So in July, I posted about being broken and how life turns you into this crazy mosaic of pieces that we gently cement back together through time.
Today as I was reflecting on a few things, I discovered that maybe I just need to Be Ok. Ingrid Michaelson sings a song by this title. When I was introduced to this song I focused on the line about giving back the broken parts. I realized that really that isn't me anymore. I am past that. Thank goodness... I just want to "be ok, feel something today, and I {really do}know that I will be okay"
My OLW is jump, I want to jump out of my box. I don't want to be stuck. I'm sick and tired of my own excuses of staying in the same spot.
Being broken is my past. I don't expect life to be perfect because frankly there is no such thing as perfect. But, have been given a beautiful life. I am here for now. Each day that I am given should be lived. And everything will truly be okay. I just need to quit over thinking things and just live today for today.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
2013 OLW
One Little Word to live by has been a tradition for me...usually, but last year I took a year off. I was teaching at a new school and my 2nd graders weren't going to do it, so I thought I would take a year and really try to get into our new routines.
I really think 2012 was about new things...traveling, meeting new people, and finish getting me to a good safe place.
Now that I am at that point, I think my word is "JUMP." It's time to start taking risks again. Even if it doesn't go exactly as I planned that doesn't really mean anything...maybe it was part of the plan, just not mine. Living in a little protected bubble isn't going to help me achieve what I want so here I go. Cheers to a year of taking risks!!
So here I go...
I really think 2012 was about new things...traveling, meeting new people, and finish getting me to a good safe place.
Now that I am at that point, I think my word is "JUMP." It's time to start taking risks again. Even if it doesn't go exactly as I planned that doesn't really mean anything...maybe it was part of the plan, just not mine. Living in a little protected bubble isn't going to help me achieve what I want so here I go. Cheers to a year of taking risks!!
JUMP: verb
to spring into the air
to start out or forward
to move energetically
So here I go...
12 Days of Christmas Break
So as a single mom who adores her girls...I have written my version of the 12 Days of Christmas. When does school start again? J/k.
On the first day of Christmas Break
my girls told me,
"You're the meanest mommy."
On the second day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the third day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the fourth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the fifth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the sixth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the seventh day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the eighth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the ninth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the tenth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Ten ladies leaping,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the eleventh day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Eleven girls a griping,
Ten ladies leaping,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the twelfth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Twelve "She hurt my feelings,"
Eleven girls a griping,
Ten ladies leaping,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the first day of Christmas Break
my girls told me,
"You're the meanest mommy."
On the second day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the third day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the fourth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the fifth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the sixth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the seventh day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the eighth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the ninth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the tenth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Ten ladies leaping,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the eleventh day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Eleven girls a griping,
Ten ladies leaping,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Six arms a flailing,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
On the twelfth day of Christmas Break,
my girls gave to me,
Twelve "She hurt my feelings,"
Eleven girls a griping,
Ten ladies leaping,
Nine costume changes,
Eight rooms their wrecking,
Seven wrestling matches,
Five blood curdling screams,
Four foot stomps,
Three meltdowns,
Two tired cries
And a "You're the meanest mommy."
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Reacting Vs. Responding
It's been one week.
Seven days.
It's amazing how our lives can change in a millisecond. In this case the firing of a bullet. The massacre of innocents.
We all watched the images. We all saw the names on the screen with their ages. Tears falling down our faces as we cried for the families and at the same time silently thankful that it isn't our own child. Our child who is safely sleeping in their bed. Our child who will open their presents next week. We aren't the ones who will face the unopened package of hot pink cowboy boots. Yet as our lives have painstakingly gone on so have the blogs, the facebook postings, and the twitter accounts.
For the last few days, I've been pondering the following; we have a choice as a nation. We can either react to the event or thoughtfully respond. Some of the reactions I've seen are abolish the second amendment and force teachers to conceal and carry guns on their person in the classroom. When will our nation learn that at some point we can't operate at the liberal left or the conservative right. We have to meet the middle. This is beyond ridiculous.
I was called a bleeding heart liberal for saying the following, "I do not think the second amendment needs to be abolished. I do not believe that teachers need to carry guns in the classroom."
If teachers were forced to carry guns... How will we function with heat holstered on our hip? My second graders would freak out. I wouldn't be able to get on the floor or hug my students. What about parents? How intimidating would it be holding a parent teacher conference when one person has a glock on her?
As an educator in our safety training they ask us to think and respond to a situation, rather than react. For example, if the fire alarm is going off you don't automatically exit the building. First, you listen for instructions and go away from the fire. Right now we are all headed to the fire. The answer to this is not more guns in schools. The answer is to think and respond accordingly.
I encourage you to contact your local congressman and talk to them about responding to this rather then reacting. It is time to band together as a nation for each other and for the 27 people who died one week ago.
Seven days.
It's amazing how our lives can change in a millisecond. In this case the firing of a bullet. The massacre of innocents.
We all watched the images. We all saw the names on the screen with their ages. Tears falling down our faces as we cried for the families and at the same time silently thankful that it isn't our own child. Our child who is safely sleeping in their bed. Our child who will open their presents next week. We aren't the ones who will face the unopened package of hot pink cowboy boots. Yet as our lives have painstakingly gone on so have the blogs, the facebook postings, and the twitter accounts.
