So thankful for my family today. And my job. I have felt crappy all week and been a little blue. Last year, one of our good friends lost her mom. A couple days ago, one of my closest home friends lost her dad. I have a cold. I guess I needed some perspective.
Anyway, thank you God.
I am thankful that last night I got a mani/pedi (via a Groupon) and had a really good lady. She gave me the best hand/leg massage. I saw an old friend from home and her presh fiancee. I used their bathroom, and there was a ladder in there. A man was sitting on top on plywood in the ceiling. I yell in "okay to come in here?" He says, "I'm on this plank. Come on in. I can't see anything." Hmm...what does it say about me that I totally went on in and used the bathroom?
I am thankful that I love my job. I have presh kiddos, and my principal likes me. I also love teaching younger kids. This afternoon, I bought us a cookie cake and had them write "Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!" You can't do that in middle school.
I am thankful that I am feeling better. I am thankful that LL is safe and texted us today. I am thankful M got her first grad school acceptance letter. I am thankful for last night's Modern Family. Now, I'm watching "The Office." I love funny things!
Oh, and I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday. Have a happy night!
Much love,
Miss P
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Update on 2012
2012 so far:
- G-lady is doing better, getting stronger after scaring us with a big fall. She will turn 22 on 2/29 (Leap Year baby!). I talk to her every night and visited all but one weekend in 2012. She is walking around like a young pup.
- My bees are precious. I am still loving my second graders! :) I look forward to work everyday. Today, I felt crappy and stayed home. Two of them cried when I didn't come in. A couple had to go sit in other rooms to calm down. For the first time, I am actually considering looping up with my bees. They make me laugh. Recently, my cafeteria has been serving a lot of beans. So my kids have been a little gassy. After one too many eye-watering stink bombs, we have a new system. A child asks to "step out" before he or she needs to erm...toot. Now my kids will quietly ask to step out, and it's so precious. They laugh so hard at recess. They come in everyday and say "Good morning, Miss Parsley." I know what works for my bees. Some need humor, some need tough love, some just need a hug or a pat.
- I love planning field trips! An awesome hotel just agreed to give my kids an awesome lunch. We are talking free ballroom, hotel tour, complimentary meal! I am so excited. I won a field trip grant, and I am trying to maximize these funds. I also have a college visit in the works.
- Teaching where I teach is incredibly hard, and I pray a lot. Just tonight, I had a granny call to tell me they are being "put out." Everything will be put out on the street. Trust me when I say this is not her fault. She was helping out another child in my class, and now has problems finding anywhere to stay. Please pray that she and her granddaughter will find housing and not have to go to a shelter. I made some calls and gave her numbers to call. I called my principal, who recommended I pray. A lot. I have lost so many bees this year that I love so much due to homelessness. It's really hard to have them there and learning one day and then never see them again. Pray for my bees!
- We booked a sister cruise. In 121 days, I am sailing away.
- LL is doing great far far away. M scared us all when she was bumped the other day. She is doing well. And SJ and Hbs are also loving life. I am so thankful for 2012 so far. I will try to update you again soon!
Love,
Miss P
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, monday
Hope your Thanksgiving break was WONDERFUL! I had such a relaxing time with mom's side, dad's side, and just being at home. It was so great having all the sisters in the same place and getting to help mom decorate for Christmas. I really missed my little bees over break, so I was so excited to get back. It was hard waking up, but I was pumped to get back in the building. I was running late due to my daily Sonic run and the soggy weather.
Imagine my surprise when I walked in and met one of my students with her grandmother. Now, this is a lady who I have met with several times all ready. She has her stuff together and is doing EVERYTHING she can to help her granddaughter succeed. She has been to every parent-teacher conference, signs B's agenda every night, and makes sure any behavior concerns are immediately nipped.
Grandma shows me all this paperwork and says she doesn't know what to do. It turns out she had been trying to help out another family (that also has ties to my classroom) by letting them live with her. They messed up, and their actions have caused this grandma to become evicted. The only stable thing in this little girl's life, and now they have to be out of the apartment ASAP. Grandma comes to me (whose biggest worry so far has been whether or not Sonic had fresh tea) to ask for help, advice, and prayer. Jeez louise. Don't take your home for granted. Grandma doesn't know who to talk to or where to go. She was headed to Legal Aid when she left me, and I sent her to the principals and social worker. I told her I would do whatever I could to act as a reference, so she could try to fight this. Poor thing.
