School's Out

My kids are official in 5th grade, 3rd grade and ..... ummmm.... kindergarten.  Again?  Yes, again!  It was a tough decision but I know it's the right one.  We are going to keep our youngest in kindergarten for another year.  I'm actually quite excited about it.  I know it's giving her a second chance to be a great student.  It was just one of those really tough decisions a parent has to make.  If it was up to the school principal, she'd be going to 1st grade which would have turned out to be a disaster for her and for me.

So summer time is here.  Quiet house while the youngest is napping (hard to believe, I know) and the older two are at a neighbor's house playing with water balloons.  So I took the opportunity to throw out the old backpacks and sort through the endless amounts of art projects and schoolwork they brought home.  I think after 5 years I've got it down to a science.  I only keep the projects that I know they would be interested in seeing when they are older.  And of course, I keep a handful of those reports they got an "A" on.  Just so I can pull them out when I'm really angry at them and tell myself that they are doing well in school so I must be doing something right.

And I've made my summer project list.  No, not for them.  For me.  Ha ha ha... I wonder if I'll actually get through any of them.  But it's only Day 1 of 8 weeks with the kids, so I'm still feeling pretty energized.  Tomorrow, Day 2, I may feel completely different.

One more week and we'll be off to Arizona.  A little sun, swimming and horseback riding.  And when we get back, hubby and I will be planning a weekend away just to recover from a road trip vacation with 3 kids.

Let the summer begin...

Bullying: Why is nothing being done?

Let's face it:  bullying is a huge problem.  It's not a new problem, but it is definitely one that is gaining in momentum.  With the invention of email, facebook, myspace and twitter, bullying has taken on a life of it's own and something really needs to be done to stop it.  Nearly every day you can find another story about violence caused by bullying, whether it be an attack or a suicide.  How incredibly sad when you hear of school officials and/or parents who KNOW about the bullying and do nothing to stop it!  The laws regulating bullying (or should I say, lack of laws) is outrageous.

In our school, for instance, there are daily occurances of kids taunting other kids, making threats, pushing, teasing, etc.  And no, there is generally nothing done about it.  There seems to be a set of school rules that only exist for protect the bully.  What ever happened to kids being expelled at school for causing harm?  When a child threatens to harm another student, why isn't that kid able to be seen by a professional?  Apparently the "rules" are that seeking help is only an option AFTER a physical attack occurs.  Hmmm.  So my child can only be protected AFTER she gets physically hit?  Wow... what a screwed up society we have.  Interesting how an adult can get a restraining order on another adult who threatens them, but a child can't go to school officials and request such an order for another child.  As parents, what are we supposed to do?  Many end up pulling good kids out of school.  How insanely ridiculous that the good kids are suffering and the bad kids go about their business as if nothing has happened.  Come on school board... and PTA... and local police departments.  DO SOMETHING!!!!  It's the kid who bullies at 10 who will become the same kid who pulls a gun in high school.

Disclaimer:  No, my own kids have not been personally bullied at school.  They do, however, know other kids who have.  Yes, I personally know some of the bullies and know for a fact that nothing is being done.  Scary!

Another Manic Morning

Meltdown Mandy strikes again!

The drama that is generated by one tiny 7 year old girl is truly a feat of nature.  If the energy that is generated by the screaming, feat stomping and hysterical crying could only be harnessed, our energy crisis would be history.  Hmmm... maybe I can figure out a way to strap her to the roof and power our entire house instead of putting up expensive solar panels.

I get that it's early, I get that school can be a drag, I get that guitar lessons this afternoon cause anxiety (despite the fact that she begged for those lessons for a year).  Still.... just brush your darn teeth!!!!!!

What Mandy doesn't like to do:

1. Brush teeth.
2. Get dressed.
3. Clean room.
4. Pack lunch.
5. Make her own breakfast.
5. Go to school.
6. Do homework.
7. Practice the guitar.

If anybody can figure out what my 7 year old precious love of a daughter DOES like to do... please let me know!

A Laugh a Day

My mornings getting three girls ready for school are always crazy.  The clothes, the hair, the breakfasts and lunches... it usually leads to a lot of yelling, fighting, and crying.  In short... I hate mornings.  By the time we actually get into the car I am so looking forward to getting them out of the car and having a few hours to myself.

