tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post3140565882367299793..comments2023-11-19T21:42:17.901-08:00Comments on My Path to Mommyhood: Back in the Swing of the School ThingJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-26318321311859143742016-09-13T11:03:46.827-07:002016-09-13T11:03:46.827-07:00The time standing still thing is a thing really ha...The time standing still thing is a thing really hard for our friends to comprehend. But it really hurts! It's so so sad-funny. When I think "what were we doing last year", the answer is almost always "I was pregnant", yet here we are. Still no actual live baby born that we can hold and take care of. Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00585102132829280344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-70390748758487017602016-09-12T15:55:53.567-07:002016-09-12T15:55:53.567-07:00It sure does feel that way. And oh, that sounds pe...It sure does feel that way. And oh, that sounds perfect! I sure hope we can do something. There's actually a hotel here on the canal that has a spa and nice walks and good food, right there. And one up on a hill where I "won" a free deluxe room in a silent auction thingie, and that has spa/hiking trails/food too... Wheels are a-turnin'! Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-27776544375120078122016-09-12T05:27:05.986-07:002016-09-12T05:27:05.986-07:00oh you should definitely try to plan something nic...oh you should definitely try to plan something nice for your anniversary. Maybe a few days somewhere with a spa and nice walks and good food. I totally hear ya with the Oprah giving out babies image! It definitely feels like that sometimes.. dublinerinDeutschlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804856792598440633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-27456689828323687212016-09-11T19:27:03.496-07:002016-09-11T19:27:03.496-07:00We're NOT that far from the GTA, which I'm...We're NOT that far from the GTA, which I'm assuming is Greater Toronto Area? About 3 hours or so. We're in Rochester. Luckily we have our passports (and I have that nifty card version) and have been thinking of Niagara on the Lake or somewhere else that is new to us. The personal info is a catch-22. I want everyone to feel in the loop, and I certainly don't share specifics, but it does make me a bit vulnerable. Of course, last year a parent made me cry buckets in the middle of the day because she and her sons made me a diaper cake for the mystery baby and she delivered it in the middle of the day. So sometimes it can be tricky, and sometimes it results in amazing surprises. I had the older son a few years ago, so I think that was a special family. :) Thanks for your thoughts! Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-87332618165666224142016-09-11T19:23:46.315-07:002016-09-11T19:23:46.315-07:00It was awful. Not 100, but the humidity with the 9...It was awful. Not 100, but the humidity with the 90s temps just made the day so draining, for everyone. They cancelled after school activities but not school itself. I'm so very grateful that the temperatures are much more September-like now... I don't mind a chill at all! Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-35764700346687095522016-09-11T19:22:45.421-07:002016-09-11T19:22:45.421-07:00Oh yes, yes to knowing the beneath-the-surface stu...Oh yes, yes to knowing the beneath-the-surface stuff and being kinder. It's a personal choice, but how wonderful would it be if everyone would reveal one thing they were struggling with. How much empathy would be built as a result. It was a hard week, but now we're off to another one, and hopefully it's better. I feel more prepared for some reason, although I suspect I've planned way more than is possible in a 40 minute period... :) Thank you for your thoughts as always! :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-20442776918100229142016-09-11T18:52:48.124-07:002016-09-11T18:52:48.124-07:00Maybe it's because I don't have kids and t...Maybe it's because I don't have kids and the last time I set foot in a school was almost (gulp) 40 years ago (!!) but like some of the above commenters, I had no idea teachers would reveal such personal stuff to the parents of their students. I see the reasoning behind your approach, though! Good luck as the new school year begins! P.S. If you are in western NY, you can't be that far from the GTA. If you are looking for an anniversary getaway, there are some great places around here, and in a few weeks, the fall colours will probably be pretty nice. ;) (You would need to have your passports, though.) loribethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-32861076791642377552016-09-11T14:50:56.326-07:002016-09-11T14:50:56.326-07:00Ugh...the heat. Here in MD many counties that have...Ugh...the heat. Here in MD many counties that have schools with no a/c closed for the high temps. There was a lot of controversy because the week before Labor Day when some counties started, teachers were posting pics of thermostats reading above 100 degrees in their classrooms, and it landed on the news and got everyone up in arms. I mean, I agree it's ridiculous and I wouldn't want to sit in that kind of heat and try to learn so of course I don't want that for my kids. Fall can't come soon enough! Here's hoping this week is much cooler for you!