The Day I had to Explain Death to my 5 Year Old

Nothing can ever prepare you for the death of a friend, a teacher, a Mom, and a Winnipeg Bombers fan.

Nothing.

But over the last few days, my son and I are coming to terms with the harsh realities of life: the fact that we all die, and that we have no control over when or how.

I remember Subway lunches and her amazing smile. I remember the way she spoke about her sons and how she cringed when I teased her that I would send Rory to school in a Saskatchewan Rough Riders jersey for Halloween. She told me THAT would be the scariest costume she had ever seen.

And I feel so guilty that my son has his Mom to hug him goodnight. Her sons do not have their Mom anymore and I just don't understand how this is fair.

I remember her going to Vegas and teasing me about it mercilessly while I stayed behind to man her classroom. I am so glad she took that trip.

I remember her plans to make a Kindergarten blog.

I remember her support and encouragement while I was her student teacher and then playing along with my antics when I came back to be the Grade One student teacher.

I remember Rory coming home on the day he had brought her his "Hulk" gingerbread boy saying that Mrs.H had laughed a lot...but had thought it was Frankenstein.

I will miss the daily letters that she sent home with the kids about what they did at school that day... it was always the first thing I dug into Rory's or Kennedy's bag for.

I was so happy when she phoned me at home one day just because she wanted to touch base about Rory's headaches and together we made a plan for what we could do to help him if he got one in class.

Kennedy has one of the best memories: She wrote a letter to her current teacher saying that the teacher was the best. When she came back after Christmas holidays, Mrs. H had added to the whiteboard message "Hey, I thought I was the best teacher ever!" Kennedy still giggles about this.

A professor of mine told me about a book she has that I am going to share with Rory. The book states that there are many different ways celebrate life and to cope with our emotions. This blog is how I am dealing with my emotions. This is going to be a tough journey ahead but I hope that with time we will gain understanding and peace of mind. The AES and MES Kindergarten classrooms are never going to be the same. It makes me so terribly sad to think that I won't have a Kindergarten Grad pic of her and Rory like the one I have above. Thank you for your gifts and talents while you were with us K, we miss you terribly.

The Busiest Busy Person Who Hasn't Won the Busy Award.

Is there an award for being the busiest person in the world?

I think I am the busiest person in the world.

I am SO busy. So very busy. Probably busier than you. And you. AND it is likely going to get me places. BIG places.

No, you think you are busier than me, but you are not.

Neither are you.

Aren't you sitting there running through your head the many MANY busiest sorts of busy work that you do and are you not comparing it to mine and thinking...I am busier than her but I am not going to say that to her because it makes me look more important?

!?!??

I am so proud to say that I am so very busy being busy that I am not even worried about your busy 'ness' being busier than mine.

Going skating, painting a picture of something beautiful with Kennedy, reading together, doing puzzles, LAUGHING with friends, playing cards with my parents, taking time to chat with friends who mean the world to me, cuddling with Steve every night, and fitting in the odd "chopping Rory's corn silage" on his bedroom floor, makes me the busiest person. Hands down. I am so VERY busy trying to invest in my children's future... teaching them what IS really important in life.

If I win the award for busy 'est' person...maybe it will stop some of you from competing for it.

"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat." Lily Tomlin

(and I don't know who Lily Tomlin is, and I DO advocate for hard work - just that I work to live...not the other way around).

The Fine Art of Procrastination

I always find that I get the MOST done when I am trying to avoid one little task.

Tasks I try whole-heartedly to avoid:
- taxes
- organizing our tax files
- finding all the stuff necessary for our taxes
- getting out the Christmas tree

For today's purposes though, let's just say that I did not have to worry about getting the tree out.

In the process of organizing our tax files for 2012 I entered every room and became distracted by every little job I have had lined up for the previous century:

I...
..found my closet!
..ran a short errand up the hill.
..decided to make stew, realized it would be better done in the slow cooker and put all the ingredients back in the fridge for tomorrow since I didn't have that much time.
..pinterest.
..made my bed.
..took down the Christmas tree.
..gathered clothes for the MCC.
..window shopped on IKEA
..played "Sorry" with the kids.
..built a lego "Captain America"
..bathed the stinky boy.
..thought about painting my toes.
..cleaned the tub.
...started cleaning our shower...oops...just realized i wasn't actually finished that job.

Sigh.

Tomorrow I KNOW I will get to those taxes...or Rodger's Hill...one of the two.

