Jumping Jacks are the Hardest Thing

We've been back at school for almost 2 weeks and summer already seems like a distant memory. Josie just started 2nd grade & I began my 23rd year of teaching and we're both loving it! We aren't thrilled about the early start to our routine or the August Heat but things are going well, especially since our classrooms have working AC at the moment! (Back to School Night was conducted in sweltering classrooms with NO AC that registered 98 degrees indoors--not very aromatic introduction for new parents.)

Josie's now seven (in legal terms, I've heard this referred to as the Age of Reason) but her logic & observations continue to delight me. Although, there are those brief moments when I wish for quiet and solitude instead of listening to her constant chatter. I quickly remind myself that it won't be long before she'll hit those pre-teen sullen/silent years so I put my Listening Ears back on so I don't miss out on Josie's Wisdom.

During the final weeks of summer we were busy with Play Dates & Water Park Visits & trips to the coast to escape Fresno's Summer Heat. She also spent a lot of time with her friend, David, swimming in his pool, hanging out with him at her Dad's house, & enjoying Game Night with his family. I tried several times to invite him to our house for a Play Date but each time I suggested it, Josie vetoed the idea. After several suggestions, I started wondering if she didn't want David to see our "old" house so I asked her directly, "Why is it that you don't want David to come to our house?" Her response was honest: "Mom, I have a lot of Girl Things at our house. I don't want David to know I have so many Girl Things so it's easier to play with him at Daddy's." I suggested that we could pack up the Girl Things and give them away or hide them in my bedroom. She pondered that for a moment and said, "Yes, that might work but we can't give away my Polly Pockets yet." (Darn it!)

Speaking of "Darn It", Josie has an ongoing fear of Flushing Toilets. She cringes at the sound at home every time a toilet is flushed. But, she's downright fearful of those Sensor Toilets in Public Restrooms because she has figured out that those are extremely LOUD & they often flush while she's still sitting on the toilet. I think she suffers PTSD due to Sensor Toilets. Needless to say, at home she rarely flushes the toilet and her bathroom visits are followed by these questions, "Did you wash your hands & flush the toilet?" These questions always result in an About Face Run to the bathroom to remedy whichever task she forgot. A few weeks ago, on one of those dreadfully hot Fresno days, I was putting laundry away and heard Bentley lapping up water out of the toilet. My mind flashed & I ran to the bathroom to find Bentley drinking out of an unflushed toilet and was completely grossed out. I yelled, "DARN IT! Josie---you have GOT to start flushing the toilet without any reminders!" Sensitive Josie sulked into the bathroom with tears in her eyes & whimpered, "Mom, I can't believe you just 'Darnded' at me. That hurts my feelings." After a calm discussion & a demonstration of what Poor (Disgusting) Bentley had just lapped out of the toilet, I think she remembered to Flush for at least 24 hours.

Now that I'm teaching the same grade that Josie attends, I get to see her quite a bit throughout the day. I love this & so far, she seems to think it's pretty neat that she can call me "Mom" while everyone else calls me "Ms. Severt" (although, I hear "Josie's Mom" just as often as I hear "Ms. Severt). I'm definitely NOT a model of Physical Education and it's laughable to think I'd know the first thing about teaching PE but in California, elementary teachers are the sole instructors of Art, Music & PE. (Scary to think I have to instruct/model any of these 3 subjects, huh?) Our Second Grade Team of Teachers has a system for PE. We begin the year teaching all of our 120 2nd graders to line up like the Football Team and we do exercise & warm up drills, counting off like drill sergeants. We follow that by a lap or two around the track, walking in the heat & jogging if the weather is tolerable. Once our kiddos have the Warm Up Routine under their belts, we'll begin teaching skills of popular recess games: soccer, basketball, hoola hoops & hopscotch. This is a much different routine than Josie's PE experience in first grade where they played things like Roller Ball or Jump Rope or parachute. After the first week of PE (Ed Code requires 100 minutes of PE per week), I asked Josie what she thought of 2nd Grade PE. She sighed heavily, "I'm not liking it so much. When do we get to do the fun things like throw balls at each other?" I promised her that we'd start the Fun Stuff soon but tried to focus on the positive aspects of Exercising. "Which Warm Up Exercise do you like best, Josie?" "I don't know, but I can tell you which one I DON'T like the most: Jumping Jacks! My arms are close to my brain so they seem to understand what to do but my legs are so far away from my brain that they don't do the right thing. Jumping Jacks are the hardest thing about 2nd grade, Mom."

