Category Archives: Family

#sol16 March 11 A Tiny Slice of a Family Story

March 11, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!

My family came over for dinner tonight because my sister was in for a surprise short visit. We all chatted at the table after dinner and some of our favorite stories came up. Do you have stories like that in your family? Stories where some of the details are a little fuzzy, but others are crystal clear? Stories that are like little slices of your family’s history? Stories like the Halloween dinner story:

When I was in middle school, I invited a new friend over to go trick-or-treating. She arrived with her mom and dad and a brother or two. It seemed normal at first, they were dropping off my friend, so of course they would want to come in and meet my family. As we got ready to go trick-or-treating, we realized that this family was not leaving. I have a vague memory of the whole family going around the neighborhood with us. A few houses in, we all realized that the entire family was planning on staying for dinner as well. My mom remembers leading us to her friend across the street. She ran a little ahead of us so that when her friend opened the door, my mom was able to quickly whisper, “These people think they are having dinner with us, but I didn’t plan on a dinner. What should I do? Do you have any tomato sauce?”

I don’t remember many specifics from that night. What was my costume? The dinner is foggy. We had spaghetti, I guess… I don’t know what costume I had on. I don’t remember how many brothers my friend had. What I do remember is the awkward feeling of the whole evening. We didn’t understand what was going on, we had to figure it out moment by moment. It was a weird and uncomfortable night… but at least now it’s a funny little story… A tiny slice of my childhood.

#sol16 March 10 A Slice of a Sick Day

March 10, 2016Family, Slice of Life, Uncategorizedonathought

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!

Sick Days

Sick Days when I was a kid
Mom took care of me
I rested on the couch, on my bed
I read books
Watched TV
The Price is Right
Little House on the Prairie. 
I slept off and on
My mom brought me water and saltines
I watched People's Court
Read another book
Went to bed 

Sick Days now
I am awakened at 6:30 
head downstairs
I fill the dishwasher
Wash pots and pans
Clean the stove
Wipe down the fridge 
Clear and clean the counters
Step over legos
Mediate bickering
Go to Target for essentials
Stop at Trader Joes 
Come home to more dishes
Sit for a minute, open a book
Console a crying 6 year old
Go outside on this blustery, grey windy day
Listen to children make a fort
Wait for after bedtime
to rest, to sleep

#sol16 March 8 A Slice of Going Beyond

March 8, 2016Family, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Lifeonathought

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!

My poor children. I find it nearly impossible to turn my teacher brain off when I’m helping them with their school work, or even just reading with them.

My 9 year old has a big project due at the end of the month: The 3rd grade “Going Beyond” project. H’s inquiry is “How does the brain work?” I’m sure we should have been working on it for the last few months…Let’s just say that homework is not our specialty around here.

I made him bring all of his things home for spring break, though. The other day we bought fun index cards and some poster supplies. This morning, we sat together at the kitchen counter and started working. One thing I have found out about H is that writing can be a deal breaker as far as stamina goes, so if the assignment isn’t about writing specifically, I scribe for him. Reading is another challenge that we are working on. It’s a balance, always. What do we do for him to help modify the assignment, and what do we push him to accomplish on his own?

We sat at the counter, with our colored index cards, post-it tags, and his favorite brain book. He organized his cards. I noticed later that he had put a quarter in front of each stack. I’m not sure why… but it made me laugh. As we read, I led him to agree to first take notes on the parts of the brain, and he carefully put post-it tags on important other information.

Image 1.jpg

“What should I write about that?” I asked over and over.

“Just write what it says!” he replied a few times. I tried to explain that we can’t just copy someone else’s words. I’m not sure I have him convinced about that yet.

Image 2.jpg

He was working on his attention getter: A paragraph that you can read even though many of the letters are mixed up. It’s actually a hoax, and as we wrote down how to explain that to his class, I asked him what the point of sharing this was. I was trying to have him bridge the hoax to the rest of his presentation. He took offense for a minute, misunderstanding my question, and that’s when I knew his stamina was at an end. We had worked for over half an hour on a beautiful spring break morning. I would call that a success. We worked for a minute or two more and then he said. “Okay. I’m done.” We piled up his cards and notes and book. I hope later we can have another work session. I know he will feel proud when he is ready to present it to his class.

