Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Pretzel Man
Paul made a book for Seth while he was at school yesterday. Paul is done with all of the work he has to do for the week (it is only Tuesday), so he has been keeping himself busy (and out of trouble!). He made sure to use words that Seth knew how to read (although he knew that Seth would need help with 'scientist') Pretzel Man is from his comic series that he is working on. Seth had a blast reading this little book last night. He answered all of the questions and giggled at the last question. "I'm made out of boy, not out of pretzel!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Impressed with Paul
I have to take a moment to share how impressed I am with Paul. Lately he has been doing things that catch me by surprise and leave me feeling amazed at what a great kid he is. Here are a few things that have occurred over the past month.
Quilting: Paul has finished sewing his quilt top and back and is (very patiently) waiting for me to help him quilt it. It has been so much fun to work with him in my craft room. He has been diligent with making his seams straight and lining up his fabric. His vision with this project was amazing. He knew exactly what he wanted it to look like and he made it happen! I am excited to see the finished results!
Sewing: Many of Paul's pants have holes in the knees. I mentioned to him that I needed to get his pants and sew the holes. A few days later, he went into the sewing room, took a needle and thread and sewed up the hole in his pants all by himself with no help or input from me or Daniel. I was taken back that he just went ahead and did it on his own. Seriously, how cool is that?
Valentines Box: This year was the first year that Paul had been assigned to make a Valentine box at home. I held onto a few boxes that he could use and he went to town with a super idea. He wanted to make the box look like a book. I am ashamed to admit that I hijacked the project and had to force myself to step away and let him do it on his own. He made his vision come through with art work, false pages, witty front and back cover and 'sample' pages in front of the hole for the envelopes. He titled the books "The Blah Blah Blah Blah Love Book" and "The Blah Blah Blah Blah Love Book Part Two: The sad break up. He wrote a little synopsis of the book on the 'back cover' and it was hilarious! It won the most creative box in his class!
Comic strips: Paul has been working on his own comic strips. He has two series that he is working on. One is The Mouse and The Human and the other is called Pretzel Man. It has been fun to watch him work on these comics and then have him share them with me. He puts a lot of thought and detail into these comics. I love the creativity that he exhibits with these. It is really awesome!
Plants: Daniel and Paul went shopping together and they saw a cool plant called a coral cactus. (Take a second and Google coral cactus, they are beautiful plants!) Paul thought that it was neat, so he worked really hard doing extra chores around the house to earn the $13 needed to buy the plant. He was really determined and worked hard. I was really impressed that he would do that. This was the second plant that he has purchased with his own money. He has a succulent that he has taken good care of for several months now. After he bought the coral cactus, he earned more money to buy a bamboo plant. He keeps his plants on his window seal and has been really attentive.
I gave the boys little gifts on St. Patrick's day and Paul was excited to receive seeds. I found a few little kits to grow daisies and strawberries, and he planted them in the little pots right away. Yesterday he told me that he had a surprise for me and he showed me that the daisy seeds had sprouted! I love watching him take such an interest in the plants! He has asked for land outside to plant some seeds this summer. We are working on clearing out a few areas for him to be the master gardener over.
Plenty more has happened this past month, but I am just going to share one more thing that has impressed me. This happened this past Monday night. Paul told me and Daniel that he and Seth were going to put on a harmonica concert. I was not sure what to expect, but I attended an awesome concert! It was far better than I had anticipated. I knew that Seth and Paul had been downstairs rehearsing, but I had NO IDEA that they were putting on such a great act. Paul started out introducing himself as a scientist and said that Seth was his assistant. He asked us what existed before anything was created, before the earth, before anything. Mark guessed "nothing" and that was incorrect. Paul said, "Before anything ever existed we had the harmonica" as he and Seth pulled out their harmonicas and played around with them. They had a skit that was well thought out and performed. It was quite comical too! The boys played songs that they had written. They were awesome! Daniel caught most of it on video. I was a bit shocked that Paul had put together such a great routine!
I don't know why I was shocked, it really shouldn't surprise me that he was so creative and wonderful. I know that he is smart and creative. He is a wonderful kid. After spending the last month with him and seeing how many things he can do, I am anxious to see what he chooses as a career. He has so many amazing talents that he can use in many different ways.
