Three Things I Have Learned...

My husband just celebrated a birthday this weekend and mine will be following this summer. We are both now in the last third of our 40s and over the years, we have learned some things about life. I was reflecting on this, as we had several conversations along these lines over the weekend.

Things I have Learned...

1. Sleep is a beautiful thing. Alternatively, I'm too old to not get enough sleep. Alternative to the alternative, why didn't I enjoy sleep more as a child and could someone please tell me I have to take a nap? Friday night we both fell asleep in the living room; me on the couch, him in the recliner. We heavily debated turning off the light and staying right there for the night. Unfortunately, the dogs have their own agenda and we ended up taking them outside again before bedtime. This only made it later when we finally went to bed. Guess who also woke us up early to go outside? Yep, the same fuzzy creatures. As we contemplated how tired we were, I realized how much more sleep my body requires to function now than it used to...I'm pretty sure this is why we have children when we are younger.

2. Anxiety is an unwelcome beast. I have battled this. My husband has battled this. Now some of my children are battling this. My husband and I have learned some coping skills that work for us and aren't self-medicating mistakes. Now, we are helping our children to navigate this in the same safe ways we have learned. My daughter and I talked about the rule of threes and using essential oils last night after an anxiety attack she had yesterday at a restaurant. We put on the oils that calm her, talked about getting back on track with using them daily on her feet at bedtime (something we found worked for her as a four year old), and the rule of threes where you notice three things you can see, three things you can hear, and move 3 parts of your body. I know there are variations on this idea but the point of all of them seem to be to engage your body is something else besides the anxiety and shift your focus off the anxious thoughts. This engages your senses, promotes mindfulness, and calms the stress response in your body. It seems to work for her and that's all that matters!

3. A coffee treat can make errands and chores better. I had to pick up my grocery order and get gas this morning, then come home to work on planning for the week (the last 4 days before spring break are always "special" aren't they?) and getting ready for parent teacher conferences, which are also this week. To say I wasn't looking forward to doing any of that on this Sunday is a gross understatement, but it has to get done, so how about a lil' coffee to help get the job done? Don't mind if I do.

I was stuck on what to write about today and came across this idea of a list of 3 things. Check out this post for my inspiration: https://sliceoflisa.blogspot.com/2025/03/three-things-i-dont-pay-attention-to.html

Spring Break Countdown...5 more wake ups!

 5 more days until the finish line.

          5 more days of alarm clocks buzzing in the darkness.

                    5 more days spent with other people's children instead of my own.

          5 more days of busy busy busy talking to parents at conferences.

5 more days of wrangling the wiggles in the little bodies.

Don't get me wrong...I love them, I do.

          But it's time for a little rest and relaxation at home.

                    I can't wait to do what I want, when I want, and for however long I want.

          But mostly, it's the lack of alarms in the darkness that make me excited.

And, of course, no wrangling for a few days. That's cool too!

The Hounds!

I have a little furry friend. Actually, I have four of them. I have three Dachshunds and a Corgi. Our hotdogs are very sweet. They love to bark and they meet us at the door everyday when we get home. Even if we are only gone long enough to get the mail.

But Max is a different beast. He is the Corgi. He's also very sweet, but he is also very loud, and domineering, and stubborn. He is playful and fun and still very much a puppy, at a year and a half old. He loves to play, or destroy, his toys. He loves to eat and he loves the outdoors. He enjoys splooting and laying his belly on the cool floor boards. He is just a fun guy!

All of our dogs are awesome and they are all smart. But Max is SO SMART! We tried to teach the others some tricks. They are all house trained, so they learned the big one, but other than that, sit and shake are about the extent of tricks they others will do. Max, however, has learned everything we have ever tried to teach him! He sits, he whisper barks, he will speak, he will roll over, he will turn in a circle, he will shake, and he will give a high five. 

Recently, we bought him a new gadget. We bought him a set of buttons. He has a button by the door that says outside. When he presses the button, it says outside, and we know he needs to go out. He has a button that says play and when he pushes it he will bring you a toy to play with. It took him all of two days to get these two buttons down. Now we are working on the food and water buttons...those are taking a little longer but coming along. The last one says "I love you" - I can't wait to teach him this one!

