Busy Bee

Not much to say and yet so much to say.

Life has been so busy that I haven't had the chance to comment on it. Sometimes I fill my plate just a little too high. OK, way too high. And I always feel obligated, committed to finishing the entire thing.

Lots on the plate these days. Family parties to attend, school budgets to pass, fund raising to plan, religion to teach, gardens to plant, a house to clean, and a great big communion party to prepare for. Plus the usual drama of raising children; trying to nurture and discipline all at once.

I have so much to comment on, so many conversations running in my head. But not enough time or energy to type them up and put them down for you here.

Maybe another time. Maybe soon.

Net Nanny

Net Nanny! Net Nanny! Goooo Net Nanny!!!

I found a program to block all mature/adult material. It really works! So far. I'm still on the 14 day free trial. But if things continue to go this way, I'm going to subscribe.

It's so good, sometimes I can't open my email on google because of some ads that show up along the sides of the email.


It's so thorough, it wouldn't even let me onto The Six Fingered Monkey without my password! That Net Nanny is really watching out for me!

Lament

I'm feeling a little down tonight. A little melancholy. A little sad. A little sorry for myself.

*sigh*

Spring Break

Oh my goodness. This past week has been the longest week I've had all year. All kids, all the time. Kids. Kids. Kids. Kids. All I can say is, sheesh.

Oh, and Whoo-Hoo!! (I can't believe Wamu was the first to think of using this as an ad slogan. It's perfect, if you ask me). It's 9 AM and they have all gone off to school and mommy is finally alone. Now I know I could never homeschool. I need my time to myself.

Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. More than anything. Really. And I am devoted and dedicated to their lives and making them happy. Maybe that's the problem. So much devotion and dedication can get pretty wearying, you know? Plus there's all the drama. This is a special feature of my own family that I'm pretty sure I can attribute to myself: Emotions, sensitivity, and a lack of resiliency (more on this at another time).

I didn't take one walk, one exercise class, or eat healthy at all. I saw one friend one time (our trip to Indian Island) but we couldn't talk, because my children were consuming all my energy and attention. (Well, to be fair, it was one child who was consuming me).

This past week we experienced: 3 play dates, (2 of which included dinner and one was a sleepover) at my house, a trip to Huntington, a trip to Peconic, a hamster lost (in the house) for several hours, no fewer than 5 temper tantrums, and a vomiting episode AT THE TABLE at a local restaurant. Oh, and a Riverhead K-9 police officer and his dog sniffing around our backyard!

I won't go into more detail, though I know it would be very funny - all of it, out of respect for my kids. The humor in it might be the only thing that kept me from hurting anyone. Let me tell you, the Adventures were abounding this week. And this old girl has had enough.

What am I going to do this summer? Sleep away camp, anyone???

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Day at the Beach

Well it's Spring Break, and we're definitely "breaking". No school, no karate, no dance, no meetings, no commitments.

Today we went to Indian Island Park with some friends and had some real spring fun. The trees are blooming (the buds really look like flowers at this point) the sky was blue and the water was actually warm!

At the beach there was this great big tree whose roots had eroded down the sandy bank, and had landed half in the water! The other mom bravely ventured out to the far limbs and we all followed her. It was so much fun.

One of the roots looked prehistoric. We couldn't decide if it looked more like an Apatosaurus or the Loch Ness Monster.

All in all it was a very nice day - good friends, good weather, good spot - what else could we ask for?

p.s. I didn't get the job. I was sure they would offer it to me. Sure it would be my decision whether to take it or not. I wasn't sure what I'd have said, but the rejection is a bummer.

Screen Turn-off: 2 Days In

This is a picture of the most cherished Screen Turn-off activity at Wading River Elementary School: The TV-off-the-roof ceremony. I didn't take the picture, but a teacher did and she printed it for me and I took a picture of the picture. I hope you can see what it is.

Monday morning started with the kick-off assembly and then the entire school - about 44o kids - stepped outside to watch as our principal and PE teachers climbed on the roof. The students chanted "Throw it! Throw it!" and the two men swung and then sent a donated, unusable TV crashing down to the pavement.

The symbolism is clear: Kill the TV. At least for the week.

Thus started our Screen Turn-off week. We have a great deal of participation this year. I haven't counted them all, but I think we have at least 125 contracts (commitments to go screen-free for the week). That's over 25% of the school. And that's more than I expected. I realize how hard it is to turn everything off. And many families don't want to commit.

Monday night, the teachers sponsored our 1st ever Family Math Night, with activities and math games for younger kids and a kind of math game show for 4th and 5th graders. It was attended by a small group and everyone had fun.

Tonight was our traditional "Gym Night". The gym teachers set up all their favorite activities in stations around the gym. They played Beach Boys music and the place was packed with happy, active children - NOT watching TV or playing video games.

Tomorrow night the librarian is running a Story Time - where a few of the teachers will come in and read their favorite books to the kids. Thursday and Friday night we have Bingo events with prizes and raffles and lots of fun.

Each school day there is a raffle (1 name is pulled from each grade's coupons for the previous day of being "screen free") and I wrapped up the little prizes (books, notepads, pencils, markers, games) in pretty cellophane and ribbons, which I think made it really special.

The whole event is sponsored by the PTA and I think it's one of the most important things we do as an organization at the school. It's really a group effort - parent volunteers, teachers, the principal and, of course, all the students.

I'll keep you posted!