About 20% of the time, Spartacus (6) and Little Miss (3) get along really well. The other 80% of the time, they exhibit typical sibling rivalry: "Me Too!" "She started it!" "He hit me!" "That's mine!" "She's copying me!" Oy. We can't send them to their room because they share one (and it is nine feet square). Little Miss takes her afternoon nap in my bed so Spartacus can do quiet time alone in his room. We have one living room, and a dining room that was converted to a playroom, and there ... Read More about We Need to Move
A Seller’s Market
We bought our first house in 2015. It was a 1400-square foot Craftsman built in 1925. It had three bedrooms, one full bath, and the distinction of having a half bath on the first floor -- rare in our neighborhood. We did not have a garage, and in five years have managed to have Hubster's parked car totaled by a drunk driver TWICE. We did a lot of work in five years: a new roof, water heater, radon system, kitchen reno, full bath update, and had two more kids. We've ceded our formal dining room ... Read More about A Seller’s Market
Unsettled
I am sitting in my classroom of five years, in the process of cleaning it out for awhile. Each of the 29 desks has a pile on it: old graded essays, vocabulary books, newspaper articles I meant to share with my students, boxes of tea, so many coffee mugs, art supplies...a little snippet of my interactions with hundreds of students. I love being a teacher. Not every moment, but if I went back I wouldn't have chosen another career path. But I've been burned out, and I am at peace with my decision ... Read More about Unsettled
The Start of Something New
At 2:03 AM this morning, I ran my final semester grade calculation, thus wrapping up the formal administrative part of my eighth year in education. I wrote my students one last email, and I thought it fitting to share here. The Start of Something New Dear AP English students, So we come to the end of another year. A strange, unexpected, turbulent year. But the sun is shining, Jesus died for you, and we will not be conformed to this world. There is a lot going on in our world ... Read More about The Start of Something New
The End of an Era
Eight years ago, I began my teaching journey. This week, I push pause on this adventure. The End of an Era I haven't been sure how to write about this; since the lock down it hasn't really sunk in, but this week I am finishing grading and packing up my classroom for a while as I move to the equally admirable and possibly more challenging job of stay-at-home mom. The decision wasn't easy. I taught three days a week this school year to give me more flexibility with our ... Read More about The End of an Era
The Best Quarantine Hot Cocoa for Kids
Quarantine Hot Cocoa If a five-year-old plays outside when it's cold, he's going to want some hot cocoa. If you make the hot cocoa according to the directions, he will complain it's too hot. If you tell him to blow on it, it will still somehow be too hot. If you tell him to be patient and wait for it to cool down, he'll get distracted and find something else to do and forget about it until his 9-month-old brother pulls himself up and yanks the cup off the table, covering himself in a ... Read More about The Best Quarantine Hot Cocoa for Kids
Day 7: Falling Like Dominoes
We are one full week into isolation. In recognition of the exponential increase of Covid-19 cases in the US, my kids and I watched an episode of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood about dominoes (season 6, episode 2 if you've got Prime!). Then of course we set up our own displays of dominoes - smaller, due to shorter attention spans and a hundred-year-old crooked house. Spartacus really likes the slow motion feature on my ipad, so enjoy his videos: ... Read More about Day 7: Falling Like Dominoes
Day 4: Puppet Theater
This week Spartacus' preschool class had been scheduled for a field trip to a puppet show at the library. Obviously the libraries are all now closed, and he was super bummed to miss out. SO we made our own puppet theater! Puppet Theater We told the story of the Good Samaritan for Jesus time. The sad set-upon Jewish traveler was played by a puppy. The role of the Good Samaritan was played exquisitely by Olaf. Good times were had by all. How to do at home? Put two dining room chairs ... Read More about Day 4: Puppet Theater
Day 3: Ode to the Poop Game
My goal in this isolating time is to avoid screen time for my kids during school hours (longer if we can!). We have so many toys and games and supplies to entertain, even when the weather is crummy and we're stuck inside. Today, while I put Scoober Doo down for a nap, the other two got out their current favorite board game and played all by themselves (success!). They call it "The Poop Game" but its official name is "Chickapiglets." Chickapiglets It's a cooperative game, so either all ... Read More about Day 3: Ode to the Poop Game
Day 2: Different time zones
It is our second full day of remote learning and self-isolating. I did not teach today with my part-time course load, so here's a reflection on our family scheduling and sleep schedules. Sleep schedules Kid 1: 7:30PM-7:30AM Our oldest, Spartacus, is five and a half. He plays hard all day, is ready for bed by 7:30 PM, and is awake exactly twelve hours later ready for the new day. Spartacus & Little Miss watching their preschool chapel service on YouTube earlier today Kid 2: ... Read More about Day 2: Different time zones
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