I am not going to apologize for bragging about my son. I want everyone I know to know that I have a great son! I am so excited for him and for his future. It has been so much fun to get to know him better and to see what he can do. I love my Paul. He is a wonderful kid. I am so proud of him! I am so grateful that I get to be his mom! I get to see his gorgeous blue eyes and the infectious smile every day! Isn't he handsome?
Paul, thank you for being you. You are wonderful!
Quilting: Paul has finished sewing his quilt top and back and is (very patiently) waiting for me to help him quilt it. It has been so much fun to work with him in my craft room. He has been diligent with making his seams straight and lining up his fabric. His vision with this project was amazing. He knew exactly what he wanted it to look like and he made it happen! I am excited to see the finished results!
Sewing: Many of Paul's pants have holes in the knees. I mentioned to him that I needed to get his pants and sew the holes. A few days later, he went into the sewing room, took a needle and thread and sewed up the hole in his pants all by himself with no help or input from me or Daniel. I was taken back that he just went ahead and did it on his own. Seriously, how cool is that?
Valentines Box: This year was the first year that Paul had been assigned to make a Valentine box at home. I held onto a few boxes that he could use and he went to town with a super idea. He wanted to make the box look like a book. I am ashamed to admit that I hijacked the project and had to force myself to step away and let him do it on his own. He made his vision come through with art work, false pages, witty front and back cover and 'sample' pages in front of the hole for the envelopes. He titled the books "The Blah Blah Blah Blah Love Book" and "The Blah Blah Blah Blah Love Book Part Two: The sad break up. He wrote a little synopsis of the book on the 'back cover' and it was hilarious! It won the most creative box in his class!
Comic strips: Paul has been working on his own comic strips. He has two series that he is working on. One is The Mouse and The Human and the other is called Pretzel Man. It has been fun to watch him work on these comics and then have him share them with me. He puts a lot of thought and detail into these comics. I love the creativity that he exhibits with these. It is really awesome!
Plants: Daniel and Paul went shopping together and they saw a cool plant called a coral cactus. (Take a second and Google coral cactus, they are beautiful plants!) Paul thought that it was neat, so he worked really hard doing extra chores around the house to earn the $13 needed to buy the plant. He was really determined and worked hard. I was really impressed that he would do that. This was the second plant that he has purchased with his own money. He has a succulent that he has taken good care of for several months now. After he bought the coral cactus, he earned more money to buy a bamboo plant. He keeps his plants on his window seal and has been really attentive.
I gave the boys little gifts on St. Patrick's day and Paul was excited to receive seeds. I found a few little kits to grow daisies and strawberries, and he planted them in the little pots right away. Yesterday he told me that he had a surprise for me and he showed me that the daisy seeds had sprouted! I love watching him take such an interest in the plants! He has asked for land outside to plant some seeds this summer. We are working on clearing out a few areas for him to be the master gardener over.
Plenty more has happened this past month, but I am just going to share one more thing that has impressed me. This happened this past Monday night. Paul told me and Daniel that he and Seth were going to put on a harmonica concert. I was not sure what to expect, but I attended an awesome concert! It was far better than I had anticipated. I knew that Seth and Paul had been downstairs rehearsing, but I had NO IDEA that they were putting on such a great act. Paul started out introducing himself as a scientist and said that Seth was his assistant. He asked us what existed before anything was created, before the earth, before anything. Mark guessed "nothing" and that was incorrect. Paul said, "Before anything ever existed we had the harmonica" as he and Seth pulled out their harmonicas and played around with them. They had a skit that was well thought out and performed. It was quite comical too! The boys played songs that they had written. They were awesome! Daniel caught most of it on video. I was a bit shocked that Paul had put together such a great routine!
I don't know why I was shocked, it really shouldn't surprise me that he was so creative and wonderful. I know that he is smart and creative. He is a wonderful kid. After spending the last month with him and seeing how many things he can do, I am anxious to see what he chooses as a career. He has so many amazing talents that he can use in many different ways.
