Student of the Month

“Guess what, Mommy?” Natalie said when I picked her up from school. “I’m student of the month! I get to go on stage and everything! What should I wear on stage? What should I do on stage? Should I bow?”

The words tumbled from her mouth at a mile a minute. That’s just how Natalie is. She’s rarely quiet. It’s a wonder she stays silent at school but apparently she does, because she always has green smiley faces in her agenda and her teacher has called her sweet.

“You got student of the month? That’s great!” I replied.

“I get to go on STAGE!” Natalie repeated.

She’s also not shy.

“What will I WEAR?”

She also loves clothes.

“Do I go on stage TOMORROW?”

She’s also impatient.

“No, usually student of the month is awarded during the first quarter awards,” I explained. “So probably not until October.”

Natalie sighed. “Oh. All right.”

When we got home she showed me this large paper that we had to fill out. It had spaces where we had to write what her favorite things were, she had to draw her family…just basically explaining who she was.

Then I saw another piece of paper that said that the parent had to decorate the bulletin board for the student of the month.

Wait. What?

A lot of mothers love to decorate. A lot of mothers are talented. They can take a simple t-shirt and sequin it in under an hour. Me? I don’t like to decorate. My eyes glaze over when women start talking about décor and the like. Who cares? When people ask what my style is, I’m like, “Uh?” I have no style. I generally go for what’s on sale.

I helped Natalie fill out her paper and she colored it. I added pictures for her to put on her bulletin board.

And that was basically it.

I’m sure some mothers would buy border for the bulletin board to make it pretty. They’d cut out pretty designs and the like, maybe toss some glitter on there for a sparkly effect.

Me?

Well, I figured the paper and pictures were enough.

The next day I told her teacher that I was ready to do the bulletin board. She handed me a stapler and off I went.

Do you see Natalie’s paper?

Um, well guess what? A woman walked in and prepared to set up HER kid’s bulletin board. She had taken all the information from that paper and placed it all on a shiny pink background. Complete with a border. And I swear I saw glitter.

I wanted to take a picture but there was a teacher watching me from the hall. She was either A) impressed with my daughter’s work or B) was snickering at my lack of decorating skills. Or C) my fly might have been down. It was first thing in the morning. I’m not totally with it then.

Oh well. I know I’ll never be able to make a doll from sticks or a gourmet meal. I can't take a milk carton and create a fancy vase. I’ll stare at things on Pinterest and think, “That’s nice,” but know I’d never have the patience to actually DO it.

But that’s okay. Natalie says I make the best jelly sandwiches (only jelly—she doesn’t like peanut butter. It feels “weird” in her teeth) and that has to account for something, right?

First Day of School

I remember when I was a child...every single first day of school experience. Weeks before school started we would go to the store and get some clothes, shoes, underwear, and supplies for this monumental event. Then on the very first day my mom would get me up, I would dress, and before actually leaving to GO to school we would take the customary picture on the front porch....of me heading to school. My mom took such pride in this day....and I thought this was cheesy as rip. As I progressed to junior high/high school days we would also add a trip to Anthony's to get the dreaded P.E.uniform. They were these one piece, absolutely horrible, white things we were forced to wear in physical education. They were hot, uncomfortable,and had little to no room to move....especially if you were like me and had a long torso. Another way to torture kids at school....(insert wicked laugh here). Years would pass and one day I would find myself as a young mother getting children ready for the first day of school. Funny thing, all the cheesy things my mom did....I did them too. I have pictures of every child....on the first day of school....from the front porch. When did I become my mom? My friend Debo would always has her daughter, "Did you make any new friends today?" The kids and I thought this was the cheesiest...but her daughter has been out of school for over 10 years and she still calls me on the first day of school and asks me that question. It makes me smile everytime. It is one of those comfort moments. I know the world is right when I get that phone call around 3:45 and she asks me the question. Her daughter is a teacher now and she calls her too. This is one of those kodak moments...without the camera. I love the first day of school. It is so new and fresh. My first day yesterday was fantastic. For the first time in I cannot remember when I came home tired...but it was a good tired. I went to bed early and slept through the night. I am ready for Tuesday! Bring it on!

