Challenge #12~It's Raining!"

Today was Emma's first dental appointment so I took the day off. It started out marvelous because the girls slept in until 8 AM. As we got up and started to the kitchen Emma looked out the back glass door. "Momma, it's raining!" Emma yelled. I turned to look and those raindrops were actually fluffy white snowflakes. "That is called Snow Emma," I replied. We all ran to Emma's side to watch flakes fall on the grass. My heart warmed as my two girls hugged each other yelling, "It's raining!" Spring has obviously been put on hold, but it is warm with love in our house.

Challenge #11~Humbled~

I left Emma's meeting humbled. Once again I realize that when I am on the "other side" in IEP meetings I hope that I am just as respectful and understanding as Emma's teachers. To hear wonderful things like almost a 2 year gain and she is really learning how to climb stairs correctly~without fear touches my mother's heart. I also realize that I am actually part of the team and there was no hidden agenda on the school's side. We decided what was best for Emma. In fact goals were added and changed as we sat and discussed what was best for Emma.

Through the years, I have learned that advocacy is tough in the district you work in, but I hope the lessons I learn each time I am a parent in an IEP are carried over into the IEPs I sit on as a teacher.

Challenge #10~Worries~

I need this day to fly by. I need today to go quickly. I need to get to MY child's IEP. The is dragging on. Hour by hour the clock creeps. It's as if it is saying, "Ha, ha! I know you are worrying...so I will slooow doown."

It's true. I've never denied being a worry wart. But this is about my child. MY CHILD. Will they see all the progress she has made? Or will it be all that she can't do? Are these fears because I'm really in denial? I know my child has a cognitive impairment, and I despise those that feel because I choose to focus on her CAN DO'S that I am in denial. So for now...all I have are worries. Perhaps it is more a protective instinct. The mother bear protecting her young cub. Protecting her from those that can't see past her extra chromosome. Maybe it's just anticipating the unknown. Maybe.....

Challenge #9~Sighting Spring~

Zooming back from a quick run to the store, I pulled into the driveway. I noticed a small peek-a-boo of a yellow flower close to the brick of the house. My forsythia is blooming! I thought. Oh, spring is so near. I quickly parked the car, put up the groceries and grabbed my camera. All I could think was I must capture these flowers. Capture this moment. As I tried different angles to capture the perfect picture of the one bloom…I realized that my fuchsia blooms on the plum bush were just as gorgeous.

Really what I wanted was to capture the arrival of spring…it didn’t matter if the photo was perfect. What did matter? I ignored the busyness of the evening, and actually stopped to look at Spring. As I began to take pictures of the blooms, I quickly grabbed the garden angel and plopped her in the middle of them. When I snapped the next shot, I realized that was it. I had done it. Spring for me has started. It doesn’t matter that it is going to be 40 degrees in two days or that the dead leaves still haven’t been cleaned out of my flowerbeds…that doesn’t stop Spring. Nothing can. She has finally arrived.

Challenge #8~Write your heart~

As I glance back through my week, I realize that I have begun to look forward to the moment that I can sit, relax and write. Some days this week, as soon as something happened I knew when I got home I would write about that for my slice, but other days were more of a ruminating moment. Sitting, reflecting, drinking hot cider by the laptop figuring out what my heart was speaking to me about. And still other days I felt so rushed by the time I sat down that it seemed I had nothing to write, but still I wrote. As a result of this first week of slice, I realize the Slice is about stopping. Being Still. Listening. And writing from the heart. As quoted from a mighty fifth grader in my classroom during his student led conference on Thursday, "I will never stop writing; I will always write from my heart."

Challenge #7~Moment with Mom~

Why is it a 31 years old I still cherish those small moments with my mom? No grandchildren running around, no Dad to interrupt our conversation, or a brother asking a questions. I cherish these moments...just mom and me. The smell of garlic in the restaurant and the soft conversation around us as we talk...well I guess just mother daughter talk. Special. Heartfelt. Loved.

Challenge #6~Words of Wisdom~

Conferencing. Why is that I can conference with a child and not be nervous and know exactly what to say, but get a bunch of adults around me and I feel like a bumbling fool?

"Good evening. Welcome to our room!" I said as one of my students walked in with his mother and grandfather.

"I am so glad you came back," I announced to the grandfather.

"I wanted to see how he had improved," replied the grandfather of his grandson.

"Well, why don't you sit down. He will get his items to show you."

Wow! I thought. I can't believe his grandfather came back. He had attended his last conference because my student's parents were out of town. I quickly left them to help another student get his family situated for their student led conference.

"Excuse me young lady. May I speak with you? " the grandfather asked.

"Absolutely!" I walked over to them.Thrilled to be called young lady!

"I am quite impressed," he stated, "I have been listening and reviewing my grandson's writing and kudos to you for not giving into the demands of testing and diagramming sentences and filling entire workbooks of grammar pages."

I know my face must have been in shock because he began to chuckle. Then he smiled, folded his arms as he leaned back in the student chair and said, "I am a retired English professor and I wish my students could have come to me writing like this. You have done what many cannot do...create a class full of writers."

I quickly thanked him for his kind words and began to talk with him about the journey of writing and how important it is. I could have talked with him all day about writing, but I knew the student had worked hard at preparing his work to show and discuss with his family.

It is moments like these that make the long day rewarding. To him I say bless you.