I am not going to apologize for bragging about my son. I want everyone I know to know that I have a great son! I am so excited for him and for his future. It has been so much fun to get to know him better and to see what he can do. I love my Paul. He is a wonderful kid. I am so proud of him! I am so grateful that I get to be his mom! I get to see his gorgeous blue eyes and the infectious smile every day! Isn't he handsome?
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| He is growing up too fast. |
Sunday, March 20, 2011
PhD 8
If you could go back and re-do something from when you were in elementary school what would it be?
There is a moment in the 6th grade that has haunted me all of these years. If I were granted a re-do I would choose to go back to a moment when I made a decision to go with the crowd when I knew that I shouldn't.
This moment happened in the school gym. We had just finished our P.E. time and we were lining up at the door to go back to class. A few people were lined up, but nobody else was getting in line. I went to get in line and someone teased me for wanting to stand behind Melinda Alan (or Allen?). I vividly remember that split second where I had to make a decision and I decided to go with the crowd and I refused to get in line. The teacher finally figured out what was going on, forced the class to line up and she sent Melinda to the office to get some papers copied while she lectured us about being nice.
I look back at that and I cringe that I was so mean to her. She came from a poor family. She was a new student that year and lived in the apartments near our school. All she really needed was a friend, but our entire class decided to have that be the one thing that she never got.
I seriously feel so much shame for not seeing that she needed a friend (I was in desperate need of a friend at that time too, so why I didn't I defend her and befriend her?) I have so much regret for being involved in that behavior. She was teased, mocked and excluded. That had to hurt.
If I could go back in time, I would have made the better choice to get into line and tell those bullies off instead of becoming one of the bullies. I know that I would have become part of their target, but they were more afraid of teasing me, so it would have been easier on her.
Over the last 23 years since that day, I have wondered what ever happened to Melinda. She moved away and we didn't attend the same school in 7th grade. I hope that she was able to rise above the cruelty and meanness that she experienced. I know that she would be a beautiful woman right now. I just hope that she finally found a friend because she deserves a good friend.
I have tried looking her up on Facebook, but I haven't had success. If I could find her again...
Melinda, I am sorry for not standing up for you. I am sorry for adding to your challenges. I sincerely hope that you have found peace in your life. Please forgive me for not being the friend that I knew I should have been. You truly deserved better than what you received.
There is a moment in the 6th grade that has haunted me all of these years. If I were granted a re-do I would choose to go back to a moment when I made a decision to go with the crowd when I knew that I shouldn't.
This moment happened in the school gym. We had just finished our P.E. time and we were lining up at the door to go back to class. A few people were lined up, but nobody else was getting in line. I went to get in line and someone teased me for wanting to stand behind Melinda Alan (or Allen?). I vividly remember that split second where I had to make a decision and I decided to go with the crowd and I refused to get in line. The teacher finally figured out what was going on, forced the class to line up and she sent Melinda to the office to get some papers copied while she lectured us about being nice.
I look back at that and I cringe that I was so mean to her. She came from a poor family. She was a new student that year and lived in the apartments near our school. All she really needed was a friend, but our entire class decided to have that be the one thing that she never got.
I seriously feel so much shame for not seeing that she needed a friend (I was in desperate need of a friend at that time too, so why I didn't I defend her and befriend her?) I have so much regret for being involved in that behavior. She was teased, mocked and excluded. That had to hurt.
If I could go back in time, I would have made the better choice to get into line and tell those bullies off instead of becoming one of the bullies. I know that I would have become part of their target, but they were more afraid of teasing me, so it would have been easier on her.
Over the last 23 years since that day, I have wondered what ever happened to Melinda. She moved away and we didn't attend the same school in 7th grade. I hope that she was able to rise above the cruelty and meanness that she experienced. I know that she would be a beautiful woman right now. I just hope that she finally found a friend because she deserves a good friend.
I have tried looking her up on Facebook, but I haven't had success. If I could find her again...
Melinda, I am sorry for not standing up for you. I am sorry for adding to your challenges. I sincerely hope that you have found peace in your life. Please forgive me for not being the friend that I knew I should have been. You truly deserved better than what you received.