Simplicity!

We've had one of the best summers---haven't felt this relaxed in a long time & as I look through our collection of digital photos, I'm amazed at the adventures we've had with family & friends!

I'm not sure why this summer felt less stressful: Is it because we had such mild temperatures for Fresno? Or maybe it's because the end of the school year seemed so dismal with lay-offs, goodbyes, and changes? Perhaps it's just a mind-set because I was determined to enjoy the days with Josie & settle into a state of calm. Whatever it was, it's been delightful & energizing!

I have a sneaking suspicion that part of the reason our summer was filled with so many adventures is due to the fact that we've had no television since sometime in May (converter box died). At first, I thought about replacing it and even checked into the least expensive cable plan but after a few weeks, Josie & I decided we didn't really miss television. We've played lots of games, read numerous books, had lots of play dates, camping trip, day trips to the coast, poker night with friends, water park outings, and lots of time to talk. And talking with Josie is always enlightening and interesting!
To top it off, a few weeks ago a transformer in our alley exploded loudly and after it was finally repaired and our AC was restored, I discovered that our computer modem had been fried. Took me a few days to explore my options and finally bought a new modem but still the connection was intermittent. Facebook, emails, and computer games came to a halt but it just added to the time we spent doing more interesting things. After a few lengthy phone calls to at&t I finally had a modem that 'sort of' worked but then the computer kept shutting down on it's own and frustration started seeping into my bliss. After a few attempts to defragment and clean up files, I finally had computer wizards check it out and it's been determined that the motherboard is fried.
Being without connections and reading updates from those I love and those I barely know, I realized that life without Facebook might be a good thing for me. I'll save for a new computer (or, do what Josie keeps suggesting: "Ask Santa for a laptop!") but in the meantime, our wonderfully generous friends, Robert & Nikki, have loaned us a laptop so that I can keep the world informed of the latest Josieisms.

I'll add this post to Facebook in case anyone wants to click on the link and save the blog in your favorites or become a follower. I'll miss updates from those I love & admire on facebook but I hope you'll keep in touch via phone & email or maybe even stop in and read my blog from time to time.

severt.lori@gmail.com
http://www.thoughtsfromtheseadblogspot.com/

And, of course, I have to leave you with a recent Josieism: "Summertime is great but I miss my friends and I really need to get back to school and work on my 'clalluses' on the monkey bars. I'm really out of shape, you know."

Time to get back to work, eh? I need to develop the calluses on my brain!

How does Life get so busy?

It seems as though I never quite accomplish all of the things on my To Do List but I remind myself frequently that Time is a precious gift. If I get too caught up in keeping a clean house, empty laundry baskets, and a tidy yard I will miss out on the most important things in life. I started this blog almost 2 years ago as a way to keep in touch & to record Josie's daily life but it's been months since I've posted so it's about time I share some more Josieisms. Many of these have already been shared via facebook (that great time waster aka 'a social network') but if I ever figure out how to print my blog I want to save these Josieisms so she can read them herself someday.

November 2009:

Our school used to hold a Multicultural Feast and all of our ethnically diverse families would bring food from their culture to share. Sadly, state law prohibits us from sharing anything home-cooked so we've adopted an annual Multicultural Fashion Show instead. Students are encouraged to dress up in traditional clothing to share with all of our students. Josie, being all about "fashion" really REALLY wanted to participate this year. I tried several times to explain the concept because she thought she could wear a pretty dress and be part of the show. She finally caught on when I showed her some photos from last year's show. She wasn't going down easily, though. "Well, Mom. Why can't I just wear my Old Navy cupcake shirt and jeans? I can be a United States of American, can't I?"

