Tag Archives: family

Making children cry

Standard
Making children cry

Hubby warned me. But I didn’t listen.

I wanted to do a review game with the second graders to prepare them for their test. I wrote “Side A” and “Side B” on the board to tally their scores. The kids in the first desk on each side were up against each other to see who could answer the question first. Then the second desk, etc. It seemed harmless enough.

But these were seven-year-olds.

Two girls started crying when they didn’t win. Fortunately, I knew one had a freakish knowledge of Jupiter. I said, “Bonus question: what is that big circle on Jupiter called?” She smiled, raised her hand, nailed it. At least, I assume she did. I couldn’t remember what it’s called. Great red spot or whatever? Doesn’t matter. I gave her team a bonus point, and she sat up tall and smiling. Whew.

The other girl teared up at the end, thankfully, so I said, “Could you please help me pass out these worksheets?” You’d think I’d handed her a miniature live unicorn that occasionally, though cutely and discreetly, burps out bubbles and sparkles. Another crisis averted.

Read the rest of this entry →

Maybe I’m not okay after all…

Standard
Maybe I’m not okay after all…

I showed up to school Monday morning like this:

I didn’t notice I was wearing two different shoes until I stepped out of my car in the school parking lot. In the kitchen, I pointed out my flub to a couple of female teachers who laughed with me. Then I went to Hubby’s office and said, “Look at my feet.” His eyes bugged out. “Oh no!” he said. He did not see the humor in this situation.

Thankfully, I had a daughter at home with a license and a car. In the midst of first period, Hubby stepped into my classroom with a bag. I discreetly made the shoe transfer under the teacher’s desk. However, I had already greeted all the sixth graders as they walked in. Wouldn’t you know it, one was observant.

“Why are you wearing two different shoes?” she asked, the plucky little…

“Because it’s Wacky Wednesday… on Monday.” That actually seemed to satisfy her.

The sixth graders weren’t easy for me Monday, particularly the one kid the homeroom teacher had wisely placed front and center. So Tuesday morning, I got smart. (Slow learning curve for me.) At the start of class, I set a detention slip on his desk and said, “Why don’t you go ahead and fill your name in now to save me time later.”

Read the rest of this entry →

Rey Road Rip, part 3

Standard
Rey Road Rip, part 3

The last leg of our journey was to my sister’s house near Cleveland. Once again, all the nearby relatives descended. We made Hungarian kielbasa from my grandfather’s meat grinder and sausage press–intestinal casings and all. If this grosses you out, please scroll quickly.

My kids took turns cranking the meat grinder. I’ll spare you the pic of my brother holding up the white, ropy casings.

Just outside the garage, my dad set up the smoker his dad had made to complete the first stage of cooking, but then… the rain came.

Read the rest of this entry →

Rey Road Trip, Part 1

Standard
Rey Road Trip, Part 1

We hit six states in 12 days.

First, we flew to Minnesota and stayed with my sister-in-law. We saw most of Hubby’s extended family. Some drove four hours, one way, in the same day. Ooof.

We had dinner with Hubby’s college friends, another meal with his high school friends, stuck our feet in one of the state’s 10,000+ lakes, visited the famous Mall of America (especially the Lego store), and, most importantly for blog purposes, had breakfast with a blog buddy. 🙂

The Travel Architect!

Meeting TTA was loads of fun. She and Hubby are both teachers, so I enjoyed my eggs Benedict while they talked shop. Learning how she and her husband met was most entertaining. (Sadly, he was in England at the time.) And I discovered that rabbits have personalities like humans do. Now I kind of want a bunny. She wrote about the visit on her blog.

Read the rest of this entry →

At the DMV again

Standard
At the DMV again

Allow me to take you back in time two weeks to my daughter’s and my lovely visit, as they all are, to the DMV. (In case you’re new here, I get a little sarcasticy. I also make up words.)

Daughter’s driving test appointment was at 1:00. We got there around 12:30 and were able to check in right away, but there was a long line of testers ahead of us. We waited on the floor inside for quite a while. Finally, we joined a long line of cars waiting outside. It was 85 degrees, so we kept the van running with the A/C on for who knows how long? An hour? Time has no meaning in those situations.

Also with us was my 8-year-old son, missing school because he hadn’t been feeling well. Like all boys his age, he was quite placid, sitting patiently in the backseat, tapping his knees, humming pleasantly. (Sarcasticy again.)

I turned on the radio to try to calm him. He used the opportunity to “sing along” by saying, “I’m booooreeeeddd” repeatedly in time to the tune. Great stuff! (Yep. You’re getting it now. Sarcasm.)

Finally, it was Daughter’s turn for the drive test with “David,” if that’s even his REAL NAME, so Son and I “relaxed” on an outdoor bench in the shade.

Another mom whose daughter was in line behind us eventually joined us.

“This is nerve-wracking, isn’t it?” I said to her.

“Yes, and this is my daughter’s second try.”

“Oh gosh. I hope she passes,” I said, meanwhile, thinking smugly that SURELY my daughter will pass on the FIRST try.

Read the rest of this entry →

How I may have accidentally made an older man wet himself

Standard
How I may have accidentally made an older man wet himself
Image from Canva

My oldest daughter is a last-minute, make it in the nick of time, always in a rush due to poor planning, sort of person.

I hate when my kids take after me.

I was driving her to work. A typical ride with Mom turns into a gripping the sides of your seat frenetic adventure.

But not this morning.

Read the rest of this entry →

Wake me up when September ends. -Green Day

Standard
Wake me up when September ends. -Green Day

I could also call this “My birthday month, Part 2… No, really!”

Yes, I know it’s nearly November. I’m behind at life. Also, I must clear Mrs. Instructor’s name by stating that she was in no way demanding I post my stories about her. Unlike her predecessors, Chex Mix Guy and Sensei, she has not become an attention monster. You know who else hasn’t? Surfer Dude. He knows full well about this blog and has never, to my knowledge, checked out what I’ve written about him. Wouldn’t you think he’d at least be curious? Amazing.

Okay. On with the pics, etc.

When we last saw our intrepid heroes, Heather, Neighbor, and Ilsa planned a coffee date do-over, this time at a joint called Archer’s Arrow, totally chosen by me for the name alone.

Read the rest of this entry →