Another One of THOSE Days.

My day:

• One of my students fed dog food to her classmates today. She told them it was Japanese candy and they believed her.


• Every one of my students has officially been suspended at least once this year.


• I had to rearrange my classroom because literally none of my students are allowed to sit by anyone else in the class. It looks like I threw desks everywhere. I didn't. They have been strategically placed throughout the room.


• A handful of that nasty/apparently dangerous road salt found its way mysteriously into the hood of the coat on one of my girls.


• There are more jars of peanut butter in my kitchen pantry than there were students in my classroom today. Does this seem abnormal to anyone else?


• My hair is falling out. Literally and figuratively.


• My sister received the following text from me today: "I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry..." Amazingly, I didn't cry.


• My God can handle all of these things, even if it's too much for me.

Life with a Two Year Old

Sister to naked nephew: "Where are your underwear?"

Nephew to sister: "Der up der" (Translation: they're up there).*Points to the top of the fridge.*

Sure enough, kiddo threw his underwear on top of the refrigerator.

I mean, why not throw your underwear around the kitchen, right?

Stinking Bug

Apparently you all get 2 posts today! Lucky you...

I hate stink bugs. Not because I think they're nasty-- oh, no! Because it doesn't matter what we're doing in class, the second one of my students sees one, all seven of them run to the other side of the classroom.

Really? It's a bug. It doesn't even sting/bite you. "No, no, children. Your education isn't important-- it's more important for you to get away from this devil bug. RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!"

Yesterday, someone found a stinkbug. *insert rolling of eyes here.* The first one in months. Crap. I got the little "bug cup"-- Why, yes, we do have a designated cup for capturing the bugs-- and trapped him on a lunch box. As I was in the process of getting rid of the bug, one of my girls came up to me...

"Miss C? How many brothers do you have?"
"None. I have a brother-in-law, though. Does he count?"
"That explains it..."
"Explains what?"
"Why you're such a manly woman. You catch that bug, Miss C!"

If you're reading this, I'll assume you know me. At least well enough to know that I love all things girly: shopping, cheesy movies, chocolate, pedicures, You name it, I love it. But apparently that's not enough.

Stupid bug.

Romans 8:37

Some days it's nice to be reminded that we are more than conquerors through Christ who gives us strength... Especially on the days when I'm feeling defeated.

Left Handed Compliments

Last year, I regularly received awkward compliments from my students. They were in first grade-- it was expected. This year, I have received far fewer of these "compliments."

I have a very short lunch break everyday, and I spend most of the time grading papers, organizing my desk, and getting ready for my afternoon classes (that's when I teach middle and high school). I rarely get to eat my lunch during my lunch period, so I normally take it into my next class.

I spoke in chapel yesterday for the middle and high school students, and one of the points that I made in my lesson had to do with food...

In math class yesterday, I was finishing my lunch when one of my students raised his hand. "Miss C. How can you stay so skinny when you eat so much??? I mean, seriously!"

Well, at least I'm not fat.

The War between Can and May...

I've been working with my students on the way they ask permission to do things.

"Can I go to the bathroom?"
"Can we write in pencil?"
"Can I go home now?"

For a while I used the whole "May you go... Yes, you may."

It didn't go well.

Then I switched to the "Can you? Yes. May you? Not until you ask correctly."

This worked better, but still, we had very little progress.

I have recently taken a more abrupt approach.

Student: "Miss C. Can I go to the bathroom?"
Me: "Of course you can!"
*Student starts to get up.
Me: "Where are you going?"
Student: "To the bathroom?"
Me: "You need to ask permission before you get out of your seat."
Student: "Um... I did."
Me: "No, ma'am (or sir). You asked if you had the ability, and you do. Have a seat until you ask permission."
*Student plops back into seat with confused expression.

They have since learned the difference between the two words. And they now like me less. It's okay, though. My job isn't to get them to like me, it's to teach them.

Over the weekend, I shared this story with my boyfriend while at a hibachi restaurant. A little bit later, the waitress came to check on us and he asked her if we could have a couple waters. She smiled, said yes, and walked away. I shook my head, convinced that we weren't going to get our waters. Of course, I had to give him a hard time for using "can" instead of "may."

When the waitress returned with our waters, he thanked her that she brought the water despite the fact that he didn't use the correct wording.

I'm still working on him, too. :)

Public Transportation

I never rode the bus to school when I was younger. My mom normally drove me (I remember a handful of times she let me walk to or from school alone... I also remember that she forgot me once. Thanks, Mom). I never learned the rules about buses-- like the one that says make sure you get on the correct bus. Believe it or not, they don't all go to the same place. That's a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

When I was in college, I had class on one side of campus on Mondays and another class that was all the way across campus 15 minutes after the first class ended. It was too far to walk in the allotted time-span, so I would take the bus every week.

About 6 weeks into the semester, I had my routine down. It worked very well, and I made it with minutes to spare. Well, one rainy day, I hopped on the bus to make my journey, and realized that the bus had taken a different route than normal. I figured that the bus driver was new, or that he had a different route that he favored...

I was terribly wrong.

After a few stops, I worked up the courage to ask the bus driver where we were headed...

Downtown.

I had to call my roommate to pick me up from the bus stop. Needless to say, I missed my class that evening.

Quality Time with the Nephew

I make dinner for my sister's family once a week. It gives her a break, and it gives me a chance to try new recipes. It's a win/win!

My brother-in-law worked late today, so it was just her, me, and the kids. I stayed late to help her put T to sleep. I love that kid. He and I were playing before bed time. As I would pretend to sleep, a little 2 year old hand would reach out and tickle my face. After a few rounds of this game, he got bored-- without telling me. I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep, and when I open them, I saw this:


I'm not talking about this grin lying sweetly on his pillow-- oh, no. In my face. Hello, dear child! Why, yes, you are wiping your nose on my face! It was disgusting.. And adorable.

Another favorite game: pretend to sleep and snore like Papa.

Anxiety

I'm sorry to tell you that this post will not have you laughing at my expense... But I know that there will be more embarrassing stories to come. Don't worry!

This week has been very discouraging for me. To keep a long story short, my job has not been the easiest. Last night my Bible study focused on prayer, and one of the verses that we read was Philippians 4:6.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

I have a very hard time with the first part of this verse-- Be anxious for nothing? Really?-- I'm a fairly high-stress person, and when I am not in control of a situation, my stress level increases drastically. This week, I have to remind myself that I don't have to be anxious about anything-- especially work.

I'm so thankful that I serve a God who is always in control and cares for me. I don't need to be anxious. It's a waste of time and energy.

Prayers, please!