Report Card Time

Last year, I had a really hard time with report cards.  It was our very first experience with the report card and I dreaded finding it in Patty's backpack each trimester.  First, I couldn't decide what the report card was telling me...other than she was "below level" in nearly everything.  Then, she would be "on level" one semester and fall "below level" the next.  It was utterly confusing and heart breaking and frustrating all rolled into one.

At some point I came to terms with the report card situation.  I mean, we have thirteen years of those things in our future, they weren't going to go away no matter how badly I wanted them to.  You see, I was of the mindset that the only good grade is an A and it took months for me to get past that belief. 

Now, I spend more time looking at her daily work and less time worrying about the measurements on her report cards.  It's so easy to see the progress she's making each and every night as we sit down to work on her homework.  She's reading to me!  She's learning to spell!  She's doing addition!  It's amazing to see how far she's come.  That report card, which comes only three times a year, is just a vague snap shot of the things she has accomplished.  It's really not fair to judge her by that piece of paper.

I hope all of this progress means the "gap" is starting to close and that one day we will be able to shed her diagnosis of developmental delay.  I don't believe there is such a thing as "normal" just like everyone else.  But, I do believe there is such a thing as "able" just like everyone else. 

Reaching a New Milestone

Patty can get out of the car all by herself now! 

For the past three mornings, Patty has carefully opened her door and climbed out of the car at school.  With no incident, I'm happy to add.  I even got a thumbs up from Mr. W this morning.  And for the past three mornings I have pulled away from the school bursting with pride with a gigantic smile on my face. 

This milestone probably won't be on any list you'll find, but maybe it should be.  For me, it ranks right up there with first steps and first words. It's monumental. It's completely changing the way we do things. This milestone has been a really big deal for me. 

You see, we had an experience, way back when JT was a baby that frightened me nearly to death.  He opened his door in traffic one day, on a four lane high way.  He was barely one at the time, but I remember it like it happened yesterday.  All of a sudden the interior light was on and the ding sounded and I had one of those "what the...." moments as I  looked into my side mirror seeing his door opening.  I was scared to death.  I was able to pull over into a turning lane, thanks very much to the folks behind me who no doubt saw what was happening and slowed down to accommodate me.  And obviously he was safely buckled into his car seat and wasn't in a huge amount of danger.  I mean, his arms were short, he wasn't going to be able to get the door open very far.  But, that experience was scary enough to keep the child locks firmly in place for all the time since.

And for all these years, Patty has never bothered with the child lock on her door.  JT, on the other hand, learned months ago what that little switch is for and proceeded to flip it whenever he could.  Go figure.  Eventually, I gave up trying to keep his door on child lock.  We haven't had any incidents with doors opening in traffic, but I've had to scold him many times in parking lots.  It was definitely time to give Patty the same freedom.  I guess this is just one of the many fears I'll have to "let go" as the kids get older and more independent.  It's not easy.  It's really not easy.  But, if I didn't worry, what kind of parent would I be?

A Goodbye to Cursive Writing

I recently heard that cursive writing is no longer a requirement here in Kentucky.  As in, my kids may not be taught to write in cursive by our public school system. 

So.  Okay.  Wait.  What? 

The logic that was to be the end of cursive hand writing had something to do with a notion that no other countries learn to write in two forms like we do: print and cursive.  So, is that true?  Are we (the USA) the only folks on Earth who learn to write in two formats?  Apparently not.  According to Wikipedia, many countries have a cursive form of their written language. 

Hmmm, I find that fact very interesting, don't you?

Another argument for the demise of cursive writing is that everything is created in print.  But, that's simply not true.  Some of the most important documents in the United States are written in cursive.  If we no longer teach our children to write and read cursive, who will be left to read the Constitution and other documents created by the founders of our country?  What a sad future we have ahead of us.

Here are a few other interesting things I read as I researched this topic:

• Cursive is often believed to be faster than printing
• Cursive may be required to make legal documents official
• In many countries, children are FIRST taught to write and read in cursive

So, how many countries use the Roman Alphabet? According to the map on Wiki, most of the world uses the Roman Alphabet.  I'm going to make an educated guess that most countries learn, teach, and use both the print and cursive versions of the Roman Alphabet. Why would the USA want to be the only one to eliminate cursive?  It just makes zero sense. 

I think it's fair to say that we will be short-changing our children when cursive is fully eliminated from our classrooms.  Parents, we need to start paying attention to these things.  I can't speak for everyone, but I don't want my kids to be partially illiterate.  Eliminating cursive from our curriculum is a huge mistake.

Return to the Land of the Living Pt 2

Oy, February was a particularly sick month for us.  All four of us had a cold or ailment at some point or other.  Thankfully, we all seem to be relatively healthy for the beginning of March.  Fingers crossed I haven't jinxed us and I'll find plenty of time, energy, and topics to blog about soon!

