Everybody Counts

Last week at my sons' school's Parent Teacher Council meeting, the topic of Everybody Counts was raised again. Everybody Counts is a program that allows the students to learn about conditions that make life different for people.  For example, what is it like to be blind or deaf or dyslexic or missing an appendage.

Everyone agreed that the idea of the program is a good one and one that we should bring back to the school.  It has been at least 6 years since the program, run by parent volunteers, has been offered at the school.  It is usually a one day event and each grade learns about a different condition.

One of the mentioned goals was for the children to understand that not everyone is exactly the same and that no matter what the differences we need to treat each other kindly.

The topic of timing was discussed.  Someone else had mentioned Catholic Schools Week but the teachers pointed out that week is already crazy busy.  I mentioned that the end of the school year seemed like a good time since the teachers are winding down on graded assignments and it would fit in with Goodwill Games and the Relay for Life walk (cancer related).  A fellow parent said that seemed too late in the school year if we are trying to teach the children tolerance for differences.  That parent's feeling was that the kids would quickly forget the lessons taught over the summer break.

That night it occurred to me that perhaps we missed the boat on explaining what Everybody Counts is supposed to be about.  Everybody Counts is meant to teach the students about the conditions and what it might be like to have the condition.  For example, to be blindfolded and led down a hallway by  someone else trusting that they will not let you run into anything.  Or feeling braille.  Or being able to see someone talking but not able to hear their words.  Or tying your shoes without using your thumbs.

The job of teaching them tolerance began years before they ever crossed the classroom doorway.  That responsibility began with us as parents from the first day of their precious lives.  The idea of tolerance can be reinforced by the teachers at school but the primary responsibility still lies with the parents.

When did we as parents turn over the responsibility of teaching our children values to school teachers?  

I am grateful for teachers who reinforce the great truth "Treat other as you would want to be treated". But if I did not teach them this before school and do not continue to reinforce while they are not at school, I cannot expect them to learn it in the short time they are in school while expecting them to learn all the academic things they need to learn.

My, how time flies

Hard to believe that I actually started this blog 6 and 1/2 years ago.  If you look at it, you will realize I have been quite the slacker when it comes to writing.  The same is not quite so true of my handwritten journal.  I tend to run in spurts there.  I get on a roll and write on a regular basis and then slack off and don't write for days or weeks.  Unfortunately when I slack off is usually when I should be journaling the most.

One of the reasons I am going to try to pick this up again is I find myself having trouble falling asleep at night thinking about things that are happening in the community around me.  My mind goes over and over my thoughts and opinions.  I have decided I need a place to express those opinions and if no one ever reads them, so be it.

So let the fun begin...

Christmas 2013

This year I have been pretty much a grinch for the Christmas season.  It probably doesn't help that I was sick two days before Thanksgiving.  We haven't put up a big tree in our house since 2007.  Usually I get out some Christmas decorations and put them on the mantle and stereo and call it good.

 A friend of mine was giving me a hard time for being a grinch and not decorating so when I was cleaning up some stuff, I found this ornament and put it on the mantle and declared the house decorated.

The kids have ornament trees in their rooms so they can display all their ornaments collected from Christmases past.

Nate          Scott
Meredith


One day my friend asked me to stop by because she had something to give me.  She had threatened to buy me a tree.  And sure enough, the something was a tree.  It was small and pretty and claimed a spot on the mantle.









This past Monday, I took the boys to basketball practice.  Upon my return I found a live tree on the dinner table.  My loving husband (who is not really a Christmas guy), made me a Charlie Brown tree.  And the only ornament on it is the Grinch stealing the Christmas tree.  He says it was the first ornament he came to in the ornament box.












Today, I decided I would clean up the fireplace area so I could bring down the presents.  After dusting, I decided to put up one string of lights. While looking for the lights, I found a small tree made for us years ago by Barb Grady.  So it too has joined the collection of trees on the fireplace.

Now our Christmas decorating is complete.  The presents are ready for opening tomorrow.  Yes, that is all of the presents.  Each child gets three things to open.  And Dennis and I do not give each other presents.

Merry Christmas to all!

Two favs from facebook.

I AM A HANDFUL - unfortunately most women WON'T re-post this. I'm strong willed, independent, a bit outspoken, and I tell it like it is. I make mistakes, I am sometimes out of control and at times hard to handle but I love and give with all my heart. If you can't handle me at my worst then you sure don't deserve me at my best. If you are a HANDFUL, re-post!

Copy this and paste it in your status if you know someone, or have heard of someone who knows someone. If you don't know anyone, or even if you've heard of someone who doesn't know anyone, then do still copy this. It's important to spread the message. Oh and the hearts ♥ ♥ ♥ ... don't forget the hearts! ♥ ♥ ♥

Facebook Peer Pressure

So once again, I have caved to facebook peer pressure.

Pay it Forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.

I figure I better post it here so I remember who my lucky 5 are.

It's November again. My facebook friends have started the annual "Thankful challenge"

It's November! Every day this month until Thanksgiving, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it under your status. "Today I am
thankful for..." Now if you think you can do it, repost this message as
your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today."

