Link up below!
1. Some grammar humor (from the most inappropriate show ever):
2. Confession: I don't say the Pledge of Allegiance, nor do I make my students. I have no problem when people say it, but it's not something I partake in myself. No, I am not joining ISIS.
3. I made these last weekend and they were delicious (spoiler alert: it involves apples and snickerdoodles).
4. When you complain and someone says "welcome to motherhood" or "welcome to teaching" or "welcome to the jungle" they're basically saying "you're not unique, stop complaining, shut your face."
5. It's expensive and wasteful, but I effing love parchament paper.
6. I hadn't thought about Chicago Hope, the nineties medical drama, in years, but for some reason really wanted to watch it last night. Instead I googled pictures of Christine Lahti, Mark Harmon, and Hector Elizondo.
7. One of the most important things to learn when teaching high school students is to not take things personally. As I "attach" myself to groups of students this is something I have to remember. Teenagers are emotional, weird, opinionated creatures that don't always consider other perspectives or empathize well (heck there are a lot of adults who fall into the same boat). But I still love them.
8. There have been a few different blog posts floating lately that run to the tune of "mom, yeah you're tired and put everyone before yourself, but you really should pay more attention to your husband and make him feel like the hot young stud he was when you started dating." Excuse me, but back that 1950s stand-by-your-man train of BS up. Most of them throw in a line at the end that tell men to "not forget your wives," but the sentiment is that we as moms should bend over backwards to make sure our husbands feel loved and special even when they don't. How about this? How about an article that tells husbands to start recognizing that their wives work their butts off all day, many going to work and then coming home and continuing the labor? Of course, not because then we'd be labeled as "feminist bitches" or "needy" or whatever insult whatever enraged man wants to spit out. Okay, I'm done now. I just don't need some stay-at-home mom who runs a blog called something like "Lace and Lollipops" (or whatever) to tell me that I need to rub my husband's feet when I get home, because "golly gee, he is a maaaaaaan." Now I'm really done.
9. My students are working on a batch of IOPs, a formal 10-15 minutes presentation on an element of the text we're working on. Presenting is tough, so I sympathize with them. Some of the most talkative, outgoing kids become the complete opposite- the other day I spotted one kid's hands trembling as he held his cards. Granted, some don't prepare adequately and don't research as well as they should, but I have noticed that public speaking is a skill that we're not teaching well enough in our schools. In the future I need to give a crash course on speech giving- body language, eye contact, etc...
10. I want to learn how to sew better- I fantasize about making myself cute skirts and vintage- looking dresses. How awesome would that be? A yard or two of fabric plus the various notions runs less than $20. Unfortunately, all I can currently do it a basic straight stitch and buttons. I also want to start making scarves. If I had time I'd try to take a class or something.
When I was 16 I went on student exchange to Germany. One of the conditions of the exchange program was doing a public speaking course. I HATED it. But it was one of the BEST things I ever did. When I got back from exchange, my school kept making me speak at all sorts of parent nights etc (because I'd done the course) and again, hated it at the time but it did get easier the more I did. By the time I got to university (and then later when I was working), there were lots of people who would do anything to get out of public speaking - I didn't mind it so while they slaved away on the group work, I was designated presenter - EASY!
ReplyDeleteMy kids don't know it yet but when they're about 15 or 16, I'm sending them to a public speaking course. They'll hate me... and then thank me later.
I'm with you on the sewing thing. When I was in high school there were groups of girls who all went to Saturday sewing classes together. I thought it was silly back then but now I'm seriously considering taking some classes next year. You know, in all of the free time Internship will provide me :P
ReplyDeleteI'm with your students on hating public speaking. I like to think I'm getting slightly better at it with age, but it's certainly not on my favorite-things-to-do list!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO with you on the stay-at-home-mom thing...it takes a lot for me to bite my tongue when they get all preachy about how they have it just as hard as working moms. Sorry, but I'm taking that one to my grave...they have it easier - 1 kid or 12...I don't care. They can stay in PJs all day and don't have to deal with bat-shit crazy bosses. Crabby kids are way easier to handle.
I don't really want to take sides on the working-mom/stay-at-home mom debate because I don't have experience with either and I am sure there are pros & cons to both situations, BUT I do take offense at the whole idea of the articles you are talking about. Like there isn't enough pressure and unrealistic expectations of women & moms already? I want to see an article addressing the husbands telling them that yea, your wife/mother of your children is tired and overwhelmed so maybe if you pitch in more and do nice things for her it will be good for your relationship? Or even something about it being a mutual thing, but one more mandate/obligation/guilt-trip aimed at women alone? Oh hell no!
ReplyDeleteI was especially engaged by your comments on women...working moms and what their husbands need...or expect.
ReplyDeleteHaving been there...I applaud your thoughts...and hope that you and others in your situation find the balance that works for you.
I must add that in now way do I feel like my husband demands these things from me- quite the contrary. I just hate the societal expectations. And I'm not trying to blatantly jump into the mommy debate either, although after spending 14 weeks at home I can definitely say for me personally being a working mom is much harder.
ReplyDeleteI want to sew! Especially because I'm petite and would love to be able to hem things. Right now I use hem tape and feel so lame.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the SAHM thing. I've done a bit of both. I found staying at home easier for the first year, but working easier after that (basically after nursing is done, etc). Now I no longer have the option to stay at home and I am sad sometimes. But then my 3 year old throws a tantrum and I remember why work is nice...