Monday, March 14, 2011
PhD 7
This week has been rough. I have had a head cold and I feel lousy. I thought that I was feeling better, but last night my sinuses went crazy on me and I am hurting. My teeth hurt and my jaw bone hurts, I most likely have a sinus infection. Oh joy...
Jane has been feeling sick too. Poor little girl. She is finally eating better, but still not as much as she was last week. I don't like being sick. But I REALLY don't like having sick babies. Especially when I am sick too.
I wanted to work on my PhD this week, but never got around to it. Last night I started on it, but I wasn't feeling well, so I thought that I'd finish it up today. I felt worse today than I did last night, so I'm sending out what is done and I hope to catch up next week. Yes ideally I'd be 4 weeks ahead of schedule, but that has yet to happen!
Hereare a few is one of my favorite things:
What is your favorite flower? I like daisies. They look very happy to me. I like the different colors they come in (I know that some flowers look like daisies, but aren't daisies, but I still like them!) I like that they last a long time in a bouquet. I like that they are easy to grow. Hopefully this year I will be able to plant some in my yard.
A funny little story about flowers. I was dating a guy (Aaron) and he wanted to surprise me with flowers, but he didn't know what kind I liked. At the time I hadn't really thought about what I liked, so I didn't have a favorite. Aaron called my friend Sherrie and asked her what my favorite flower was. She didn't know so she called and asked me and I told her that I didn't have one, but that I liked lily flowers. Sherrie called Aaron and he bought me a large single lily. It looked really strange to be one lone flower and it had a strong odor (not pleasant one). Essentially the favorite flower thing didn't go well, so I decided that I needed to figure out what my favorite flower was.
I remember thinking that Aaron was really sweet for going through all of the work to find out my favorite flower, but Sherrie told me that SHE is the one who did all of the work! She was right! I'm still perplexed that he couldn't figure out a sly way to talk about flowers with me to figure it out on his own.
My head is in a fog. I will need to do more later.
Jane has been feeling sick too. Poor little girl. She is finally eating better, but still not as much as she was last week. I don't like being sick. But I REALLY don't like having sick babies. Especially when I am sick too.
I wanted to work on my PhD this week, but never got around to it. Last night I started on it, but I wasn't feeling well, so I thought that I'd finish it up today. I felt worse today than I did last night, so I'm sending out what is done and I hope to catch up next week. Yes ideally I'd be 4 weeks ahead of schedule, but that has yet to happen!
Here
What is your favorite flower? I like daisies. They look very happy to me. I like the different colors they come in (I know that some flowers look like daisies, but aren't daisies, but I still like them!) I like that they last a long time in a bouquet. I like that they are easy to grow. Hopefully this year I will be able to plant some in my yard.
A funny little story about flowers. I was dating a guy (Aaron) and he wanted to surprise me with flowers, but he didn't know what kind I liked. At the time I hadn't really thought about what I liked, so I didn't have a favorite. Aaron called my friend Sherrie and asked her what my favorite flower was. She didn't know so she called and asked me and I told her that I didn't have one, but that I liked lily flowers. Sherrie called Aaron and he bought me a large single lily. It looked really strange to be one lone flower and it had a strong odor (not pleasant one). Essentially the favorite flower thing didn't go well, so I decided that I needed to figure out what my favorite flower was.
I remember thinking that Aaron was really sweet for going through all of the work to find out my favorite flower, but Sherrie told me that SHE is the one who did all of the work! She was right! I'm still perplexed that he couldn't figure out a sly way to talk about flowers with me to figure it out on his own.
My head is in a fog. I will need to do more later.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Benefit Dinner for my Brother
My brother Randy was in a rappelling accident in January. His friends are putting together a benefit dinner and auction to help him cover expenses to make his home wheelchair accessible and help cover other expenses. I know that many of you don't know Randy, but I wanted to pass along this information if any of you are interested in helping.
Friends of Randy Willes
Benefit Dinner & Auction
We have benefited from Randy's selfless service and cheerful smile over the years, now its our turn to help pay him back.
