The 2nd week of school has come and gone---homework was finished in a timely manner and without fussing, thankyouverymuch. Sunshine's weekly behavior chart was all 3s (our school district uses a numerical system--3 being the highest and means that standards have been met/exceeded, 2 meaning "needs help/progressing toward meeting the standard" and 1=Do not pass go, do not collect $200), an AR test has been taken and passed. And I've decided to recommit to being proactive about my health.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes five years ago. I had Gestational Diabetes while I was pregnant with Sunshine and knew it could come back later in life. For me, "later in life" meant when my daughter turned 3.
I changed my diet drastically--cutting out things like pasta, chips, most breads. Things that I love. And really, really miss. Occasionally I will allow myself a little taste of them, but it's a really small, tiny, itsy bitsy portion. I also began exercising more than just a little jaunt with our super schnauzer Libby and a wee Sunshine. Within a few months, I found myself 30 lbs lighter and wearing a pants size that I hadn't worn since 1989.
Five years down the road, I found myself not exercising as much as I should, not avoiding all the foods I should but somehow still in the same size pants. That's got to count for something, right?
I went to see my diabetic nurse last week and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was 13 lbs lighter than I was last year. This with little exercise and not so stringent eating habits. Hmmm, maybe there IS something to that whole giving up Diet Coke thing.
Did I mention that I've given up my daily Diet Coke? I did. When we were on vacation, Hunter would go out for coffee in the morning or we'd have whatever coffee was being served in whichever home we were staying. When we were making the drive from my brother's house in Delaware to the ILS in VA, we stopped at Sheetz for drinks/snacks. I had what was quite possibly the worst tasting Diet Coke ever. The carbonation was off and it was just horrible. I wound up dumping it and getting water instead. The same thing happened a couple days later when we were driving from VA to home. Wonky tasting Diet Coke. Ick.
So, this -13 lbs thing. Totally motivated me to get back on my obsessive track. I've walked 6 out of 8 days this week --there's a park near Sunshine's school that has a beautiful walking trail around the lake. The trail is 2 miles and while it doesn't offer a real lot in the way of hills and such, it's a decent trail. I've managed to manage to do it in 24 minutes on the days that I'm walking alone, 29 minutes the days I've walked with Hunter (Monday) and Sunshine (Sunday the 19th, Saturday & today ). The best part about walking with Sunshine is that she wants to race me. I don't believe in letting her win just because---it's not how I was raised. Well, sort of--my Mom would let me win. Dad wouldn't. So, if we race, I sprint.
I've found myself repeating silly mantras such as "this is a marathon, not a sprint" in regards to my diabetes. And "that Ritter Sport bar won't taste as good as losing weight will!" And I may or may not have told myself "RUN! Run that butt off!" while sprinting across the foot bridge the other day.
Okay, so I did.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Final Score Mom: 10 Homework: 0
It seems that most days homework is a massive undertaking in our home. It really doesn't make sense as Sunshine is a pretty bright kid (really, she's like highest honors sort of bright), this stuff should be a piece of cake for her, right?
Wrong.
It's a struggle. It's a battle. It's a colossal pain in the you-know-where.
It's not like we're new to homework. She had it in Kindergarten, she had it in 1st grade, she had it in 2nd grade. We have a desk set up that is just for her use. It's stocked with school supplies. For some reason, the spinning chair that is with it is way too distracting. We've tried the dining room table as well. But, isn't it more fun to look around the room & play with the dogs as they rest under the table?
Today is the 1st day of the 2nd week of school. Homework starts tonight. We were home by 2:45 this afternoon. As Sunshine was finishing up her snack, I told her that she had an hour to play, watch tv, relax, whatever but at 4pm we were starting our homework.
At 4:02 she ran into her room to avoid doing homework.
At 4:10, I finally got her in the kitchen at her desk with her binder open & was reading the assignments. Math & language arts--easy enough. The math worksheet was both sides & she was done in less than 5 minutes. This includes her getting up to get a drink of juice.
Language arts was done in as much time as it took her to write her name on a piece of paper, put the words in alphabetical order & put the paper, along with the math sheet in her communications folder.
Done, done, done.
I'm sure there will be other days that homework is a battle, but today? I won. HA! Take that homework! I'd stick around to listen to your reply, but I'm off to have a Barbie play date w/ Sunshine.
Wrong.
It's a struggle. It's a battle. It's a colossal pain in the you-know-where.
It's not like we're new to homework. She had it in Kindergarten, she had it in 1st grade, she had it in 2nd grade. We have a desk set up that is just for her use. It's stocked with school supplies. For some reason, the spinning chair that is with it is way too distracting. We've tried the dining room table as well. But, isn't it more fun to look around the room & play with the dogs as they rest under the table?