At World's End

I have had a lot of interesting thoughts over the past few days but none that really seemed to spark my blog writing genius. So, I have decided to create as I type with absolutely no goal in mind. This is bad...for I am forever being taught in school to "teach with the end in mind" (said in a booming, top of Mount Olympus type voice).
Which reminds me...for those wondering I received 100% on my last blog/assignment.
I am not sure how I feel about December 21st. At first I was all "LOL" Then, I was all "What if?" and now I am all "meh."

It is not that i don't care per say, but more that i can't do anything about it so I might as well just shrug. What could I possibly do to stop it?

So here is my bucket list. 5 things to do in 5 days:
1) Eat at the Olive Garden one last time.
2) Rob the bank (maybe before Olive Garden)
3) Get sick (check and check).
4) Not clean my kids' rooms (because who is going to care in 5 days time?).
5) Create a Firdalian calendar that generations ahead will look back on and create wonderful iNews articles (cuz apple will own the presidency/prime ministership) about the world ending in 6091 A.W.E1. (After World End #1)
(that was a lot of parentheses)
So, Cheers to our last 5 days on planet Earth! See you December 22!

If Britt Wall Makes a Quilt...

So I have this assignment.

And I haven't had time to blog for awhile.

And I LOVE multi-tasking.

So, here it goes.

I have this professor who has asked us to relate to her what we have taken from her course. I thought that maybe it would be inappropriate to tell her through a blog because I am well known for my VERY serious intellect on here...
But then again, I think I am onto something.

Plus Britt told me she is making a quilt to display her idea and that was my other idea, so blog it is.

Sherry is going to read this with an open mind.
Because that is what the Aboriginal perspectives promotes.

Seriously though, I would like to state that in taking this course on Aboriginal Education, I have made some valuable connections to my real life and to my educational philosophy - and making those sorts of connections is what enables learning and retention:

1) Integrating Aboriginal perspectives into my future classroom is not going to be difficult. In fact, it is happening already in modern classes without teachers even knowing or understanding the implications of what they are planning and doing: We have a more child centered learning focus, we acknowledge that students retain information better when they can move. So let's get outside. Let's dance. Let's sing.

Literally. The kids just cranked some crazy Chipmunk dance tunes. I am dancing and typing.

2) The Universal Design: What is good for some students can be good for all. Shouldn't all children be motivated intrinsically? If we want this to happen, shouldn't we make it possible by offering them hands on experiences that are relevant to their way of life?  There is no better way to help make key connections between curriculum and real life than in a natural setting.

"One of the traditional beliefs of many Aboriginal peoples is that all people, regardless of age, have gifts that can be shared with others and it is necessary to respect, accept and appreciate these gifts for what they can bring the community" (Aboriginal Perspectives p. 16).

Without even realizing it, my own education philosophy was formulated with the same ideas in mind. In a fast paced world where our children must learn to think creatively for the betterment of our Earth's future, I think the holistic worldview of the Aboriginal people had better find a way into every classroom! We need to teach all children that the land is a giver of life - and needs to be cared for and respected. We need to show every student that they have something valuable to offer this land.

I quoted from the Aboriginal Perspectives document because my professor helped write it.

I am not above being a teacher's pet.

And finally...

I realized that a blog is a great place to write such a reflection because the Aboriginal perspectives embrace humor and laughter in learning.

And really...if more of us could remember to laugh more often...we would all be a lot less stressed out...especially over learning logs.

How to Put the Kids to Bed - 2 sides of the story

Actually...two sides of the story from only one person's biased perspective. Previewed and accepted by the second person (he didn't tell me NOT to post it, so that MUST mean he approves).

I was inspired by a friend yesterday, who thought I should make a blog about this...so here you go (and imagine what you have to look forward to when it is your turn)

