When I am out and about with my brood of four, I'm typically just trying to remain calm and keep everyone in line. I know that to the mother of one little bitty child, my very active and very loud 9 and 7 year old boys look like an threatening juggernaut of masculine energy. They feel that way to me sometimes too, especially when they're engaging in exciting play with my 3 and 1 year old daughters. It's possible that in a few years, the same energy and behavior won't feel so threatening to you because your own sweet child will be closer to that age.
Please remember that my children are as precious to me as your child is to you. I haven't trained them to be loud or to careen around like runaway freight trains. In fact, I have worked hard to reinforce quiet and gentle play. And most of the time, it has worked. However, when we go out in public, they sometimes get overly excited for a bit before they settle in. Other days, they have a lot of frustration to work off, and that's why we have left the house in the first place. For me to insist on quiet and gentle play at all times would be to deny the basic nature of boys and to betray my children's trust in me. I would have to crush their spirits and would only drive misbehavior underground, leading to deceitfulness and sneakiness.
Because you haven't been doing this mom thing quite as long as I have, I'm going to inform you about an important rule of the mom world: Don't yell at strangers' kids. If my kid bothers your kid, ask him to play nicely. No big whoop. If my kid is really out of line, pick up your kid if you feel he/she is in danger (which is probably not the case, but I know big kids can seem threatening). Come find me, and I will likely rain down consequences on my kid. For reals. However, if you shout at my kid or at me, I'm going to assume that you're crazy. Why, you ask? Because it is crazy to yell at other people's kids. Be the grown up. I promise that I will be one too, that I will have a serious talk with my kid, that my kid will lose privileges even if it was accidental, and that my kid will play more cautiously for the duration, or we will leave.
Let's assume the best of each other, okay? I'm going to assume that you are out to enjoy a pleasant time with the most precious gift in your life. I'm sure you're a good mom. By the way, your kid is cute. Please assume the same about me. My kids are precious to me, I'm a good mom, and I really need a trip out of the house. Tell me my kids are cute, and I probably won't be able to refrain from wholehearted agreement! Let's give each other the benefit of the doubt, okay mommas of little ones?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Long post about why I've fallen off the face of the earth :)
So the homeschooling bug didn't just bite. It took my leg off! In September Ian started to have frequent tantrums and to utter threats when he felt cornered. Thanks to an environment of zero tolerance, I started to get almost daily calls, and the anxiety for him and for me was really detrimental to our family life. Things were escalating to the point that I felt that he might be expelled since he does not have a 504 plan or IEP in force. I decided that any place that brings out the very worst in my kid is not the place for my kid. That place was definitely our local elementary school!
We had always been rather culture shocked by the atmosphere of the school. The academic pace was fine, but the pointless homework and finding out that they were wasting time at school watching non-academic movies upset me. The passive aggressive notes from teachers indicating that we were not involved parents really upset me! I am a very hands-on momma, but my kids require a lot of hands!
The constant emphasis on something to buy or something to raise money for also caused undue pressure on us. We don't believe in selling at church, and we aren't about to bother neighbors or co-workers with catalogs of overpriced crap. The frequent parties (that we were asked to bring stuff for) were so incongruous to the atmosphere of constant disapproval and discipline. Ian had one good teacher for 2nd grade, the best teacher I've ever met. However, his first grade teacher was marginal. Aidan had an acceptable kindergarten teacher, but his first grade teacher was awful. Common methods for handling minor behavior issues or irresponsibility included losing tokens for a crappy school store in the distant future and losing recess time. Kids with hyperactivity and impulsivity issues will not really learn from losing a privilege in the distant future, and the last thing you want to do with kids like this is take away their time to blow off steam. Really, it's basic childhood development!
When Ian was a first grader in 2010, we had him tested for giftedness. He tested extremely high in some areas but tested so low in working memory that it skewed his scores. The teacher took the opportunity during this IEP meeting to dump all kinds of issues on me that she had never mentioned before. I paid over $1000 trying to figure out what was wrong with my child that he had such a low performing working memory. Turns out it was just anxiety. They didn't test for compliance. Another example of poor professionalism! It was fine that he didn't get into the gifted program because it was ONE HOUR per week. Whoop de doo! I told the first grade teacher in that meeting that the results confirmed my feeling that I should homeschool him. She warned that it would only make him more socially awkward and make it harder to re-enter school later. I listened because I was so overwhelmed by our move to Wheeling, a recent 2nd degree burn to my entire right thigh, and a mix-up at WJU that resulted in us having no money for Christmas that year.
