Sept. 2009 @ WDW! Be a Pop Tart 2009~come share your(Bounce Back or NOT)Dates !!!

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am always in awe of the fantastic mothers we have on this thread. The love and caring show through with each post.

I feel that everyone has a label, of some sort, and while some might preclude some things it often forces people into areas that work out far better for them. JMO

I have lived with someone with issues for decades and have watched him use it as an excuse for every possible thing he did not want to do and that is not good, for anyone.

Not getting an award might be just the thing if Jacob cares about such. I think getting awards for everything is bad. The best teachers are the ones who expect the most and reward effort as well as those who are blessed with natural talents though.

You can lead a child to education but you cannot make them learn. If only we could insert the knowledge we would but we cannot. Sometimes it takes failure to make someone wake up and smell the roses. I have a grandson who worries me but all I can do is encourage. The parents are the ones who have the hard work and I have already served my time.

I was an honors student, National Merit even, and I clean toilets for a living.

SG, who is not getting updates

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I am always in awe of the fantastic mothers we have on this thread. The love and caring show through with each post.

SG, who is not getting updates

Just wanted to add that I feel exactly as Linda does about all of our mothers on this thread. She said it beautifully.

Linda, seems the email updates are unreliable the last few months.

Happy New Year, my friends.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

My goodness....look who was visited by the Tag Fairy!!!

 

[angwill]

I'm not getting updates either.

I think everyone on this board are pretty awsome people kids or no kids, grandchildren or no grandchildren. More than anything I love the wisdom.

Hope everyone had wonderful holidays and are as happy as me to be done with all the madness already. lol

Angela

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

M&N, what wonderful tags you have! So fitting as well. I are glad for ye.

Ang, do not forget the wit too. I did not participate in any madness this holiday and I have to tell you that it felt pretty darned good. No cards, no gift wrapping, few presents bought and bare minimum decorating. I got a stack of $20's and as I went about my life I gave them out, here and there, to folks who are not tipped but work hard and have added to my life through the year. Felt right.

I shall impart my wisdom now. The less you do the more you are appreciated. I cooked, what amounted to a Sunday dinner, practically every single day for decades and now that I seldom actually cook anything I have heard a word I had never heard before - "Thanks". I think I shall replicate that, in duplicate, this coming year.

First day back with my readers for the year. Had just girls today and several of them were ones that I have not seen in awhile since they are now in school. One little girl read to me for the first time. I love that moment. She was just beginning to read last year. I asked one boy if he was able to show my grandson anything about basketball when he came over with me. The boy laughed and said that Dalton had shown him more than a few things. I knew he would.

Back to paperwork for me. Have loads of things to do for TOPS tomorrow. Does not pay to have skills.

Hope you are all enjoying the beginning of a brand new year and looking forward to all the good things that will come from it.

SG

 

[angwill]

ok, and the wit too. lol Sounds like you have a lot of stuff going on once again.

Will goes back to school Wednesday. The grade and middle school in our area went back today.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Okay, I know a lot of us are on FB, but it's just not the same... FB is just quickie updates - not like our "chats". I miss our thread and hope it does not go to that awful place of silent threads. When and if we reach the page limit, Duck (or someone) must promise to begin a new one, please! I have no intention of giving up on meeting in WDW one day.

At least a hello now and then?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hello, now and then. Satisfied huh?

FB is fine but you are so right, quickies are not nearly as satisfying. As I remember.

Who has a trip planned? Anyone??

SG

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Well, speaking of trips...

Those on FB know we are off to Savannah this Sunday. You know, the one: Crazy trip with a toddler, a 14 yr old 10 lb doglet in doggies diapers, a 16 1/2 yr old 5 lb'er, both on Valium? Yep, it's human Valium - never know if a need may arise...too bad it makes me dizzy, so does nothing calming. Guess I'm naturally laid back. Sooo...that's a trip (in more ways than one).

AND I have a WDW room booked for 12/8/10 thru 12/13/10!!! These are the dates my friend can go - but I'm a tad worried that if she should cancel those dates are after a gathering - formerly known as Mousefest 12/1 to 12/5 - where I'd know several other folks. Wondering if I should hold all the days just in case. Problem is we have a pkg booked b/c she wants DDP, which means a base tkt each as well. Guess I could call and hold a separate room only for the earlier dates...hmm...

How about you, Linda...any dates in mind for around that time?