9th Grade Orientation Day

Today is 9th grade orientation day and I will be there to meet all the new incoming freshmen. I love orientation. Most of the teachers gripe because they have to give up a day and come in and work. I look at it as a great big reunion when I get to see all the new faces and some old ones I have not seen in a while. I will have a freshman advisement(homeroom) this year so for the next four years these babies will be mine. That is the one thing I love about our school. The homeroom/advisement teacher follows the student all the way through their high school career. Oh there are some changes from time to time....because the classes have to be leveled, or we lose a teacher unit and have to break up an existing advisement...but for the most part you learn all about these students...because they are yours til they graduate. I love it! This year I have three of my little sweeties from church and I am thrilled. I remember 9th grade. You think you are a big kid...and find out you are just a small fish in a big pond...and get suckered into everything. It never fails to amaze me at the number of ninth graders who buy pep rally tickets. You would think that that one had passed it's prime...yet every year...another freshman falls for it. By the time 10th grade rolls around...they are at home...and then their senior year....they all develop senioritis and are impossible to live with. I love beginnings. If you have a child heading back to school soon...enjoy these last few days of summer with them. Happy Thursday!

Summer Preparation and Giveaways

Wow....I have one more week until summer. I can't believe it is finally here. Summer to me is better than Christmas....because....well...it lasts longer. I had a parent tell me last week at a bridal shower....that teachers make way too much money for what little time they work...and in her opinion had a high opinion of themselves...I almost choked on the finger sandwich I was chewing...number one. I get paid a salary. I chose many years ago...to have that said salary divided up into 12 monthly installments so I could keep my insurance benefits in tact....and number two...where did she get off telling me I made too much money for what little time I work....she is a nurse...who works on seven and off seven....and makes way more money than I do...with a bachelor's degree in nursing....to my master's in education.....and do that math....seven on and seven off...is ummmmm....let me figure this out....6 months! I steamed on that one for a few days....and then remembered....summer is just around the corner...and then...this morning I got up and found my good teacher buddy Trina has a give away going...whooo hooo I thought....a candle called Butt something....interesting...she swears it smells like coconuts....and a great read....coozies....all I need for a day at someone's pool....or someone's lake house.....or if worse comes to worse...my back yard with the sprinkler on. All that will matter then....is that school is out....all my tests are graded....all the projects are finished....and I can start going to the school a couple of days a week later...August will be here soon enough....but for right now...let me just bask in the face that it is summer...the sun is going to come out...I am going to get in it....and on Thursdays....I am going to be a frugal fashionista and I am going to post Thrifty Thursdays for my friend Leigh....I am going Thrift store shopping with Mary...I am going to travel a bit with my buddies...I am going to write a few songs....I am going to sing a bit...but most of all I am going to recoup....so that when August gets here...I will be ready to go again. Have a great weekend to all. Don't forget to enter Trina's giveaway. Oh...and tell her Karen sent you.

Happy Friday!

The weekend has arrived and there is about 5 minutes before the bell sounds and the kids leave the building for the weekend. They are as excited as I am. Announcements are on and the kids are so quiet listening to the information droning out of the speaker box. Glazed eyes look at the board....waiting....counting down the minutes until that bell rings and we all run for our cars to get as far away from this place as we can....for a few days. A small reprieve from all the hum drum...end of the year stuff that goes along with school. I will pray that the kids will be safe this weekend....and especially tonight. We have bad weather in the area....and they take it so lightly.

Tomorrow is the New Life Festival at Southern Union in Wadley. I am excited about singing for the district and for Bishop Willomon. I will add that one to my list of life accomplishments....and singing for Kennedy and Nixon.

Sunday is church. I love Sundays. I love getting up early, having my quiet time, going to the Arbor and finishing up in Waverly. Sunday's are real high days for me. It is hard to bring me down then. I love all of the day. I think it is my favorite day of the whole week.

Then comes the Monday's....7 more of them til school is out for the summer. Here I sit...counting the days...wishing my life away....sigh....

Have a great weekend. I know I will!