Dealing with the principal was a whole other matter. He was completely unengaged in the IEP meeting, like a bored kid in church. Since I began having trouble with the school, I suddenly heard all these reports that he is a well-known womanizer who cheated on his wife, broke up his family, and now trolls the bars asking out every woman he meets, including many women that I know personally. Rumors, maybe, but this is not the kind of person I want my kids to be around. When I spoke with a professional who works with children in the area, her advice was to wear a low-cut shirt when dealing with him. I looked around at the PTA and saw why he let them do what they wanted. They were his type!
I also heard from other education professionals and from social workers that the man is clueless and that he is very unprofessional. I saw this first hand. He ignored letters I sent him about my concerns. He blew off any criticism that I expressed in meetings. He demanded that we meet in person (a huge inconvenience with four kids) when a phone conversation would have sufficed. He has abdicated all responsibility to the unqualified members of the PTA, entrusting most of the routine mass communication to them. He claims that he can't make many policy changes "because it was like this before I got here". Show some leadership! He seems baffled by routine discipline issues that I deal with every day. When I pointed out that he has a hand-picked demographic of involved and educated parents with financial means, he dismissed this and claimed that the school's performance is really due to their superior teaching. (See paragraph C!).
In Ian's second grade year, his behavior was generally fine, and I never had a call from the school. His teacher and I were able to communicate very well via email, but her classroom management was spectacular, and she didn't let things escalate. The first month of 3rd grade I had 1 or 2 calls per week. It was the change in teachers that undid any progress Ian had made. I recently got a message that I had missed in September, hidden deep in my voicemail. The teacher was calling and ORDERING me to REPORT (used that word twice!) to the office first thing the next morning. Good thing I missed that call! That was the day I pulled him from school.
I had just started leading a 6 week walking program and a semester of 6 credit hours that included 60 hours of observation, so this was NOT the time to begin homeschooling. Except that I had no other option. Putting Ian in another school right away would only lead to more frustration and acting out. I accepted this challenge to do what was right for my child and trusted that God would give me the strength and wisdom to do what I needed to do each day.
And it worked! Ian has become much more calm and reasonable. We hiked through the local park, Ian guiding Mara, and Ella on my back. We played and learned and enjoyed peaceful days....until Aidan came home each day.
He would explode into the house, tired, cranky, and annoyed with life. He would fight me for two hours each day to complete his homework. I would get notes from his teacher asking me to work with him on his math skills, but there was no time to do so! I would think about various homeschool activities, only to have to scrub them because they would interfere with being home for Aidan's bus drop off time. We had some of the benefits and homeschooling and of traditional school AND all of the drawbacks. Aidan came down with bronchitis in October and never went back to school when he got better in the middle of the month. We did a trial run of homeschooling while he was sick, and he loved it! I realized that he had matured enough and our relationship had grown enough for us to spend all day together. It just felt right to have him home and not have this persistent low-level annoyance of having the school dictating priorities to us and intruding into our family life.
Now we spend two or three hours a day doing direct instruction and seat work, which is NOTHING like the drama we would have doing homework after a long day at school. Then we read in the afternoon, go on fun outings, play, watch documentaries, scour the library for new ideas, play at the gym at my husband's university, and enjoy our time together. Aidan excels in reading and language, and his math fluency is improving slowly. I know it will click one day! Ian is working on multiplication with answers in the tens of thousands, along with decimals, fractions, and percentages. He'll be ready for pre-algebra next year. His class at school is learning multiplication. Ian is reading on a 9th grade level (lexile around 1000), and he read The Hobbit this semester and enjoyed it very much! I assign math and language activities based on their needs and abilities, and they choose science and social studies themes for the quarter. It has really been a lot of fun!
Of course, on top of all of this I've been working on those 6 credit hours! I managed to limp along with my work all semester and ended up with a 4.0 thanks to my family's support! I live school all day long, and I'm learning so much about how children learn by spending all day with mine.
Behavior issues are dramatically decreased at home and away from home. They're like different kids! Our whole family dynamic is SO much more positive! Is this ideal for our family? Yes and no. It is the right thing for right now. I don't have time to spend with friends and recharge my momma batteries as much, but I am surrounded by a lot of support. I'm feeling so blessed that God had been preparing me for this over the last few years!
We had always been rather culture shocked by the atmosphere of the school. The academic pace was fine, but the pointless homework and finding out that they were wasting time at school watching non-academic movies upset me. The passive aggressive notes from teachers indicating that we were not involved parents really upset me! I am a very hands-on momma, but my kids require a lot of hands!
