Spring Break Update

I used to think I could never be a stay-at-home mom, but I might be changing my mind. I find that I just get so much more done when I'm not working! Yesterday while my roommate was at work, I...

• vaccuumed the stairs
• swept our entryway and the kitchen
• swiffered the same areas
• cleaned out the bottom of the pantry
• beat out the rug downstairs
• washed, dried, and put away 3 loads of laundry
• ironed 8 items of clothing
• hemmed a pair of pants (with the iron-in stuff, but only because I don't have a sewing machine)
• filed my taxes
• reorganized some of my filing system (which I need to finish today)
• washed, dried, and put away a lot of dishes
• cleaned all the kitchen counters
• went to WalMart
• took a nap outside basking in the glorious sunshine
• read from my Bible
• read from a good book
• made a haircut appointment

I've always wondered why...

Today a couple teachers and I were despairing about how our 8 and 9 year-olds can't seem to color in one direction, among other things. A fifth grade male teacher walked by, and without missing a step said to us, "you know that's why tigers eat their young."

I've always wondered why animals would eat their babies. Now I know. It's because they are really bad at coloring!

out of season

Today I ended up at lunch with my roommate, her ex-roommate, and their gay guy best friends... I didn't have a gay with me, so I almost didn't go because I didn't want to be a fifth wheel. Kim said since we were going to Oaklawn, so we might be able to find a gay for me... When we brought that up at lunch, I discovered that I wouldn't be able to get a gay guy to be my friend, because they were "out of season." Apparently I missed out on the bandwagon and will have to do without. Sad day!

not a total failure

I managed to keep the breakdowns under control today (meaning under 10 minutes in duration, and no loud, class-stopping sobbing) ... And I felt good about my room and all the work the kids have done lately when 15 of my 18 kids' families trooped through for Open House tonight. I've decided I'm not a total failure at my job! woo hoo!

The comfort of a social work roommate...

So last night after a good cry, I did some cleaning (because getting my environment under control helps me relieve the stress from not having my children under control), took a bath, drank a glass of red wine, read a good book (well, two if you count my daily Bible reading), and went to bed before 9pm. I feel better about life this morning.

Better, except for the fact that when I told my roommate I was afraid I would physically injure the next of my children to throw a fit for a dumb reason because it was happening daily, her response was "Did you know when you took the job that there we going to be children in your classroom?..."

I responded that I'd taught daycare for years and been in classrooms since my senior year of high school. Even my 3 year-olds at daycare were more mature than a few of my students this year, and that was why I was so frustrated with my 8-9-10 year olds' behaviors. She just looked at me like I was a moron who didn't know that kids were immature.

I've decided to switch my anger and frustration at the children over to the roommate for a while. I don't have to see her nearly as often as I see kids throwing fits!

OUT of patience

I'm completely out of patience for crying and tantrums. I've never allowed them in my room, but they've happened all year anyway. I am to the point where I don't know how I'll react the next time one of my kids starts bawling because he (yes, it's always a boy for some reason) hasn't gotten his way, or he is having to face consequences for his actions. And that's pretty sad since I typically have at LEAST 4 tantrums a week. I hope I don't do anything to lose my job. So anyway, I'm praying for patience, but clearly my prayers aren't working. Maybe if someone else (who isn't on the verge of hating innocent children) prays for me, then God will actually listen to them.

Old Testament

I'm trying to read through the Bible in a year. So far, I'm only a couple days behind schedule, plodding along through all the laws and whatnot. When I don't feel bored to tears (well, usually more like bored to sleep), I'm wondering why there are so many required festivals and regular sacrifices and laws. I know (in theory) they were supposed to keep the Israelites holy and set apart for God (and clean and sanitary). But seriously, why were women "unclean" longer after having a daughter than after having a son? And how awful must it have been to be a priest - being covered in blood and sweat all day from slaughtering animals, sprinkling their blood, and holding them over an open fire? And what did the female Levites eat, since their men were supposed to survive off the food sacrificed at the altar? Anyway, if anyone knows a really cool Old Testament scholar that lives in the DFW area, hook me up so I can probe his brain!