Anyone else planning a trip to Disney or anywhere this year?

 

[jmskinner]

I have been meaning to come out here and post. I miss our talks too.

So you have all heard about Jacob being the Terrific Kid of his class this month. One of those awards I never thought I would see. Always been against bumper stickers on my car, but just might have to put that one on my truck. His counselor said I should contact his old school, the one that thought he was just a problem child. Just might do it.

Spoke to his reading teacher today and she said he really is doing the work he is told to do and making sure to turn it in. Any writing he gets the keyboard out and gets to work. Not requiring him to handwrite has taken away the frustration and anxiety. We are very proud of him!

You mentioned trips, some day trips planned here of course. I will come see you in December M&N!!! My BFF has given us a night June 5th at AK Kadani Village. Also, there is a gaming convention going on at the WWoS in July Jonas wants to attend. I am trying to see if his family wants to come down the same weekend. For his birthday I plan to give him the Richard Petty Driving Experience and they have offered to contribute to the cause. Thought they might enjoy coming down to watch him also.

We also have to make a trip to Huntersville, NC to see my DSD graduate from high school.

Linda, enjoy your time with your grandson, and M&N have fun in Savannah!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

[angwill]

Hello, I too miss posting here. At times I have too much to say for FB. lol I tend to just see what others have said for the day and post something back over there.

Thank goodness for me it is a new semester, new start, new attitude for DS. We will see how long it lasts. Usually we can make it halfway through a semester before he decides he is done for the semester. The saddest part is that he gets A's and B's with little effort as long as he does the work and hands it in. The last half he just doesn't bother doing the work at all.

As for trips this year we are not sure what we will do. I would love to do our old vacation and drive to the beach in NH and then drive down the cost of MA and ME or maybe drive west, or we could do Coaco Beach, FL. Too many choices but I keep wanting to go where it gets really warm after the cold of winter in IL.

M&N,
Enjoy your trip it sounds like fun.

Linda,
Glad to hear good news about your health.

Melissa,
Doesn't it feel great when our kids do well and actually put in effort?

Main stream schools tend to want kids to fit into their box and conform and some kids fit better in their own box which is a good box too but not the box the powers that be want them in. These are the kids labeled as trouble kids. The kids in their own box tend to think outside the box and invent and discover things that others can't because they can't see outside the box they were forced into. The so called trouble behaviors tend to go away when they are not being shoved into a box they are painfully uncomfortable in. These are the kids I adored working with and teaching because I learned a lot from them because I got to enjoy things their way and through their eyes.

 

[cherylp3]

I am also in wait for vacations. My family was supposed to do a vegas trip but I think that is cancelled at this point. My aunt was thinking of vacation this summer but not sure. I am thinking about 4th of July in Chicago. My disney trip is March 5 -7th and then bay lake for 1 night in May then in Dec for reunion.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Funny thing is that the 'problem' kids are the ones who interest me. I have to keep explaining to the teachers at the CC that it is alright for some of the kids to be sitting in the back reading or looking at books and it is definitely alright if they are a bit excited and chattering about those books. It is alright for kids to ask me questions. It is alright for them to have feelings and express them. It is alright to ask me to stay later, when everyone else has gone and it will not embarrass them, for me to teach them to tie their shoes, say their ABC's or whatever. I have learned that is alright for me to keep a sort of order though as I am loathe to not pay attention to every child and that is just plain impossible. I have rules, just not a whole lot of them. The teachers want them to line up in neat rows and sit for a couple of hours and let me read nice little books to them. Yeah, right. Even I could not sit still for that.

Many children have challenges and allowing them some wiggle room, like letting them type instead of writing, is good. Very good. It builds confidence and then they can learn something and probably overcome their fears or small weaknesses. Ever notice that ALL kids are getting good grades at the beginning of a grading period but then, as the weeks go on, they start dropping hints that all might not be well when the report card comes out? Been there, done that. So glad I am not there anymore.

Did you guys know that Diva K and my sister were at Paula Deen's on the same day and possibly at the same time? It would have been pure magic if they had met. Savannah is on my bucket list. Glad others are getting to go though.

As for my planned trips, I am planning a mid April trip to Florida to scope out possible plans for moving down there. Also just might be at DW same time as this past year so Poor M&N, Cheryl, and Melissa (and Jacob) might be forced to put up with my company for a bit here and there. Anyone else want to join the fun?

