My Weblog

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOEY KAY!

So - you all know this is Joey's blog, but that I hijack it from time to time when the mood strikes...

Today, I interrupt Joey's usual words of wisdom to wish her the Happiest of Birthdays! I love you baby sister - have a great day!

Vicky

Oct 5, 2009 1:25:01 PM

Everything I need to know, I learned from a kid

For some reason I felt emotionally raw this week. I would cry over spilt milk, or just about anything else for that matter. I think it REALLY sunk in that I'm a poor single mom, one in a million, a boring statistic. At times I felt more alone than I have in years. All I wanted to do was hide in my bed. I cried and cried, sometimes not even knowing why I was crying. It felt so uncharacteristic and unlike the strong, optimistic person I usually am. Last night I decided that when I got up, it would be a new day. Maybe not great, but hopefully better. I decided to get up and run and be extra good to myself and soak up my time with my kids. It worked, I had a good day.

My day got even better when I went to my second job. You know the story, single mom, two jobs, blah blah blah. I work at a children's shelter. I saw my buddies that have been there for a while and met some new kids who've come since I last worked. I also got a dose of reality and a slap in the face. I can crawl in my bed and disappear for days but I still have people who love me and who've got my back. I've never been abused. I've never been as alone as some of these kids are. I can't imagine traveling from place to place and having all my belongings fit in a grocery sack. Although they are not in jail they are still in "the system". Although staff is not supposed to hug the kids, I do. I always wonder what sort of life awaits them when they age out of the system. How do they get out of bed, would I if I were them? During the shift I laughed harder than I have in weeks. I was reminded that life is not about the have and have nots but about people and how you treat them. It's about opening up your mind and your heart and giving people a second, or third, or a hundredth chance.

On my way home I cried... again! I couldn't believe how selfish I've acted this week. I may have a lot on my plate but I'm not and never will be alone. Tonight when I'm in my bed surrounded with my material belongings, I will say an extra prayer for my buddies in the shelter. I thank them for opening up my eyes and showing me once again, what truly matters.

Sep 27, 2009 12:37:16 AM

Home School

One of Molly's favorite shows is Obsessed on A&E. She has a fake "Barbie" that doesn't have hair on the crown of her head. Budget cuts. I explained to Molly that the doll has a comb over. Molly said that she pretends that the doll has OCD and pulls her hair out. Brilliant. Why wouldn't she?

The new season of Flipping Out is on Bravo. THE best tv show since Kathy Griffin (and Anna Nicole, God rest her soul.)

Sep 22, 2009 6:43:53 PM

Belts, Not Booties

I have a lot of causes I believe in and would like to donate time and money to. I don't have one that I'm insanely dedicated to or passionate about though. I work with a lot of kids from different neighborhoods and of different socioeconomic statuses. One thing about some kids drives me BANANAS! The whole wearing your pants low so you can see your boxers or shorts under them. I can't stand watching kids run and play or walk across the room for that matter holding their pants up. These poor, poor children. Obviously no one has educated them on belts. Why should I be so surprised? There are no info-mercials about them. They aren't raved about on MTV, BET, or Comedy Central. I am so naive to think it's the fault of the youths. Anyhoo, are the youths of America in luck?! Heck yes! I'm going to start inviting all 30 and over folks to donate their belts to my new cause, Belts Not Booties. I have a feeling BNB is going to catch on very quickly. I don't think I'm the only "grown up" who is sick of this fad that isn't going away anytime soon. I don't know exactly how I will organize this but it must be done. I know, Nobel Prize winning idea. I'm brilliant.

Sep 7, 2009 9:59:50 AM

Nastradamus

I predict that in the very near future, buildings, libraries, new schools, parks, etc. will be named after Michael Jackson. It's bizarre watching everyone lose their mind over MJ. I would however, attend Billy Mays High with pride.

Aug 21, 2009 6:08:34 PM

Christmas in August

Ah yes! It's here, the beginning of a new school year. As a child, a time of huge anxiety for me, as an adult, a time for a fresh start. I get to believe that I can be a super mom again. Perfect homemade lunches, everyone up on time and ready without tears, the bedtime ritual down to a science. Me, driving the speed limit laughing at the talk radio hosts, not driving a thousand mph with the windows down to dry my wet hair, choking down a granola bar while chugging scalding hot coffee for my buzz.

One of my favorite things in the world is new school/office supplies. Brand new notebooks, perfect folders. New crayons? Come on, perfection! As a teacher at a new (to me) school I have the pleasure of new classroom supplies. Crisp,new student workbooks right out of the plastic, divine. Few things get my heart pumping as quickly as walking into my classroom to a box with my name on it. It's ALMOST as good as an aqua Tiffany's box under the Christmas tree. Remember I said ALMOST! I opened the box to see new chalk, pencils, tape and paper clips in their original box from the manufacturer. When I saw the new electric pencil sharpener I almost locked it in a fire proof safe. Needless to say, I proudly plugged it in and stuck a new #2 in the hole. WOW, so sharp I could give myself a homemade tattoo with it. There's a line in, You've Got Mail where Meg Ryan talks about a bouquet of sharpened pencils. That's what I had after two minutes at the sharpener. I know that whoever uses the pencil probably won't be as excited as I am about it but I have to let go and know that there's more where that came from.

