September W.I.S.H. - Back to Basics

[PollyannaMom]

What's on your mind today?

 

[piglet1979]

So this morning has already been stressful. I got a text at about 8 from DD that there was a fire in the school. That got the anxiety flowing nice and early this morning. She is fine but was really panicked that she didn't see DS and he wasn't responding to text messages. His phone was in his backpack in the school. All is fine. The fire is out and they are all back in class. DD even had to go back to taking a test. Her anxiety is still high and I am guess her adrenaline is as well. I just told her to take some deep breaths and that it was a small fire and everyone is ok. I also told her if she needed to to go talk to her teacher. I know her from her son being on the same soccer team as DS. I think at least by lunch she will be back to normal.

 

[sjrec]

Overcast and rainy this morning, so going to do a little shopping. It’s supposed to clear by lunchtime so hope to get out for a walk later. Decided not to cook tonight-maybe pizza and a Netflix movie.

Happy Friday, everyone!

 

[Oneanne]

I'm down -19 pounds over all, so I've decided to schedule an appointment to get Juvederm put back in around my mouth, to help reduce the sad-crabby-face. I used to get it done downtown, but the place I go to here in WS for my skin cancer screenings also does it, so I'm going to give them a try.

The work get-together yesterday was really interesting. Everyone had a good time and really enjoyed being together, so we're going to try and do it on a regular basis. I found the noise and stimulation to be overwhelming and was actually stimming on the ride home. But I was kind of excited to understand that was what was going on, and just let it happen.

The rain has started in earnest and it feels so good. Not sure what I'll do over the weekend, but curling up with a good book sounds appropriate. Maybe even some knitting. And I do have a nice piece of salmon and some sweet potatoes to cook.

 

[Oneanne]

An interesting article about the restorative power of being outside:

https://www.prevention.com/health/mental-health/a36697697/how-much-time-should-i-spend-outside-mh/

 

[sjrec]

I would love to spend three days a year in a cabin somewhere! I love being outside-we have a screened in porch at our house in Pa and here at the beach. I spend at least an hour every day out there reading until cold weather comes.

 

[ShannyMcB]

Been slacking here...spent too much time on twitter which I REALLY need to stop doing. Not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things but too long for me.

Finally got back to scouts last night, it was so nice seeing my Cubs again. They all got so big over the summer...one of them will almost certainly be taller than me by the end of this year.

Was lazy with dinner tonight: hot dogs, burgers and cauliflower mac and cheese. But everyone ate and at least they got a veggie into them. We put on resort TV's live stream and watched HEA before bedtime, nice little treat for the kids before bed.

Tomorrow is my niece's birthday party so looking forward to that.

Also got my invitation to my company's equivalent of the employee of the year party...so excited I've never been invited before! Its next month and I am jazzed but I need to work on my networking skills before then because I SUCK at networking and small talk. Thankfully a couple friends from other departments will be there so they can help my awkward butt out!

 

[PollyannaMom]

 

[sjrec]

Find joy in the small things! I think that will be my goal this weekend.

I’m already finding joy in sitting outside this morning watching the birds at my neighbor’s bird feeder. I’ll walk to the park later and watch my husband and his brother play tennis. Then a glass of wine on the deck tonight before dinner.

Have a relaxing, restful weekend, everyone!

 

[Summer2018]

What a week!

WOO HOO Wednesday was my Back to School Night, and parents came into our rooms. I think this was a big mistake. Covid is going through my school like wildfire because not enough of our parents are getting vaccinated. (Since the era of American slavery, Black people have faced mistreatment from many medical institutions which has caused them to mistrust the vaccine). So, I had all of these unvaccinated adults and their unvaccinated children basically taking over my room and touching EVERYTHING. It was a very long eleven hour day for me, and after all of the built up stressors capped off by Back to School Night's events, I was DONE.

My Thankful Thursday was being thankful for having Yom Kippur off. I was able to sleep in a little and calm down from the day before.

Friday was TERRIBLE. Many staff called out, and two just plain quit, one of which was the paraprofessional working with the two new kindergarten teachers and me-maybe 30 minutes a day. She just couldn't handle how bad they are...REALLY REALLY BAD, like nothing I have ever seen in 21 years of teaching, and 3 years as a SPED paraprofessional. The three other kindergarten classes are so horribly out of control that the entire kindergarten got kicked out of the cafeteria for the next two weeks! I am actually fine with that. I would rather they eat in the classroom in our calm environment with classical music playing in the background than be subjected to all of the mayhem caused by the other three kindergartens. It saves my knees from doing two flights of stairs, which is hugely important to me being able to do my job longterm. I hope it becomes permanent. Anyway, I keep my class pretty much under control in spite of a few naughty ones who test me constantly. Unfortunately, I do have a very smart (spoiled) boy who likes to be the one in control...ummm, not gonna happen on my watch!!! Anyway, when things don't go his way, we get treated to one of his tantrums. After age 3, tantruming is very inappropriate and nothing more than a nuisance for everyone in their orbit. I just ignore it unless he is hurting someone else. Fortunately he took his meltdown to our classroom "Safe Place," a little tent shaped like a castle where he eventually calmed down. A lot happened on Friday, most of it frustrating to the point that when I had to create a new password for an assessment, I chose the first letters of this sentence to create it: I Am Going To Scream Right Now Period! (IAGTSRNP). Later I laughed about it, but at the time, I wanted to have my own tantrum in the "Safe Place!"

