One Week Down

The first week is done. It was a good week. My students were great, and I think that we're going to have a good year together. Diana said her students came into kindergarten acting for all the world as though they'd been raised by a troupe of howler monkeys. I'm afraid I just cannot improve on that description! It's classic! Bailee loved sixth grade. The Back-to-School nights are over, so (as one of my students put it) "Thank goodness we can really start school next week." I agree!

Tomorrow we're off to the Eastern Idaho State Fair. We're taking Bailee and her dance buddy, Aleks. When those to are together it's a hoot. Half the fun will be watching that pair. Pictures will follow.

Sad news on the news tonight. A former colleague's husband was arrested for conducting an improper relationship with one of his 14 year old students (while posing as a boy her age). She's a teacher in the same district, and they have 5 children attending school there. My heart goes out to his family, who were also his victims. Sad that his stupid choices have caused so much suffering for so many people. We've had so many male teachers arrested for this type of thing lately ... I'm really at a loss to understand what drives them.

Growing Up

Today Miss Bailee started 6th grade - her last day of elementary school. She was excited and nervous ... more so than any other year. She also took MUCH longer to decide what to wear, how to do her hair, etc. She even put on lip gloss. Decked out in skinny jeans, a camisole, and a rib tickling sweater she did NOT look like a little girl. She's a young woman now.

This is the first time that I was able to fully participate in the first day of school. Usually I'm the first one back at work. It was fun, and gave me one more reason to envy all those stay-at-home moms. Hard not to resent the fact that I've had to work through all of Bailee's growing up years. I figure that by the time she's in high school I'll be able to retire (if the economy recovers); just in time to cramp her style. ha ha

Our shortened school year feels strange to everyone, as it has thrown off our ingrained schedule for going back to school. Mom is frustrated by the weather change and the fact our days are noticeably shorter. The two week delay makes a big difference! Everything feels different this year. Not that it is a bad thing - I loved the long summer; though I wish it hadn't been so hot. I've watched the Port Townsend, Washington temps at friend Marsha's house with great envy!

Tomorrow is my zero to sixty day. First day back at school - a work day AND Back to School Night. It's bound to be crazy, because you always learn many new things that have to be dealt with during that first Faculty Meeting. The fact that we have a new principal this year will make that doubly interesting.

So, I'm wondering what Bailee and Diana are up to. I hope things are going smoothly for Diana (though that seems an oxymoron when applied to the first day of kindergarten). I hope that sixth grade is NOT as scary or hard as Bailee feared and that she comes home excited (she loves school, so I think that's pretty likely).

Beginnings are fun ... and scary ... and wonderful.

The Last Weekend of Summer

It's the last weekend of summer. Monday heralds in the being of school and a return to "normal life." I just hope that it is a better year than last year.

I am feeling shortchanged, because I don't feel well today. I'm as pale as a sheet (as my Mom always said) and my stomach is inventing fun ways to torture me. Ick. I think I picked up the bug Bailee had yesterday ... but I think I picked up more than my share. :) Oh well, life is never simple.

I managed to get a great deal of school stuff done early this morning, before the bug hit. I'm thankful for that. Now I'm listening to the rain and thunder, watch "Barefoot Contessa" on Food Network, and catching up on some computer stuff. Diana and Bailee went out to see "Nanny McPhee 2" and Mom is out shopping. Do I feel sorry for myself? I sure do!

Oh La ...

The last few days of vacation are dwindling away. Bailee is trying to cram in as much playing as possible. I'm trying to finish projects. Diana is already in the thick of things, so she's a lost cause. It is hard to let go of summer and the freedom it brings. The chaos of summer does make one yearn for the routine of the other months though. I hate to admit it, but it's true. Those more respectable and regimented months have their own special charm ... and after a few months of rolling about in all that summer offers one can get a little sick of it. The time has come, and though I'm trying to hang on to the fun, it feels right to be going back.



Bailee had a visit from the two sixth grade teachers who will be working with her this year - Mrs. Perry and Ms. Lawrence. They're meeting their students and bringing them packets about sixth grade. I am very impressed. This is the nice part about smaller schools in a small geographical area.


Diana is off to Back to School Night. She has to work from 6:00 to 8:30 or later. Another one of the upaid demands which districts make. We will attend the one at Bailee's school tomorrow.


Tomorrow is also Bailee's twelfth birthday. It is really hard to grasp the fact that she is now a young woman. She has been such a joy in our lives.