I’m not quite ready to go back to work this morning. Still things I wish I had accomplished this weekend. Oh, well, as my neighbor used to say “If you didn’t leave something else to do, there wouldn’t be a reason to get up tomorrow!” LOL
I’m not in a “topic” mood this morning so I’ll just offer up a potpourri of random thoughts.
First of all, I was at WalMart yesterday when I looked up and a boy at least ten years old was running down the aisle toward me. It was obvious that he was NOT going to stop, so I stepped aside. He just kept running! No “excuse me”, no nothing. Apparently little brats in public grow up to be even bigger brats!
Someone on FB made the comment yesterday that I have a “beautiful garden”. I don’t. At least not yet. It is still in its infancy and is struggling. It has weeds and grass. It is lacking in trees and shrubs. It is years away from the charm and character of my old (13 years) garden. However, it does have some gorgeous flowers! And that is a lesson. Despite my neglect this year, the flowers have done what they do. And anyone can have a few beautiful flowers to cheer up their daily life.
Karen called last night to tell me about Taylor’s playdate with a friend. The friend is one of those modern kids who has a television in her room and her own movie collection. She has a computer and games. Probably has a cell phone and an iPod, although we didn’t discuss those. What we did discuss is that the child had never played marbles, painted a picture at home, or baked cookies, all of which she did at Taylor’s house yesterday. Reminded me of a couple of years ago when I took jacks to my classroom. My students didn’t know what they were! I’ve had the same experience with checkers and other table games. I frequently encounter children who don’t paint, cook, garden, or even play outside much. They can tell you the plot of every Disney movie, but it “isn’t safe to play outside”.
Along that same thought train…Sunday night we watched a report about children in NY participating in a garden project that is supposed to help them experience growing and eating fresh vegetables. What I also thought as I watched it is that it lets children get dirty!! Our children are too clean. I think that is one of the reasons they are sick so much. I’ve thought that for decades and I’ve mentioned it here before. Yes, I have “the gel” in my room just like everyone else and in light of the dire flu warnings we are all using it. But I think our generation was tougher because we were outside more- digging in the dirt, playing in the grass, picking vegetables, playing with the dog and with the neighbors. We had encountered so many germs by the time we were five that our little immune systems were like Godzilla!
And speaking of five year olds. Another kindergarten teacher has a blog ranting about the problems she has encountered with children who are not ready for kindergarten, either because they barely squeaked by the birth date deadline, or because they are immature. While I sympathize with her and agree with most of what she says, I think we have to “get over it” because we are going to have more and more of those children in our classes. First of all, parents want their child on the “fast track” to success and don’t want to keep them at home or in pre-K for another year just because their birth date is one day after the limit. So what if they are eating their crayons while the others are coloring with them? It’s only kindergarten. Right? They’ll catch up! Second, more and more of our students are “immature” because they are raised that way- the center of someone’s universe with every whim granted and very little actual responsibility. When they get to kindergarten they are baffled by even carrying their own lunch tray. They can’t follow more than one instruction at a time. Can’t tie their own shoes. Can’t button their own shirt. Someone has always been there to do it for them. However, I do know that their hands work because they can move a mouse and click a button!! lol I have three children in my class who probably shouldn’t be with us, but we will do the best we can to bridge the gap between them and their classmates. After all, Bush said I can do it…no problem.
Ok, ready or not, it’s time to get up and get dressed for the day ahead. I have “car duty” this morning. Meet and greet. That will get me in the mood!
P.S. Are you all excited about the President’s speech? It’s like he doesn’t realize he’s been elected and he doesn’t know how to stop campaigning.