Reflecting on the work this morning, I was reminded (of course!) of some of the conferring notes I had taken at the recent Jennifer Serravallo conference.

Now, I wasn’t technically conferring with my son. I was working with him. But, I’d call it pretty close. Jennifer told us that kids do their “best work when you are just with them.” I’d say that H benefitted from the time I was with him. I gave him feedback, I named the things he was doing well, I told him what I thought he should do next. I worked with him. I’m supposed to put myself out of a job as a teacher, by equipping my kids with strategies and a desire to read. I take that on as a parent too. This morning, I did some of the work to show H what to do, we did some of it together as well. Somehow I have to get him to work with other kids, and then do it alone. Knowing my son, it will be a slow and steady marathon to that independence when it comes to reading and writing. Third grade is almost over, I hope his fourth grade teacher is up for the challenge. You could say that working with H takes a little “Going Beyond.”

Maybe I should buy his fourth grade teacher a few Jennifer Serravallo books.

#Sol16 March 7 A Slice of Spring Break

March 7, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!

I think it’s time for another “Fortunately/Unfortunately” summarizing poem– learned from Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) at a wonderful inservice years ago. With many apologies to Sara Holbrook, I will try this again (I did it for a slice a couple of summers ago) First write using the words Fortunately and Unfortunately… Then revise taking out extra words. Here we go!

Mr. Thought woke up with my early-riser middle son this morning
Fortunately I got to sleep until 7:20
Unfortunately the smoothie making woke me up
Fortunately we have a dishwasher now
Unfortunately we forgot to run it last night
Fortunately we have a sink too
Unfortunately it was full of last night's pizza making mess

After smoothie time, I chatted with L about her new favorite show: Fixer Upper
Fortunately the boys were playing legos in the basement
Unfortunately I got caught up in watching a Fixer Upper
Fortunately the sun is shining
Unfortunately the kids are still watching shows on iPads
Fortunately that is giving me time to write
Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to concentrate

Soon we will venture to the park
Unfortunately I have to make lunch for everyone first
Fortunately Mr. Thought will be on dish-duty
Unfortunately I haven't told him that yet 
Fortunately I bought cheap, thin paper plates yesterday
Unfortunately that makes me feel guilty
Fortunately I don't buy them often

This is spring break
Fortunately the weather is beautiful
Unfortunately I only have 2 days - spring breaklet
Fortunately for my children, they have all week
Unfortunately, my children have all week
Fortunately, it's a whole week of not packing lunches
Unfortunately, It's a lot of time for bickering 


**********
Revised. . .

This is Spring Break 

Mr. Thought woke up with my early-riser 
I sleep 
smoothie making woke me
dishwasher now
 forgot last night
sink
 full of last night's mess

 I chat with L 
  boys play in basement
the sun shines
kids still watch  
giving me time to write
   a bit hard to concentrate

Soon we will venture to the park
  lunch  first
Mr. Thought will be on dish-duty
I haven't told him that yet 
 I bought cheap, thin paper plates yesterday
 makes me guilty
 

This is spring break
weather is beautiful
I only have 2 days 
My children, they have all week
 a whole week of not packing lunches 
    time for bickering 

This is spring break

#sol16 March 6 A Slice of Noticing

March 6, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!

It was a beautiful day here today. Friends came over, and the kids were in and out, in and out. If you are a parent, you know that sound of the opening and closing. You know how you yell, “Put on a sweatshirt!” and “You need shoes!” and “Leave your shoes on the mat when you come in!” You know how you open and close the door too – to check on the boys making a fort on the side of the house, and open and close it again when someone wants a snack.

When our friends left, we opened and closed the door a few more times, including when we realized they had left a fancy headband. H ran out, the door slamming behind him, ran up the street waving the yellow headband, pom poms bouncing. Defeated, he came back inside, opening and closing the door once again.

A little while later, we decided to go on a walk around the block. We opened the door, and my daughter said, “Wait? What is that? Is that a nest?”