Today is the 1st day of the 2nd week of school. Homework starts tonight. We were home by 2:45 this afternoon. As Sunshine was finishing up her snack, I told her that she had an hour to play, watch tv, relax, whatever but at 4pm we were starting our homework.
At 4:02 she ran into her room to avoid doing homework.
At 4:10, I finally got her in the kitchen at her desk with her binder open & was reading the assignments. Math & language arts--easy enough. The math worksheet was both sides & she was done in less than 5 minutes. This includes her getting up to get a drink of juice.
Language arts was done in as much time as it took her to write her name on a piece of paper, put the words in alphabetical order & put the paper, along with the math sheet in her communications folder.
Done, done, done.
I'm sure there will be other days that homework is a battle, but today? I won. HA! Take that homework! I'd stick around to listen to your reply, but I'm off to have a Barbie play date w/ Sunshine.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
What's the rush?
So Sunshine came home from her first day of school with the promise of a birthday party invitation. As I sat on the bench at the path (there's a paved path leading down the hill from behind Sunshine's school that leads down to a road where you can avoid all the car line traffic. Most days anyway), the little girl told me that her mom would be calling me to invite Sunshine to her 8th birthday party and that it would be a swim party.
The next day the call came and I told her that Sunshine would love to attend and was looking forward to Saturday.
Fast forward to Friday after school when I realized that the party was less than 24 hours away and we still hadn't picked up a present. Ask we were driving to Target, I asked Sunshine what did she think would be a good gift for L. "Hmmm, how 'bout a Barbie?" she said. Why wouldn't she? She's 8, loves Barbies and really, who knows what 8 year old girls want other than an 8 year old girl herself?
You would be wrong. I called L's mom to see what would be a good gift. Sunshine & L are friends but not super besties. I was told no Barbies, no princess anything, no Hello Kitty. She went on to explain that L has 2 older sisters (12 & 14) and is into, wait for it-----make up & nail polish.
Maybe she heard me drop the phone, maybe she heard what I thought was a barely audible gasp, maybe I really didn't drop the phone or gasp out loud. But in my head I did.
Make up? She's EIGHT! I'm not saying that Sunshine isn't allowed a little lip gloss or some shimmer powder on special occasions and we're all about the occasional mani/pedi, but she's certainly not into MAKE UP at EIGHT years old!
Her mom went on to add that she did love drawing and crafts. . .maybe I did drop the phone & gasp? I thanked her and explained to Sunshine that a Barbie for L wouldn't be a good idea. Her reaction? "Maybe I won't go to the party after all" I explained to her that it was okay if she went since we had already RSVP'd and that it was okay if she & L didn't have the same interests. And I told her that I was glad she was still into dolls.
But come on, make up??
After we picked out a suitable gift we met some friends at the pool for a swim. As we were leaving, the family of another girl in Sunshine's class were getting there. Sunshine and E have been in the same class for 3 years now. She's a nice little girl---she's smart, she's respectful, and is just an all around good kid. Same goes for her older and younger sisters. The mom and I have exchanged pleasantries for 3 years but really haven't talked at length. Until yesterday as we were leaving the pool.
She asked if Sunshine was going to the party and how was I handling it. It's a drop off party. And it's also a party for the 12 year old sister's soccer team. E's mom had the same concerns as I did---drop off party for 2 different events. A lot of people. People we didn't know. And what was up with the make up?? She said that E was still into dolls and more traditional little girl things.
I breathed a sigh of relief and told her that Sunshine was too. She made me feel better that Sunshine hasn't outgrown her dolls and moved into serious tween/teenhood. When she said "why would you ever encourage your 8 year old to grow up so fast?" She has older kids (11 year old daughter who is a sweet girl and a 13 year old son), she knows the middle school kids. And she's exactly right. Why do we encourage our little girls to be big girls so soon?? And then complain that teenage girls dress/act so provocatively.
There'll be plenty of time for make up, nail polish and the like. Childhood is all too short and I, for one, am encouraging Sunshine to be a little girl for a long time!
The next day the call came and I told her that Sunshine would love to attend and was looking forward to Saturday.
Fast forward to Friday after school when I realized that the party was less than 24 hours away and we still hadn't picked up a present. Ask we were driving to Target, I asked Sunshine what did she think would be a good gift for L. "Hmmm, how 'bout a Barbie?" she said. Why wouldn't she? She's 8, loves Barbies and really, who knows what 8 year old girls want other than an 8 year old girl herself?
