So what’s been going on around here lately? Well, besides all of us doing multiple daily shots of penicillin, we’ve been all over the napping and kleenex scenes. Because that’s just how we roll.
My daughter has recently become obsessed with the idea of having long hair and can frequently be found with her head tilted back at an impossible angle, trying to create the feeling of locks that reach down her back. The problem is, what she is imagining is this:
But what she’ll likely end up with, if she grows it out, will be more like this:
The reason I know this is because her hair is just like mine and as much as I’ve always wanted thick, long, supermodel hair, wishing just doesn’t make it so. However, I understand that it will likely take experience with thin and stringy long hair before she is actually ready to accept this fact, so I’m trying to prepare myself for dealing with the funny-looking hair for a few years if she really does follow through with this.
She has also decided that it’s well past time for her 5 and a half year old self to be shedding her baby teeth. She has been walking around wiggling them so vigourously that if they weren’t loose before, they WILL BE SOON. What she will do when she has a mouthful of loose teeth from constant wiggling, or NO TEETH when they all fall out, I don’t know!
Also, my son woke up from his nap today wearing his socks on his hands like mittens. He’s done it a couple of times before and I suspect he put them on his hands before falling asleep and it’s just all kinds of adorable. I suspect it will be less so if he does it when he becomes a bigger and smellier boy with much stinkier socks.
On the home front, there is enough sludge growing in my toilets to execute a hostile takeover of our home and enough dustbunnies in the corners to eat the children. The result of several weeks of sickness. I plan to give my husband clean toilets for Valentine’s Day because I’m romantic that way.
And now, a short rant: Avery’s class has a strict no-food party policy. We are not allowed to send in treats for birthdays or holidays. Some people feel this is excessive but frankly, I find it refreshing. It takes off a lot of pressure for parents and especially for those in the class who maybe can’t afford to bring in treats. Also our kids don’t get pumped full of sugar on a weekly basis at school. But apparently Valentine’s Day doesn’t qualify because despite the rule, Avery came home with a veritable bucket full of chocolate and candy received from classmates for V-Day. I guess the rule-follower in me just can’t handle the mass mutiny against the kindergarten rule of law. Also, is it really a common practice for people to buy gifts for teachers on Valentine’s Day? Because I love teachers as much as the next parent, hell, both my parents are teachers! But I’m just not willing to shell out the cash for gifts beyond Christmas and the end of the school year. Guess I’m just a cheap shmuck.
We are now coming to the end of our daily disjointed blog post. Please wait until the rambling has come to a full stop before exiting the blog. Have a nice day folks.
February 14th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Were they maybe not considered food because the valentines themselves were candy? Whatever the reason for rule-breaking, I would be annoyed as well.
I was sure surprised last Valentine’s. I was slightly indisposed, having given birth a few days before, so my mom bought & prepared valentines for our son to take to Kindergarten. Man, are they elaborate! They’ve sure gone up a notch since we were in school! I would say it’s a bit excessive, attaching candy to the valentine. I saw “vintage” valentines at London Drugs, and they looked like the ones we used to have. I guess we’re old.
I would definitely agree that two gifts a year for a teacher is plenty. Lucky for me, I genuinely felt like giving our son’s teacher gifts last year, because she was so great. But, that would suck if you didn’t like your child’s teacher: you would still feel kind of obliged to give something. I guess it wouldn’t be heartfelt at all. Well, I suppose my parents did it; I sure had some crappy teachers!
February 14th, 2009 at 3:50 am
I was v. v. annoyed too when Sue (6) came home LOADED with chocolate after being told no treats, no food. I mean, I dig the sweets but…expectations, right? Also, no way, no how would I buy Valentine gifts for the teacher; include them in the Valentine exchange, sure, that makes sense but beyond that, no. And I really don’t think teachers expect it either. At least I hope not, ugh.
February 14th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Some days being an Aussie is great. Valentines really isn’t a big thing here. In fact growing up it was more of a stress and then an embarrassment than anything else. The other good part is that our end of school year is also Christmas, so only one teacher gift is required. Hmmm, I am starting to sound like a total miser… time for a quick distraction… I loved your hair comparisons. My daughter does have long hair, but her friend walked around for weeks with a pair of stockings on her head so that she could have long hair in pony tails too!
February 14th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Your poor girl and her hair…mine is the same way. It’s not fair!
February 14th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Speaking as a teacher and as a daughter of a teacher…
Gifts are always great, and you’ll never hear us complaining about that. But it’s not the money spent we love, it’s the recognition of the hard work we are doing. So sometimes something as simple as a homemade card can mean as much as something really expensive. It’s just saying “I recognize the hard work you are doing and I appreciate it”.
Other fantastic and not very expensive “gifts” that you can give a teacher: Depending on your school district’s policies, you can volunteer in the classroom. We appreciate your help that allows us to go home a bit earlier one night. Also, if you notice something we need in the classroom, get it for us! Anything from boxes of Kleenex to toilet paper rolls for the science project is appreciated!
February 14th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Zoe totally wants her teeth to fall out, too! It’s all the tooth fairy business on TV (maybe I should let your kid watch less TV). She only turns four next month! The kid is three and wants her teeth to fall out. I’ve explained to her she’ll be at least 5 or 6 before it happens. Crazy kid.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
HOOOOOOOLARIOUS post shannon…
good shtaff.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Also speaking as a teacher, there is no way we expect Valentine’s gifts. Frankly, even Christmas and end of year gifts are a stretch if you ask me. The greatest gift the parents of my students can give me is to send them regularly to school and get them to do their homework. That beats some crappy candle!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
PMPL!!!
(Peeing my Pants Laughing)
LOVE your photo comparisons!