Dogs are truly man's (or woman's) best friends. 

Five Things That Made Me Smile Today

1. It was "dress like your favorite book character" today at school (part of our March is Reading Month activities). It was fun to see the creativity of the students and teachers in all of their outfits. I had Junie B. Jones in my classroom, Mouse from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, a Cow from Cows That Type and a few others. They made me smile!

2. Making plans with my daughter. She is coming over tomorrow night to watch Survivor together. We girls have all been watching it together for the last few seasons and now that she doesn't live at home anymore, we love it when she can come over and join us still. Talking to her made me smile!

3. My dogs rushed me at the door when I got home today (and every other single day of their lives). I was greeted with happy jumps, licks, barks, and lots of love. They made me smile!

4. Dinner was a pretty salad with chicken and mandarin slices tonight. I love salad nights! I also cooked enough chicken tonight for dinner the next two nights. It felt good to get the time consuming part out of the way so that dinner prep the next two nights will be short and sweet! That thought made me smile!

5. I wanted something sweet this evening and stumbled upon some hot chocolate hiding in the cupboard. I made a cup of hot chocolate with a tiny bit of instant French Vanilla Cappuccino added in for a hint of flavor. I also added my new favorite...sweet cream cold foam on top. That steamy cup made me smile!

Bro! Bruh!

 I chuckled a little to myself at the dinner table tonight. Three of my kids were having a spirited conversation with each other, or, you might call it picking on each other. Either way, they were having fun.

As I listened to conversation going back and forth, rapid fire, I had to just laugh and shake my head.

It was "bruh" this and come on "bruh" that. Bro this, and bro that. Volleyed back and forth like a tennis match. Except everyone seemed to be coming out a winner in this match.

Then I made the mistake of asking or maybe smartly asked, "What exactly is the difference between "bruh" and "bro" and how do I know when to use which?

They all turned their grins upon me. You know the one. That slightly devious, slightly OMG Mom, I can't believe you don't know kind of grin. The one where they contemplate telling me the truth or messing with me.

I believe the chose the truth.

I was then taught that bro is for when you are excited about something and bruh is when you are "ugh" about something.

For example, bro, I won the lottery! 

Or, bruh, I can't believe you ate the last cookie!

My old school brain was (new?) schooled. I can now fluently converse in the bro/bruh universe.

Whew, thank goodness we got that cleared up!

The Clock

 

My grandfather died when he was just 39. It was 1952 and he left behind a wife and two young children, ages 6 and 9. My grandma worked but things were always very tight for money and she almost always did jobs on the side every evening and weekend to make ends meet. She would do laundry for people, she was an amazing seamstress and made clothing for people, and anything else that would bring in a few more dollars. My mom remembers my grandma saying she wasn't very hungry sometimes in the evening to be sure that the kids ate dinner first and got what they needed. My grandma was a very resourceful and handy lady, maybe because of this or in spite of it, I'm not sure.

She used to make cane seats for chairs. She made a rocking chair with a cane seat. She made beautiful doll clothes for my Cabbage Patch kids and even for my Barbie dolls. She could literally make anything if she wanted to. She never remarried so as my mom and my uncle grew up, she was able to change her side jobs into hobbies and do projects for fun.

Well, one day she decided she wanted to make a clock. But not just any clock - a grandfather clock. She knew it would be a big job but she also knew she could do it. So, she ordered a kit. She had to cut out the wood pieces, assemble everything and build the clock. Then she had to assemble and put together all the clock pieces and the pendulum and weight system. It was simply beautiful and she was very proud of it. It sounded amazing and I was mesmerized as a little girl when I would watch her reset the weights and "wind" the clock in the morning.

This clock stood prominently in her living room for the rest of her days. It was always in the same spot like a guard standing watch over her, her home, her family. I always loved the clock. I remember playing Barbies at the base of the clock. I remember laying in bed listening for the chimes to ring and hearing the calm, steady tick in the middle of the night. 

Each picture that was taken for any occasion at Grandma's house was taken in front of that clock. From the time I could stand alone, there are pictures of me in front of it, documenting my growth. Someone came to visit? Take a picture in front of the clock! It's your birthday? Take a picture in front of the clock! It was as much a routine as the chiming of the clock.