It really weighed on my heart. And when the other student whose family was involved rolled in, it made me so sad. I expect my students to come in, do the right thing, and work hard to get to college. How different is this from what they are seeing at home? How can I be so tough on my bees who don't do their homework when they are watching their parents get arrested the night before? Or being told they have to go live in a homeless shelter?
I used my planning to do research and talked to the social worker and housing coordinator. She does have options and may be able to fight this. I'm really hoping that she can stay in her home and have a good Christmas for her precious granddaughter. I am just hoping she can stay in my class and not have to go to a homeless shelter. That is really tough. A lot of my most troubled kids in middle school lived in homeless shelters. Can you imagine not having somewhere safe to go at night? Or having to sell/store all your furniture to go to the mission? Please say a prayer all works out both for my little girl and the other little boy. And really for all my kids.
It was a great day, and they were both remarkably normal considering their out of school drama. It makes me wonder what else my other students are dealing with that I might not even know about...
Hope you have lots to be thankful about today!
Much love,
Miss P
Imagine my surprise when I walked in and met one of my students with her grandmother. Now, this is a lady who I have met with several times all ready. She has her stuff together and is doing EVERYTHING she can to help her granddaughter succeed. She has been to every parent-teacher conference, signs B's agenda every night, and makes sure any behavior concerns are immediately nipped.
Grandma shows me all this paperwork and says she doesn't know what to do. It turns out she had been trying to help out another family (that also has ties to my classroom) by letting them live with her. They messed up, and their actions have caused this grandma to become evicted. The only stable thing in this little girl's life, and now they have to be out of the apartment ASAP. Grandma comes to me (whose biggest worry so far has been whether or not Sonic had fresh tea) to ask for help, advice, and prayer. Jeez louise. Don't take your home for granted. Grandma doesn't know who to talk to or where to go. She was headed to Legal Aid when she left me, and I sent her to the principals and social worker. I told her I would do whatever I could to act as a reference, so she could try to fight this. Poor thing.
It really weighed on my heart. And when the other student whose family was involved rolled in, it made me so sad. I expect my students to come in, do the right thing, and work hard to get to college. How different is this from what they are seeing at home? How can I be so tough on my bees who don't do their homework when they are watching their parents get arrested the night before? Or being told they have to go live in a homeless shelter?
I used my planning to do research and talked to the social worker and housing coordinator. She does have options and may be able to fight this. I'm really hoping that she can stay in her home and have a good Christmas for her precious granddaughter. I am just hoping she can stay in my class and not have to go to a homeless shelter. That is really tough. A lot of my most troubled kids in middle school lived in homeless shelters. Can you imagine not having somewhere safe to go at night? Or having to sell/store all your furniture to go to the mission? Please say a prayer all works out both for my little girl and the other little boy. And really for all my kids.
It was a great day, and they were both remarkably normal considering their out of school drama. It makes me wonder what else my other students are dealing with that I might not even know about...
Hope you have lots to be thankful about today!
Much love,
Miss P
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Top 10 Things about my Weekend
I have had a super-chill but super great weekend in Nashville...here are some highlights:
1. Thanksgiving cards for my family.
2. Started Christmas decorating
3. Saw "Breaking Dawn"
4. Thoughtfully discussed all romantic scenes from BD with sisters and friends
5. Mazatlan
6. Caught up on some phone calls and Facebook stalking (Loveeee all the new baby and wedding pics on FB!)
7. Attempted to "edit" my news feed so I didn't see intimate thoughts from random acquaintances
8. Slept talked to M and then proceeded to be made fun of by the whole family
9. Taught 1st and 2nd graders in Sunday School at Grace that God is faithful.
10. Slept...
Hope you had a nice weekend, too!
1. Thanksgiving cards for my family.
2. Started Christmas decorating
3. Saw "Breaking Dawn"
4. Thoughtfully discussed all romantic scenes from BD with sisters and friends
5. Mazatlan
6. Caught up on some phone calls and Facebook stalking (Loveeee all the new baby and wedding pics on FB!)
7. Attempted to "edit" my news feed so I didn't see intimate thoughts from random acquaintances
8. Slept talked to M and then proceeded to be made fun of by the whole family
9. Taught 1st and 2nd graders in Sunday School at Grace that God is faithful.
10. Slept...
Hope you had a nice weekend, too!