I am so happy that it is Saturday, even if it will be a day of bill-paying, chores, etc. It is still better than being in school surrounded by chaos and covid.

 

[Oneanne]

This morning I have my counseling session then this afternoon I have a sauna… I’m going to start doing them every other week. In between will be pretty low key, maybe a wet windy walk in the park to get my 20 minutes.

Last night I put a blanket and heavier quilt on the bed, plus I listened to a story on the Calm ap when I went to bed and I slept in till 7am. I thought I was going to get a great sleep score but it stopped tracking When I got up at 3am. Grrrr…. But I know I got enough sleep.

My Juvederm appointment isn’t until late October so I’ll have 3 or 4 more pounds off by then, so even better.

 

[glss1/2fll]

The scale was up half a pound this morning, but I'm not going to worry about it. I'm happy it wasn't more considering I had 2.5 pieces of pizza for dinner at 9 PM!

The wedding rehearsal went well. I laughed so hard so many times. It's weird being around young people and all their energy! Such a hoot. Everyone is freaking out because it's been super hot here and now that it's time for the outdoor wedding it is storming! All will be well and the kids have a good attitude about it. I had the biggest grin on my face as we were leaving rehearsal and heading to the car all scattered out. I heard DS1 shout out, "Hey Sweetie! This time tomorrow we'll be married!" So fun.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Hi, all - I totally posted in zombie mode before enough coffee this morning, and put up the pic I had saved for tomorrow by mistake! I hope you don't mind doing "Self-care Saturday" and "Social Sunday" instead this week.

@Summer2018, so sorry about the stressful back-to-school night, loss of paras, and the kids' behavior in general.

I know it doesn't really help, but I expect it has a lot to do with being home last year. Besides the lack of routine, they were with parents too stressed to do their best, and who probably had a looming fear in the back of their minds that life might be way to short and consequently indulged them even more.

You are doing a great job giving them structure, a calming lunch environment, and even a safe place to lose their cool. You are an amazing teacher!

 

[sjrec]

PollyannaMom said it perfectly!
You are exactly the kind of teacher I would have wanted for my child/grandchild!

 

[sjrec]

The scale was up half a pound this morning, but I'm not going to worry about it. I'm happy it wasn't more considering I had 2.5 pieces of pizza for dinner at 9 PM!

The wedding rehearsal went well. I laughed so hard so many times. It's weird being around young people and all their energy! Such a hoot. Everyone is freaking out because it's been super hot here and now that it's time for the outdoor wedding it is storming! All will be well and the kids have a good attitude about it. I had the biggest grin on my face as we were leaving rehearsal and heading to the car all scattered out. I heard DS1 shout out, "Hey Sweetie! This time tomorrow we'll be married!" So fun.

They are making wonderful memories!
Have a fabulous day!

 

[Summer2018]

Hi, all - I totally posted in zombie mode before enough coffee this morning, and put up the pic I had saved for tomorrow by mistake! I hope you don't mind doing "Self-care Saturday" and "Social Sunday" instead this week.

@Summer2018, so sorry about the stressful back-to-school night, loss of paras, and the kids' behavior in general.

I know it doesn't really help, but I expect it has a lot to do with being home last year. Besides the lack of routine, they were with parents too stressed to do their best, and who probably had a looming fear in the back of their minds that life might be way to short and consequently indulged them even more.

You are doing a great job giving them structure, a calming lunch environment, and even a safe place to lose their cool. You are an amazing teacher!

Thank you.

 

[Summer2018]

PollyannaMom said it perfectly!
You are exactly the kind of teacher I would have wanted for my child/grandchild!

Thank you.

 

[Summer2018]

The scale was up half a pound this morning, but I'm not going to worry about it. I'm happy it wasn't more considering I had 2.5 pieces of pizza for dinner at 9 PM!

The wedding rehearsal went well. I laughed so hard so many times. It's weird being around young people and all their energy! Such a hoot. Everyone is freaking out because it's been super hot here and now that it's time for the outdoor wedding it is storming! All will be well and the kids have a good attitude about it. I had the biggest grin on my face as we were leaving rehearsal and heading to the car all scattered out. I heard DS1 shout out, "Hey Sweetie! This time tomorrow we'll be married!" So fun.

It all sounds wonderful.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Happy flip-flopped "Social Sunday"!

This quiz isn't Disney-related, but it has some super cute and funny animal pictures to brighten everyone's day:

This one or that one?

 

[PollyannaMom]

P.S. - I am the kitten saying "Nope, nope, nope, nope..." to the water.