The picture above isn't my Grandma's clock. That one is in my mom's house right now. This is the kit that she ordered to build the clock. I looked online for a picture that was similar and found the exact kit she used over 40 years ago to make her clock. Same company, same everything, except if you buy this kit now you pay a whole lot more than she did. Now, the wood comes pre-cut and pre-stained and you just assemble it all. You can even watch a YouTube video to see how to assemble the clock workings. Grandma didn't have a video. She had some directions and a big ol' "best wishes" from the company.

I see why she was proud of it. We are all still proud of it. Someday, it will stand guard in my house. A visible memory of my Grandma for all to enjoy. Maybe a Grandmother Clock?

Lightening, then the thunder!

Morning came extra early in our house today. We had our first spring storm early this morning. It was very windy and some rain, thunder, lightening. I probably would have slept through it myself, but Max had other plans.

Max is our 1.5 year old Corgi. He's so smart and has a huge personality. We love him to pieces! He can figure out just about anything and has learned way more tricks than any of our other dogs. He's not much of a daytime cuddler like our other dogs, but he does like to snuggle a little at night. He will lay close-ish to us in bed and likes to be near but he has too much fur to enjoy a blanket. 

This poor boy though, absolutely hates storms. He just can't figure them out! He doesn't want to be snuggled during a storm, but he does. He doesn't want to pace, but he does. He doesn't understand the sounds of the wind, the booming of the thunder, or the crazy flashes of lightening. Poor baby was a nervous wreck last night. Pacing, panting, whining, jumping, laying, looking out the window...over and over until it was finally done.

When morning came and the storm was complete, we all took a nice long nap.

Procrastination

I have a million things to do this weekend. Things that I haven't gotten done for school this past week that have piled up. Dishes in the sink that have also piled up because it's a lot to cook and clean and fill and empty for 6 people everyday. Cleaning chores that need to be done around the house, a stack of paperwork that needs to turn into a tax return, a clothing return that needs to be made, picking up that needs to be done all over this house. The list goes on and on and seems endless from my perch on the couch on this Friday evening. I have zero desire to do any of it.

So, in the way of all good procrastinators, or end-of-the-week tired teacher moms, I sat down and didn't start the first item on the list. I recognize that was my fatal mistake. However, it's not really my fault that the doggos are curled up around me. It's not my fault the tv is showing entertaining reruns of Family Ties. It's not my fault that I am cozy under this fuzzy blanket - it was a Christmas gift after all and must be used.

I guess I just have to stay here and cuddle fuzzballs from my warm cocoon. Bummer. I guess I'll just have to wait until tomorrow to begin tackling that list. It's just too bad it's out of my control.

Max

 

Baby? Nah. Sleep like a dog!

I didn't have a slice today and then, in all his cuteness, there he is laying on the floor in front of me. I'll give Max all the credit today...he pretty much wrote the 6 word story for me today. 

It's Finally Happening!

The sun is shining.

If you aren’t from Michigan you might not understand how glorious these words are in the month of March, especially in the first half.

I sat at my table this afternoon admiring the sunshine out the window. It’s funny to me that the thing we, in Michigan, look so forward to seeing again in the spring, is the same thing that people in other places probably take for granted.

Do people in Arizona appreciate seeing the sun on a random March day like I do? Do people in California appreciate a 50* day in March like I do?

I’ll never know for sure…but it’s ok.

Today, the sun is shining in my window, and reminding me spring is only a few more days away.

For now, that is enough for me.

Strangers

 Strangers

There are strangers in my front yard. 

There are strangers in my side yard.

They are lurking, almost hiding, yet still there.

They are small in size and number still.

They creeping in slowly, almost shy, testing the waters.

My little tiny daffodils.

I'm so excited to see the first signs of spring creeping into the brown, gray, cloudy world that has been winter. We have had beautiful sunsets the last few days - amazing pinks and purples. The temperatures have been so pleasant. There are people out for walks and jogs and I don't shiver and automatically think they are nuts! But my favorite part, is when I start to see my flowers poking up out of the ground. It's always the daffodils first, then a few crocus plants that are always a surprise...still not sure where those came from! Finally, the tulips will pop up. Then there is a pause again until the hydrangeas and bleeding hearts arrive. I'm ready after this long, snowy Michigan winter we had. Here comes the sun...