This morning it wasn't much different, but when we got in the car the tide turned.  My 5 year old had gotten a cheap little plastic toy from McDonalds the other day.  It was an iCarly Spencer's Magic Meatball.  For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't either) it is something along the lines of a Magic 8 Ball.  You ask it a question and it gives you an answer.

The kids started asking questions...

Temera asked if she was going to her friend's house after school (she is).
Answer: Magic Meatball says YES

Amanda asked if she was going to have the best day ever at school.
Answer: Magic Meatball says NO

Okay... this would be funny enough but Amanda kept asking the same question over and over again.  Was she going to have the best day ever at school.  The answer kept coming up: Magic Meatball says NO.

We laughed every time it said that.  And laughed.  And laughed. 

By the time we got to school we were all laughing so hard.  It was wonderful.

I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard with my daughters.  Amazing how a plastic Magic Meatball can turn a miserable morning into a joyous one.

My Newest Pet Peeve

We have a day off of school this week and where do you think most of the kids will be?  Disneyland!

I don't get it... my girls come home every week telling me about a friend (or several) who is going to Disneyland for the day (or weekend).  Now we make a pretty decent living... my kids have plenty of clothes, shoes, warm jackets and enough toys to keep them busy for weeks.  What I don't understand is how most of these other families are actually affording to take their kids to Disneyland every month.  I may not be an accountant but I can figure out that the cost for 5 of us to go to Disneyland will run us about $320 a pop - NOT including parking AND food AND souvenirs!  That seems a little excessive to me.

Now I do understand that since we live in Southern California that many, many people actually do work for Disney - lucky them, they get in FREE!!!!  (Not sure why we don't have ANYONE in our family that works for Disney.)  But really, aren't amusement parks supposed to be special?  Aren't they supposed to be a once in a while event?  Maybe for a birthday... or Spring Break? 

Hearing my kids tell me they want to go is painful.  I know their friends go all the time... we just can't afford to shell out over $400 for a day of fun.  We've only taken our kids to Disneyland once in their young lives... and that was 3 years ago.

So parents... if you are going to actually take your kids OUT of school for the day just to go have fun at Disneyland... please don't tell the entire school about it.  It's making the rest of us parents look (and feel) bad.

Just Another Posting

My husband has been bugging me to add another posting to my blog. I guess I just haven't thought there was much to write about lately.

We seem to be going through the typical "we've been in school a month and the novelty has worn off" mood. The kids don't want to do homework... it's either too easy or too hard. I have been working a lot in the kindergarten class (which wears me out and gives me a headache) and in the 1st/2nd grade split class (which is much more fun since the kids actually want to listen to you). It's time to start doing speeches (4th grade), book reports (2nd grade) and learning to read (K). I feel like I'm homeschooling despite the fact that I seem to recall driving my kids to a large building that says "Highlands Elementary School" every morning.

Oh yes, and Temera has decided to run for polical office. Okay, maybe it's not that political, but in the scheme of elementary school it's a big deal. Preliminary elections are being held today for the Student Council, of which she has thrown her hat in the race for "Activities Director". Hmmm... not sure what someone of that caliber actually does at school, but regardless, that is what she wants to be. Go Temy!

Amanda has managed to move on up to age "7". Friends from school helped her celebrate with a Spa Girlz party (yes, I'm aware of the misspelling). It was a lot of fun and I couldn't have done it without my SIL's help and my mother's help. So... she is now a year older... but sadly, not much wiser.

And me? I have become addicted to watching the news. Every day I am appalled at what is going on in this world. President Obama has said he wants change... boy, are we getting change. Unfortunately, it's not good change. Healthcare... ACORN... Missle Defence... seriously? Change is great... but only if your going forward, not back. I think healthcare insurance companies should all be non-profits. I think ACORN should be dropped like a hot potato. I think Israel needs to just go into Iran and bomb the hell out of them!

Sorry... am I sounding too militant?

Gotta run... have to prepare for my jewelry party tonight. Ah yes... I do have priorities!