Month: August 2020

WE MADE IT! And let me tell you, that almost didn’t happen!

The girls have their first week of school under their belt. My big one stepped her game up and championed e-learning. She signed on and got to work! I am so proud of the work she has put in, even though she isn’t in her desired environment. And this chick is a creative genius. After completing an escape room created by her GE Math teacher, she took after school time to create her own. This child would not take a break until it was complete and achieved her vision. I am so proud of her…even if she did rudely kick me out as I was trying to help her fix her grammatical errors. #SheCanHoldHerOwn

My little one was a warrior in her own right. She kept her pants on (most of the time) and mastered the art of dual monitors. She is now a true work from home convert. She signs on, moves her daily slides to her second monitor, and excitedly waits for the next snack and independent time. #Priorities If we can just get this child to stop spinning in her chair, tilting her chair backwards (it has wheels), flipping the camera switch on before I am out of view, and drifting off to never never land when it’s assignment time…we may just make it the year at home! #Maybe

I am starting to feel better about my exit stage left, though. I have been in the vicinity of both girls this week, just to make sure they are focused and have what they need at their fingertips. I thought I would be a runner for school stuff, but these chicks apparently need water bottles filled and snacks. Who knew? But I have to remind myself that I wouldn’t be there if they were in school. So, they need to be able to manage themselves without me.

I will remove myself from the room next week and post up in the hallway. That little one will appreciate not having a classmate all in her sugar! Next, I will make it to my bedroom and by week 4, I may just reunite with my own office…DOWNSTAIRS. Imagine that!

I am truly humbled and blessed. I am not working and can give my kiddos the attention and support they need during our “Project Home E-Learnitude.” Now I need to find a way to be that blessing for those that can’t, but virtually. We shall see…

At the dinner table, the most random-est conversations come up. Tonight was no different.

It all started when the big one said she wants to go to college and live in Paris. She asked what I would do. I told her I would of course move to Paris. I mean, DUH! I told her, you are going to want me close to you, especially when you have a family. Why did I say that? The little one then says she doesn’t want to have kids when she gets older. Her reasoning? It’s painful, so she’s out! I had the look of failure as a parent on my face…not because she doesn’t want children, but because she saw something that let her know it was painful while on my watch! I am running through what hasn’t been locked down. Sidebar, the kids have screen time and restrictions on their devices. So, if it wasn’t approved…HOW? Turns out, the episode of Fuller House where Stephanie has her baby is where she got this information from. All she saw was the PG13 version of having a baby and that was enough for her to cork it! Shfew! My Mother of the Year title is still in tact….maybe!

The big one then asks, “Well, don’t you HAVE to have a baby? Is there a way to stop yourself from having a baby?” Sweet…Baby…Jesus! I had to let her know, you have all of the choices when it comes to your body, babies included. IF you don’t want to have a child, there is medicine you can take to keep that from happening. She said, “Ohhhhhhhh! So, then TT must be taking that medicine.” #FLAT…LINE! Ummmm, yes. Moving on!

Because the random juices are still flowing, that little one starts up again. “When I grown up and get married I am going to live here. And then when you guys pass away this will be my house!” Sweet…Baby…JESUS! SHE’S SEVEN!!! I am shocked, appalled, amazed, curious, and fearful all rolled into one. I mean, at some point Momma has to sleep with one eye open! There was nothing to be said at this point. I had enough random conversation to last me the year.

I just pray these girls live the lives they choose for themselves, even if it seems like I won’t be able to shake that little one. She’s a lifer! She better wipe my butt in my old age or I am leaving the house to her sister with all that talk!

Welp, THEY MADE IT!

They may have signed in a few minutes late (let’s just say a red velvet pancake was burned and we still hadn’t taken our yearly First Day photos). Ahhh, well!

So far, though, these beautiful ladies are off to a great start. I look forward to the amazing year these ladies will have, not because they WANT to, but because they CHOOSE to. They will face many more challenges, some bigger than remote learning due to COVID. But what will always remain…my love, support, and our faith in God to persevere.

To my phenomenal young ladies, I am so proud of all you have done and what you will continue to do in this world! Keep being your unique selves because the world has plenty of ordinary…bring the EXTRAordinary! May God continue to bless you and keep you. And as Nana always says, “Don’t ever let the devil spoil your joy!”

#LEGGO

The girls’ “classrooms” are complete!