Rag Doll

whirling, twirling,

swirling wind

blows me here to there

tumbling, drifting

whatever way it takes me

exhausted, thrown around, tossed about

like a rag doll

waiting for the next ride

When I left school today I was Monday, time-change, still sick, teacher tired. This time of the year is hard and long and draining, but tomorrow is a new day and I will start again like the rag doll who gets picked up by it's child.

A Slice of Mom

 A little slice of mom today.

When I was a little girl, we had a wooden rocking chair that always sat in the same corner of the living room. This was a remnant of the 70s with pictures of fruit painted on the seatback and gold painted details in all the lines and creases of the chair. It always had some sort of cushion on it to make it more comfortable, but I can't tell you what that cushion looked like anymore. 

But I do remember two things. When I was looking up, reclined in my mom's arms while she rocked me, there was a white glass light with black designs that hung from a hook in the ceiling with a black chain that swagged to the corner and down the wall. 

But the other thing is what I remember best of all. The creak. This rocking chair was old when my mom was rocking me in it and it had a creak that creaked it's creak about midway through each forward and backward rock. I can still hear it in my mind...partly a creak, partly a snap, partly a crack...but it was consistent and ever present. 

So was my mom. She rocked me every night and as she rocked me she sang. My Elvis-loving Mom sang me a different sort of lullaby than most babies heard. She sang It's Now or Never, Love Me Tender and Can't Help Falling In Love With You. I know she sang other songs too, but those are the ones I remember the most. I even danced my first dance with my husband to I Can't Help Falling In Love With You. 

When Mom rocked me in that chair with that creak and sang that song...all was right with my world.

Five Things That Made Me Smile This Week

I have seen a few people make top ten lists, top three lists or top five lists in the challenge so far this year. I am inspired to try one of my own. Today, I think I'd like to write about some of my feel good favorites.

Five things that made me smile this week:

1. When my daughter came home to visit (even though her apartment is only a half mile from our house)        and the first thing she did was wrap her arms around my neck...just like she did as a little ringlet-haired      girl and said "Hi Mom!"

2. Listening to my children laugh and tease each other. Hearing them get along and enjoy each other's            company is one of the great joys of being a parent.

3. When my dogs come snuggle up to me on the couch just to get in a couple extra belly rubs for the            evening.

4. The sweetness of a former student running over everyday to give me a hug before he goes home in the         afternoon. He always tells me he had a great day at school and after some days, I sure need a dose of         that enthusiasm.

5. Sunshine. It's so good to see her again after a long, cold, snowy winter.

I'm caught somewhere in between impressed and deeply concerned...

 After receiving an email from a parent last night, I had a chat with a student today.

Me: Mom said your reading folder has been in your backpack all week empty and you told her you didn't have any books at school that you could bring home. They are lost and you aren't allowed to get more. Is that right?

Child: No, they aren't lost. They aren't at my house. I just don't have any books.

Me: You picked out 5 books to read. Where did they go? Are they in your folder? In your desk? In your backpack?

Child: No, I don't have any books.

Me: Mom told me your reading folder has been in your backpack all week but you have been telling me each day that you didn't have your folder and that you forgot it at home.

Child: No, I told you I didn't have my backpack.

Me: Ok, it seems like you aren't being honest. You are telling me one thing and your mom something different. I'm going to let you think about it for a minute and then I'm going to ask you again. Even if you think I'm not going to like the truth, I really need you to be honest and tell me what is going on. I can't help you if you aren't honest. 

Child: [30 seconds later] Ok. I know what happened now.

Me: Ok, please be honest and tell me what happened. 

Child: Well, I told you I didn't have my backpack, because then you would think I didn't have my folder, and if I didn't have my folder, then I wouldn't have to take home books to read. I told my mom I didn't have any books to bring home, because I don't want to read at home. I don't WANT to read at home!

Me: So, you really had your folder and your books the whole time? 

Child: Yes. I don't want to read at home. 

Me: Do you know why we practice reading at school and at home?

Child: No. I don't like it.

Me: Do you want to go to second grade?

Child: Yes!

