Ends and Beginnings

Possibly the best thing about teaching is that it ends... and then begins again. I really do mean the second part too. Let me not belittle the beauty of the end of the school year. I do appreciate being laid off for 3 months or so and having all of that time to spend with my kids and family. I really do love it. But as far as working goes, a little known secret treasure that is a teacher's occupation, is that the whole thing ends and begins again annually.

I get to think about what was successful this year and make changes and rethink and produce a newer, better product every year. The true joy of this can only be appreciated by those that experience it. I am already fine tuning things for next year...sacrilege I know. The first picture is my classroom. It doesn't look like that anymore mind you. Everything is all tucked away in closets and the floor is clear of desks....... hibernating.

Today is Saturday. It isn't really vacation yet. It's the weekend. It normally takes a couple of weeks to feel the pounds of pressure that is my life dwindle and fade. Still, I have this little buzz in the back of my brain sounding off about the lack of responsibility I have come Monday.

I woke fairly early this morning, and Henry and I went for our walk. We found some raccoon prints and the cedar waxwings were out :) I actually started reading a book (I can only really do this in the summer as correcting is my world all school year). I cut some brush that was drowning out my gooseberry bushes. They are doing fine by the way, because I know how interested all of you are in my gooseberry bushes. I read up on them today and found that they will probably be ripe around mid July. I made barbecued shrimp lettuce wraps for supper. I played with the kids in the yard. We all played a new board game that Nora just got tonight. It was a relaxed, nice day. Love these.

I just read a bit on the huffington post website ( I highly recommend btw. very interesting articles) about fathering daughters. I had pretty much heard it all before, but that didn't stop a few points from hitting home.

1. Don't just call your daughters pretty. Although I am sure they are, they are also brilliant and hardworking.

2. Allow your daughter to say no and have that decision carry weight. Teach them that their words are powerful right from when they are young.

3. Let them fall asleep with you while they are still young enough to want to.

In other news, Henry had his first fencing lesson of the year. He attended a few last year. I am trying to help him get over being so tentative. KILL HENRY KILL!! He just ballet steps around and swats at people.... DESTROY HENRY! TEAR the teacher a new breathing HOLE!! I hope it will seep in somehow.