Tell us a story about a time long ago when you helped plant something, such as a vegetable crop, a tree, or flowers. Who were you with? What did you plant? And were you around later to watch it grow?
An appropriate question for this Easter day, in this season of new life and growing things.
I am thinking of the day last summer, at the Botanical Gardens with the kids... in the magical Hershey's children's garden. There was a potting bench set up, with young plants and seedlings in soft pots, and a bed of turned earth nearby, all child height. A chalkboard proclaimed in whimsical lettering that we were to plant, or pot; leave, or take. We dug and placed and watered, sunk our fingers into dark rich soil, side by side with other polite and lovely young ones, each so very excited to dig up a plant and put in in a pot, to cradle the roots and water them, to gather them and choose them and even take them home.
We didn't take our plants. We left them to continue their back and forth journey, to bring light into children's eyes.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
April 5
We always prefer to avoid frustration — or do we? There are many puzzles, games, and sports challenges that are deliberately packed full of obstacles, and we enjoy them all the more. What are some "frustrating" forms of recreation that you enjoy? And what's the difference that makes some experiences aggravations and others entertainment?
Apparently, I am really serious about avoiding frustration. No seriously. I am having a hard time thinking of any of those "puzzles, games and sports challenges" that I actively enjoy. Perhaps its simply that I Sports of choice? Solitary, things I'm good at, smooth. Swimming, biking, running (but not too far), skiing (no moguls, thank you very much....) I don't like games; though I'll play them now, especially at my son's behest, I wouldn't choose a competitive game on my own accord. Video games, puzzles, logic games, brain teasers-- all well and good as long as there's no penalty for just "taking a break" when frustration kicks in.Being around other people? Lovely as long as they all agree with me and don't frustrate me with banality or offensive comments... I prefer to stick to activities, conversations, jobs, hobbies that come easily to me, smooth sailing, obstacle free, firmly in my own control.
That's the secret to it all, isn't it? Turns out maybe I'm not an introverted perfectionist after all..
I just have frustration-phobia.
Apparently, I am really serious about avoiding frustration. No seriously. I am having a hard time thinking of any of those "puzzles, games and sports challenges" that I actively enjoy. Perhaps its simply that I Sports of choice? Solitary, things I'm good at, smooth. Swimming, biking, running (but not too far), skiing (no moguls, thank you very much....) I don't like games; though I'll play them now, especially at my son's behest, I wouldn't choose a competitive game on my own accord. Video games, puzzles, logic games, brain teasers-- all well and good as long as there's no penalty for just "taking a break" when frustration kicks in.Being around other people? Lovely as long as they all agree with me and don't frustrate me with banality or offensive comments... I prefer to stick to activities, conversations, jobs, hobbies that come easily to me, smooth sailing, obstacle free, firmly in my own control.
That's the secret to it all, isn't it? Turns out maybe I'm not an introverted perfectionist after all..
I just have frustration-phobia.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
April 4
What is one thing other people find enormously frustrating that you can tolerate with no problem? Do you sometimes do this particular thing as a favor for other people, in order to spare them frustration?
I really don't mind cleaning the bathroom. In fact, I get rather an inordinate amount of satisfaction from a clean toilet, and keeping up with it myself is a lot easier than waiting for it to happen on its own. To tell the truth, I am not sure that other people find this task "frustrating", per se (other people, in this case, mainly being Nat)-- but I do hear that people find it to be distasteful. I'd certainly take this chore over cleaning a litterbox, that is for sure.
I am perfectly fine with paperwork. I even enjoy writing IEP's and progress reports and data summaries and evaluations (provided, of course, that I have the time to focus on them.I enjoy crafting the words, capturing ideas and strengths and the very essence of a child succinctly and with respect. I'd love to help other people with their paperwork if time allowed, actually... a full time job writing IEP's, with occasional moments of teaching reading 1-1 with students.... sigh....