Walking down the hall at school, past the kindergarten classrooms: "Hmmm....(with a wrinkled up nose)...smells like kindergarteners down here." What does a kindergartener smell like? "Sweaty."

Weeping after school one day, I asked her what had made her so sad. "I really wanted to eat hot lunch today because it was cheese pizza, but you put 'pasghetti in my lunch instead. (insert whimper) I ate cheese anyways, because Mrs. Rail said you wouldn't care. I can't wait to be seven so my life won't be so hard."

December 2009:

Josie's Six Year Old Christmas Wish List: "I'm not a Girlie-Girl anymore, Mom. I like Boy-ie things now because I really like boys. I hope Santa brings me a Nerf gun and some Star War Legos. But, he can still put nail polish in my stocking if he wants."

First words on Christmas Morning after spying gifts under the tree: "Mom! Myriam was wrong!! She told me I was on Santa's Naughty List, but I can tell that Santa knows more than Myriam."

January 2010:

Mom: "Josie, do you want me to help you put Neosporin and band-aids on your injuries?"
Josie: "I've lost six teeth already, Mom. I can put band-aids & ointment on all by myself." (with an eye roll, of course)

"My stomach is having an earthquake today. I just want to go to sleep so it won't throw up on me."

One day when I had Yard Duty at morning recess she ran up to me, nearly bouncing with excitement. "Mom, we have a substitute today!" Really? Do you know her name? Look of concentration with a furrowed eyebrow, "Ummmm....I'm pretty sure it's Miss D but she's the one with the cute little nose."

February 2010:

Looking forlorn and speaking in a grumpy tone, "So, Mrs. Rail told us the groundhog saw his shadow this morning. Does this mean I won't feel warm until I'm in about 2nd grade, Mom? (big sigh) It's such a sad day. I don't think I like this holiday too much."

"I really hope Cupid doesn't shoot me tomorrow, Mom. I don't want to have to fall in love with someone I don't even like!"
Two days later, "Mom!! I survived Cupid! I'm not in love with anyone so I know he didn't shoot me. I'm a good hider!"

Getting ready to go to the park on one of the first spring-like days, "We need to hurry up. There are probably kids just waiting at the park to be my friend today."

March 2010:

"Mom, what does 'delicate' mean?"
Thinking I'd help her figure it out by using the context in which she heard the word, I asked her, "Where did you hear that word?"
Without a moment's hesitation she replied, "In the shower. I hear all kinds of things in my head when I take showers."

One morning at school I stopped to talk to a friend in the office. Josie was ever-so-anxious to get out on the playground and was trying her best to be patient. "Excuse me? Come on, Mom! You're moving like slug!"

"Mom, I love you to infinity. And that's forever. But I love fish to zero. 'Cause I don't even like it to 1. It's nasty!" (with a really wrinkled nose & pinched face)

"Hey, Mom? Don't I have an Aunt Lynne?"

You certainly do!

"McKenzie has an Aunt Lynne, too! Can you believe it? She doesn't have Jordyn or Brady cousins, though. Too bad for her."

One afternoon after trying to coax her into getting some homework done and then having her procrastinate and stall by watching her break & sharpen her pencil for the 5th time, I let out a big sigh. She turned to me in her innocent manner and responded, "Mom, I know how you feel. I'm going to feel the same way when you're old and I'm in college. I'll know so much more than you. I'll get tired out just trying to talk to you about everything you don't know."

When you drop in to visit, my house probably won't be picked up, and the laundry won't be folded and put away, and the yard is likely to appear abandoned. We're too busy enjoying our time together to worry about those things. Living in the moment is the best way to cherish the time we're given!

