Why rush the summer?

Students may not be the only ones ready to go back to school. (parents? teachers?) So many of my co-workers (mind you... they are not taking college courses though) are spending these days cleaning and organizing their rooms. They are also working on files for the next year as well as planning what needs to be done at Make N' Take. Well, I am just trying to get through these two summer classes (what, four more weeks?). But as I realize there are just a few weeks left to these classes, that just means that school is next. I will only have a few days to prepare for the school next year. WOW! I am not ready for this! So, for those trying to rush the summer...why? It's stressing me out!

Hard Work

I know a lot of our classmates are talking about all the hard work they are doing this summer. You all are not alone. This is my first semester to take two classes (summer semester at that). I decided to take it nice and slow for my masters. I am not saying it was the best decision I ever made, but I will make it within due time. I started out right after undergrad with classes, so there was no lapse there. I took off my whole first year of teaching because I thought it would be difficult getting my first group of kids and trying to handle a class too. On the contrary, that was the best group of kids yet! Not to mention I had three room moms and a full time Friday volunteer. Since then, I have taken one class after another and dread that I have four more after this semester. I will take one this fall, one in the spring, and then two next summer while working on comps! Everyone around me keeps telling me... "It will be over before you know it!" I have even heard, "I bet you can see the light at the end of the tunnel." (Yeah, it's a train hitting me head on right now!) As for the meantime, I will make do with giving it my 110%. Some of my closest friends often ask, "Why do you stress out so much over this work?" and "It doesn't have to be perfect!" Well, to me since my name is attached to it... yes I do. I would expect nothing than the best from my students and I think that is what I am doing with my college studies.

Why can it be so important?

I took my son to the Watermelon Patch the other day. They host open play as well as family classes we've attended. Well, as Braydon was running around playing with some children my eyes wandered to this wall with a new hanging. On that wall was a poster size photo frame with a "teacher quote." I get hooked on quotes (as you can tell through previous post and the headline of this blog). I actually found the same quote on www.teacherheart.net. So, I urge you all to think about why this quote can be so important and see what you come up with!

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Fun in the sun!

Hello everyone!

I have been out of pocket for some time. We have been having fun in the sun at a local water park. We went to spend some time with my co-workers and their children. They had a blast splashing in all the water while us teachers had a good ole' time lounging by the pools. I am posting some pictures for you all to see how wonderful our day was. Not only have we been having fun in the sun, we went to see Toy Story 3 and went to play at Nana and Pop's and Me-Maw and Paw-Paw's. Truly fun in the sun, right? Why not, it's summertime!

Kids are Kids!

Good morning everyone!

As I think about what to tell you I'm up to now... I thought about all the play dates I've arranged for my son. Summer time is our fun time even though I am bogged down with USA classes and a few workshops. I keep telling myself, "What is worth it if I don't equate my time as he is growing up?" He's only going to be a kid for so long!

My three year old and I play alone usually on Mondays. We read books, color, play with bubbles, play dough, sidewalk chalk, play in the sprinkler and other fun stuff outside. He goes to a "private" school on Tuesdays and Thursdays (my class days) so that I can study at home before my night class. There he is raised with the same group of kids he started out with; ranging from 3 mths. to 5 yrs. We love it there. He has music time, play time, story time, nap time, home cooked meals, swimming lessons, and of course they are on a curriculum plan (though not state mandated, ha ha). Wednesdays and Fridays I try to catch up with friends and family to let him play with others his age and see people we haven't seen in a while. This often means getting away from the house and relaxing! Then of course, Saturdays and Sundays are family days... Daddy works M-F so we make up for lost time!

Why are you so happy?

As you all know my post is centered on the question of why. Well, I thought back to this past weekend and someone asked me, "Why are you so happy all the time?" I responded with, "Why shouldn't I be?" I have a wonderful set of full-time parents (still raising this 26 year old... ha, ha), a loving husband who sticks with my OCDness and other insane attributes, dedicated siblings who forgive all my shortcomings, my son who thinks I am faultless (boy wait till he grows up), a church who welcomes me with open arms, and so many friends and family who surround me (keeping me busy- the best part of the day).

