Somedays I Feel Like Joining the Circus...

You know, somedays the most bizarre part of my job is dealing with the parents. The kids are really a delight compared to their parents.

The circus is coming to town. Our school, like many others in the vicinity, have received vouchers to distribute to the younger students. These vouchers can be traded in at ticket outlets for circus tickets.

A friend of mine who teaches Grade Two received this phone call today at noon hour.

Hello, Mrs. M. I'm calling to let you know that my husband and I are dead set against circuses, particularly those that exploit animals. When Emma (name changed to protect the innocent) came home with her circus voucher, she promptly threw it in the garbage. We were very proud of her. We do feel, however, that she is old enough to make her own decisions about a topic such as this, and she has decided to attend the circus after all. Would you please send another voucher home with her this afternoon?

Is it just me, or is that not one of the strangest things you've ever heard?

Maybe I've just become an incredibly jaded teacher. Actually, there's no maybe about it; I have become cynical and jaded.

Still though, is that bizarre or what??

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful...

...that it has been raining and snowing almost all week, because it has given me a week off of soccer and softball. I really needed that time to catch up on laundry and other household tasks.

...that when the Grade 2 student who was running in the hallway at recess ran into me, I was holding the water bottle I got at Dollarama, not the brand new "World's Greatest Librarian" mug the boys gave me for Mother's Day.

...that Main Man was able to download the season finale of Brothers and Sisters, because I had to miss it when it aired Sunday night.

...for the Highland Games, which we attended on Sunday. The afternoon was spent watching highland dancing and "heavy games" like the caber toss, and listening to some fine pipe and drum bands. Then, the evening brought the ceilidh, with lots of dancing and Scottish refreshment. What a wild time! And the kids enjoyed it all as much as we did (well, all except the "Scottish refreshment"!).

...for the recovery of our friend from church - a little guy about 11 years old who was high-jumping at his school and missed the mat, hitting his head on the concrete floor of the gymnasium. He was hospitalized for almost a week, but when we visited him Sunday, his Dad described his recovery as 100%.

...for four day weekends!

...that the store where Main Man bought my outfit for the job-interview-that-wasn't takes back returns so readily.

...for my big brothers, both of whom are celebrating a birthday today. Yup, they were born on the same date, six years apart. Cool, eh?

...for those moments when the boys cause each other to double over in giggling fits.

...for #3's new Spiderman light-up sneakers. I paid only $6.94 for them!

Have a great week, everyone.

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful for many things, but I will write about one particular one.

A week ago today, I was frantically getting a C. V. together. I had not applied for a job in 18 years, but I was going to take the leap and apply for a new job.

First, I need to establish something: I love my job. I had not been scanning the employment pages for weeks, desperately seeking a way out of my dead-end job. That was not my situation at all.

However, a job had materialised that I was interested in. It was with the same school division I have been teaching in for almost 20 years, and it would mean no report cards to fill out, no parent-teacher interviews to smile through, and virtually no marking to take up my weekends. It was an itinerant position in which I would visit six specific schools and help their staffs design and carry out "literacy programs". Basically, lots of work with teachers, some work with students, and none of the stuff listed above which is burning me out. There would be a fair bit of driving involved, but I like driving. And in this position, I would get paid for my mileage, as driving is a requisite for the job.

I worked really hard on getting this job. My Mother's Day weekend was completely engulfed in preparations for the interview: buying just the right outfit and shoes (not easy among all those Pussycat Doll shoes!), reading up on theories and methodologies of teaching reading and writing, anticipating questions and preparing the perfect answer for each one.

Well, folks, I didn't even get an interview for the job.

And I can honestly say that I am grateful.

As I already wrote, I love my job. I really do. And I think I love my job even more now.

Every day the kids I work with make me smile.

And over the past few days, every time I've smiled at work, I've said to myself, "How could you have considered giving this up?"

Really, how could I have considered giving it all up?

Overheard by the Grade Six Lockers

Grade Six Boy #1: But I thought you really liked her!

Grade Six Boy #2: Nah ... that was yesterday.

Kindergarten Wisdom

I had the kindergarten students in for story-time this morning.

I told one of the little guys that I liked his shoes.

He informed me that he had much nicer ones at home. He called them his wedding shoes.

I asked if someone special was getting married.

"No, no one is getting married," he replied, "but my grandpa got dead."

Overheard at Chess Club

Not sure of the background of this conversation. Wish I knew.

Two fifth graders, as they contemplated the vagaries of life and planned their next move:

"There's nothing worse than a mad mom."

"Oh yes there is!"

"Oh, right - a mad dad."

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

... a car that will start even when the windchill is -47 degrees Celsius. Toyota Corollas rule!

... a cozy house where I can sit and drink hot cocoa with my family when the weather outside is crrrappy!

... my dad and stepmom having the opportunity to fly to Hawaii for a holiday. They've both worked so hard all their lives, and they deserve to enjoy their golden years.

... the opportunity to stand in front of a roomful of ten-year-olds and feel the excitement as they learn something new. It's palpable!

... how much my boys love tuna casserole. (That makes what-do-we-have-for-supper nights much easier!)

... my library assistant, who is not only one of the most efficient, hard-working women I know, but is also an incredible sounding-board and confidante.

... those times when I keep students in at recess so I can help them with their corrections, and they actually thank me when we're done.

... students who say thank you when I check a book out of the library for them. (Heck - for that matter, I'm thankful for kids who check books out of the library at all!)

... #2's teacher, who called yesterday to let us know that he had left his backpack at school. Unfortunately, we didn't get the message in time to get the backpack, but I really appreciate her efforts.

Have a great week, everyone!