There, right on our storm door wreath, an industrious bird built a beautiful nest. I can’t believe we didn’t notice this amazing sign of spring all day, as the door opened and closed, opened and closed. I can’t help but wonder; what else have we been missing?

#sol16 March 2 A slice of untouched tea

March 2, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!

I snuggled the kids until everyone was peacefully asleep. I made some tea, opened my notes from today’s Jennifer Serravallo conference and started to dig in. I wondered which part of the day I would slice: Funny travel stories? Dinner jokes? Gems that came up in my notes from the amazing learning? (I mean, Jennifer Serravallo, folks!)

Ideas started to form.

And then the coughing started.

So sometimes a slice is just that – an interrupted brainstorm, an untouched mug of tea, an open laptop, and a coughing child. . . because when your 6 year old is recently diagnosed with asthma, the coughing is even less fun than normal. There is only so much waiting you can do — waiting and listening to that cough cough cough — before you make your slicing excuses and head upstairs to check on the breathing, to stop the coughing.

Slices of Valentine’s Season

February 16, 2016Family, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Lifeonathought

This is part of Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life. Find out more, and join in here.

Valentine’s Day has never been my favorite holiday. I can take it or leave it. I don’t need overpriced roses, a giant teddy bear or a big heart of chocolate.

For as long as I’ve been a teacher, I’ve turned Valentine’s Day into a celebration of affirmations and appreciations. It’s a tradition that my kids’ school does in every classroom, and I’ve mostly stolen it from them. Every student writes to every other student: A true compliment, affirmation, or message of appreciation. Every year my students are nervous. They don’t believe they will be able to say something nice about everyone in the class. They don’t believe people will have nice things to say about them. Every year they are wrong. Every year it is a wonderful day of school: We pass out affirmations, read them and celebrate how amazing we all are.

I love watching my own kids create their Valentine’s every year too. In kindergarten all of the work is done in school, but by the time kids are in second or third grade, some must be done at home. Especially if you are working slowly at school, like certain 9 year olds I know… H was concerned because he wanted each affirmation to be special. It was a flashback to last year, which was the first year he agonized over each shape.

Last year, H’s friend who liked cheese got his Valentine affirmation written on a 3-D wedge of cheese crafted from construction paper. This year he made a miniature version of one friend, a detailed picture of Spongebob farting for a classmate that loves Spongebob and humor. There was a mustache, balloons, a finger trap and more. Each classmate was thoroughly thought about before H decided what shape, picture and decoration should go on his creation. He had already written the actual affirmations at school. (Thank Goodness.) Each time I tried to convince him that it would go more quickly if we just cut out some hearts, he would respond with frustrated concern, “I don’t want some kids to get boring ones. That would just hurt their feelings.” I so appreciated the creativity and kindness behind his mission. But the amount of hours spent, construction paper dropped on the floor, and tears over making things perfect was maybe a bit much for my personal stress-level!

My big kids celebrated Valentine’s Day on Thursday, and that night I listened as they read their affirmations from their classmates.

“You are so helpful.”

“I always picture you as a scientist when you grow up.”

“You are humorous and kind”

“You are great pal to hang around with”

My daughter even wrote heartfelt affirmations for her brothers, who drive her crazy most days.

Image 1.jpg

“Maybe Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days.” I thought for a moment, as my heart gave a little tug, “Maybe I have time to write affirmations for my students.” I reminded myself that not only did I not have time… I’m also not their teacher any more!

Checking in on Facebook, I was met with a Facebook memory from last year’s Valentine’s Affirmation Party Eve.

That was a little heart-tugging too, but I got over it. “It’s nice to not have to write 50 love poems this year,” I told myself.

My first meeting at school on Friday was with a teacher who used to teach at my kids’ school and was my daughter’s teacher. I noticed her morning message was about their Valentine’s Day party and affirmations. I was wistful, but okay.

I headed over to the middle school, where I found a book with my name on it on the lost and found table. When I walked into my old classroom to put the book away, I found my students passing out compliments, with construction paper hearts at their tables. I still may have been okay, if the kids didn’t shout hello… if one of the boys hadn’t jumped up and given me a hug… if another hadn’t said, “Wait! I have something for you!” as he ran out to his locker to get me a box of chocolates.