Working with my students. I have heard other people say they couldn't do it, they don't have the patience, etc.... I am not sure I've got all that much patience myself-- but somehow I get more of it when I am teaching my kids. Somehow that element of being truly needed kicks in and it almost doesn't matter what they throw at me, I can handle it and figure it out. The frustrations come after. Or because of adults. But rarely because of my kids. I suppose, in a way, I am doing the school a favor by creating a haven for these children so that frustrations can be lessened, just a tiny bit, for the other teachers at the school. Anything I can do! Personally I think I've got the best gig going....
I really don't mind cleaning the bathroom. In fact, I get rather an inordinate amount of satisfaction from a clean toilet, and keeping up with it myself is a lot easier than waiting for it to happen on its own. To tell the truth, I am not sure that other people find this task "frustrating", per se (other people, in this case, mainly being Nat)-- but I do hear that people find it to be distasteful. I'd certainly take this chore over cleaning a litterbox, that is for sure.
I am perfectly fine with paperwork. I even enjoy writing IEP's and progress reports and data summaries and evaluations (provided, of course, that I have the time to focus on them.I enjoy crafting the words, capturing ideas and strengths and the very essence of a child succinctly and with respect. I'd love to help other people with their paperwork if time allowed, actually... a full time job writing IEP's, with occasional moments of teaching reading 1-1 with students.... sigh....
Working with my students. I have heard other people say they couldn't do it, they don't have the patience, etc.... I am not sure I've got all that much patience myself-- but somehow I get more of it when I am teaching my kids. Somehow that element of being truly needed kicks in and it almost doesn't matter what they throw at me, I can handle it and figure it out. The frustrations come after. Or because of adults. But rarely because of my kids. I suppose, in a way, I am doing the school a favor by creating a haven for these children so that frustrations can be lessened, just a tiny bit, for the other teachers at the school. Anything I can do! Personally I think I've got the best gig going....
April 3
Today's question:
Was there a period of your life that had a slow, maddening progress, a time that you were just counting the days until it was over? What was impeding you, and how did it end?
Waiting in lines. I feel there is an incredible injustice to waiting in lines. No one should have to spend such a significant portion of their lives just... waiting.
Beyond that?
Slogging my way through the online course I took on behavior modification. Interminable. It could have been that I was also dealing with a 4 month old baby and a 3 year old boy and teaching, all while trying to listen to lectures given by a video-taped man who strongly resembled a frog. But it was among the driest material I have ever spent time learning, and it seemed a long, long time before I finished that class...
Was there a period of your life that had a slow, maddening progress, a time that you were just counting the days until it was over? What was impeding you, and how did it end?
Waiting in lines. I feel there is an incredible injustice to waiting in lines. No one should have to spend such a significant portion of their lives just... waiting.
Beyond that?
Slogging my way through the online course I took on behavior modification. Interminable. It could have been that I was also dealing with a 4 month old baby and a 3 year old boy and teaching, all while trying to listen to lectures given by a video-taped man who strongly resembled a frog. But it was among the driest material I have ever spent time learning, and it seemed a long, long time before I finished that class...
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
A new month....
Well, March was a bit of a wash.
It's difficult to go to bed early when the weather is so delicious, you know?
And it's difficult to stick to a diet when on vacation with two small children. So there. I have excuses.
But, it is April!
And I have just now, just this very minute, decided on a 30 day challenge. I follow a blog, Ten Thousand Questions, which is updated daily by its very dedicated author, who poses interesting questions based on a weekly theme. So, there at the top of my blogroll, every day, is a new question.
For the month of April, I am going to answer them.
I am looking forward to the focused act of writing that this will bring on, as well as the chance to explore unexpected topics beyond my usual sphere of home and school and children...
Today's question:
What are some otherwise worthwhile things that you avoid because of the likelihood of running into difficulties and frustrations? This week's theme is frustrations.
Frustrations! An appropriate theme as frustrations come every minute some days... This evening I avoided any further shopping at Target due to the likelihood of being frustrated by my exceedingly whiny children... but I am not sure that counts as "otherwise worthwhile"....
But here are things I do avoid:
Washing the windows
Painting the trim of the house
Getting the playroom organized
Applying for new jobs
Committing to a program of study (any one!) to further my future
Attempting to finish/publish any completed piece of writing
It's difficult to go to bed early when the weather is so delicious, you know?