A Fund-raising benefit is being held for Randy to help cover cost after he was injured in a hiking accident. Proceeds will assist with medical expenses, lost wages, and cost to make his home wheelchair accessible.
Date: Saturday March 19, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Boys & Girls Club of Murray:
244 E. Myrtle Street (East side of State St. between Vine and 53rd S.)
Murray, Ut 84107.
Spaghetti Dinner $10/each or $50/family
Door Prizes
Silent Auction
Live Auction (Mayor Snarr Auctioneer)
A glimpse into some of the exciting auction items include:
Climbing & Canyoneering Gear from:
Imlay Canyon Gear
Sterling
Additional companies that expressed interest:
Rockexotica, Mammut, Petzl, IME.
Climbing Gym Passes:
Momentum climbing gym
Rockreation climbing gym
Canyoneering Trips:
Heaps Canyoneering Trip
Imlay Canyoneering Trip
Choprock & Neon Trip guided by Ram
Additional Items:
Hale Center Theater Season Tickets
Garage Door Opener
Professional Makeup
Many more items not listed.
This will be a great event for everyone. We look forward to seeing you there (bring a friend) and thank you for your support.
RSVP: Reply to benefit4willes@gmail.com , this will help us in planning, but don't let it keep you away if you forget to reply.
Please pass this on to all your family and friends.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
How Sweet It Is
Today the kids, Madeleine and I went to Sweet's candy factory for a tour. I was really excited to go as I love to see how things are made (I loved Mr. Rogers when his 'picture picture' frame took us on tours of various factories)
Jane did amazingly well keeping her hair net on the entire time (she did manage to take mine off at the beginning of the tour though!). We all had a great time seeing a working factory and tasting some of the candies.
At the end of the tour we went through the little candy shop. The boys each had $1.50 to spend, so they went for the clearance candies. I spent my money on a fresh bag of cinnamon bears. Ohhh, they are so good! (Did you know that I couldn't find cinnamon bears in Georgia or in Ohio? My sister and mom sent me a package. Seriously, these people are deprived with out cinnamon bears.)
Paul was delighted to know that the candy factory employs a chemist (wonderful question, Madeleine). He is interested in becoming a chemist or a geologist, so it was fun to see how the degree can be used!
I am so glad that we went on this factory tour! It was fun and informative. I loved that it was just our little group so that we could hear the tour guide easily. We had fun seeing the big tubes of chocolate and big bags of sugar. I love that my boys were really well behaved and asked questions. (Paul discovered that salt water taffy doesn't really use salt water). It was a fun way to spend a morning! Now if I can keep us from eating candy long enough to eat some lunch, that would be great!
Jane did amazingly well keeping her hair net on the entire time (she did manage to take mine off at the beginning of the tour though!). We all had a great time seeing a working factory and tasting some of the candies.
At the end of the tour we went through the little candy shop. The boys each had $1.50 to spend, so they went for the clearance candies. I spent my money on a fresh bag of cinnamon bears. Ohhh, they are so good! (Did you know that I couldn't find cinnamon bears in Georgia or in Ohio? My sister and mom sent me a package. Seriously, these people are deprived with out cinnamon bears.)
Paul was delighted to know that the candy factory employs a chemist (wonderful question, Madeleine). He is interested in becoming a chemist or a geologist, so it was fun to see how the degree can be used!
I am so glad that we went on this factory tour! It was fun and informative. I loved that it was just our little group so that we could hear the tour guide easily. We had fun seeing the big tubes of chocolate and big bags of sugar. I love that my boys were really well behaved and asked questions. (Paul discovered that salt water taffy doesn't really use salt water). It was a fun way to spend a morning! Now if I can keep us from eating candy long enough to eat some lunch, that would be great!
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| Mark, Seth and Paul looking awesome wearing their hair nets |
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| We liked the rug with all of the candy printed on it |
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| Paul, Sherron, Jane, Seth and Mark in front of the candy store |
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| Paul, Sherron, Jane, Madeleine and Seth |
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| What Jane did all the way home! |
Monday, March 7, 2011
PhD 6
Memories about elementary school.