Aug 15, 2009 9:03:52 AM

Beep Beep, I Will Toot My Own Horn!

I am a lover of statistics. This week I've been attending new teacher meetings in the Omaha Public School District. OPS consists of 48,000 students, about 3,500 teachers, and 3,500 other staff (bus drivers, maintenance workers, nutrition services, etc.) OPS is one of the 100 largest school districts in the country. It ranks second out of the top 100 in student achievement. OPS is the third largest employer in the state of Nebraska. Needless to say, as a teacher, I'm BEYOND THRILLED to have a job. If you follow the news you've been noticing that teachers in CA, CO and other states have been laid off. In OPS they didn't hire as many new teachers as they usually do and beefed up class sizes. I'm not thrilled about this since I have one child attending school in the district.

During my orientation this week I've been fortunate enough to have had many wonderful, talented, inspiring speakers come and speak from around the country. I've laughed and cried. If there's one thing I love, it's a great public speaker. I've become very proud of myself and my profession all over again.

Know something else about me. I love to learn. I love to learn how to become a better person, parent, student of life, and teacher. I love to have fun. I love to laugh. I love a positive attitude. I love to surround myself with people whom I love and admire.

Today I ran into two people who recognized my name and said, "You were a sub last year, now who will sub for me?" "You played guitar and sang for my students, they loved it! Now who will sub?" I ran into teachers who loved my work, principals who requested me. What higher honor could I ever have?

Here's the bottom line, I know that 15 fifth graders are walking into my room in a week. Will they like me? Maybe. Will they know I care about them? Yes. Will they know I'm their biggest, loudest cheerleader? Yes. Will I do my best? Yes. Will I be perfect? Probably not. Is every day a new opportunity? Yes. Will I respect the students? Yes. Will they respect me? Hopefully by Christmas. Will I ever give up on them or myself? No.

I meet people all the time. I meet teachers randomly. Whenever i do, I think, I'll probably like them. I usually do.

I hope my kids want to do as well for me as I do them.

Aug 7, 2009 7:45:35 PM

5 Star Kid

Last night we (Molly, Annie, and I) were getting ready to go to Vicky's house. I told the girls to get their shoes on and get in the car. Annie put her shoes on and ran toward the door yelling that she'd be the first in the car. Crash! Annie came running into my room tell me how sorry she was that she'd broke the glass in the storm door. I told her it would be ok and we'd replace the glass. She looked down and saw her bloody hand and started to cry. We ran the cuts under water and they weren't too deep. As Annie and I were putting band aids on her hand, Molly had gone to the kitchen and saw the door. Molly came in the bathroom and was crying too. I was hugging both girls, telling them it was all ok, Annie would be fine, and we'd get the door fixed.

Finally, we got in the car and we were on our way! In the car I asked Molly if she was crying because she was scared for Annie or sad for her. She replied, "Neither." I asked, "Then why were you crying?" She said she was sad because she didn't want people to drive by our house and see the broken glass and think we were trashy.

Aug 3, 2009 9:40:01 PM

My Little Buddy

This summer I am working at a shelter for teenage children. To be honest with you, I love the job and am grateful to have this experience. It's hard to work there and not become attached to the children I work with. There is one young man who I can't and don't know that I ever will be able to get out of my mind. He is silly and fun. Sweet, cute, and harmless. Last week he had to go to court. He found a shirt from who knows where. I ironed it for him. As I ironed it I noticed all the stains while trying to make it as crisp and neat as possible. While I was ironing his shirt, he cleaned his white tennies to make them as dressy as he could, as they are his best pair of shoes. When the time came for him to get ready to leave for court, he beamed with pride of how well he cleaned up. As I drove home from work that day I cried thinking of how handsome he looked and thought about what he must have felt having everyone dote over him.

This little guy rarely wakes up early. One day this week he had. When I got in at 7am he was eager to show me all of his material belongings which had been dropped off by his former foster family the day before. He glowed as he showed me the envelope of pictures he had. There were three pictures of him, all that he had, and one of his sister when she was three. She is thirteen now and adopted out. He had numerous postcards of St. Louis. He was very impressed when I told him I'd been to Bush Stadium. Because of the postcards, he stated he'd like to live there some day. I told him it is a wonderful city and that I'm sure he'll be very successful when he moves there.

I've been at the shelter for two months. Since I've been there I've never heard him speak of anyone from outside the shelter. I've never heard him speak of family, friends, or school. I know he's been in the system since he was very young. A couple days ago he called his grandma who was so kind and gentle. She said everything I wanted her to say. She said she supported him and would always be there for him. She said she loved him. I teared up while he talked to her and whispered to him, "Tell her you love her! Ask how she's doing!"

I can't, won't, and don't want to ever imagine his life. My heart breaks for him and I pray for nothing but great things for this little guy. I'll never know what happens to him but I'll never forget how fortunate he's made me feel.

Jul 27, 2009 7:36:14 PM