The constant emphasis on something to buy or something to raise money for also caused undue pressure on us. We don't believe in selling at church, and we aren't about to bother neighbors or co-workers with catalogs of overpriced crap. The frequent parties (that we were asked to bring stuff for) were so incongruous to the atmosphere of constant disapproval and discipline. Ian had one good teacher for 2nd grade, the best teacher I've ever met. However, his first grade teacher was marginal. Aidan had an acceptable kindergarten teacher, but his first grade teacher was awful. Common methods for handling minor behavior issues or irresponsibility included losing tokens for a crappy school store in the distant future and losing recess time. Kids with hyperactivity and impulsivity issues will not really learn from losing a privilege in the distant future, and the last thing you want to do with kids like this is take away their time to blow off steam. Really, it's basic childhood development!
When Ian was a first grader in 2010, we had him tested for giftedness. He tested extremely high in some areas but tested so low in working memory that it skewed his scores. The teacher took the opportunity during this IEP meeting to dump all kinds of issues on me that she had never mentioned before. I paid over $1000 trying to figure out what was wrong with my child that he had such a low performing working memory. Turns out it was just anxiety. They didn't test for compliance. Another example of poor professionalism! It was fine that he didn't get into the gifted program because it was ONE HOUR per week. Whoop de doo! I told the first grade teacher in that meeting that the results confirmed my feeling that I should homeschool him. She warned that it would only make him more socially awkward and make it harder to re-enter school later. I listened because I was so overwhelmed by our move to Wheeling, a recent 2nd degree burn to my entire right thigh, and a mix-up at WJU that resulted in us having no money for Christmas that year.
Dealing with the principal was a whole other matter. He was completely unengaged in the IEP meeting, like a bored kid in church. Since I began having trouble with the school, I suddenly heard all these reports that he is a well-known womanizer who cheated on his wife, broke up his family, and now trolls the bars asking out every woman he meets, including many women that I know personally. Rumors, maybe, but this is not the kind of person I want my kids to be around. When I spoke with a professional who works with children in the area, her advice was to wear a low-cut shirt when dealing with him. I looked around at the PTA and saw why he let them do what they wanted. They were his type!
I also heard from other education professionals and from social workers that the man is clueless and that he is very unprofessional. I saw this first hand. He ignored letters I sent him about my concerns. He blew off any criticism that I expressed in meetings. He demanded that we meet in person (a huge inconvenience with four kids) when a phone conversation would have sufficed. He has abdicated all responsibility to the unqualified members of the PTA, entrusting most of the routine mass communication to them. He claims that he can't make many policy changes "because it was like this before I got here". Show some leadership! He seems baffled by routine discipline issues that I deal with every day. When I pointed out that he has a hand-picked demographic of involved and educated parents with financial means, he dismissed this and claimed that the school's performance is really due to their superior teaching. (See paragraph C!).
In Ian's second grade year, his behavior was generally fine, and I never had a call from the school. His teacher and I were able to communicate very well via email, but her classroom management was spectacular, and she didn't let things escalate. The first month of 3rd grade I had 1 or 2 calls per week. It was the change in teachers that undid any progress Ian had made. I recently got a message that I had missed in September, hidden deep in my voicemail. The teacher was calling and ORDERING me to REPORT (used that word twice!) to the office first thing the next morning. Good thing I missed that call! That was the day I pulled him from school.
I had just started leading a 6 week walking program and a semester of 6 credit hours that included 60 hours of observation, so this was NOT the time to begin homeschooling. Except that I had no other option. Putting Ian in another school right away would only lead to more frustration and acting out. I accepted this challenge to do what was right for my child and trusted that God would give me the strength and wisdom to do what I needed to do each day.
He would explode into the house, tired, cranky, and annoyed with life. He would fight me for two hours each day to complete his homework. I would get notes from his teacher asking me to work with him on his math skills, but there was no time to do so! I would think about various homeschool activities, only to have to scrub them because they would interfere with being home for Aidan's bus drop off time. We had some of the benefits and homeschooling and of traditional school AND all of the drawbacks. Aidan came down with bronchitis in October and never went back to school when he got better in the middle of the month. We did a trial run of homeschooling while he was sick, and he loved it! I realized that he had matured enough and our relationship had grown enough for us to spend all day together. It just felt right to have him home and not have this persistent low-level annoyance of having the school dictating priorities to us and intruding into our family life.