If not for the hug and the box of chocolates, I might not have gone back to my office to cry.

Maybe Valentine’s Day is more important to me than I thought. It is one of the touchstones of each school year. Years ago, I tried to explain this idea to an intern. I wanted her to understand that a school year has an ebb and flow, and know that there are certain benchmarks, like seasons to the energy of both teaching and learning. This year, leaving the classroom in January, I am reflecting on that ebb and flow. Certain seasons, like Valentine’s, I miss. However there are some I won’t be shedding tears over this year. (Can you say PSSAs?)

What season of teaching do you love?

A slice of The Fools

February 2, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

This is part of Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life. Find out more, and join in here.

If you were here with me, in my little corner office,

you might expect it to be a quiet little writing spot. Oh, but you’d be mistaken.

Since sitting down to write my slice (which was going to be about choice in reading), an entire band has assembled. We have banjo, djembe, voice (complete with microphone) and crazy 6 year old either bothering everyone or using the makeshift drum.

I think this started after dinner when the kids were inventorying our musical instruments. Fast forward to my writing session, and suddenly I was overhearing this:

“Who wants to be banjo?”

“I’m the leader.”

“No you’re not. I start it! “

“That is not a weapon. We will not treat musical instruments like that.” (That’s Mr. Thought chiming in.)

“Shhhhh… We’re going to have a concert.”

“Everyone be quiet! Our performance area is in here. Oh mommy’s in here. “

“That’s the office.” (Mr. Thought again.)

“Shhhhhhh”

“Stop shushing.”

“Guys! Everyone on stage!”

“What should I play? The Drum?”

“No, I’m the drum.”

“What am I?”

“You’re the trumpet.”

“What? I don’t even know how to play the trumpet.”

“Well, then just try your best.”

“Only one instrument per person!”

“Daddy – you get the drum.”

“Shouldn’t Daddy get the banjo?”

You may wonder why we have all of these musical instruments. Since the only one any one of us knows how plays is the piano.

Way back in college I bought Mr. Thought a Djembe, which he used to play some.

A few years ago, I bought Mr. Thought a banjo. Banjo lessons are on his to do list.

There’s also a trumpet and a flute, part of an odd assortment of things my parents keep bringing over to our house now that we’ve moved.

The lights are dimming… I think the show is about to begin.

L starts us off, on her microphone — a birthday gift a few years ago… nice and loud, as birthday gifts often are. “….Let me just remind you that we haven’t practiced at all. In fact, we haven’t ever picked up these instruments…”

Mr. Thought interrupts. “Can you mention that your guitarist hasn’t ever learned to play guitar?”

“You mean banjo?” I chime in.

Mr Thought doesn’t miss a beat (pun intended). “Can you mention that your banjo player has never played the ukulele?…

L continues, “Introducing, “The Fools!”

The music begins. And my banjo playing husband sternly reminds, “H! The drums should not be the dominant sound. They should be more of a background sound.”

Happy Tuesday from my Fools to you. 🙂

A slice of anxiety

January 26, 2016Family, Pets, Slice of Lifeworryonathought

This is part of Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life. Find out more, and join in here.

You may remember this story of my worry over a bat. Ugh. Read that to get into my head a bit.

Saturday: I’m taking it easy, trying to get over this stupid cold when I decide to do a little yoga. There I am practicing cat tuck when BAM!

A small, cylindrical, brown…dropping? And another one… And another one. I groan, I vacuum, and then quick as a whip I google — all. the. kinds. of. poop. I determine that it’s mouse (not rat – phew.) and stop and read a bit about the deer mouse. Oh no. Don’t ever read about the deer mouse. I realize I shouldn’t have vacuumed it if it is a deer mouse. I ask my husband about 100 times if he thinks it was a deer mouse dropping. I find another one, I compare it. It isn’t pointy…so…it must be a house mouse. Still not good but better. Vacuuming house mouse poop is not as fatal… I ask my husband again if he thinks it could be deer mouse. We do, after all live near a lot of trees. (“No. It isn’t.” He says, again. He’s so patient with me, really. Then, “Stop googling.” Then, “Put your phone down.”) I start to feel anxious.

