Wonder-days provide many lessons

Wednesdays are my Wonder-days!  Back in April of 2010 when I was offered the position to be AHS's principal, I made a promise to my family that I would be done with work on Wednesdays by 5 PM (For those not in a school world, I offered this for Wednesdays because there are rarely any school activities on Wednesdays after 6:30 PM).  A promise I've been able to keep about 90% of the time.  This is one reason why I call Wednesdays my Wonder-days.

However, the main reason they are my Wonder-days is because it's these days that I work at my hardest role in life: Mom.

Those who know me know that motherhood was not something I EVER envisioned for myself until Paul came into my life. My life's ambition up until that point was to be a corporate attorney, which in my mind equated to loads of cash, and to never have a serious relationship, and to never have children.  Are you kidding? I had never held a newborn and quite frankly, babies terrified me.  Thank God Paul came into my life.

What's so big about Wednesdays, then? Well, for me, this is when I run my boys to whatever, I cook dinner (yes, many times I still have to call my mom to ask a cooking question), eat the meal at the dining room table, I pick up the house, put laundry away, cuddle with my family, practice many of the very archaic roles associated with the description of a "mom." Things I need constant training for!

The craziest part... Most times I love every part of it! I love that I have these moments to give to my family in these ways.  It's weird, but in some ways it makes me feel more like a mother and a wife. Why is that?

Thinking about it reminds me of a movie.  Did you ever see the 2004 Stepford Wives? One of my favorite lines comes from Glenn Close's character, Claire Wellington, "So I decided to turn back the clock, to a time before overtime, before quality time, before women were turning themselves into robots."

Wonder-days keep my priorities in check. While this isn't the life I envisioned for myself when I was 18, it is the life I was meant for.

***The picture I included for this post was to spotlight the thoughtfulness of my good friend, Mallory Robinson. I wear this apron on my Wonder-days. It's only fitting.;)

Ways I will improve my multiple facets

Reflection, it’s something I expect of so many around me. It’s only apropos that I take the time to do the same.  A very talented woman, Allison Berryhill, inspired this blog.  She has identified five ways she’ll be a better teacher for next semester. I will follow her suit but in my own way.

6 ways I will be a better principal:

1.     I will get into the classrooms more.  This is one of my favorite things of my job, however, it I don’t schedule the time it slips away.

2.     I will improve upon my communication. I do know that one cannot communicate enough, but I need to do a better job of it.  One thing I have wanted to do since I started in my new role was to have a podcast.  This will happen in second semester.

3.     I will become more positive.

4.     I will find additional ways to work with our students.  We all know that the students of today are not the students of yesterday.  I need to be better prepared on how to help our students of today and tomorrow.

5.     I will be more visible.  I need to be everywhere more. As I reflect on this last semester, I was in my office more than I should have been. Not sure why, just know I was.

6.     I will find more ways to support my teachers.  They are too important and I want them to always feel they have my support.

5 ways I will be a better wife and mother

1.     I will adhere to our original agreement of no work after 5 on Wednesdays and no work on Sundays.  This has gotten lax and I need to get it back on track.  Just because the boys are in my office at these times does not equate to their time.

2.     I will cook more than one meal every three months. Many of our local restaurants will be disappointed in this choice, but this is out of hand.  Plus, cooking is therapeutic for me, and as surprising as this is to some, I've improved greatly.

3.     I need to read more with the boys.  I miss when I would read to them before bed. 

4.     I need to help with keeping up with the house. This will equate to picking up before bed, making our bed in the morning, etc.

5.     I need to do better with communicating with Paul.  He shouldn’t learn about things from conversations I have with others.

5 ways to be a better me:

1.     I will eat healthier.

2.     I will exercise at least three times a week.

3.     I will go to bed at a more reasonable hour.

4.     I will take time to read for enjoyment.  All of my reading has been professional.

5.     I will recognize the blessings in my life.

2012 will be an amazing year.  I look forward to how I’ll be able to reflect on how I did to accomplish the aforementioned statements.

Happy New Year to one and all!

Tweaking the November Challenge

I try to express my gratitude as often as possible.  However, I’m going to take it to a public forum and share 30 things I’m thankful for.  These are in no particular order.

1.     Paul makes me a whole person.  He truly is the yin to my yang.  I hope he knows how much I adore him.

2.     Zachary and Devin make my heart smile.  I didn’t know I was capable to love as much as I love them.

3.     Beth Joy has always been my mother who I knew loved me. I am so glad that she is now my best friend.  She knows how to keep things in perspective for me.

4.     January 11, 1993. A date in history that helped turn my life in a new direction.

5.     My brother DJ has always looked out for me.  His family is a blessing.

6.     Lyle came into our lives and showed us better ways to be.

7.     My dad always tells me how proud he is of me.

8.     John and Tracy have added so much to my life.

9.     Nieces and nephews for making me smile and laugh every chance they get.

10. In-laws who always make me feel like I am where I’m supposed to be.

11. Extended family for accepting me for who I am.

12. Atlantic High School faculty is comprised of amazing teachers.  I appreciate how they never back away from challenges and truly want to do the best for our students.

13. AHS Student Council and NHS for setting great examples for our student body.

14. The AHS student body for being our students.

15. Cathy K., the queen of AHS.  She is the backbone of AHS.  I can never thank her enough for all that she does.

16. Danna and Amber for always working so hard.

17. Josh R. for helping keep things in perspective and for working to make a difference.

18. Friends for continually showing their support.

19. Our home is where I’m most comfortable.

20. Days when I can be home and cuddle with our family while watching movies.

21. The examples set by my grandparents serve as my guides to be better.

22. Twitter, where I find some great resources from others around the state and where I can share my thoughts on anything.

