Archive for the ‘b’ tag
Hi Scotty: ILY and miss you!!
Happy Halloween!
She’s cookin’
B loves to cook! Here she is making brownies (with some help from her Grandma! 
Birthday twin BFFs
It is an unlikely friendship. Who would have thought they'd ever even live in the same town?
B and her BFF McK were born on the same day in March 1996, but we didn't know about that yet. B was born in central Ohio and McK was born in the San Francisco Bay area. A few months later, I joined an email discussion group for moms who had been expecting in March96. (A group that is still going strong 12 years later, I should add! The Internet is Just So Cool.)
It was there that I met (along with a lot of other cool mamas I have grown to love!) McK's mom, Enjay. In the years that followed we became best (virtual) girlfriends and, eventually, (virtual) business partners.
There's a whole lot to that story. But in a nutshell, our business eventually grew to the point that we set up shop in Arizona and moved here, thus affording the opportunity for B and McK to nurture their friendship. Since moving here in 2004, they have become very best friends and it just makes me smile.
Schooling stress
Went to B's middle school meet the teacher night last night. She's a 6th grader and a little overwhelmed/anxious about the transition. This was supposed to be the night that we took her schedule and rotated through her classrooms in order so she could have some familiarity before the first day.
Well.
About two hours before it started, a storm hit. An AZ monsoon storm is nothing like a midwestern storm – there's no drainage here so a relatively small storm can mean MAJOR flash flooding. I'm still not used to how disruptive simple thunderstorms can be around here! Anyway, traffic to this thing was a NIGHTMARE. We were late.
Then when we got there, parking was a nightmare. Then it turns out that the power was out and classrooms were flooded so they corralled all the 6th graders and families into the generator powered cafeteria (lights, but NO a/c) which was stuffy and super humid and we had to stand it was so crowded (I must not look that pregnant, since not one person offered me a place to sit <grumble>.)
So we got to listen to the teachers introduce themselves. There was a microphone, but of course we mostly couldn't hear it. Poor B was completely, totally overwhelmed by this whole fiasco. Very counterproductive.
If only that stupid storm could have held off a few more hours. Wahhh. I felt bad for the principal/teachers trying to coordinate this last minute change in the plan. What a challenge for them.
I was annoyed, however, that about 50% of the teachers didn't have their school supplies list prepared, even though we were told to expect this from them today. WTF? They say they'll have it ready on the first day of school (Monday).
That is not exactly role modeling the organized, prepared behavior they expect the kids to have.
UPDATE
———————
I suppose it all worked out in the end. After I posted the above account, I was taking another look at her schedule and it dawned on me that perhaps she did NOT get placed in the Title I math program, even though her 5th grade teacher assured me that she had made the recommendation and B would have NO problem getting placed. (I know, can I really be that naive and not more proactive?? Argh at self.)
So I called the school as soon as they opened today and sure enough, B had been placed in the regular classroom. When doing the assignments they went purely by AIMS results (and B did very well on her AIMS, in spite of completely failing the last semester of math). Anxiety, not ability, is definitely her issue.
Not sure how they missed the teacher recommendation, but I can accept that these things happen. Thankfully, they got it all set to rights and called me to pick up B's new schedule. As it turns out, that change shuffled pretty much everything else up as well, so we did our walking tour this afternoon with the schedule in hand and B feels much more comfortable about it all.
She was, however, a little chagrined when she learned that her math class is Title I. ("Now I *really* feel like an idiot!") <sigh>
Can't win. LOL. Poor B.
PS: When the school secretary (also visibly pregnant) asks when you're due and you get to say "4 days ago" – hey, that's kind of fun. 
PPS: OH, one cool thing about this year – they have a homework club program that is available every Mon-Thurs from 2:45 – 4:30 – and then there's a 4:30 bus! Woo! Bailey's knee jerk reaction was to be very opposed to this homework club thing, but we have negotiated a plan. She is responsible for maintaining a passing grade in math (or any subject). I will not monitor her homework. As long as she maintains that passing grade, she can decide or not to take advantage of the homework club. If the grade dips to a D or lower, however, then some amount of homework club (maybe 2x per week? more?) will be mandatory until the grade has been rectified.
She seems to like this plan, but we'll see how the reality pans out. During the course of the discussion, she also seemed to start warming up to the idea of the club and thought she might take advantage of it some weeks when the math units were particularly difficult for her.
I am crossing my fingers that this is a smoother year for her than 5th grade was…
Birthday cards from my babies
They're growing up – lately they like to compose their holiday greetings in Photoshop!
From B:
From HM:
Last day of school!
Phew, and mama needed the break!
B got really burned out this year, but she's excited about the adventure of middle school this fall and proud that she made it through elementary school.
HM worked hard to meet her goals this semester and made honor roll!
And Mir got student of the month for her class! She is so proud, and I'm proud of her, especially after reading this narrative from her teacher that accompanied the honor:
Way to go! Mir is our May Student of the Month. Mir exhibits all the qualities of a model student. She is very helpful. She is always on eof the first students to follow the directions. Mir is a great listener, too. She is dependable and always wants to lend a helping hand. Also, Mir is kind. She shows others she cares with kind words and actions. Mir is a hard worker. She is very dedicated to doing her best. Mir is extremely involved in classroom activities and discussions. She is an amazing student. Congratulations!
So proud of all my girls!!
Mom to 4 kids and 2 stepkids, I work at home in the heart of the chaos. Founder and executive editor of SheKnows.com and various other sites. Homeschooling. Knitter. Family chef. Gadget geek. Wordphreak. LAZY BLOGGER. 