New Year...New School
Okay, so it has been ridiculously long since I've posted. So many things have changed.
1. I'm at a new school
2. I'm teaching 2nd grade.
3. I'm blissfully happy and love my little bees.
4. I love my job.
I cannot even tell you how much I love elementary. I have an amazing principal and 2nd grade team. I am sooo thankful. As we approach Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for this year. I think I have found my calling!
1. I'm at a new school
2. I'm teaching 2nd grade.
3. I'm blissfully happy and love my little bees.
4. I love my job.
I cannot even tell you how much I love elementary. I have an amazing principal and 2nd grade team. I am sooo thankful. As we approach Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for this year. I think I have found my calling!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Mediocre
So, tonight I'm feeling kind of stanky. I have just come off of a 3-day battle with some nasty stomach bug, meaning I've been out of school since Tuesday. Although one day off is nice, and I love spring break, it's weird to think of someone else in your classroom teaching your kids. I am headed into school tomorrow for Saturday school, and I am super worried about what I will find.
Anyway, between bouts of Phenagrin (sp?) induced comas, I have been reflecting a lot on life. Right now, I really feel mediocre.
Let me explain. I keep talking to other teachers who have the most amazing test scores, classrooms, or results. One of my dearest teaching friends just got nominated for this most outstanding educator award, and I am soo completely proud of her. Her classroom is amazing, and I have never seen kids love a teacher so much. This, of course, makes me look at my classroom. It is definitely not amazing. Some of my kids love me, but nothing like the way her kids treat her. In the past two years, I feel like I have gone from a complete success to someone who is very mediocre. I know God put me in this place, and I will be a stronger person because of it, but being crappy at something is a tough lesson.
Two other teachers I know just took their kids on the most amazing trips. One wrote and got all these grants to do a tour of LP Field (aka Titans stadium), and the other is taking her kids to lunch and a show "In the Heights" at TPAC. OMG--these teachers are amazing! Imagine having the go-get-ness to write grants and letters to get these amazing experiences for our little bees. What have I done to change my kids' lives? Have I organized trips they will never forget? Have I written grants to get them experiences they otherwise would never have? What is wrong with me? I used to be an overachiever. Now, I feel like I'm barely getting by.
Personally, I keep looking at blogs about new babies or weddings or I keep seeing fellow teachers heading off to prestigious law schools or other amazing opportunities. I'm thinking JEEZ LOUISE.
#1 I have not met my husband in Nashville nor am I preggo (although Target sent me the most precious catalog ab starting a baby registry yesterday???)
#2 I am planning on teaching next year, but I don't know where or to whom. And I am not doing any crazo fellowships to Turkey or Peace Corps missions to Kenya. Nor am I starting Law School at Harvard or work at Google.
#3 I work approx. 70 hours a week and don't have time to workout, meet lots of new friends, or even hang out with old ones.
#4 I feel behind.
Now, I have truly led a blessed life. However, I am having a little bit of a pity party today. Don't get me wrong--there are days when I feel like a complete success, but today is not one of them.
However, after writing this, I am going to commit to to try to finish my 4 days of March, 21 days of April, and 19.5 days of May with excellence. Even if I don't take my kids to a show or a tour, I am going to try to finish the best I possibly can. And I hope next year will be even better.
Happy Friday night! I am now ready to tackle those piles of papers that need to be graded since Tuesday.
No longer nauseous in Nashville,
Miss P
Anyway, between bouts of Phenagrin (sp?) induced comas, I have been reflecting a lot on life. Right now, I really feel mediocre.
Let me explain. I keep talking to other teachers who have the most amazing test scores, classrooms, or results. One of my dearest teaching friends just got nominated for this most outstanding educator award, and I am soo completely proud of her. Her classroom is amazing, and I have never seen kids love a teacher so much. This, of course, makes me look at my classroom. It is definitely not amazing. Some of my kids love me, but nothing like the way her kids treat her. In the past two years, I feel like I have gone from a complete success to someone who is very mediocre. I know God put me in this place, and I will be a stronger person because of it, but being crappy at something is a tough lesson.