Now we spend two or three hours a day doing direct instruction and seat work, which is NOTHING like the drama we would have doing homework after a long day at school. Then we read in the afternoon, go on fun outings, play, watch documentaries, scour the library for new ideas, play at the gym at my husband's university, and enjoy our time together. Aidan excels in reading and language, and his math fluency is improving slowly. I know it will click one day! Ian is working on multiplication with answers in the tens of thousands, along with decimals, fractions, and percentages. He'll be ready for pre-algebra next year. His class at school is learning multiplication. Ian is reading on a 9th grade level (lexile around 1000), and he read The Hobbit this semester and enjoyed it very much! I assign math and language activities based on their needs and abilities, and they choose science and social studies themes for the quarter. It has really been a lot of fun!
Of course, on top of all of this I've been working on those 6 credit hours! I managed to limp along with my work all semester and ended up with a 4.0 thanks to my family's support! I live school all day long, and I'm learning so much about how children learn by spending all day with mine.
Behavior issues are dramatically decreased at home and away from home. They're like different kids! Our whole family dynamic is SO much more positive! Is this ideal for our family? Yes and no. It is the right thing for right now. I don't have time to spend with friends and recharge my momma batteries as much, but I am surrounded by a lot of support. I'm feeling so blessed that God had been preparing me for this over the last few years!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Taking the Long View
My husband and I differ dramatically in our outlook about life and family in one particular way. He assumes that it's okay that things are kind of miserable sometimes. When things aren't going smoothly, I am convinced that they can be vastly improved with a new strategy or organizational overhaul. That...and sheer force of will. We WILL be happy, everybody!!!! Can you tell I'm a firstborn?
The good news is that I'm generally right. It's usually a simple change in strategy, and we're back on track until the next pile of crazy presents itself, which it will, sooner or later. And we generally are happy. So why do I mention my husband's sometimes bleaker perspective on family life? I think it's worth thinking about because it has a positive side. His lower expectations are a real saving grace for me on the hard days. His priorities are that everyone is loved, fed, and safe that day. Anything beyond that is just gravy.
Does this mean we don't have bigger plans and expectations for our brood of four? No, definitely not! It's more that our perspectives together allow us to take a long view of things. I'm at home for now doing the daily routine of wiping noses and bottoms, but I dream of more for them and for myself professionally. My husband is out there doing the job he was made to do, and at the end of every long day (and aren't they ALL long days?), he just wants to know that everyone is taken care of and happy.
This long view allows us to see that the Star Wars figurine that a kid worked for this summer is totally worth it now that he knows his multiplication tables. He doesn't need all of the series, and he's thrilled with the one that he earned. A vacation every year just isn't going to happen, but it's worth taking one every few years to make some special memories. The rest of our travel budget? Visiting grandparents in Indiana and Pennsylvania on alternating holidays. Not a vacation, but source of special memories as well! With the long view, we know that a vacation will happen, but we're not going to only have meaningful family time at some distant point in the future. The key I'm finding is not to let the daily toil wear us down, to offer our parenting partner a nap or time away from the kids, to find peace and joy in the little moments in life, to give sacrificially for the kids and for each other, because all together, that's what makes up the long view.
The good news is that I'm generally right. It's usually a simple change in strategy, and we're back on track until the next pile of crazy presents itself, which it will, sooner or later. And we generally are happy. So why do I mention my husband's sometimes bleaker perspective on family life? I think it's worth thinking about because it has a positive side. His lower expectations are a real saving grace for me on the hard days. His priorities are that everyone is loved, fed, and safe that day. Anything beyond that is just gravy.
Does this mean we don't have bigger plans and expectations for our brood of four? No, definitely not! It's more that our perspectives together allow us to take a long view of things. I'm at home for now doing the daily routine of wiping noses and bottoms, but I dream of more for them and for myself professionally. My husband is out there doing the job he was made to do, and at the end of every long day (and aren't they ALL long days?), he just wants to know that everyone is taken care of and happy.