Me: You see, in order to go to second grade, you have to be able to do the first grade stuff and that means you have to be able to read the first grade books and do the first grade math and do the first grade writing. If you never practice those things, then you don't get good at them. So, if you want to be able to go to second grade, you have to read the first grade books so that you will be ready to read when you get to second grade because they have really cool books, like longer chapter books, neat nonfiction books, and all kinds of good stories to read. But, if you don't practice, then you won't be able to do it when it's time to go to second grade.

Child: So if I practice reading a lot then I can read when I go to college too?

Me: Yep, isn't that cool?

Child: Yes, so I better read a lot of first grade books now so I can get smarter so I can read college books. 

Me: Sounds like a plan. So, are you ready to pack your books to take home now?

Child: Yes, I want to take [digs through pile] these three books tonight.

Me: Cool, how about you go pack them up and put them in your mailbox and I'm going to send a message to mom to let her know what we talked about and that you will be bringing those 3 books home to read to her tonight.

Child: Oh. Um. Can I just surprise her tonight and show her?

Me: Sorry Charlie. I'm going to have to tell her what really happened.

Child: [gulp] Oh. I think...I'll...probably read a lot this weekend. Tell her that too, ok?

Wow! I am not sure if I should be more impressed that she pulled off a complex lie to her mom and I both that spanned a whole week before either of us figured out that something was not quite right OR if I should be more concerned that a 6 year old convincingly, bold-faced lied to me for a week straight like it was nothing?

So, what now?

I have spent the last two days thinking about one student. Actually, more truthfully, I've spent most of the year thinking about her. Her homelife is awful. Her kindergarten experience was less than stellar and bad habits were learned. Her entire year was spent learning how to be a human who could function in a world with other people. I don't say this lightly, but this child was feral when she came to us. 

There were a lot of mistakes made along the way of trying to manage this child in a school setting. She's also grown quite a lot since kindergarten began. This year, she was put into my classroom because admin thought I would be a patient, kind but firm teacher who would have expectations for her but also understand that her expectations would need to be different than others in our classroom. Ok, fine. It's not the first time I have heard this. It's not the first time I've had a difficult child, by any means. Ok, let's do this.

Fast forward half a school year. Has she made gains in her behavior? Yes, she has. It hasn't been a straight path, for sure; more like a rough, jagged line of ups and downs and a few sideways jumps. But overall, she's improved.

Academically, she has also gained. She is able to recognize numbers 0-10 now, she can recognize most through 20, and she can count to 19 most of the time. Huge! She's learned a few more letters and sounds. Awesome! However, she's also not growing at near the rate she "should" for her age and peer group, and she recently qualified for special education services. Another rough, jagged road to get her there, but we finally made it.

There have been multiple pow-wow's to help this child succeed. There have been lots of phone calls for help when tool boxes have run out of tools. Mind you, I've been doing this job for a hot minute...24 years. I have had a lot of difficult kids over those 24 years...children with autism, children with downs, children with ODD, children with ADHD of all levels, one deaf student who was just learning to sign...I've had my share of difficult students and learned all kinds of things along the way to help them succeed and be the best students they could be.

But this child. This child is like none other I have had. There are some similarities, of course, but so many different things that this child brought in her invisible baggage. This child will hug and beg for attention and love one minute and whip a pencil at your face the next. She will use a calm down corner perfectly and with complete success and be proud of herself one minute and bark, scream at me, and run out of the room the next minute. To say I'm exhausted is an understatement. 

I don't typically ask my admin for help with a student because of behavior. I just deal with it and move on. I've been around the block enough times to have a pretty big toolbox and enough experience to be able to use those tools fairly effectively. Until now.

I've asked for support for this child more times in a half of a year, than I have in my total teaching career. Yesterday was the straw that broke me. 

I asked for some real support from my admin. I ended up staying home sick today. Probably a combination of that exhaustion, some germs from my never ending sick students, and some need for a mental health day, but a day that was sorely needed. While at home, I got an email with a list of supports I could put into place for this child. I was asked to look it over, if I felt well enough today, so that we could discuss them when we meet tomorrow.

