Say It

This song was playing a few days ago, and it got me thinking about how many times I haven't said what needed to be said. I used to speak my mind very freely. Having children tempered that a little bit I guess. Being with Chris tempered it a little more. Now there are very few times that I saw what I think or what I think should be said.

I don't know if it is better to speak your mind or to keep things in. A healthy balance is probably the right thing to do, but who the hell has time to decide when to put a lid on it?!?! For me, I think I have become a people pleaser...sort of. I don't want to hurt those that I love, so I just don't address things that bother me. They never know, so they don't get hurt. It probably isn't great for my health, but hey, at least someone's happy, right?

When do I bottle things up the most? At work probably. I get so irritated at so many of the parents of my students sometimes. Being in a very rural area, there are extremely poor families. This tends to equate to neglected kiddos. It pisses me off to no end. Mostly because I have been there. I have been so poor that I had to beg my mom to pay my water or electric bill so that my babies would have heat and water. But by God, they were never allowed to suffer or even do without. If I had to clean toilets for my family members for my girls to see a doctor or have medicine, then so be it. I always came up with a way. They never even knew how badly off we were and how hard it was for me at times just to feed them, much less handle birthdays and holidays. It used to scare terrify me to the core when there were breaks in the school year like spring break, because I never was sure how I would keep them well-fed during the entire break without school breakfast and lunch to help get us through. How can you let your kids suffer? How do you see them burn the skin off of their leg, to the bone, and cover it with a dry diaper for God's sake (no ointment) before sending them to school? Seriously, I had this happen just a couple of years ago...I had to tell the mom to come get her and she couldn't return to school without a doctor's note...just so that we knew she had been to get the burn treated. Really? How the @$#@ do you do that to a five year old and think it's okay? Oh and, occasionally I get frustrated with my co-workers as well, but who doesn't? In order to keep things as peaceful as possible in the work place, I just stay in my classroom. It doesn't always work, and there have been some really bad spells. There are so many things that I would like to say. But I don't. Ulcer in the making? Probably. Or a heart attack. Stress at work last year put an extra 13 pounds on me...which I have lost in the last three months (kudos to me, yes).

At home, I can usually say whatever. Mostly though, I don't. I usually don't have to. Anyway...

"Say what you need to say"

Challenge Day 20/30...I'm A Teacher For Heaven's Sake!

Of course I think that education is important. Very important. I think that every person has the capability to become educated...perhaps not to the same degree as the next person or the person before...but educated in some manner. Sometimes the highest level of education is learning life skills; sometimes it is training to be an astro-physicist; sometimes it is educated in less desirable skills...street smarts. For the most part, children value what their parents value...whether they realize/admit it or not. If parents are learners, children typically will be curious and interested in learning new things as well.

The workforce is becoming increasingly more competitive year after year. Colleges and prospective employers look at GPAs, extracurricular involvement, community service, and how much time/effort/consistency/commitment was devoted to the various activities. The desirable students/employees are the ones that have been trained in college and career preparatory course work; students that seek out opportunities to enhance their learning and performance. Employees that have been around awhile without furthering their education or having some professional development along the way may get pushed aside, to make way for some young up and comer that does have all of the 'new' knowledge of how things work and should be done. Technology is a prime example of a skill that young workers have, but old-timers may be lacking in. Be vigilant about education...strengthen your brain...grow some brain cells!!! They may die if you don't use them...the brain needs exercise just as much as the rest of your body!

At a different level, and more personally, I am a lifelong learner. I love to learn new things. My nose is typically in a book (kindle) or googling something. Lefty is the same way. I love that she loves to learn the way I do. I feel stagnant when I am not actively learning something new. It may be a new skill, new information, or just an extension of something that I already knew...but I feel better about myself...more excited and alive...when my brain is engaged. Both of my parents are educators; my dad has multiple master's degrees. I was raised hearing jokes about 'professional college students' (the ones that keep going back for more...they never are done). That will be me. I have already started work on my first master's...took a break to get settled in my Knight Life...but am getting the itch to start up again. The mind is feeling idle.

I believe that I am rambling. I probably shouldn't have even started this post, as I know that I am not doing it justice! I have tired eyes...allergies...must get rest...

Quilt class starts tomorrow!!! Once again, learning something new!!!

Challenge Day 19/30...Parents

The instruction for today's challenge simply says "disrespecting your parents." Now I am not quite sure if that means that I am supposed to disrespect them here on my blog, or if I am supposed to tell my thoughts about being disrespectful to parents. I was raised to be respectful of everyone, all of the time, so I don't think I can do the disrespecting part. I will just say this...children today are not expected to respect anyone. Not even themselves. It is very difficult to try to teach a group of 5 and 6 year olds that have not been taught the value/meaning/necessity of respect. They don't respect their parents, so they certainly don't come to the classroom knowing how to respect any person of authority. It doesn't seem to get much better as they get older from what I observe by watching the students of other grades in the building and at bus duty. I have seen children (age 5) hit their mother, scream at their grandparents, and throw themselves in the floor...yes, in front of everyone...refusing to do as they are asked...on a regular basis. It is disheartening. Children need guidance. They need an adult presence. They do not need someone that is going to just be their buddy. If you teach them from an early age to love and respect you and your rules and/or expectations...they will be your forever friend, loving and respecting you in return. Show them how to handle mistakes with grace. They will know that they can depend on you and trust you to do the right thing...and they will know what the right thing is from watching your example. 

Honesty.

Guidelines.  

Commitment. 

Follow through. 

High expectations.

Dependability. 

Reliability.

Firmness. 

Respect.

Challenge Day 18/30... I believe in...

happy endings

follow through

honesty

family

integrity

taking and accepting responsibility

true love

learning something new every day

being challenged and conquering the challenge

commitment