You would be wrong. I called L's mom to see what would be a good gift. Sunshine & L are friends but not super besties. I was told no Barbies, no princess anything, no Hello Kitty. She went on to explain that L has 2 older sisters (12 & 14) and is into, wait for it-----make up & nail polish.
Maybe she heard me drop the phone, maybe she heard what I thought was a barely audible gasp, maybe I really didn't drop the phone or gasp out loud. But in my head I did.
Make up? She's EIGHT! I'm not saying that Sunshine isn't allowed a little lip gloss or some shimmer powder on special occasions and we're all about the occasional mani/pedi, but she's certainly not into MAKE UP at EIGHT years old!
Her mom went on to add that she did love drawing and crafts. . .maybe I did drop the phone & gasp? I thanked her and explained to Sunshine that a Barbie for L wouldn't be a good idea. Her reaction? "Maybe I won't go to the party after all" I explained to her that it was okay if she went since we had already RSVP'd and that it was okay if she & L didn't have the same interests. And I told her that I was glad she was still into dolls.
But come on, make up??
After we picked out a suitable gift we met some friends at the pool for a swim. As we were leaving, the family of another girl in Sunshine's class were getting there. Sunshine and E have been in the same class for 3 years now. She's a nice little girl---she's smart, she's respectful, and is just an all around good kid. Same goes for her older and younger sisters. The mom and I have exchanged pleasantries for 3 years but really haven't talked at length. Until yesterday as we were leaving the pool.
She asked if Sunshine was going to the party and how was I handling it. It's a drop off party. And it's also a party for the 12 year old sister's soccer team. E's mom had the same concerns as I did---drop off party for 2 different events. A lot of people. People we didn't know. And what was up with the make up?? She said that E was still into dolls and more traditional little girl things.
I breathed a sigh of relief and told her that Sunshine was too. She made me feel better that Sunshine hasn't outgrown her dolls and moved into serious tween/teenhood. When she said "why would you ever encourage your 8 year old to grow up so fast?" She has older kids (11 year old daughter who is a sweet girl and a 13 year old son), she knows the middle school kids. And she's exactly right. Why do we encourage our little girls to be big girls so soon?? And then complain that teenage girls dress/act so provocatively.
There'll be plenty of time for make up, nail polish and the like. Childhood is all too short and I, for one, am encouraging Sunshine to be a little girl for a long time!
Monday, August 13, 2012
First Day of 3rd Grade
Sunday, August 12, 2012
'Twas The Night Before School Started
Twas the Night Before School Started
Author: unknown
Twas the night before school started
when all through the town
the parents were cheering
it was a riotous sound.
By eight the kids were washed
and tucked into bed
when memories of homework
filled them with dread.
New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too,
new teachers, new friends, the anxiety grew.
The parents just giggled when they heard of this fright
and shouted upstairs-GO TO BED-IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!
when all through the town
the parents were cheering
it was a riotous sound.
By eight the kids were washed
and tucked into bed
when memories of homework
filled them with dread.
New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too,
new teachers, new friends, the anxiety grew.
The parents just giggled when they heard of this fright
and shouted upstairs-GO TO BED-IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!
The 3rd grade saga begins tomorrow. Sunshine got the teacher we requested (after the first two were 1) reassigned to another grade & 2) got a job in her hometown 45 min. away) & she is wonderful. The benefit of me working at school so much is I have the opportunity to see how the teachers interact with their children in & out of the classrooms. And how the teachers interact with one another. While Sunshine & one of her best gal pals aren't in the same class, she is with several other girls whom she likes. Best of all, two of my PTA mommy friends have girls in Sunshine's class. Thursday when we were at Verification Day there was much hugging & promises of our class having a great year with the "trifecta" of rooms moms! It did my little ego good when one of the 3rd grade teachers (who taught 2nd last year) said to Mrs. Fabulous (Sunshine's teacher this year) that it wasn't fair that she had 2 of the best room moms from 2nd grade in one class! I went through her roster with her so she could talk to some of the moms whose children's names I starred.
So, Sunshine is in bed, the backpack is full of fresh, new school supplies & her new outfit & shoes are ready to go in the morning. I need to get myself into bed because 6 am is going to come awfully early. In true over-extended form, I need to get some work done at school tomorrow after dropping her off in her classroom. I need to make copies of the PTA Grant letter to the faculty/staff, do a 2nd count on the money we brought in on Verification Day & speak with the Super Bookatarian about the AR kick off next Monday. I've also got 2 shifts at the school store this week--Tuesday night during the K-2nd Orientation & again on Friday morning.
Boarding the crazy train. . .
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