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08987444437659867827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-48739610542370844222016-09-11T13:21:39.563-07:002016-09-11T13:21:39.563-07:00I often wonder if we as a society, particularly wi...I often wonder if we as a society, particularly with strangers, would treat one another with more kindness and compassion if we knew one another's life stories and had to face each other. Sometimes the answer is no, especially when cliches are involved, but other times it can be a benefit. Regardless, I am so impressed you are doing this because you are both a model to your students and are showing them how to live courageously. <br /><br />It sounds like this was a hard week, filled with lots of emotions. Sending you much love and hoping next week is easier.Cristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317873211902543387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-82444378532844657052016-09-11T06:15:08.543-07:002016-09-11T06:15:08.543-07:00Isn't it? I wish I could do it with my own sel...Isn't it? I wish I could do it with my own self-contained classes, but open ended assignments do not tend to go as well there. I have an essay I'm doing next week based on one called "Who You Are" that I hope has similar results, but it's more structured. I will do a model though so they will learn stuff about me, too! All in fairly general terms, but clear that life isn't always neat and tidy. I appreciated when teachers let that side of themselves out, too. It's nice to know we're all human. Now to go off and do my specific plans for this week... ahhhhh, the joys of school year Sundays! :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-83865027005804653942016-09-11T06:12:12.499-07:002016-09-11T06:12:12.499-07:00:):)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-18975613473053255422016-09-10T19:32:18.020-07:002016-09-10T19:32:18.020-07:00Yes, it makes sense that you would let parents kno...Yes, it makes sense that you would let parents know about the potential short timeline for adoption. To me it still sounds overwhelming to have to share that kind of emotional vulnerability. Probably that says more about me than you :-D It's an aspect of your unique situation I wouldn't have thought of till you pointed it out.torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-4923865573378993182016-09-10T16:39:23.415-07:002016-09-10T16:39:23.415-07:00What an amazing idea, that letter! I bet the kids...What an amazing idea, that letter! I bet the kids really find that helpful - I think as a student I often had the idea that most of the adults in school had it all together and figured out "adulting". It's very generous and wonderful of you to share your story with your students to help them integrate their experiences and tell their stories. As well, I admire your openness with the parents of your students.<br /><br />Glad that the school year has started off well and hope the next few weeks of adjusting and getting back into it all are good also.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-65352390206149214122016-09-10T15:41:14.966-07:002016-09-10T15:41:14.966-07:00So, it's funny...because the letter idea isn&#...So, it's funny...because the letter idea isn't mine. I love it, and last year was the first year the English teacher I teach with opened it up for me to do one, too (which is lovely, because it makes it even more clear that even though it's his room, we're BOTH important and I'm not relegated to a "helper."). His childhood was twisty but his adulthood (on paper at least) is pretty linear. Mine, obviously, is not... but I went for a warts-and-all approach. Because lives are messy, and I want them to know that's okay and they're in good company since I'm pretty messy, too. :) My parents tend to be pretty involved, and if I was pregnant they'd know I could go out on leave because it would be physically obvious, which I envy in a way. So I have to say something or else they might feel betrayed or surprised later. Maybe betrayed is too strong a word, ha ha! I hope you had a great start to your year, too! Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998166587816121679.post-12537220804998195732016-09-10T13:51:51.722-07:002016-09-10T13:51:51.722-07:00Oh my gosh, you are amazing. I don't even want...Oh my gosh, you are amazing. I don't even want to think about revealing so much personal information to strangers. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it. I guess my case is a bit different as my students are a lot lower functioning and the boundaries are different, but still. I don't want to tell their parents anything either LOL! I am quite impressed at the sacrifice you make to help your students learn and have emotional safety. I'm glad you had a good start up and are looking forward to the year. torthúilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738803052167620020noreply@blogger.com