There are 8 items on this list. I do 6 of them daily already, multiple times per day, in fact. I do them with many of my students - not just this child. Like I said, I'm not new to this game. The 7th is a social story book that admin will make for me to read to the child when she's elevated so that she can process her feelings better. Cool idea - I'm not opposed to books supporting kids - what does the rest of my class do while I'm reading this story to that one child? And the 8th thing on the list is to calmly redirect her and give her choices when she feels like running out of the room so that she can choose to do something else. Gosh, I can't believe I've never thought of that idea! For real?!

Excuse me kind sir, but what do you think I have been doing all day everyday for a half year? As I stated before, a few times, this isn't my first rodeo and I have had many challenging kids over the 24 years I've been doing this job. The reason this child is in my room to begin with is because I was thought of highly enough to think I could handle her situation with grace. Indeed, I believe I have been more than generous with the grace I have shown this child at the literal cost of the other 19 children who have been entrusted to me. 

I have lots of ideas for what could be done with that list of suggestions and none of those will be said here. In the meantime...what am I to do next?

This child and this situation has me pretty livid because it all comes down to this same question over and over. Aren't we sacrificing everyone else, child and adult, in this classroom for one student? We have worked so hard for this one child. What about the rest? What about the time I can't spend with them because I have to put out a fire that can't be ignored, can't wait, can't come second. Ever. The other students are just expected to wait for their turn? So far that turn hasn't come. Not once.

So, what now?

Ever have one of these days?

I truly can only handle 6 words.

 

I can't handle anything else today.

Today honestly felt 9 weeks long.

It's the same sentiment each way.

I have nothing left to give.

And now, I'm going to bed.

This is 83

It's almost my dad's 83rd birthday and for some reason it's got me right in the feels this year. I have been thinking about what he would be like as an 83 year old and it's hard to imagine. 19 birthdays we have celebrated without him and I just have so many feelings wrapped up in it this year. So...I guess, even though I hate having it this way, this is 83...

I can't believe it's been 19 years since I last saw your face

or heard your voice.

19 years since we said goodbye for the last time

and my life changed forever.

The things that have happened in those 19 years...

unreal!

We look at pictures and I tell my kids stories about you,

there are so many good ones to share.

You've missed so many milestones,

I know you would hate that.

You saw me get married to my best friend,

but you don't know we are celebrating our 24th anniversary this year.

You saw me buy my first home,

but not the second.

You saw me land my job and work 5 years,

but you don't know I've been in the same school for 24 years now.

You saw me have two babies,

but not four.

You saw my first born,

but you don't know he's a college graduate with a job interview tomorrow.

You saw my second born,

but you don't know she's an EMT, going to school to be a paramedic and living her own adult life.

You never saw my youngest two,

but I suspect you had something to do with their stubbornness...just missing the red hair, right?

I think of you often,

I always will.

I can't believe it's been 19 years since I last saw your face

or heard your voice.

19 years since we said goodbye for the last time

and my life changed forever.

The Dreaded Laptop

It was a nice day in first grade today, things were going well, and then it happened.

In walked the dreaded laptop.

The time had come for my next walk-thru observation and when did my principal arrive with her laptop? During a read aloud. Cool! Easy! Right? 

Well, yes. And also, no.

Normally, I have an objective for my read alouds that happen in the morning with my reading lesson. I am reading those books with the purpose of teaching a skill or practicing something we are currently working on in the lesson. The book is a mentor text or an example to be used to get my point across.

In the afternoon when I read aloud, I don't have any sort of objective except to read with my kiddos and enjoy a fun story. Today, when the laptop walked in, we were just cracking open the cover of a brand new, never been read before, just gifted to us, book. We were all excited for this one...The Smart Cookie by Jory John. 

We have read other books by Jory and have loved them all. We loved them, yes, but not because we were learning a certain objective from them, but because we were just reading for enjoyment.

My heart sank just a little when the laptop walked in. I know reading for pleasure is perfectly acceptable, but it's not something I can show a lesson plan for and I knew the laptop was looking for my objective on the board and my lesson plan to match. 

But...then...I remembered. I had swapped my read alouds today! Woohoo! I read for pleasure in the morning, and was reading with an objective when the laptop walked in. Saved by the book!

