Thursday, March 29, 2012

Spring Fever

My kids has it.
Oh, to be honest, so do I. I am tired of laundry, of cooking, of meal and life planning. I'm especially tired of the "Oh. We're having (fill in the blank) for dinner? huh. I had that for lunch OR "I don't really like that". And this is from the HUSBAND. Who should know better.
Spring break is next week. Of course, I don't have the whole week off, because psychiatrists can't really just take a week off. But we are taking a few days, each of us in the office.
I'm also, and apologies to anyone out there who feels differently, tired of the pressure that I have to worry about the 6th grader's class schedule in light of COLLEGE. Last I looked, it was a few years till he graduates. And really. I don't care if he's not in the hardest possible classes in middle school. Yes, in high school, we will make sure he is in upper levels, but really. Why, all of the sudden, does EVERYONE have to be in AP EVERYTHING in order to make it in to college? OR perhaps, those around me are more selective in their college choices. Or you could substitute snobby for selective but that wouldn't be kind. I just want my kids to go to college where they will learn, grow, and find their passion. Oh, and not rack up a gazillion dollars in debt. Now, the 8th grader? We are making sure he is in the college prep courses he needs for 9th grade, but I'm not worrying about the 6th grader yet. I refuse.
And the rising senior? Not taking AP. Not ready for it. Hopefully we haven't screwed it up, but from what the colleges say, not the people in my local area, that's okay. It's the overall picture they want. Now, one of them may not be real, but if he's not ready for AP, why in the world would I force him into it? It's not my life, it is HIS. and if that means a year or two at a local college with small classes, I'm good with that.
Personally, I have three more classes to take with eChristian ed to finish paraprofessional certification. What I'm supposed to do with that, I have no idea. I figure God lead me to it, God will show me what I'm supposed to do next. Even if that is to just tuck it away for a year or two. I'm not called to seminary. I'm not called to ordination. Got that message loud and clear. But the rest of it is a bit fuzzy....
The trees and flowers are blooming their little heads off. So beautiful, so cheerful, so full of POLLEN. Trying to appreciate it and breathe at the same time. This fall? I am so planting daffodills and tulips.
I feel the need to do something creative again, but finding the time is a little tricky.
Had middle kid's 504 meeting yesterday - went really well. The guidance counselor said something along the lines of "How are you doing all this (homework support, appointments, etc) and working too?" I replied that I had no idea. But I do. I don't sleep a lot, I don't usually waste a lot of time (ignore this week please) and I dont' take a lot of time for creative expression. And I am feeeling the effects now.
My mother's birthday is coming up. I so miss her. We will get a double whammy too. Well, maybe even a triple some years. She died on Good Friday, so there's that reminder. Then the actual date of her death. And then her birthday which this year, falls right before the start of Holy Week. I guess it is no wonder that tears lurk just beneath.
Okay, can't end on that note. Report cards came out this week. Oldest child managed NOT to fail anything, to our pleasant suprise. Middle child was all B's and C's - YEAH!!!!! and Youngest child was all A's and B's!!!!!
And I spent a few minutes last night reading our dictionary. Okay, it is one of those wonking HUGE ones that has to be 8 inches thick. It has maps, and foreign language dictionaries, and list of world events, and every word around in 1967. And great little line drawing illustrations...I'm such a geek :)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm with you 100% on the whole college conversation. AP is overrated and there's nothing wrong at all with an affordable state college.
Good luck with the meals and the juggling and the grief that comes during this season.

hornblower said...

oh the school thing is just competitive parenting at its best: your 4 year old is reading? How nice. Of course Johnny has been reading English since last year & this year he's already reading in French. We're starting Mandarin this fall.... It starts with 'academic' preschools now.

Also, it's true that that economic uncertainties make people worried about their kids' future & for many that translates into paranoid over achieving.

But you know, it will ALL work out :)

Suburban Correspondent said...

Was that the big dictionary from your mom's house? It was the same one I won in a spelling bee in 1975. I LOVED looking through it as a kid. Amazing how we amused ourselves pre-Internet.

Navhelowife said...

SC, the same one!

Mrs. G. said...

You really do have a full plate and a good attitude as you deal with it...I deal but not always graciously.

I dread the day my mom won't be around so I'm sorry for the difficulty on so many memorable days.

Hang tough, pal!

Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen said...

Dictionary Geeks Unite! I have a big one on a stand in our home office. Every now and then I think "Oh, we have the internet and google so I should probably get rid of that old dusty thing" and my husband who is not at all a dictionary geek says "No way!"

I don't have kids but the stories that I hear from my best friend about her very bright son's 5th grade teacher make me want to go throttle her. It's 5th grade, not Harvard.

Thanks for your nice words today on my blog. That photo in your header is glorious! - Claudia

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

Somehow I've missed getting your blog into my reader...
There was a lot of pressure about AP courses and college readiness in Virginia, not so much here in WA, although we are at a school with a lot of AP courses. AP does not mean a kid is ready for college... at least not when comparing my 19yo. He had an incredible GPA and took 7 AP courses... and then he went to college where parents couldn't nag him. He may flunk out.