Sorry for not posting before now, but I had a wonderful birthday Friday, which included shopping ALL DAY and my crayfish boil that night. Saturday we continued to shop, hung out at my parent's and husband's parents houses. Sunday we celebrated Father's Day by first visiting my father-in-law's home church, BBQ cookout for lunch, and then a fish fry at my mom and dad's place. I truly forgot what my house looks like! Glad to be home now though! Again, why are you so happy? What's not to be happy about?

Choices, Choices, Choices...

When I started this blog, I surrounded myself with questions of why. Well, today as I plan an activity for an upcoming presentation I found myself pondering why there are so many choices of what I can do! I am to the point that I would rather my choice to be taken away and someone just tell me what to do. (Well, not really... I just want to create something fun.) I can come to a conscious decision on one game versus another and then I wonder, but what if? Why do I do this to myself? So, I am deciding to make it final and stick with it. Either way, I am sure it will be fine. I am wondering is there anyone else out there that talks themselves of things like this? Why do we do this?

Why Celebrate a Birthday?

Guess who's celebrating a birthday? That's right, me! On Friday! I thought about what to do for my birthday and just as always... came up with the some plans. We are going to have a crayfish boil here at our house. I invited my family, my husband's family, and my closest cousin.

I usually don't celebrate much for my birthday (my son's on the other hand... big difference). This year I thought, "Why not?" So, I am going to shop for some new diamond earrings, arrange for a haircut appointment (do something new), and indulge myself with a family crayfish boil!

I hope to post some photos... "see" ya soon!

What's your challenge?

I just heard a great message preached this morning by a guest speaker in my brother's church. We are visiting here in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the preacher announced, "Why don't we accept our challenge?" Of course, the message was for accepting our challenge as Christians to witness to others, but no matter whether you are thinking spiritually, academically, or healthy... I ask you... "What's your challenge?"

I would like to know what some of you all are up to. Maybe you are working on something you are soon to accomplish. Maybe some of you are holding fast to your New Year's Resolution. If any of you are working on a challenge; how's it going?

Why add on???

When trying to decide what to post today, I thought about what all I have going on... too much, that is! I think about all the roles I play: mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher, student, friend, acquaintance, etc. I thought about what else there is to add on. I think about why do I do all this to myself? And we wonder where the stress comes from? In reality, I know I would be dead bored if I didn't involve myself as I do. I love it all... going, going, going... all the time! So, I'm going to get ready for our trip to the beach tomorrow morning, then down to Louisiana for a three day visit with my brother. Totally excited!

Why teach?

How many of you have ever had someone ask you what you do? Well, the first thing that comes to my mind when I am asked that question is... I teach. Then, stand back and wait for the response! Most of the time I am shocked with "Why do you do that?" or "I don't have enough patience for that line of work" or better yet... "They couldn't pay me enough!" So, I've decided even though teaching takes patience, it is not the best paying job, and I question why I do what I do sometimes in the classroom I don't think I question the fact that I am a teacher. I am doing what I love to do and it comes from the heart. Teaching is just a part of me and if I lose it, then I have lost part of myself. Besides, how many other jobs are there that let you play with children... just for fun?

Bill Page

Most of you may have never heard the name Bill Page, but you can goolge him if you'd like. He is an educator, like us! I like to view his quotes, and most of them are worth sharing. One that I found recent enough is at the top of my blog, just under the heading... read it for yourself. So, again I want to know why it is we do what we do. I think about being a teacher (a major part of who I define myself as) and hope I am not the slow learner Bill Page was talking about. See me as a teacher; hope you enjoy the picture!

Why?

The topic of my blog post is "Why?" I first thought about the question why do we do what we do? I guess my immediate inspiration came from my three year old son who constantly asks friends, family, and myself... "Why?" See for yourself, why.