Memory #1 Jami
The elementary school I went to had a class that consisted of children with disabilities. It was called Resource, but I don't know what it is called now. My next door neighbor Jami had Williams syndrome. She was challenged mentally (would never advance past a 2nd-3rd grade level) but physically I couldn't tell that she belonged in Resource. I remember being in 2nd or 3rd grade and standing in the hallway of the school where the old tower building met up with the newer addition. Resource was in the tower and Jami was in the hallway, probably just returning from using the bathroom. There were two boys in the hallway teasing Jami. They were calling her names and just being mean. I was really upset that they would treat Jami that way and I called out to them and told them to stop. They backed off and I escorted Jami to her class.
I think that having that class in my elementary helped me to be more comfortable with people who have special needs. It was just a normal thing to have someone who needed special help in the school. The kids would come into the regular classrooms occasionally, some for half a day and others just for certain activities. It was a benefit to all of us who were around them because it helped us see these kids as real people. I was glad to help Jami, but I still get upset when I think of those boys teasing her. It just makes me so angry.
Memory #2 Mrs. Davis
My Kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Davis. I don't remember her as being a warm and loving teacher. I have talked with several of my friends who had her and they feel the same, so I'm not imagining things. The details are shaky, but I guess that I didn't finish my work and I was in the play area with all of the other kids. She picked me up and carried me to my chair and set me down rather roughly.
Memory #3 Gym teacher
In the 6th grade I had a gym teacher who I thought was really cool. She was a lot of fun to be with during our P.E. time. From what I recall, she was single and probably in her mid 20's. Looking back now, I know that she had crossed some boundaries with her students and I wonder if anything happened between her and other kids. She would invite kids to do things after school. At the time I thought that it was cool, but now I understand how inappropriate it was. She definitely could not do this kind of activity today with out getting into trouble.
I was invited to go swimming with her and a group of my friends. I know that Heather, Jennifer D, and I think Stephanie went with me. We went to the high school pool and had a great time together. In the locker room is where I felt uncomfortable because the gym teacher stripped down and showered in front of us. I know that showering in the locker room isn't a bad thing to do, but being naked in front of your students is a crossed boundary that made all of us girls feel uncomfortable. I remember quickly rinsing off in my swimsuit and going into a stall to change.
Memory #4 Perfect attendance award
In 6th grade I worked hard at getting a perfect attendance award. I went to school even though I was having headaches. I went to school every day (I was checked out after lunch a few times, but the school counts as perfect attendance). I was on time to school every day that year.
On our way to the award assembly at the end of the year, my teacher announced that anyone who was tardy for any reason would not receive the perfect attendance award. Since I was the only person in the class who was in the running for this award I was confused. I then recalled that earlier in the year ALL of the girls came into school late because we didn't hear her say it was time to go in. We lined up as a class with boys in one line and girls in another. She came and got the boys, and perhaps the girls at the front of the line didn't see them go so they didn't follow, but however it happened, all of the girls were outside when the final bell rang. When we noticed that we were the only class left out there (which, by the was, wasn't the only time we were the last class to have our teacher come and get us) one of the boys came to get us.
That was the ONLY time that I was tardy, and I don't think that it really counts as a genuine tardy. I did not receive the perfect attendance award and I was hurt. I cried. My mom talked with the principal and he said that the teacher had the final say over which awards the students received. I made a quick enemy (when you are 12 years old, it is easy to hate someone when they wrong you). It was a good thing that school was over in a day or two, because I lost all respect for my teacher and felt that she hurt me on purpose. I usually picked out a gift to give to my teachers at the end of the year (bouquet of flowers, little notebook, ect.) but I had no desire to give this teacher a gift. My mom tried to convince me to be nice to her and thank her for the year as my teacher, but I was so hurt that I didn't want to acknowledge my teacher for anything. So I gave my teacher nothing out of spite.
I was going through my papers in a memory box a few years ago and I found a paper from my classmate Jessica Archuleta. She made me a perfect attendance award with construction paper and crayons. I cried when I found that paper. It was sweet of my friend to make that for me. It was certainly an act of kindness to help me feel better. I really just wish that it was never necessary.