This long view allows us to see that the Star Wars figurine that a kid worked for this summer is totally worth it now that he knows his multiplication tables. He doesn't need all of the series, and he's thrilled with the one that he earned. A vacation every year just isn't going to happen, but it's worth taking one every few years to make some special memories. The rest of our travel budget? Visiting grandparents in Indiana and Pennsylvania on alternating holidays. Not a vacation, but source of special memories as well! With the long view, we know that a vacation will happen, but we're not going to only have meaningful family time at some distant point in the future. The key I'm finding is not to let the daily toil wear us down, to offer our parenting partner a nap or time away from the kids, to find peace and joy in the little moments in life, to give sacrificially for the kids and for each other, because all together, that's what makes up the long view.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
perfect schmerfect
One of the best things about having all four kids home all day during the summer is that I can NOT afford to be a perfectionist. Not on any front, whether it be housekeeping, behavior, or activities. Things will go awry, but it's always an opportunity for one or more of us to learn patience and flexibility. Often that person is me, and summer is the perfect time for me to learn these lessons. The sun is shining, the kids can play outdoors more, and if one day doesn't go perfectly, there are plenty more where that came from.
We all have our morning routine that involves a quick clean-up to maintain sanity and sanitation. The older kids have to do 3 jobs each in order to earn screen or outdoor time. If we're headed out for the day, they will also locate shoes, fill water bottles, and pack them with a picnic blanket. They'll help me pack a lunch and grab the swim bag if we will need it as well.
Leaving the house with four is still crazy, but it's easier than when I had two. I have my own chores to accomplish each day, but I know that if I don't get to all of them this week, I will get go them the next week. Hopefully, that won't mean that the vacuum sits unused in the kitchen for a week!
If we're out somewhere and one of the kids acts up, I don't take it personally anymore. I have learned that staying calm leads to peace being restored much more quickly, and responding with anger fuels the mayhem. I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I'm raising people, and it can be a messy process!
If circumstances beyond our control threaten to ruin our plans, it's not the disaster it used to be, which was typically a screaming public tantrum, follwed by a hasty retreat to our very messy home and a vow to never go out in public again! Something had to change, and most of the change was my responsibility. My response to a change in plans signals to my kids that it can still be a great day. I'm thankful that we've had enough good days for them to know this is true!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
not grey at all
I've been ignoring this cultural phenomenon for months now, but now that I am using a kindle, I find that I have to see Fifty Shades of Grey every time I look at the Kindle ebook options on Amazon. In.the.first.three.slots. gross.
If a man said on Facebook "whooo! I just got some pornography in!" we would not think twice about blocking him.
If a man said "I am so excited about this pile of pornography that I got that I'm ignoring all my personal responsibilites to engage in a fantasy life that no woman could ever live up to!" I would find him unbearably creepy and probably even threatening.
Here's the thing: erotica IS the female equivalent of pornography. Men respond to images, and women respond to fantasy and language.
Fifty Shades of Grey is erotica, and it's fan fiction that was originally based on the Twilight characters, which were poorly written enough. Essentially, it's derivative porn for women. All this discussion of who might star in the movie? A movie about these books would be pornography, or it wouldn't cover the book.
I'm concerned that enough women are already in controlling and abusive relationships wih men, and this series glorifies that. I have not read any more than the snippets I've seen in other reviews, and I found the writing juvenile and creepy, just like the status updates in which women are gushing over this foolishness.
People complain about their marriages/relationships, but reading about abuse and debasement (and a stupid woman's codependent acceptance of this treatment) won't improve anyone's shot at a lifetime of love and respect.
I think that announcing that you LOVE FSoG invites speculation/imagination about what your personal tastes might be, and I find that unwelcome.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
No-tella
We had a great surprise last night-- a quick visit from my dad! Papa Benjamin was in the house, and the kids got to have breakfast and play with him this morning. I had a head's-up a few days prior, but the kids had no idea. He's en route to New York and Massachusetts on business and to pick up two of my younger sibs who were helping my brother Nate and his wife settle in there.
Today I did my yearly exercise in parental penance by taking the kids to the youth festival at one of the larger parks. It is a hockey rink (no ice) full of tables where people from local organizations can give away literature and trinkets, etc. There is live entertainment and a free unhealthy lunch, and it's a favorite event for my kids, so we do it every year as part of our back-to-school routine.
Dan has a dinner tonight, so we're just taking it easy, eating off-brand Nutella (aka, No-tella) on store brand (HFCS free) bread and whatever is in the freezer. Summer is winding down, and we're ALL feeling it!
Today I did my yearly exercise in parental penance by taking the kids to the youth festival at one of the larger parks. It is a hockey rink (no ice) full of tables where people from local organizations can give away literature and trinkets, etc. There is live entertainment and a free unhealthy lunch, and it's a favorite event for my kids, so we do it every year as part of our back-to-school routine.