Travels with Josie

We are finally back into our routine after a THREE week winter vacation (heaven!) that was preceded by a windfall-surprise-visit from my niece, Kala, during the week of Thanksgiving break, followed by the 9 Sleep Holiday with Grandpa! It feels like we've had an entire month of celebrations, tours, and memory-making. We enjoyed every single moment and it just makes us miss our far away family & friends even more.

Whenever we have visitors it's only natural to take tours of this amazing & diverse state where we are fortunate to live. I made a promise to myself when I moved here that I would NOT take the proximity to the ocean & mountains for granted and I vowed to make a trip to one or the other at least once a month. So far, I've only missed 5 out of the 102 months I've lived here. Not too shabby. I've explored many amazing places and keep returning to our favorites while trying to have new experiences whenever possible.

In the last 4 years I've put about 45,000 miles on my car and Josie has been with me for nearly all of them. We have great conversations & share all kinds of personal secrets as we scoot along the highways and interstates.

"Are we almost there?" "This looks like a good place to pee in the grass, don't you think?" "Are we almost there?" I'm not pulling out until you buckle up." "I have to go, Mommy." "Can we sing something other than Hannah Montana?" "Oh gross! Bentley just frew up all over the seat! I want out!" "No, we don't need another Happy Meal." "Are we almost there?" "See if you can count 100 red cars!" "Mom, Bentley keeps wagging me with his tail!" "Ewwww...I smell skunk and I don't like it, Mom!" "Are we almost there?" "I spy with my little eye..."

I've listened to countless songs by Hannah Montana, Raffi, Jack Johnson, & endless High School Musical, longing for the day when I can get her an iPod with earphones. Still, the long car trips have been worth it so that we can explore, hike, camp & play in the beautiful places that surround our home, not to mention the opportunities to escape Fresno's intense heat or smothering fog. And I DO love my alone time with Josie. She's entertaining & full of spirit & she always makes me smile. Even when I'm annoyed with her whining.

Last week on the way home from our trip to Point Lobos State Reserve (just south of Carmel on Highway 1) Josie introduced me to a new car game she calls "If I...." We each took a turn coming up with a new "If I" sentence starter and then we listed our grand ideas.

Here are some of my favorites that Josie shared:

"If I could be an animal I'd be Pretty Bird because she is beautiful & sings so sweetly."

"If I could fly anywhere in the world, I'd go see my cousins and eat pickles and catch fireflies."

"If I had a piggy bank full of quarters, I'd go see Maya & Sage."

"If I could be anything in the world when I grow up I'd be your Josie, Mom."

"If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd live with Nikki & Robert and their whole zoo!"

"If I could be a fairy, I'd sprinkle everyone with Laughing Potion and then watch them laugh."

"If I could go on a train trip I would want Grandpa to go with me because he loves trains."

"If I could be anywhere right now, I'd be home snuggling Bentley."

I love that she has the ability to dream! I like this game far more than other Travel Games we've played and I know she liked it, too. She was pretty disappointed when we finally reached home and quietly asked, "When's our next trip, Mom?"

Weddings & Morals & National Day of Writing

I have never heard of National Day of Writing until my neighbor & friend, Kathee, started spreading the word a couple of weeks ago. She was also the person who encouraged me to start a blog a year or so ago to record Josie quips or photos so that our long distance family & friends can keep up with our day-to-day lives. I decided I'd better post something today to honor such a special Day of Writing.

Normally my obsessive thoughts or curious predicaments or Josieisms or my attempts to analyze my choices inspire me to type a post but today my mind is blank. I'm still recovering from a long weekend in Houston to attend my cousin's wedding & to see Josie debut as a flower girl. Perhaps there's a post I can carve from the lessons learned this weekend.