For the last few days, I've been pondering the following; we have a choice as a nation. We can either react to the event or thoughtfully respond. Some of the reactions I've seen are abolish the second amendment and force teachers to conceal and carry guns on their person in the classroom. When will our nation learn that at some point we can't operate at the liberal left or the conservative right. We have to meet the middle. This is beyond ridiculous.
I was called a bleeding heart liberal for saying the following, "I do not think the second amendment needs to be abolished. I do not believe that teachers need to carry guns in the classroom."
If teachers were forced to carry guns... How will we function with heat holstered on our hip? My second graders would freak out. I wouldn't be able to get on the floor or hug my students. What about parents? How intimidating would it be holding a parent teacher conference when one person has a glock on her?
As an educator in our safety training they ask us to think and respond to a situation, rather than react. For example, if the fire alarm is going off you don't automatically exit the building. First, you listen for instructions and go away from the fire. Right now we are all headed to the fire. The answer to this is not more guns in schools. The answer is to think and respond accordingly.
I encourage you to contact your local congressman and talk to them about responding to this rather then reacting. It is time to band together as a nation for each other and for the 27 people who died one week ago.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Let Us Not Forget
Newton, CT.
Twenty children dead.
Stories of heroic teachers who put themselves in danger to protect the students they love with all the fiber of their being.
Every teacher and each parent's fear was realized on Friday. No words can even begin to touch the pain that I know the community feels.
I can only hope that from this situation good happens. I hope discussions about mental illness and why a family needs so many weapons. I can only hope that out of the deaths of these beautiful children our government chooses to come together to fix what is wrong.
Their deaths are tragic. Needless. I can only hope their voices continue to demand that change occur.
Now it is our turn to demand it. Let their 27 voices echo in our hearts so that change happens. Don't just forget. We can't let that happen.
Twenty children dead.
Stories of heroic teachers who put themselves in danger to protect the students they love with all the fiber of their being.
Every teacher and each parent's fear was realized on Friday. No words can even begin to touch the pain that I know the community feels.
I can only hope that from this situation good happens. I hope discussions about mental illness and why a family needs so many weapons. I can only hope that out of the deaths of these beautiful children our government chooses to come together to fix what is wrong.
Their deaths are tragic. Needless. I can only hope their voices continue to demand that change occur.
Now it is our turn to demand it. Let their 27 voices echo in our hearts so that change happens. Don't just forget. We can't let that happen.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Crazy Thing Called Love
What is love exactly? With the divorce rate the way it is...me being one of those statistics. What is love? Does it exist? Where do you find it...exactly?
In college I was told, "Honey, you are the type of girls men marry...not the kind they date." Hmmm...okay? So where does that leave me now as a 34 year old single woman who is almost 35. Sigh. I guess in neither column?
The men out there that are datable fall into the following categories.
1) We should get married!!
My second date after being single was with Mr. Let's Get Married Now. We went to a local restaurant...full of life! After our queso arrived, he looked at me with all seriousness and says, "Lynnelle, I honestly believe we are meant to get married. My ex-wife's name was Lynnette and you are Lynnelle. I mean how can that be wrong?"
Was he serious? I suddenly had an urgent call from the babysitter and needed to leave.
2) 18 Shots in Less Than Hour
My date with this man started with, "How old are you 12?" Okay, I may use make up, exfoliant, and moisturizer, but really? He then commenced to drink 18 shots of jaiger in less than hour. Good bye, Mr. Alcoholic.
3) The Player
You know this guy. The HOTT, tall dark, and handsome kind. The kind who woo you with words and their intelligence. Only to say see ya when you tell them you like them. Not that you want to get married or get serious, but just that you think they are funny, cute, and can carry on an intelligent conversation.
So where does that leave a single girl?
Alone, but happy that I'm not stuck with one of these threelosers...umm people.
In college I was told, "Honey, you are the type of girls men marry...not the kind they date." Hmmm...okay? So where does that leave me now as a 34 year old single woman who is almost 35. Sigh. I guess in neither column?
The men out there that are datable fall into the following categories.
1) We should get married!!
My second date after being single was with Mr. Let's Get Married Now. We went to a local restaurant...full of life! After our queso arrived, he looked at me with all seriousness and says, "Lynnelle, I honestly believe we are meant to get married. My ex-wife's name was Lynnette and you are Lynnelle. I mean how can that be wrong?"
Was he serious? I suddenly had an urgent call from the babysitter and needed to leave.
2) 18 Shots in Less Than Hour
My date with this man started with, "How old are you 12?" Okay, I may use make up, exfoliant, and moisturizer, but really? He then commenced to drink 18 shots of jaiger in less than hour. Good bye, Mr. Alcoholic.
3) The Player
You know this guy. The HOTT, tall dark, and handsome kind. The kind who woo you with words and their intelligence. Only to say see ya when you tell them you like them. Not that you want to get married or get serious, but just that you think they are funny, cute, and can carry on an intelligent conversation.
So where does that leave a single girl?
Alone, but happy that I'm not stuck with one of these three
Changes
My blog used to be a place that I frequently used to discuss what was happening in my world as a teacher, but now it seems I mostly use it to write. Not sure if I should change the name or not, but I know that I want to continue writing because it does a body good. I may post some on teaching, but hopefully, you won't mind if I use it more to discuss my ponderings through this crazy thing called LIFE.
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