And it's difficult to stick to a diet when on vacation with two small children. So there. I have excuses.
But, it is April!
And I have just now, just this very minute, decided on a 30 day challenge. I follow a blog, Ten Thousand Questions, which is updated daily by its very dedicated author, who poses interesting questions based on a weekly theme. So, there at the top of my blogroll, every day, is a new question.
For the month of April, I am going to answer them.
I am looking forward to the focused act of writing that this will bring on, as well as the chance to explore unexpected topics beyond my usual sphere of home and school and children...
Today's question:
What are some otherwise worthwhile things that you avoid because of the likelihood of running into difficulties and frustrations? This week's theme is frustrations.
Frustrations! An appropriate theme as frustrations come every minute some days... This evening I avoided any further shopping at Target due to the likelihood of being frustrated by my exceedingly whiny children... but I am not sure that counts as "otherwise worthwhile"....
But here are things I do avoid:
Washing the windows
Painting the trim of the house
Getting the playroom organized
Applying for new jobs
Committing to a program of study (any one!) to further my future
Attempting to finish/publish any completed piece of writing
Thursday, March 22, 2012
March 22
Today I am grateful for sunshine and balmy afternoons, for class outside and driving with my sunglasses on and the windows down.
I am grateful for the joy and wonder of new life-- new babies freshly arrived, the snuggly weight of a borrowed baby on my chest. I am grateful for the camaraderie of motherhood, the sharing and laughing and connecting that comes from common experience. I am grateful for the chance to give and help and use some of what I have learned in these past five years of my own motherhood journey.
I am grateful honey roasted peanuts and chocolate.
I am grateful for my students who work so hard and always inspire me with their spirits. I am grateful for the chance to impact their lives and be a champion for them, to build them into stronger people every day. I am grateful for differences and the way they can bring us together.
I am grateful for a smooth week and the excitement of a soon-to-be weekend filled with friends and resale events. I am grateful for the richness and beauty of my life.
I am grateful for the joy and wonder of new life-- new babies freshly arrived, the snuggly weight of a borrowed baby on my chest. I am grateful for the camaraderie of motherhood, the sharing and laughing and connecting that comes from common experience. I am grateful for the chance to give and help and use some of what I have learned in these past five years of my own motherhood journey.
I am grateful honey roasted peanuts and chocolate.
I am grateful for my students who work so hard and always inspire me with their spirits. I am grateful for the chance to impact their lives and be a champion for them, to build them into stronger people every day. I am grateful for differences and the way they can bring us together.
I am grateful for a smooth week and the excitement of a soon-to-be weekend filled with friends and resale events. I am grateful for the richness and beauty of my life.
Monday, March 19, 2012
March 19
Tonight I am grateful for sunny evenings and muddy parks, for playgrounds and neighbors and friendly little boys clambering for attention, for children getting along together, so purely, so without guile.
I am grateful for a good run at the gym this morning, for the slight ache in my legs that reminds me I ought to do this more often.
I am grateful for sweet snuggly sun-kissed tired darlings and I am grateful for quiet send-offs to bed.
I am grateful for one last quiet day at work before the madness of a testing week begins. I am grateful for my students and for the pleasure of working in tandem with talented co-workers. I am grateful for the people whose smiles make my day.
I am grateful for blueberry tea.
Off to file my taxes, fold some laundry, and mindlessly surf the internet for 20 minutes. Tonight: on target for a 10pm bedtime. Wish me luck.
I am grateful for a good run at the gym this morning, for the slight ache in my legs that reminds me I ought to do this more often.
I am grateful for sweet snuggly sun-kissed tired darlings and I am grateful for quiet send-offs to bed.
I am grateful for one last quiet day at work before the madness of a testing week begins. I am grateful for my students and for the pleasure of working in tandem with talented co-workers. I am grateful for the people whose smiles make my day.
I am grateful for blueberry tea.
Off to file my taxes, fold some laundry, and mindlessly surf the internet for 20 minutes. Tonight: on target for a 10pm bedtime. Wish me luck.
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