Dan has a dinner tonight, so we're just taking it easy, eating off-brand Nutella (aka, No-tella) on store brand (HFCS free) bread and whatever is in the freezer. Summer is winding down, and we're ALL feeling it!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
104 Days
Okay, so it's been forever, and my recent posts haven't been a personal since they've been the drafts for the local parenting magazine blog. I need to write down what's going on so that I remember it!
The kids are all doing fantastic! Great summer, very busy, lots of fun with friends and family. Mara and Aidan are squabbling more than I'd prefer, but otherwise things are pretty peaceful. Dan is teaching a few courses this summer to help the financial margins be a tad wider. Ian is growing so fast and is sporting a mouth full of big kid teeth. Aidan is active and enthusiastic about life. Mara is into everything and underfoot all day, and her smile and creativity warm my heart daily. Ella is a roly-poly 9 months! She's about to get her first teeth any day and has begun to crawl. She eats real food and sleeps at night. Easy baby most of the time!
We have done lots of VBS this summer, lots of friend time, plenty of park playtime, some swimming, a few concerts, and one terrible library event. The kids don't really care about story time, and my fines are a bit up there, I think thanks to Ian taking library books to school for book report approval and then never bringing them home.
We've traveled to Indiana twice, once to celebrate a cousin's first birthday and see all of my siblings, and once to see our Notre Dame friends before one dear family moved to California. We were so blessed to go to the going-away luau and have fun with friends. Following that, my parents took the older 3 kids for a few days so that Dr. O' and I could get a break. It was heavenly! We had a date with Ella at Later Gator and got locked out of our car. AAA to the rescue!
The big kids returned, and a few days later we drove to Nags Head, NC for an Outer Banks vacation with Dan's brother and his family. We had not had a vacation since our honeymoon nearly 14 years ago! The combination of cousins and grown-ups was just perfect, and everyone had a fantastic time! We ate great food, played on the beach, played in the pool, and got lots of relaxation in. Aidan took to the waves beautifully, and while they liked the water, Ian and Mara preferred the safety of the sand and shallows. I think we'll be paying for a surf lesson for Aidan some day!
The plan is for me to begin taking education courses this fall to get expanded licensure in middle school and special education so that I can be ready to teach again when the girls go to school. I need to do something for my brain, and this is free! I want to be ready to do whatever job God has for me, and education seems like the way to go for now.
The kids start back to school in 2.5 weeks! Great summer, and looking forward to a great school year for all!
The kids are all doing fantastic! Great summer, very busy, lots of fun with friends and family. Mara and Aidan are squabbling more than I'd prefer, but otherwise things are pretty peaceful. Dan is teaching a few courses this summer to help the financial margins be a tad wider. Ian is growing so fast and is sporting a mouth full of big kid teeth. Aidan is active and enthusiastic about life. Mara is into everything and underfoot all day, and her smile and creativity warm my heart daily. Ella is a roly-poly 9 months! She's about to get her first teeth any day and has begun to crawl. She eats real food and sleeps at night. Easy baby most of the time!
We have done lots of VBS this summer, lots of friend time, plenty of park playtime, some swimming, a few concerts, and one terrible library event. The kids don't really care about story time, and my fines are a bit up there, I think thanks to Ian taking library books to school for book report approval and then never bringing them home.
We've traveled to Indiana twice, once to celebrate a cousin's first birthday and see all of my siblings, and once to see our Notre Dame friends before one dear family moved to California. We were so blessed to go to the going-away luau and have fun with friends. Following that, my parents took the older 3 kids for a few days so that Dr. O' and I could get a break. It was heavenly! We had a date with Ella at Later Gator and got locked out of our car. AAA to the rescue!
The big kids returned, and a few days later we drove to Nags Head, NC for an Outer Banks vacation with Dan's brother and his family. We had not had a vacation since our honeymoon nearly 14 years ago! The combination of cousins and grown-ups was just perfect, and everyone had a fantastic time! We ate great food, played on the beach, played in the pool, and got lots of relaxation in. Aidan took to the waves beautifully, and while they liked the water, Ian and Mara preferred the safety of the sand and shallows. I think we'll be paying for a surf lesson for Aidan some day!
The plan is for me to begin taking education courses this fall to get expanded licensure in middle school and special education so that I can be ready to teach again when the girls go to school. I need to do something for my brain, and this is free! I want to be ready to do whatever job God has for me, and education seems like the way to go for now.
The kids start back to school in 2.5 weeks! Great summer, and looking forward to a great school year for all!
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