Two other teachers I know just took their kids on the most amazing trips. One wrote and got all these grants to do a tour of LP Field (aka Titans stadium), and the other is taking her kids to lunch and a show "In the Heights" at TPAC. OMG--these teachers are amazing! Imagine having the go-get-ness to write grants and letters to get these amazing experiences for our little bees. What have I done to change my kids' lives? Have I organized trips they will never forget? Have I written grants to get them experiences they otherwise would never have? What is wrong with me? I used to be an overachiever. Now, I feel like I'm barely getting by.
Personally, I keep looking at blogs about new babies or weddings or I keep seeing fellow teachers heading off to prestigious law schools or other amazing opportunities. I'm thinking JEEZ LOUISE.
#1 I have not met my husband in Nashville nor am I preggo (although Target sent me the most precious catalog ab starting a baby registry yesterday???)
#2 I am planning on teaching next year, but I don't know where or to whom. And I am not doing any crazo fellowships to Turkey or Peace Corps missions to Kenya. Nor am I starting Law School at Harvard or work at Google.
#3 I work approx. 70 hours a week and don't have time to workout, meet lots of new friends, or even hang out with old ones.
#4 I feel behind.
Now, I have truly led a blessed life. However, I am having a little bit of a pity party today. Don't get me wrong--there are days when I feel like a complete success, but today is not one of them.
However, after writing this, I am going to commit to to try to finish my 4 days of March, 21 days of April, and 19.5 days of May with excellence. Even if I don't take my kids to a show or a tour, I am going to try to finish the best I possibly can. And I hope next year will be even better.
Happy Friday night! I am now ready to tackle those piles of papers that need to be graded since Tuesday.
No longer nauseous in Nashville,
Miss P
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Spring Break!!
Can it really be that I've not updated my blog since January?!? Where did February and the first half of March go?
February flew by with more snow days, my birthday (woohoo in Nashville with roommates@OG/Bible study, Bowling Green with home friends and family for Superbowl Sunday, and Lexington for Greek Sing/birthday breakfast with more family). We celebrated two more b-days in Nashville with J turning 25 at the end of Feb. (PF Changs), and B turning 24 in March (Art Life). It was such a great month, and we also celebrated G's 87th birthday complete with the whole family and friends.
Beginnings of March flew by with a practice round of state testing. That finished last week, along with a field trip. Now, I am so thankful to be in sunny Florida. I have eaten seafood, been by the beach/pool, and read four books since Friday. It has been AMAZING!! I don't really want to ge ready to face reality: job applications, finishing grad school in June, and wrapping up my 4th and final quarter with my bees. I kind of just want to pretend I have nothing going on and stay in denial. When I start thinking about what next year looks like, I don't have any idea. I am just trying to pray and relax and give it to God.
Will it be kindergarten in Kentucky? Teaching second graders in Tennessee? Not sure, but I do think it's right to be in Nashville at least one more year. Mom and the fam want me back in Ky. We will see.
Hope you are having a wonderful week! Mmmmmm...sunset on the ocean.
Cheers,
Miss P
February flew by with more snow days, my birthday (woohoo in Nashville with roommates@OG/Bible study, Bowling Green with home friends and family for Superbowl Sunday, and Lexington for Greek Sing/birthday breakfast with more family). We celebrated two more b-days in Nashville with J turning 25 at the end of Feb. (PF Changs), and B turning 24 in March (Art Life). It was such a great month, and we also celebrated G's 87th birthday complete with the whole family and friends.
Beginnings of March flew by with a practice round of state testing. That finished last week, along with a field trip. Now, I am so thankful to be in sunny Florida. I have eaten seafood, been by the beach/pool, and read four books since Friday. It has been AMAZING!! I don't really want to ge ready to face reality: job applications, finishing grad school in June, and wrapping up my 4th and final quarter with my bees. I kind of just want to pretend I have nothing going on and stay in denial. When I start thinking about what next year looks like, I don't have any idea. I am just trying to pray and relax and give it to God.
Will it be kindergarten in Kentucky? Teaching second graders in Tennessee? Not sure, but I do think it's right to be in Nashville at least one more year. Mom and the fam want me back in Ky. We will see.
Hope you are having a wonderful week! Mmmmmm...sunset on the ocean.
Cheers,
Miss P
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