SG

 

[bonzarella]

As for my planned trips, I am planning a mid April trip to Florida to scope out possible plans for moving down there. Also just might be at DW same time as this past year so Poor M&N, Cheryl, and Melissa (and Jacob) might be forced to put up with my company for a bit here and there. Anyone else want to join the fun?

SG

SG- are you for real?????? OMG I am so happy for you, get the heck outta this
crummy weather. Your fellow hoosiers will miss you but thrilled for you.
MIA here lately but check in when I can. Hope everyone is well, house is a work in progress. Miss you all.
Bon

 

[angwill]

SG,
Those kids are lucky to have you. Too bad you don't still teach. Even the teachers are stuck in the box on how things have to be done thats why charter schools teach children better because they go outside the box. Now I will get off my box. lol

How funny that Diva K and your sister were in the same place at the same time. Too bad you weren't with your sister.

I am so envious that you get to move to Florida. I would be happy with anything a bit warmer in the winters than here. Sadly, DH is stubborn and likes the cold. Well at least if you move down there I know you will most likely be up for a day in the parks when we come down to Disney.

 

[angwill]

Miss you Bonz. How much snow is still on the ground by you? It took us 2 months to redo our bedroom and it will still be another week or so before it is finished. I can only imagine how long it will take you to finish your new home. It has to be nice living closer to your family now though.

 

[jmskinner]

Bonz, from the pics I've seen, you are moving right along on that house with a good strong pace. We keep ending up with new homes because we know we would never get anything done to a fixer upper. I purchased some new rods for Jacobs closet at the beginning of the month and still haven't put them in. Hopefully this week or weekend.

SG, you are so correct. You would love this lady that travels around giving conferences on Sensory Processing Disorder. She believes in giving therapy in the classroom instead of pulling the child out. One reason, there are always other children in the class that haven't been diagnosed, or just everyone could use a little therapy. She caught our attention in the conference we attended when she had us all stand up, walk over to a wall and push on the wall. It is a pressure exercise. Funny thing was, we all laughed and spoke as we did this. She then proceeded to yell at us for talking. Had she told us we could talk, NO! She then told us, "But we expect kids to get in line and walk without talking?" "Walking actually stimulates speech." Is what she told us. She did another exercise showing how a student might feel with a teacher in their face when they are late and not prepared for class. Everyone was throwing out that they might want to cry, runaway, etc. One person said, "I wanted to hit you." That is how Jacob reacts, or use to react. Learned a lot from that woman. Fight, Fright, or Flight.

Ang, instead of continuing on FB, thought I would just post here about Constanze. Back in the Summer when she was diagnosed with the pancrititis and kidney issues, they gave us this really bland food. She wouldn't eat it. The dog went all day without eating it. Tried mixing chicken with it, still wouldn't eat it. Then when I just gave her chicken, she ate it. I am hoping that when we go back in two weeks, the vet will give me more options to try, or say to stick with the chicken or beef. Hope your doggie is doing well. It is hard not giving them treats. I actually give Bubblegum a treat and give Constanze a piece of the meat I feed her for her meals.

Cheryl, just might see you around at WDW. Jonas is heading over to Qatar in a couple of weeks, so Jacob and I will probably be at WDW more. Enjoy BLT. My BFF took a tour and got some great pics, looks really nice.

And where is Diva K? Got to pull her away from FB.

Hope you all have a great day!!!

 

[cherylp3]

I also need to plan another weekend or weekday trip since I have 17 points I need to use.

 

[angwill]

Melissa,
Did you ever see the video FAT City? It is about sensory processing issues from the eye of the person with the Sensory processing issues. It is a real eye opener like the seminar you went to.

I am worried that Angel won't eat the bladder stone food because I heard it is really bland but with the stones you can not even put chicken on it. I looked up the different brands so I can try them all to see if any work for her. If she doesn't eat it she will very likely suffer bladder infections and stones (which I am told are very painful) over and over again. I was told they had one lady that just had the 9th surgery on her dog at 2 surgeries per year. I don't want the dog to suffer in pain over and over again. Our dog is the most loving and sweet dog we have ever owned so it would kill me to have to put her down, not to mention what it would do to Will but I do think that would be more humane than having her suffer in pain. We will just take it one day at a time and see what happens. It is so sad that she is only 2 years old and has this issue already.

 

[angwill]

OK Christine you wanted us to start communicating here again and then you dissapear on vacation. lol