When you're looking forward to an event for over six months, there are bound to be some disappointments along with extreme anxiety. Josie's been talking non-stop about being a flower girl & started counting the sleeps somewhere around 70 Sleeps to Go. We've been taking care of little tasks for the past month to make sure her Costume was ready: fitting at the seamstress to make alterations to the beautiful flower girl dress, a scary trip downtown to Sunnyside Department Store to find ballet slippers, a thorough search for the perfect Flower Girl Up-Do hairstyle, shopping for hair clips to accent the Up-Do, finding plastic jewelry that would be appropriate to wear to a fancy wedding, selecting bling for the reception flip flops, finding an acceptable Rehearsal Dinner outfit, packing our gear to minimize our checked baggage fee, writing sub plans since school days would be missed, struggling through the final 4 sleeps when Josie could hardly contain her excitement and couldn't fall asleep & the final push to the airport. Let me tell you...life is much simpler when I travel alone. (But also less entertaining, I suppose.)

The wedding turned out to be beautiful but the pictures I took did not turn out well, probably due to my shaking hands & my bloodshot tired eyes. Bummer. I think I started snapping photos just to keep my hands off of Josie & my mind focused on something other than her constant whine. Actually, I think some of those whiny moments were somewhat Tantrumish and humiliating. Very humilitating. But, as Diane pointed out on Monday...these will be stories to laugh about someday. Maybe I'll read this a few weeks or months from now & laugh instead of cringe.

Scared Flower Girl Faces as they listened to strict instructions from Sissy, The Wedding Planner from Hell

My lame attempt at styling Josie's hair since she refused to go to her Hair Dresser's Appointment. Anyone who knows me, knows that Hair Styling is a serious Deficit in my Book of Talents.

In retrospect, I know that a fancy Catholic church wedding ceremony in the middle of a downtown city after an 8 hour day of traveling into a different time zone was NOT a good idea for a six year old during a short "long weekend". Josie's extremely social and loves people but her sleep deprivation & disappointment upon finding out that her cousins couldn't join us pushed her over the edge of sanity. I was right there with her & felt like I simply followed her from crisis to crisis all weekend. I was exhausted from all of the diverting & cajoling. I think it was one of my most humiliating experiences as a parent. (Other than that 'pottying in the grass' episode at David & Gudrun's house last year, that is. Although, this is a close 2nd place.)

My sister called yesterday to hear about all of the wedding events & after sharing my stories from my perspective I suggested that she call someone who was there without a 6 year old to find out The Truth. Our $24 small cheese pizza eaten on the sidewalk outside the Magnolia Hotel at 8 O'clock at night because a tantrum forced us to miss the Rehearsal Dinner at the Alley Theater was NOT the highlight of the weekend. I was thinking we'd eat that pizza in our hotel room while watching Monsters Vs Aliens but the buzzing fire alarm that forced an evacuation of the hotel & the booming sirens from the fire engines echoing off of the other skyscrapers just made my head spin & my hands started digging for the Excedrin that was safely tucked into my purse.

Our Friday Night Pizza Entertainment outside the Magnolia Hotel in Houston. My ears are still ringing.

We had looked forward to swimming in the rooftop pool & relaxing in the hot tub but one was too cold & the other scorched our feet so that all we could do was enjoy the blustery wind at 26 stories high. Bribing Josie to walk down the aisle at the wedding turned out okay...she actually completed what she seemed to think was a Death March but only after I promised she could wear her jeans & Old Navy Cupcakes Rock T-shirt to the reception. By then, I was Over It.

Scowling as she waits for dinner to be served at the Reception in her Reward Outfit.

After the too-numerous-to-count tantrums, she ended up dancing the night away at the Reception. Don't you love the outfit? Wonder how many people were saying, "Can't her mother control that girl?"

I had all day Sunday, on our travel day back to Fresno, to determine that I did everything I swore I'd never do as a Parent. I folded under pressure & I'll be spending weeks building back my confidence as a parent. I truly hope that Josie isn't traumatized by my threats & scowls & cursings that were uttered throughout the weekend. The final straw was losing our Boarding Passes in the restroom moments before our scheduled flight. Luckily, Josie's comment brought me back from the edge of insanity when she asked, "Does this mean we'll be living here in this airport for the rest of our lives, Mommy? I hope they have apple juice."

Happy National Day of Writing!!

(I think this is a modern day Fable. Have you figured out the Moral?)