I wonder why our cats haven’t alerted us to this mouse problem. I wonder if the previous owners of our house had mice. I wonder if it is possibly something that the kids dragged in on the bottom of their shoes that I am constantly telling them not to wear in the house. I call my mom. She tells me to relax, that I’m going to make myself insane. I try to forget about it, but realize we are going to have to figure this out soon…I try to tell the cats to go find the mice!

Waking up Sunday morning, I decide that we need to search the house for more droppings. Mr. Thought has the idea that if it isn’t under the couch, it is probably just some sort of oddly shaped dirt from shoes. I hope it isn’t under the couch. We lift the couch to search.

There they are: 2 pieces. We find 2 or 3 more in the kitchen. We take a picture. I google. I am surprisingly relieved at first thought when I realize it more closely matches the cockroach poop. (“Stop googling horrible gross things on your phone!” Mr. Thought is not so patient any more. Who could blame him?) I google cockroaches, and we search cabinets, and corners and floors. Nothing. We search for the name of the pest company that did our old house’s pest inspection. I email the picture and a brief note to the tune of “Hi – We are settling into our new house, yada yada yada. Help! I think we have cockroaches! Please look at this crazy picture and come to our house asap!”

I start to search the dining room. I can’t believe this is my Sunday. I want to read my book. I want to not be thinking about how horrible it will be if we all get a disease from a sick mouse, or how I’m never going to be able to turn off the light for fear of cockroaches.

The pest guy emails back, “It looks like a mouse – in this weather they like to come in. I can come Tuesday to take a look.”

I continue to search the dining room. I find another one. This one is a little bigger. That’s when it dawns on me.

A week ago.

A birthday party.

Ten 6 year olds, and

a tray of cookies…with

sprinkles.

I’ll wait for you to finish laughing at me.

I’ll let you imagine how I still need to be convinced. You can picture us, on our search for more sprinkles, the whole family on our hands and knees…how my 9 year old uses the scientific method to convince me. You should know that I still vacuum everything, and wash down all the floors. I still look around the next few days just to make sure. And of course, I have to email the pest guy back… “So, this is embarrassing because I’m pretty sure it was actually chocolate sprinkles from my 6 year old’s birthday party. I’ll let you know if anything changes…”

Moral of the story? Vacuum the whole house after a party — don’t wait for the next weekend. (Duh.) And maybe listen to your mom when she tells you to stop freaking yourself out. (Double Duh.)

Mr. Thought took pictures of the cookies at the grocery story for further proof. No more “droppings” have been found in the house. The case of the deadly sprinkle poop is over.

Knock on wood.

Celebrate Imperfection

December 20, 2015Celebrate, Familyonathought

This post is part of Ruth Ayres Celebrate Link up. Thanks, Ruth for this great opportunity to celebrate.

I let my mom guilt trip herself into making a gingerbread house again this year. She makes such amazing houses. Open windows, and chocolate stone chimneys, tootsie roll firewood piles and powdered sugar snow. The smell of the gingerbread and the fudge glue takes me back to my childhood; and I love that it is a part of my kids’ holiday traditions too.

Things started so promising, I could almost smell that gingerbread through the texted picture:

Then this morning my mom texted again.

A roof collapse. And later, “It’s getting worse”

So tonight when the grandparents arrived with the gingerbread house, and we were warned not to laugh too hard, we were ready.

We still laughed. (Sorry mom)

We still decorated it. We tried to decide what the lesson was here. Christmas isn’t about perfection? You can decorate any situation? It’s not about the roof? Gingerbread is yummy even when it’s broken?

We laughed at our efforts – even the glue wasn’t working tonight.

Meanwhile, my mom brought another handmade gift. Another house: a paper replica of our old home. Amazing treasure.

The smell of gingerbread

The smell of gingerbread
baking 
or just sitting 
with its fudge glue
is enough

Organizing the candy
on plates
or just watching 
kids sneak a taste
is enough

Powder sugared gingerbread memories 
are perfect 
But Gingerbread time
with family
collapsed roofs and failing icing
is enough