My purpose was to read today and tie it into my writing lesson tomorrow. As I read, I pointed out different things the author was doing that I knew we were going to return to tomorrow - the things I knew I would be refering back to in our writing lesson the next day.

As the laptop watched and listened, I knew she was enjoying the book right along with all my little people. She smiled and chuckled at all the right moments, and I knew she was enjoying my lesson.

The laptop finished click clacking her notes and I heard my phone ping when the email notification arrived containing her written feedback.

It would have been fine if I had been reading for enjoyment. But I'm still glad that today, by chance, I was...

the smart cookie!

Must Be Doing Something Right

It was a nice day for March 1 in Michigan and my husband’s whole family gathered in our living room to celebrate the many March family birthdays. We all enjoyed catching up, telling stories, laughing, and just having a good time together. We see each other regularly but it’s always nice to be together - everyone mostly gets along most of the time as most siblings do. 

We had a tasty lunch together, the birthday people opened their gifts, we ate a sweet treat…all the normal things a birthday celebration entails. It was a good day!

But do you know what I enjoyed the most out of all the things? It wasn’t the food I didn’t have to cook or plan. It wasn’t the happiness of those who loved their thoughtful gifts. It wasn’t even the sweet dessert options.

The best part of the whole day was after it was over! All four of my kids were hanging out together in the family room after everyone else had left. My husband and I were cleaning up the remnants of the party while we listened to them talking and laughing and just genuinely enjoying each other. While only one has moved out on her own and the other three are still at home, it’s so much fun to listen to them all getting along and enjoying their time together. It’s pretty cool to watch their relationships evolve from young siblings to half-grown teens to now starting to change from teens to young adults.There was laughter, some poking fun, some good natured joking, and more laughter. It made this Mama's heart feel pretty full.

I think we must be doing something right. We have four pretty awesome kids who, even though they sometimes argue and fight, will also stick up for each other, watchout for each other, and share laughter with a bond that only siblings can share. We can’t ask for much more than that!

It was a good day.

Playlist Ponderings

 This is my 9th year of the SOLC - although not all consecutive and not all fully completed. But, here I am! Ready for another try!

Usually I don’t mind all that much when I have to do school work at home because I know it gives me an excuse to crank up the tunes while I work. I love music - always have.

As I sat down today to enter assessment scores on the computer, I pulled up my trusty playlists and started to look over my options. I settled on my “Top Songs of 2024” list and got comfy in my desk chair. As I worked, I chuckled a little at the songs as I sang along. I have what you might call an “eclectic” kind of playlist and it really struck me this morning.

I have songs I remember and love from my childhood and songs I loved as a teenager. I have songs that were considered oldies when I was young and songs that are brand new right now, plus everything in between. I have country songs and pop songs, a capella and grunge, rock and even a few showtunes. Obviously, I know that I have a wide range of music in my favorite lists, but it just occurred to me how wide that range really is today.

In the country category, I have everything from Chris Stapleton to Keith Whitley, Tracy Lawrence to Shania, to Dan + Shay, Ronnie Milsap to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton…and let’s not forget Patsy Cline. There is a little bit of everything in there!

Actually, every category is similar in range. I have Journey, Neil Diamond, Meghan Trainor, REO Speedwagon, Miley Cyrus, Chicago, Shawn Mendez, Justin Bieber, Dave Fenley, George Strait, Billy Joel, Firehouse, Bruno Mars, Lionel Richie, Air Supply, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, CCR, Michael Bolton, AC/DC, Sam Smith, Colbie Caillet, Pink, Elvis, and Home Free. Honestly, it would be more vast than this if everything I loved to listen to was available on my streaming service.

I started thinking today, maybe I was procrastinating a little, that when I visit people’s homes, I have always enjoyed looking at their bookshelves to see what kinds of books they enjoy reading. My own bookshelf is pretty varied with everything from my own favorite Little Golden Books, my children’s favorite books from board books to paperbacks, the entire Harry Potter series, biographies, Mitch Album titles, my favorite Michigan author Viola Shipman, the Virgin River series (LOVE!), cookbooks, and even magazines. 

It made me wonder what my musical tastes say about me? If you visited my playlist, what would you learn about me or think about me? Does my musical bookshelf adequately tell a story of me? What does it say?