One thing I have learned, at the beginning of each school year when Mike is giving back to school blessings, I will not pass for myself. I am so thankful for a wonderful hubby, who, within a week into the school year, saw a need and offered a blessing.
Everything counts now, as in, grades, tests etc.. It has for Damien for quite a while now, but 7th grade, especially at the school he is currently at, he is being challenged (which I like) but...WOW! Homework sessions now require my full attention, unlike years past, which is taking some getting used to. I feel like if I walk away, it's just going to cause his grades to go down. We're figuring out what works. Riding the bus to and from school. Being on the football team, practice til' 5pm. Then there's the question of, go all the way out to pick him up, or have him ride the bus til' 7:30pm or we found a middle ground, ride the bus to his old Elementary = less time on bus and less gas for us. This has taken a month to figure out. Then the school has a great online resource for parents, where we can log in and check our students grades on assignments, tests, and see their attendance. It is GREAT! I love having this connection to his school, but I think it makes me hyper aware. If that makes sense? It can be a good and bad thing I think. I check it everyday to see how last night's homework session got graded. It's an emotional roller coaster every time I log in. It's almost like I want to not look, but I do. I just want him to do well, but I don't want to overreact, or under react thinking, "Oh, he's fine." I know. It's crazy. I get to bed late on nights he's with us, just to give him homework support. I went to Back to School Night at his school and I was like, "Wow! I can't believe how much Damien does in one day." I was getting the knots in my stomach as if I was in school! He gets on the bus at 6:50 am and gets home at 6:30 pm, carting a big bag of football gear (that we FINALLY got a duffle bag for) along with his book bag! And now he's barely getting to Scouts or working on that stuff, and in the back of my already crammed mind I am thinking, "How do I squeeze that in without overwhelming him?" And by the time he has time, he's off to his Dad's.....
This will be good for him. He's had it really easy in Elementary school, and I'm hoping with time, he'll be a pro at this multiple class, and sports thing. I did it. I don't know how?? Even early morning Seminary too.
And then...there's my Kindergartners.....
Tracing their ABC's and 123's. Their stressors for me are, learning their Sight Words like; go, to, and, is, the, like, play. Jesse is doing really well at it, where as Max is just in his own little world. We started practicing over the summer and it seems that he isn't improving. I'm trying not to be alarmed or get frustrated, but it's just weird? I am also pro Preschool, because they would be really behind if they didn't know these basics. Some kids in their classes don't even know how to write their names or use scissors. Thank goodness for Preschool. It really helped all of my boys get a head start! They are both doing really well behavior wise in their own, separate classrooms. Which I am glad about. The teacher in me thinks about so much when it comes to a child's success in school, and I think that is ONE of the reasons why I am the way I am when it comes to how they are picking up on what's being taught that week in class. So far they know their basics like colors, shapes, letters, numbers (I think to 30 on a good day). I know mostly what's expected of them, and I am ever watchful of signs of them being "behind". I help in their classrooms, which makes my idea of putting them in separate classes NOT a good idea cause that just make double the work for me, but I should be used to that by now, right?
And then there's being a wife.... I knew date nights were important. I've always been PRO date night. But now that life is getting busier and busier and Michael and I have less and less stress free alone time together, it is becoming more of a must. Not that we are going out every week, but we are sure thinking about it and craving that time together. I'll tell you all about our next date night AFTER the Vineyard gets done, Damien's football games, homework sessions, work, working out, and getting much needed sleep from all of the above :) Actually, thankfully to some dear friends of ours, they came to the rescue last weekend, literally, and took the boys overnight and Michael and I went to Coldstone (Yum), and breakfast in the morning at Yosemite Falls Cafe. It was much needed time to decompress.
This is not a "Pity Party" for Sarah. I am thankful for prayer, opportunities to serve, trips to the Temple, the Gospel, a husband who has the same core beliefs as me, and strives to be a better person by using the Gospel resources available. That makes SUCH a difference, when things are rough. Thankful for a wise Bishop, who can discern for our family when needed. I am thankful for friends who KNOW, and family who is THERE when I need them the most. All these things, over the past few weeks have carried me, comforted me, and helped me know that I am NOT alone (or crazy), that I am LOVED, beautiful and of worth. Interesting enough, I find myself offering the same counsel to friends that I myself struggle to internalize, guess that is for a reason.
Life is hard but it is good.
And a few good shopping trips using coupons has definitely provided therapy :)
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