How a Woman Puts the Kids to Bed
- Announces that it is time for child number one to get into the tub/shower.
- Remind said child that it IS in fact her turn to go first because the other child went first YESTERDAY and that this is kept on file in the Mommy brain.
- When water is running, begin table clear up from supper and start making lunches for the next day.
- Unload backpacks from school. Read notes, fill out permission forms, gather change for Hot Dog day.
- Remind child number 2 that he will be going for a shower next.
- Realize that child 1 has likely not thought to wash her hair yet, remind her.
- Remind her again.
- Finish making lunches.
- Remind her again.
- Announce to child 2 that it is time for his bath.
- Run another load of dishes to the dishwasher on way to help child 2.
- Glare at husband on couch.
- With sarcasm ask how the Leafs are doing (evil laugh).
- Help child 2 get undressed and into the tub. Wash his hair.
- Yell for child 1 to get her book and read while you wash child 2's hair.
- Brush child 1's hair.
- Get child 2 out of tub, lotion him up with medicated cream for his skin issues.
- Announce a race to see who can be the first one to get toothpaste on their brush.
- Give multi vitamins
- Supervise teeth brushing.
- Send child 2 into bedroom with his special stuffed toys...search for the special SPECIAL one.
- Argue with child 2 whose turn it is to pick a book.
- Read the book.
- Put books that are read back on the bookshelf.
- Tuck child into bed with a glass of water on the nightstand.
- Feed the fish.
- Water the plant.
- Tuck child 2 into bed again.
- Move to child 1's room. Listen to her read. Read to her.
- Warm up Child 1's flax bag.
- Get fresh glass of water.
- Turn on music.
- Say goodnight. Offer kisses and an extra silly tuck in routine.
- Shut doors and head to kitchen to fold a load of laundry.

TOTAL TIME: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
How Men Put The Children to Bed:
- Turn on Sports Net
- Sit on couch.
- Yell for Child 1 to get into the tub.
- Yell to Child 1 that you don't care whose turn it is, get into the tub!
- See glare from wife.
- Get off couch and tell child 1 to get out of tub.
- Insert child 2 into the bathing facilities.
- Watch Sports Net
- Realize that the bathroom is now full of water, decide to remove child 2.
- Chase children to bed.
- Read a book to each child.
- Toss read book onto the floor.
- Tell child 1 that her room is messy.
- Fist pump Child 1.
- First pump Child 2.
- Tuck children in.
- Close doors.
- Make popcorn.
- Find special SPECIAL stuffed toy and toss into the dark abyss of child 2's room.
- Hear wife dragging kids back out of bed to brush their teeth.
- Shrug.
- Tell wife she is amazing.
- Watch Sports Net.

TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes.

The Compromise Tree

The Christmas books are out of the attic and the tree is set up. We worked hard to make a magazine worthy tree. It took all day but we have now have set up what I call

"The Compromise Tree."

This argument began at 8a.m. when instead of saying good morning, two midgets raided my bed and started pleading to set up the tree.

I dragged my sorry rear end to the attic door.

I stared at the attic door.

I wondered if I could escape through the back door without them noticing....

Why does the Christmas tree have to be in the biggest box in the smallest attic hole, behind every other holiday storage box????

Rory was mighty impressed that his mother could hoist herself up on the railing of the stairs and perform a circus balance act while peering into the attic. I am apparently just like 'Black Widow.' Eat your heart out Scarlett Johannson. Any male reading this is thinking "Get over yourself Regan, you are not Scarlett" But really...not too many of them would admit to reading this. To my 5 year old, I was Black Widow (in her pyjamas). End of story.

"So KIDS," I say in my sultry Black Widow voice (or 'too early in the morning' hoarseness-one of the two), "I was thinking we should change up the colors on the Christmas tree. What if we bought a few new ornaments and made the tree green and blue?"

Both kids stare at me blankly. Rory begins a slow motion side to side shake of his head. Kennedy's eyes get wide and 2 large crocodile tears begin rolling down her cheek.

"OKAY, so what if I bought a tiny tree that you guys could decorate with your ornaments? (Did I mention that Dee also made 156 new, paper cut out decorations as well?)

I knew that this was an unacceptable option when Kennedy started gathering all the ornaments in her arms and while sobbing uncontrollably stated, "Mom, that is not acceptable."

I laugh. Because she is a pack rat. She hoards everything. I....do not. If I don't use it, it is gone. She knows what I am thinking. She isn't letting these ornaments out of her sight.

So, I sit down on the couch and tell everyone to take a deep breath and to sit with me a minute. I try bribery, I try reaching their heartstrings with "But you know how much Daddy likes blue...he will be so surprised to see a blue tree..." I try talking softly and I try talking with authority. They tried crying, they tried pleading, they tried to tell me how much each paper ornament meant to them. I lost.

But Kennedy is quite a diplomat - she decided it would be fair if I got to ADD some new ornaments. If a few could be pink. Okay. Really now, Christmas is not about this Stinkin tree that has me so worked up. I apologize because I am taking this to a whole new level of Scrooge. What really matters is that we are creating this masterpiece together. We are happy, healthy and capable of working together to solve a problem. A little Michael Buble Christmas and we were in evergreen glory.

Throughout the evening, Black Widow may have helped 145 paper ornaments find new homes (she is sneaky like that).