23. Facebook for keeping me connected to people who have left handprints on my heart.

24. Blogspot for which I wouldn’t have an avenue to share my thoughts.

25. Mr. Mendez, my third grade teacher, for recognizing that I needed more help with reading and never gave up on me.

26. Miss Shaw, my fifth grade teacher, for talking to me with respect and for expecting more from me.

27. Those who invested in making me be better than I imagined I could be. I work to make all proud, myself included.

28. People who work to make the world a better place.

29. The Big Bang Theory creators for making a show that helps take my mind off of things.

30. My life experiences because it is through these that I have become who I am and continue to grow to be.

Through a son's eyes

One role that I never knew how I'd be was my most important role, a mom.  Growing up I never was one of those girls who couldn't wait to get married and have children of her own.  In fact that thought only even began after I met the most amazing man, now my husband and best friend.

Our sons are quite remarkable.  We are extremely blessed.

Something that we started to do a couple of years ago was the keeping of special things they say or do.  Z and D love hearing what we record in their books.  The last entry in D's book is probably going to be one of the entries I will love hearing.

We were cuddling on the couch watching a program when a Victoria's Secret commercial came on.  D guffawed at the women in their underwear, and I said, "They're beautiful and look healthy."

D asked, "You think they are pretty?"

"Yes, I do."

Then the most amazing thing sprang from his lips, "I think you're prettier than they are."

He has no idea how that statement will live with me forever.  I hope he always sees me with so much love in his eyes.

Back-to-School

Back-to-school and trying to get back into some sort of groove and routine is our latest adventure.  

The first day I was worried about how Devin would do.  This was the first year where Zachary wouldn’t be in the same building as him.  What was I worried about?  Devin was a trooper and I don’t even think he flinched as he walked on in to his home away from home.  In fact, he was only worried about whether or not Mrs. G would think his shirt was funny.  He’s decided he should be the class clown especially once others got to see his shirt the second day too.  (After reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and seeing the movies Devin is thinking about how he’ll be remembered).

Zachary took everything in stride and was happy to be in Mr. H’s class with so many of his friends.  He was thrilled that he only had math homework the first week.  Zachary will also have to get used to only having one recess this year.  Hard to believe he hits double digits in a couple of weeks.

Paul has taken the biggest step this year.  He has transferred to the fifth grade.  This is the first time in his fourteen years as a teacher where he will have a self-contained classroom.  I love seeing the excitement he exudes as he works in his classroom and prepares lessons for the week.

Entering my second year as high school principal has me ecstatic too.  We are the building of internal change.  I am anxious to see how students will grow because of all the efforts their teachers, paraeducators, staff, and administrators will put forth. 

I love learning, whether it’s my own, my sons’, my husbands’, our students’, our teachers’, whomever’s.  I love it!  Here’s to continuing our life educations!

It's not just about the 3 Rs: National Teacher Appreciation Week

At the beginning of the year I believe I told teachers at AHS that had it not been for some very special educators in my life I could, and probably would have, gone down a very different path—not a positive one by any means. 

During third grade I was granted the gift of a teacher, James L. Mendez.  He was the teacher who pulled me aside one day because he didn’t like whom he saw me hanging around with (fifth graders who drank and smoke).  While he was a phenomenal teacher that taught me advanced math and helped recognize I had dyslexia, he is more important to me because he taught me, “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.”

Miss Marta E. Shaw was the angel I had in fifth grade.  I remember so many extras she did for me.  Her greatest impacts on me were the following: Drugs and alcohol will kill you; Think before you speak; Reading can take you places.

Carrie Allen helped me fall in love with Shakespeare and to whom I would often think of when I taught English.  While we had a very positive relationship when I was in high school, it wasn’t until after I graduated that I would learn how much she did behind the scenes for me.  Of course these I learned from others who thought I should know.

Richard K. Layson, my grandfather, taught me so much.  He taught me that through hard work anything could be accomplished.  Grandpa taught me why it’s important to give back.  He taught me that there is a time for listening and observing and many times more for this than talking.  Grandpa taught me so much more, and the interesting part is it was mostly taught through example.

Every day of my life I have had a teacher who believed in me and fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself.  Teachers do make an impact on their students and the world.

During this week I encourage you to take time to thank a teacher who has made a difference in your life.

(PS: The photo is of a headstone that marks a grave that the women in the Hoppe family adopted.  It was their belief, which is carried on by my mother, that no teacher's grave should go unattended. Another valuable lesson.)

Another opportunity to be an educator

Life has been crazy busy! I know my world typically feels like that, but lately I’m in hyper-speed. Therefore, I’ve not taken much time to reflect on much of anything.

Last night AHS held Prom.  As I watched the kids, who really behaved themselves very well, I realized the loss of a different type of education.  The education of being a gentleman. 

As the mother of two young boys I recognize that this education is crucial to their futures.  Some might think that can’t possibly be the case.  I stand by it.  What could possibly make being a gentleman important?

Our boys will open doors for ladies, hold their right arms out to escort them, shake hands firmly with all, look people in the eyes when talking or listening to them, chew with their mouths closed, say please and thank you, among many other things.

Normally, I do not have values that are considered “old fashioned.”  This is one way of thinking that may be thought of as old fashioned, but it’s still highly fashionable.  One of the reasons I fell in love with Paul is because he was/is a gentleman and always treated me like a lady.

These are simple tools that I need to provide for our children.  These tools will help set them apart from others and help earn them the respect of others.  Which equal ways to help them become successful in whatever paths they choose.

Next year I need to remember to teach our juniors and seniors some of these simple tools.  If anything, maybe I can just show them how to offer an arm to their dates.  Another opportunity for me to serve as their educator.