#sol18: Snoopy Tears

#SOL18: March 20th

Snoopy Tears

     The tears come on suddenly, and without any warning.  It could be a picture on Timehop.  It could be when I go to put food away that my kids left out so that she won't get it.  It could be when I see Snoopy merchandise out in the world.  Sometimes, it's the ringing of Christmas bells like the ones she would hit with her nose to go outside.  Finding her hair on my scarves does it, too.

     Snoopy, I miss you.

     I hide my tears so that my kids don't get upset that I am upset.  But how do I not cry, when my fur child has left us?  It's been a few months, and those months have had holidays, and normal days, that have made me think of her.

     I miss the dog sitting under the dinner table, hoping for a snack.  I miss the dog who followed me around the house, just because she wanted to.  I miss the tail that would wag hello as I came home everyday.  I miss the dog laying next to me.  I miss finding her in her spot in my closet.  I miss the moments we had that have now become Timehop memories, even though they make me cry.  I miss her.

#sol18: Picture Day

#SOL18: March 19th

Picture Day

     There I was, standing in the stairwell at Heritage right as the bell rang.  Immediately, seas of students washed down the stairs in a wave of hunger as they headed to their lunch period.  This happens to me a lot, and I have learned that the best thing to do is avoid getting swept into the wave. I stand clear on the wall and wait for it to pass.  Today, though, the wave wasn't a normal sea of navy blue and khaki.  Today, it was all dressed up and ready to party!  There were bow ties, dresses, heals, t-shirts, and everything in between.  This could be a dress down day, but they seemed more dressed up.  When I saw Michelle Brezek, the teacher I was coming to visit, all dressed up in her fancy red dress, I knew my inference seemed right.  It was 8th grade picture day!  

 

     After lunch ended, the students returned to Andrea Bortscheller/Brezek's room, and they did their 7 minute write about how they could do 17 things to honor those lost at Parkland.  I watched these dressed up students write, and then share their writing with a peer, as they reflected on a skill that is far more beautiful than heals and sequins.  They then came to the carpet and had a classroom conversation, where 7th and 8th graders sat in a circle and shared their honest thoughts and wonderings about the world we live in today.  The conversation began with Andrea's calm opening, and ended with Michelle telling her students that she loves them. It was beautiful.

     I found myself adding to the conversation as well.  I was moved by a former students' honest wondering why the constant shootings in Chicago don't get attention, and then I looked across the circle and saw her shirt.  Love wins.  I couldn't help adding my own comment, to many students I was meeting for the first time, that it's conversations like this one that can change the world.  Love wins, always.  In so many situations, love wins.  

     I am so grateful for being a part of this class for a small chunk of time on a day when I got to see not only how they want themselves to be seen on the outside (thanks to picture day) but also who they are on the inside (thanks to their writing and conversation, and some of their clothes choices too.)

#sol18: Great

#SOL18: March 18th

Great

     I took this picture on March 1st to remember to slice about our conversation.  Today, 18 days later, I finally remembered.  So, I am going to give a word of caution that my quotation marks might be more paraphrase marks by this point.  I'm not sure my memory works that well.  

     Me, to former student A:  "How are you doing?"

     A:  "Great.  I'm doing great!" he said in an upbeat, confident tone.

     Me:  "Really?  Why great?  That's a strong response."

     A:  "I don't know.  There's nothing bad going on, so I'm great."

     His response just surprised me.  I ask so many people how they are, and most people don't sound as great.  Perhaps they are equally as well, but he just seemed upbeat and happy.

     It was such a quick conversation that reminded me again of A's positive nature.  They say surround yourself with positive people, and he sure is one of those people.  I was reminded of a time when he thanked me for teaching a lesson in his class, and his sincerity just stood out.  This day in class, his "expel air from the lungs in a sharp manner" blessing after a sneeze reminded me of his humor.  Yesterday, a video on Twitter of his class playing a vocabulary quiz with his optional dancing reminded me of his joy.  Today, I see that being around him is what that saying is all about.  Surround yourself with positive people, and you see the good in the world.

     I hope to be a positive person for others, too.  Thanks, A,  for being a model of having a joyful mindset, a caring heart, and a positive outlook on life.  You seem to have perspective at a young age.

     Thanks, A.

#sol18: Limerick

#SOL18: March 17th

A Limerick

There once was a gal named Leah Marie

Who wanted to be a leprechaun, you see.

So she went to a kindergarten class

And snapped a picture real fast...

With Photoshop's help a leprechaun she can be!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(Thanks, +Lily Gelacio, for the use of your project!)

#sol18: Half

#SOL18: March 16th

Half

Half of a square is a rectangle.

Half of a Reese's Peanut Butter Egg is something to share with my daughter.

Half of a sandwich is about all my kids seem to eat during lunch at school.

Half an hour is 30 minutes.

Half of a glass is half full.

Half of a marathon is something I can't accomplish.

Half of a pot of gold is still treasure.

Half of a pot of coffee is more than enough.

Half of a cup of coffee is not nearly enough, unless it's a second cup.

Half of 31 is 15.5. 

It's March 15th at noon.  

Half of #sol18 is over, and I'm still writing!

#sol18: Bedtime Play{mobil}

#SOL18: March 15th

Bedtime Play{mobil}

 

All Hail the King of Egypt!  Egypt!
All Hail the King of Egypt!  Egypt!
All Hail the King of Egypt!  Egypt!
All Hail the King of Egypt!  Egypt!

      Here we are, sitting in a darkish room, lit only by the Christmas lights that seem to have become permanently affixed to our wall, and the light of my computer.  The kids are playing with their Playmobil figures.  My son is putting on a dance show, singing the song above as he moves his figures.  My daughter is digging through the people, looking for the skeleton figures.  I am pretending not to listen to them as I type, because I don't have a story to write for tomorrow.  It must be March.

      My daughter announces that she is turning the lamp on so that she can find her characters easier in a giant bin of toys.  My son then turns it back off.   She turns it back on.  They love to do that sort of thing.

     Here we are, 2 minutes until bedtime, and they are still locked into their play.  I'm too tired to do much about it, so I sit and listen to them.

     My daughter is now crawling around the bin, which is somewhat clear, rather than digging through the basket.  She then decided to just take handfuls and dump them on the floor.  This seems really productive.  I mean, bedtime in near.  Efficiency is key.

     "OK, guys.  We can finish this tomorrow.  It's bedtime."  They walked up stairs, brushed their teeth, and went to bed.  It was almost dreamlike.

     Wait, it was a dream.  I think I dozed off for a minute.  The reality getting to bed version was not so dreamy.

#sol18: Snow

#SOL18: March 14th

Snow

No.

No.

NO.

Snow.

Hey, Mother Nature, it's March.  Just giving you a heads up.

No snow.