11/1/10 Today I am thankful for friends that remind me that I should be able to come up with at least 30 things to be thankful for.
11/2/10 Today I am thankful for my co-workers who are also my friends through thick and thin.
11/3/10 Today I am thankful that the election and all its robocalls and incessant commercials are over. Time to read the results and see who won.
11/4/10 Today I am thankful that the bus stops at the end of our driveway every school day to take my darling children off to school. And that they bring them home at the end of the day...
11/6/10 Today I am thankful for coaches who share their love of sports with our kids. (First volleyball pre-season tournament games! Yes, multiple. We play at 11 and again at 8)
Friday I was thankful for a quiet dinner with my husband and daughter thanks to grandma who keeps kids overnight.
11/7/10 Today I am thankful for a husband who cooks and family that likes to come for dinner. (not too much in the way of leftovers!)
11/8/10 Today I am thankful that Russell finally made it here to properly vent our bathroom vents through the roof.
11/10/10Today I am thankful that I am not an accountant! Being a programmer working on accounting problems is bad enough.
Yesterday I was thankful for a day to myself.
11/11/10 Today I am thankful for everyone who has served for our country
11/12/10 Today I am thankful that it is Friday. Busy volleyball weekend ahead. Go JAGS!
11/13/10 Today I am thankful for the ability to get up and go even when I don't feel like it. My eyes and ears work as do the legs and arms so I'll be driving Miss Meredith to her volleyball tournament game and cheering on the JAGS!
11/14/10 Today I am thankful that I live in a country where we are free to belong to the religion of our own choosing.
11/15/10 Today I am thankful that my boss is letting me alter my work schedule this week. After slogging through today's work, I'm going to need two days off! (well, off if you count
substitute teaching as being off!)
11/16/10 Today I am thankful for second graders who behave when they have a substitute teacher. It may my day so much easier! (Wonder if I'll say the same about 6th graders tomorrow?)
11/17/10 Today I am thankful for yesterday's rain since it changed the relative humidity and frustrated the sixth grade boys who were trying to create a static charge.
11/19/10Today I am thankful that it is Friday. Looking forward to a great night out tomorrow. Yesterday I was thankful that the boys were good while we were shoe shopping in Kmart. We managed to finish all our errands while Meredith was at Volleyball practice.
11/20/10Today I am thankful for school bus drivers who work on Saturday nights to drive partying adults to the Rusty Ball!
11/21/10 Today I am thankful for quiet days with no athletic events. It's been a lovely day to have almost nothing to do.
11/22/10 Today I am thankful for a very short work week. Just two very long work days then 5 fun-filled days with the family!
11/23/10 Today I am thankful for Metabolism Man. He does a wonderful job of keeping me warm every night.
11/24/10 Today I am thankful that Dennis did the driving through the rain/sleet and the kids were fairly well-behaved on the way.
11/26/10Today I am thankful that everyone has had a good time in Chicago despite a few tantrums.
11/27/10Today I am thankful to be headed home. We've had a good time. Yesterday I was thankful for the hotel pool which wore down the kids.
11/29/10Today I am thankful that I didn't think about work the whole time we were gone on Thanksgiving holiday (work is driving me crazy today!). Yesterday I was thankful that Meredith plays on a volleyball team where the players always encourage each other and the coach encourages their best play and makes sure that everyone g...ets an equal chance to play (can't say the same for some of the other teams I saw playing).

Facebook status fun

Facebook status updates decoded.

1/10 "I kicked my cell phone sliding down a hill b/c that's how I roll."

(My favorite from one of my friends:"I did the Macarena with a pickle under your bed because I'm sexy and I do what I want.")

> Pick the month you were born:
> January-------I kicked
> February------I loved
> March--------I karate chopped
> April----------I licked
> May----------I jumped on
> June----------I smelled
> July-----------I did the Macarena With
> August--------I had lunch with
> September----I danced with
> October-------I sang to
> November-----I yelled at
> December-----I ran over
>
> Pick the day (number) you were born on:
> 1-------a birdbath
> 2-------a monster
> 3-------a phone
> 4-------a fork
> 5-------a snowman
> 6-------a gangster
> 7-------my mobile phone
> 8-------my dog
> 9-------my best friends' boyfriend
> 10-------my neighbor
> 11-------my science teacher
> 12-------a banana
> 13-------a fireman
> 14-------a stuffed animal
> 15-------a goat
> 16-------a pickle
> 17-------your mom
> 18-------a spoon
> 19------ - a smurf
> 20-------a baseball bat
> 21-------an assassin
> 22-------Bruce Lee
> 23-------a noodle
> 24-------a squirrel
> 25-------a football player
> 26-------my sister
> 27-------my brother
> 28-------an iPod
> 29-------a surfer
> 30-------a homeless guy
> 31-------a camel
>
> What is the last number of the year you were born:
> 1--------- In my car
> 2 --------- On your car
> 3 ----------- In a hole
> 4 ----------- Under your bed
> 5 ----------- Riding a Motorcycle
> 6 --------- sliding down a hill
> 7 --------- in an elevator
> 8---------- at the dinner table
> 9 -------- In line at the bank
> 0 -------- in your bathroom
>
> Pick the color of sweater you are wearing:
> White---------because I am cool like that
> Black---------because that's how I roll
> Pink-----------because I'm NOT crazy.
> Red-----------because the voices told me to.
> Blue-----------because I'm sexy and I do what I want
> Green---------because I think I need some serious help.
> Purple---------because I'm AWESOME!
> Gray----------because Big Bird said to and he's my leader.
> Yellow--------because someone offered me 1,000,000 RMB
> Orange--------because my family thinks I'm stupid anyway.
> Brown---------because I can.
> Other----------because I'm an assassin!
> None----------because I can't control myself!

1/10 "on top"
hair style

1/7 "white"
bra color