The Report Card

I know I'm a good teacher.

I always knew I'd be a good teacher.

I've wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten.

Although I also wanted to be an entomologist (bug scientist) and an FBI agent, being a teacher was always number one.

Although I've been a great teacher from day 1, I became an even better teacher when I became a mother.

You do things differently after you become a mother.

You not only think about the teacher side of things, you think about the parent side as well.

What would I do?  How would I think if I were this child's parent?

Now I approach things differently when I call a parent (which I had to do yesterday) or write a parent letter.  I think differently about my response when a parent writes me a letter. 

I guess you could say, I put myself in their shoes.

This not only applies with my students but also with my children. 

I now think differently when a preschool teacher comes to me with concerns for my child.  Sometimes, and I probably shouldn't do this, I even think, "They don't have children, so I don't think they fully understand what they're talking about."

And then I get my 3-year-old's report card:

I couldn't read it as soon as I got it.

I admit, I was very nervous.

I slipped it in my large teacher bag and waited until I got home.

I sat down in my big recliner and looked over it very closely.

You see, I know my child is very bright.  I expected outstanding scores in everything (except maybe behavior). 

Well, I was in for a surprise.

I was disappointed.

Obviously his teachers don't think he's as smart as I do.

I know my child has excellent fine motor skills.

My 3 year old can count to 20.

He knows all his shapes and colors.

Any of my family members can back me up on this one.

I was hurt.

After a few moments of disappointment, I realized:

How many of my students' parents feel the same way when they get the report card that I write?

In fact, a couple weeks ago I received a note from a parent.  This was before I received Diesel's report card.  The note was a concern from a parent.  Their child was behind in math.  They were only on the -2 test (when they should've been on the -9).  The parent said they pass the practice tests at home, but they are obviously not passing them at school. 

The parent thought I should move the child up a level since they could do it at home.

I thought about this for a while.  I still think about my decision and whether it was the right one.

What did I do?

Well, I bumped them up a level.

Why?

Not because I agreed with the parent (which the parent probably thought I did).

I did it for the sake of argument.  It was not worth arguing with the parent.  It's her child.  If she wanted him bumped up, it was her choice. 

Did he pass the next math test?

No.

Has she wrote another letter?

No.

But now I see where she's coming from.  When I received her letter a couple weeks ago (again, I have to emphasize, before I got Diesel's report card), I thought, "Who does she think she is?  Telling me how to run my classroom.  She must be lying.  Her child is not able to pass the test." 

I admit, I could be wrong.

Maybe her child really knew his -2s.

Maybe I made the right decision (for the wrong reason) in bumping him up a level.

I need to remember to think like a parent... and a teacher at the same time.

This was my favorite page:

I could take this a bunch of different ways.

I'm going to take it as good.

Blank is good.

However, I really would've appreciated a nice comment about my Diesel.  Just so I could scrapbook it.

I'm going to remember this as a teacher.

I've never written comments on a report card.

From now on, I will write comments.

A good one.

No matter how rotten the child is.

Yes, that's a picture of my son's excellent fine motor skills.  He's threading beads on a needle. 

I just had to prove it.

The Washing Maching that will be Passed Down for Generations

Every time my washing machine or dryer breaks, I can't help but get a little

excited.

My washing machine and dryer are AT LEAST 13 years old.  They were passed down to me from my mother.  And although I love my mother very, very much, I do not want to pass them down to my daughter (if I ever have a daughter).

I want a new set.

I know we can't afford a new set, but when they break for good, we won't have a choice but to buy new ones.

Well, my washer broke about a month ago.  I excitedly told David it was broken. 

He, the man who thinks he can fix everything, tipped the washing machine on its side. 

He took out hundreds of pieces. 

He found the broken ones.

He looked online.

He found the pieces for sale (yes, even though the machine is over 13 years old).

He bought them.

He rushed shipped them.

They came in the mail 3 days later.

He (and Diesel) fixed the washing machine.

When he was done, he smiled and said, "We're going to have this washer and dryer forever."



Panties in a Wad

Oh, Diesel Dan.

He never wears pants.

As soon as he gets home from daycare,

he takes them off.

He is always running around in underwear and a shirt.

Always.

Even when it's 10* out like today.

But that's not the best part.

The best part is how he wears his underwear.

Diesel has a habit of putting on a new pair of underwear every time he goes to the bathroom.

No, he doesn't pee in them. 

I don't know why he does this.

He can never tell me why.

However, when he puts on new underwear, he ALWAYS puts them on backwards and inside out. 

ALWAYS.

Why?

He never tells me.

Surely he can't like the wedgie feeling.

Surely.

Yes, we put on his underwear before he goes to school, so he doesn't look too silly.

Hopefully he quits this habit before he gets a girlfriend.

My New Year's Resolution

I want to take credit for this, but I can't.

I know I'm a month late, but that's okay.

Today, I'm starting my New Year's Resolution.