No matter the circumstance, these children are resilient and will overcome any obstacle thrown at them. Learning remotely is no different. While the venue has changed, the show must go on!

T-7 days until Project Home E-Learnitude is in full effect!

It is going to be a FABULOUS school year!

This blog was created to provide me clarity and therapy. I realized it could not do that if I was guarded about what I post. So, here goes…

August 27th, 2019 changed my family’s lives forever. A scary trip for my mom to the ER ended in a CT scan checking for a stroke and instead finding a mass. Everything and everybody moved so fast once the “spot” was found. There was no time to process much of what was being said. After a few days in the hospital, it was clear, my mom had to be referred to a neurosurgeon for a mass on her brain, likely a tumor. It sits on her right temporal lobe and can cause seizures, weakness, personality and vision changes. It is the area of the brain that controls short term memory, something that my mom noticed was becoming a bigger issue.

Several appointments later, my mom was given 3 choices: 1. Surgically remove the mass 2. Have a biopsy (which when it is dealing with the brain, a brain biopsy IS brain surgery) 3. Wait and see. My mom made the decision to wait and see.

Follow-up appointments in the meantime showed the tumor was holding steady….until today! Arnold (yes, the tumor has a name), has grown. The neurosurgeon was no longer going to allow the wait and see approach. Arnold has to be served his eviction papers. It’s time for BRAIN SURGERY!

As much as we all knew this day would come, it did NOT make it any easier to process. My mom is an emotional wreck, therefore, as am I. At this point, though, I just have to lean on the One who I know has complete control over this situation and its outcome. It is going to take everything I have, but I have what HE gave me. I pray for the best possible outcome here. Please join me in doing the same!

Social media sure has a way of taking you back!

Apparently, three years ago I posted about my daughter’s anxiety as she was preparing to enter SECOND grade. My poor child was worried she would not understand the material. WHYYYYY??? It has gotten better since, but man oh man, we need to ensure our kids understand what is truly important. Sure, having a high ranking college or university accept you into their school due to high academics is great. But if they choose not to accept you, you are still worthy and you are not a failure academically or personally. I need more parents and educators to get and enforce that at an early age!

In this house, it isn’t about the grade. It’s about effort! If you put your best foot forward and didn’t get the letter grade outcome to show for it…Ok. Let’s take the necessary time outside of the classroom to truly “test” your knowledge. So much is learned OUTSIDE of the classroom and children get a lot of anxiety just trying to make the grade. Not here! I use the “grades” to show me where my child needs more support so that she can still thrive and not feel stunted in her learning. Lose the battle, but win the war!

Three years later, clearly my little stress ball got it and had nothing to be worried about. She even made Gifted Education in Math starting her 4th grade year. Mamma is PROUD! At the same time, though, I told her, “The second math is no longer fun I am pulling you out!” You see, I am not setting my kid up to be discouraged. That makes room for self-doubt in her abilities. Again…NOT HERE!

I cannot wait to see it, though…both girls will go on to do extraordinary things no matter the grade!

Last Monday, our School Board made the decision to go from Choice Learning (in person or e-learning) to Remote for All for the 2020 – 2021 school year. FINALLY…something we can agree on!

The start of the school year is now delayed a bit, but that just gives me more time to transform the girl’s bonus room and the guest bedroom into “classrooms!” Sidebar, the girls had desks side by side in the bonus room. It was perfect….until it wasn’t. I decided to do a trial run of a typical school day with both girls in a video call. I even splurged on some noise-cancelling headphones. Well, the girls can still be distracted by each other…SHOCKER! Soooooooo…separated they shall be.

I put the youngest in the guest bedroom. Let’s be real, she sees squirrels on the daily and if I left her in the room where the toys live she would treat every day as show and tell. Then, I put my crafting skills, Michael’s ordering skills, and imagination to work. I even spent quite a bit of time with my craft boos, the Cricut Maker and Cricut Easy Press.

It is a work in progress, but I am crafting the girls’ way to a fabulous school year!

Here’s a sneak peek of my current progress…

The little one saw an article on the Alexa again. This time, it was a story about the astronauts in space. What I anticipated after she started reading the article, was a conversation about how cool it would be to be in space. I even expected some planet talk since she just learned all about them in first grade.

What I got…”Space is the safest place to be right now! I bet the coronavirus isn’t on the moon! I wanna go!”

Ummmmm…She’s not wrong!

All I could say was, “Me too, child…ME TOO!”