I just don't understand kids today

I sure sound old when I write that, don't I?  I just truly don't understand kids today though.  The Ag class that I'm in has very challenging afternoon classes.  We made it through the first group pretty fine.  The second group is the one that has always been challenging and can do a real number on my nerves.  Today, I actually had a student take a phone call in the middle of class.  Now I recognize that we might be the ONLY family that doesn't allow our children to take phones to school.  There have been some times it would've been nice, but about 99% of the time it isn't necessary and my children don't need one more distraction.  If the child had come to me and said I received a text and need to make an emergency phone call, I would've certainly accommodated the need.  However, when I told the child to step into the hallway, he began to argue with me and continued to argue even after hanging up.  I finally just sent him to the principal.  I just don't understand these children who feel they are so entitled to do whatever they want, and then actually have the nerve and audacity to disagree with me when I tell them it's not okay.  It is actually astounding to me in fact.  I would never have thought to speak to an adult the way many kids speak to me every day.  I recognize that it is late in the day on a Friday, and we are late in the school year so no one is on their best behavior at this point.  At the same time, if I ever find out my children behaved the way some of these kids do, I would absolutely come unglued.  I don't want to be judgmental about other parents because I absolutely understand the difficulty in raising teens.  However, I also know kindness and respect has to be modeled and taught at home before the teachers at school can do anything at all!

Music from my college days

It was my freshman year of college when I really started listening to country music.  I had really disliked pop music for a while by then, and I loved being able to sing along to country music.  The guy I dated my senior year of high school had listened to country, and then my college best friend always listened to it.  I purchased albums and became a country music fan.  It's pretty much all I've listened to since then, and to be honest, I've never heard of most of the people my kids listen to.  Robert enjoys some country music, but Catherine does not.  Thomas is still undecided.

I've been finding myself yearning to listen to country music from the 90's again.  I've been wondering...do I really like the music that much better, or is it just that it reminds me of a simpler time in life?  I didn't necessarily enjoy my time away at college, but generally speaking, I enjoyed my college years.  It really brings back great memories, and to be honest, when the songs come on, I can picture myself in those dorm rooms again, on spring days with the windows open and the curtains blowing.  This morning, I'm subbing in Ag, and the morning classes are upperclassmen and things are rather unstructured (especially due to today's activity).  I love the kids, and one of them put on 90's country.  He was appalled that other students weren't singing along, and it took everything I had NOT to join in...not professional. :)  I enjoy thinking about that time in my life, although to be honest, I can't believe how long ago it was!  I pointed out to the kids that I remember when the songs they were listening to were considered new!

The end of break week #1

With Robert attending the career school, there are different spring break schedules.  I was still able to "sleep in", although four of the mornings still had a "5" as the first digit on the clock, and today was almost as early since I'm working today.

Overall we've enjoyed the week, although it's still been busy.  We took our family trip to downtown Cinci last Sunday.  Our family absolutely loves that restaurant, and it ended up being a nice enough day to enjoy the river view.  I love visiting that place with our family, and I love celebrating our family whenever we can make it happen.

The boys have still had track practice and Robert had another meet last evening.  Apparently he did well.  Thomas was supposed to have his first meet but it was postponed due to forecasted weather (that ended up not happening).  We ended up having a really neat evening together as a family, and I'm always grateful for that.

Today I'm back at work, although Andrew took the day to be with Robert at the doctor.  I didn't want to give up one of the few days I'm scheduled, especially since this is one of the jobs that pays a little bit more.  Our family has no plans this evening after track practice, and generally speaking we don't have much going on this weekend.  After today, only nine more days of school until break week #2!

Home with two of the kiddos

Today two of the kids are home.  Robert doesn't have school this week because of spring break, and Catherine is home because of state testing.  Andrew still had to go to work to proctor, and Thomas is at school because the middle school isn't affected by this week's testing schedule.  For the most part, we are relaxing and enjoying the day, and I might even allow myself to close my eyes for a nap.  My mom drove down earlier this morning to help me pick out a paint color for our dining room wall, and Robert made everyone pancakes to eat.  It was a nice little visit.  Thomas will be home in about 75 minutes and then both boys need to go to the high school for practice.  I'm enjoying the sunshine today, although it doesn't sound as though it is going to last past today!

I haven't been banned

Yesterday morning I was scheduled to work only in the morning at an elementary.  I was very grateful I had been able to pick the job up eleven days earlier when it was posted.  It was also the last posting I had seen for our school district.  It had been eleven days.  Honestly, I was beginning to think I had been banned from the school.   I couldn't imagine I had done anything, but it isn't impossible someone thought I did something.  I was also concerned that someone had inadvertently banned me.  Andrew decided we needed to see what was going on and he went to the building secretary to find out.  It turns out everything is fine...there just haven't been many teacher absences lately.  Some jobs have started showing up again, but of course they are jobs I can't take.  My priority is still being "mom" and kids' have their schedules.  I'm not sure how much I'm going to work the rest of the year, but we'll get through...and I'm ready for summer!

The smell of cut grass

Yesterday I was out running some errands.  To be honest, it's kind of what I do these days...spend my days in the car again!  Anyway, it was a rather overcast day, but the temp was in the upper 60's.  Because Robert is on spring break this week, I have to not only pick him up from track practice, but get him there as well.  I went to the office, and then I began my errands.  As I was at the post office, I noticed the smell of cut grass.  As the days of March wind down, it smells like spring is right around the corner.  In fact, only six days until Opening Day!

A great beginning to track season

Yesterday was the first high school track meet of the season.  I'll be honest, I was really looking forward to it.  Robert didn't do track last year for a variety of reasons, and I was looking forward to him getting back out there.  It was also an absolutely gorgeous day.  In fact, I overdressed for the temperature.  On the upside, it kept my sunburn (and yes, there was some) to a minimal since I had things so well covered, but it was warm.

Robert's coach had been touting his 800m relay team (we called it 4x200m back in the day).  When I saw who he was running with, I was impressed.  There are some pretty quick boys, and I thought maybe they had a shot.  They ended up running in the JV heat though, so I didn't give it much thought as to how good it might be able to be.  It turns out, the team that finished in front of them in their heat was DQ'd, and Robert's group finished fourth overall.  Impressive!  He also debuted as a 300m hurdler yesterday.  Again, I thought he looked pretty good, and finished third in his heat and 6th overall out of 21 runners.  In spite of how gorgeous the weather was, I decided after 4 hours that I was done watching and headed home with Catherine (who I forced to attend with me) since we were having company last evening.  Robert was running the very last event, and I just couldn't handle the thought of staying (what would have turned out to be) another two hours.  It turns out their relay came in 6th overall as well.  It was a great way to begin the season!