Thank you, John Kralik

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/excerpt-365-yous-john-kralik/story?id=12402610

Today, my first thank-you note will be written.  I will try to write

365 - 30

thank-you notes this year.

Hopefully God will help me pay for the stamps.

Here we go...

Dates Complete:


January 30th
31
February = Completed
March
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

I miss my dad.

This blog has taken a couple days of thought.

I want to use the right words. 

I don't want to cry when I type it.

Too late.  I eyes are already swelling with tears.

I miss my dad.

Yes, my dad is still a big part of my life.

Yes, he is still alive.

But, I haven't seen him in a while, and he's never met

Sawyer. 

It's not his fault.

It's not mine.

He just lives too far away, and time has not allowed either one of us the opportunity to see each other. 

He was supposed to meet Sawyer in December, but unforeseen circumstances didn't allow it. 

So we never got to celebrate Christmas together.

However...

When my grandparents came from St. Louis to Oklahoma to witness Sawyer's baptism, they brought a carload of presents from Poppie (my dad), Grandma Suzie (my stepmother), Taylor (my stepsister), and Garrett (my stepbrother).  Before my dad, stepmother, and step-siblings moved to Washington, they left the Christmas presents with my grandparents in Missouri. 

So, we decided to do Christmas the "new-fashioned" way.  We unwrapped presents on Skype.  That way, Dad and Suzanne got to watch Diesel open up all his presents.

And they got to meet Sawyer.... on the computer.



Yep, that's them on the computer screen!

The boys love their gifts. 

Even David. 

He can't wait to try out the fishing vest.

Diesel won't put his Fisherprice iXL down.

I love mine too.

I love my Vera Bradley backpack.

But most of all, I loved getting to spend Christmas (finally) with my dad. 

He won't get to open our presents until June. 

Hopefully they don't break during the flight.

Hopefully he'll get to hold Sawyer.

Cowman

Diesel and Mommy had a long discussion on the way home from school today. 

This was day #2 of getting in trouble at school.

Yesterday, Diesel was put back in the two-year-old room (from the three-year-old room) because he was spitting.

You see, the three-year-old room is a privilege. 

One that is taken away for being a goofus (they use the words goofus and gallant to explain behavior choices).

Diesel is in the process of moving up in classrooms.

Well, today Diesel, once again, was put back in the two-year-old room.  Today, he decided to yell at his friends. 

He claims he doesn't remember doing this. 

Daddy told Diesel this morning that if he was a good boy, he would help Diesel put together his basketball goal.  Grammie and Papa Baker bought Diesel a basketball goal for Christmas.  It's still in the box, and Diesel has been patiently waiting for nice weather. 

Well, Diesel was a goofus.

The basketball goal will not be put together tonight.

Diesel cried a few "tears" when I reminded him of the consequence to his behavior.  Then, he said, "That's ok.  I'll just play Cowman tonight."  I said, "You mean, cowBOY?"  He simply replied, "No, I don't want to be a boy.  I want to be a man.  A cowman."

I couldn't help but laugh.

He said Daddy would buy him the horse so he could be a real cowman.  I said, using appropriate language, that there's no way in hell Dad's buying you a horse.

We got home, and since the weather was nice, and Diesel's been asking for a while, I decided to take out his carseat to wash.   I set the seat up on the porch and asked him to push it inside.  He looked at me and said, "I'm not big enough yet.  I will go inside and eat a lot of food.  I will get bigger then.  I will help you later."

I took the carseat in myself. 

I love being a Mommy.  My boys always make me smile.  Even if they are being a

goofus. 

Sawyer's Baptism

We are very blessed.

Sawyer Paule Baker

was baptised on January 23, 2011.

His Godfather is Chris Swift.

His Godmother is Carrie Baker.

Sawyer's Great-Grandparents drove from St. Louis to El Reno for the baptism.  The last time they were able to make this long journey was for Diesel's baptism three years ago.  My sister and her husband also made the long trip.  I am so thankful that they made the baptism a priority.

This was not only a special day for Sawyer.

Autym Riley Baker

was also baptised. 

Her Godfather is Trevor Ellis.

Her Grandmother is Theresa Balan.

Not only is Ross a brother and brother-in-law.

Not only is Trisha a sister-in-law.

They are our best friends.

We were blessed to have two beautiful, perfect babies.

We are blessed to be able to share a baptism birthday.

We are blessed to be so close to our family members.

We pray that our children will grow up loving each other in the same way we, adults, love each other. 

 The cake....

Oh, the drama.

How hard is is to get a circular, white cake with a cross?

I guess it's very, very hard.

I was not able to find one for less than $60.

And with two kids who need childcare, a $60 cake was not possible. 

So, we got this cake, and people ate it.

It worked for the purpose.

After the baptism, my wonderful mother-in-law provided lunch for everyone at her home.  The following pictures were either taken at her house or the church.