Memory #1 Jami
The elementary school I went to had a class that consisted of children with disabilities. It was called Resource, but I don't know what it is called now. My next door neighbor Jami had Williams syndrome. She was challenged mentally (would never advance past a 2nd-3rd grade level) but physically I couldn't tell that she belonged in Resource. I remember being in 2nd or 3rd grade and standing in the hallway of the school where the old tower building met up with the newer addition. Resource was in the tower and Jami was in the hallway, probably just returning from using the bathroom. There were two boys in the hallway teasing Jami. They were calling her names and just being mean. I was really upset that they would treat Jami that way and I called out to them and told them to stop. They backed off and I escorted Jami to her class.
I think that having that class in my elementary helped me to be more comfortable with people who have special needs. It was just a normal thing to have someone who needed special help in the school. The kids would come into the regular classrooms occasionally, some for half a day and others just for certain activities. It was a benefit to all of us who were around them because it helped us see these kids as real people. I was glad to help Jami, but I still get upset when I think of those boys teasing her. It just makes me so angry.
Memory #2 Mrs. Davis
My Kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Davis. I don't remember her as being a warm and loving teacher. I have talked with several of my friends who had her and they feel the same, so I'm not imagining things. The details are shaky, but I guess that I didn't finish my work and I was in the play area with all of the other kids. She picked me up and carried me to my chair and set me down rather roughly.
Memory #3 Gym teacher
In the 6th grade I had a gym teacher who I thought was really cool. She was a lot of fun to be with during our P.E. time. From what I recall, she was single and probably in her mid 20's. Looking back now, I know that she had crossed some boundaries with her students and I wonder if anything happened between her and other kids. She would invite kids to do things after school. At the time I thought that it was cool, but now I understand how inappropriate it was. She definitely could not do this kind of activity today with out getting into trouble.
I was invited to go swimming with her and a group of my friends. I know that Heather, Jennifer D, and I think Stephanie went with me. We went to the high school pool and had a great time together. In the locker room is where I felt uncomfortable because the gym teacher stripped down and showered in front of us. I know that showering in the locker room isn't a bad thing to do, but being naked in front of your students is a crossed boundary that made all of us girls feel uncomfortable. I remember quickly rinsing off in my swimsuit and going into a stall to change.
Memory #4 Perfect attendance award
In 6th grade I worked hard at getting a perfect attendance award. I went to school even though I was having headaches. I went to school every day (I was checked out after lunch a few times, but the school counts as perfect attendance). I was on time to school every day that year.
On our way to the award assembly at the end of the year, my teacher announced that anyone who was tardy for any reason would not receive the perfect attendance award. Since I was the only person in the class who was in the running for this award I was confused. I then recalled that earlier in the year ALL of the girls came into school late because we didn't hear her say it was time to go in. We lined up as a class with boys in one line and girls in another. She came and got the boys, and perhaps the girls at the front of the line didn't see them go so they didn't follow, but however it happened, all of the girls were outside when the final bell rang. When we noticed that we were the only class left out there (which, by the was, wasn't the only time we were the last class to have our teacher come and get us) one of the boys came to get us.
That was the ONLY time that I was tardy, and I don't think that it really counts as a genuine tardy. I did not receive the perfect attendance award and I was hurt. I cried. My mom talked with the principal and he said that the teacher had the final say over which awards the students received. I made a quick enemy (when you are 12 years old, it is easy to hate someone when they wrong you). It was a good thing that school was over in a day or two, because I lost all respect for my teacher and felt that she hurt me on purpose. I usually picked out a gift to give to my teachers at the end of the year (bouquet of flowers, little notebook, ect.) but I had no desire to give this teacher a gift. My mom tried to convince me to be nice to her and thank her for the year as my teacher, but I was so hurt that I didn't want to acknowledge my teacher for anything. So I gave my teacher nothing out of spite.
I was going through my papers in a memory box a few years ago and I found a paper from my classmate Jessica Archuleta. She made me a perfect attendance award with construction paper and crayons. I cried when I found that paper. It was sweet of my friend to make that for me. It was certainly an act of kindness to help me feel better. I really just wish that it was never necessary.
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