presidency hoppers". We have them in every ward. I am in a presidency right now, but haven't always been. I agree, so many people are under-utilized. And anyway, aren't callings for growth, and not just for the people who you know would be really good in the presidency?
I think that there are 10 families that run any given ward. If you aren't in the initial 10-- then you're screwed with the lame-O callings. Look at our ward-- the main 10 families all just swap callings around.
I hope you don't want to fire my slacker kids. I promise we will be better. If I can remember. I have mother-induced-Alzheimers.
I do afternoon because Thing3 doesn't eat either. She is not a morning person. 1st grade is going to suck, I fear!
So I forget where I put things while cooking too...by the time I am done cooking dinner I have like 5 dish towels out because I continually wash my hands and then misplace the towel. Fire your non practicing students. Jacob and Lauryn don't like practicing viola very much, but they don't have a choice..one day they will thank me. I wish my mom made me learn something...anything, but she had craziness in her marriage so I guess she did a good job just raising us.
I have no desire to be in a precidency at this time...I am scout committee chair and that is great and wonderful and easy! All I can say is that the Lord knows what he is doing and I am sometimes surprised at callings. Diego is primary chorister...ha ha..he loves it.
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