Return to the Land of the Living

Whew.  Patty shared her cold with me last week and I was down for the count!  Thank goodness I made a turn for the better on Sunday and am happy to say I feel quite recovered today!  Although, I am wondering if that ground hog got it right, 'cause in my neck of the woods, it's not looking spring just yet. 

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, not because it's Valentine's day, but because it's Girl Scout Cookie arrival day!  I've been dreaming of those little yummies since Patty brought home the order sheet.  I wish I possessed the restraint (and the bank roll) to stock up on a year's worth of my favorites, but I am afraid I'd eat them all and gain, like, a zillion pounds by spring break!  I'm picturing Tim Allen in the Santa Clause, remember that one?

I am happy to report that I finished off the Beautiful Creatures books during my illness last week.  Now I have to patiently wait for the final book to arrive in paperback.  Can someone tell me why can't you find a release date when you need one?  I've been pretty pleased with this series, though, once I got into it.  It reminds me a lot more of Harry Potter than Twilight, and hardly at all like True Blood, but it's been a nice read.  I did discover that there were some serious changes made for the movie adaptation.  I'm never too fond of that, but I gotta say the movie preview looks good.  Think I can get Casey to take me to see it for Valentine's Day?

I grabbed a copy of Safe Haven, the newest book to movie offering of Nicholas Sparks.  Have you noticed how many of his books have become major movies?  To think it all started with A Walk to Remember, which I read and made Casey take me to see at the theatre.  We were the youngest people there.  That's partly because I have this thing about going to the matinee instead of a night show, but I remember it was just us and a bunch of grown up ladies; all of us crying into our popcorn!  Wow, that was eleven years ago.  I feel old all of a sudden.

Oh, and I am looking forward to the Valentine's snack for Patty's class tomorrow.  I was so proud of  her writing her friends names on their Valentine's cards.  Sure, some of them were hard to read, but she did it all by herself!  And we ended up two cards short of having enough for everyone, but thankfully I found one lonely box at the mart yesterday!

I know it's kind of late to mention new year's resolutions, but I wonder if anyone ever resolves to win the lottery?  I'd elaborate on that, but JT is in the bathroom with the door closed and i hear a clicking sound i can't identify.  Wait, i think that's my birth control pill...gotta go!

It's Official, I'm Addicted to my iPhone

A couple weeks ago I mentioned to Casey I was thinking about doing away with my iPhone at upgrade time and going back to a regular old cell phone.  To save money.  Because it made sense.  Right?  He kind of gave me that doubtful look and went on about his business.  I think he was worried this was going to turn into a family sacrifice that also involved his iPhone and he was just reverting into the "if we don't talk about, it won't happen" mode.  And he probably just knew my idea was crazy. ;-}

But, I was really intrigued by the idea that I could make the switch after having my iPhone for a couple years.  I thought, I'll be a pioneer, the first person to break the iPhone sire bond.  I figured my iPhone was really just a glorified iPod so why would it be so hard to go back to a real cell phone, the kind that only makes phone calls.  Right?  I mean, I had had my regular old cell phone since something like 2003.  So, for something like eight years I had survived without those fabulous little iPhone apps.

It sounded so easy and logical...for all of about half an hour.  Then, reality set in.  I probably use my cell phone more than my computer these days.  Really, i think my phone can do just about everything my computer can do.  No, really, my phone does more than my computer can do!  I was having serious doubts about my resolve to do away with the iPhone.  I really love those fabulous little iPhone apps.

So, what became of this crazy notion?

Yea, it went down in flames this morning as I upgraded not only my phone, but Casey's as well.  But, if the upgrade had cost more than 99-cents for a new phone I would have just kept the iPhone I have.  I have this thing about not paying big bucks for a cell phone.  Maybe I can hold on to that principal since I couldn't muster the courage to be a pioneer and start a cell phone revolution!  Guess I'll just be a slave to my technology like everyone else!

Now, what do I do with the old iPhone when my new one gets here?

FTSF: When it comes to reality tv shows I...

Happy Friday, y'all.  This is my first attempt at linking up to anything, so bear with me if this doesn't get where it's supposed to go today!  But, after reading a couple of these Finish the Sentence Friday topics I thought it'd be nice to throw my towel in, too!  So, here it goes.....

When it comes to reality tv shows I....

am a huge fan of several series! 

My absolute favorite reality series will always be Survivor, probably because Casey and I watch it together.  Casey deployed after the season premiere in 2010 so I dutifully recorded the episodes and we watched them when he returned.  Since we loved that experience so much, we record the entire season and then watch episodes back to back over a few days rather than being in suspense week after week!  The next season is set to premiere in just a few weeks, I better get the DVR ready!

I can't recall exactly how we heard about My Big Redneck Vacation, but the third season just premiered last Saturday.  The show chronicles the adventures of a proud redneck family from Louisiana appropriately named the Clampets.  Love it.

Oh, and who can forget Honey Boo Boo.  I just can't help myself, this show is strangely addictive.  I can never decide if someone should call social services, or if they should be applauded for their unusual antics.

Next week: ”The most-memorable Valentine’s Day I ever had was…”