Random Act of Kindness - A Mother's Pride

Just this year, the boys' school inaugurated new, extended hours corresponding with a normal, full kindergarten day. Not many kids beyond the kindergartners stay until the end of the day. RC gets out of school two hours earlier than HRH.

Today, we were returning to school just a few minutes into Barack Obama's first press conference and I may have dawdled for just a minute in the car. I entered the building as two or three other mommies and children were exiting. HRH was one of two remaining students.

As we, ourselves left the building, HRH stopped and asked me to wait, while turning and heading back into the building. Just inside the door waited the remaining child. HRH handed the boy a drawing he had made that day and said to the boy, 'I want you to have this because my mom is here and yours isn't here yet.' HRH returned to me and said that he gave the boy the drawing because he wanted to make him feel better.

I don't have to tell you how proud this makes me.

It's Just Another Manic Contest

Actually, it's my very first. I've been thinking about having a contest for while now. I've already got the prizes (note: prizes, plural). But quite frankly, couldn't come up with what the contest part would be.

The it hit me. The ultimate navel gazing self-absorbed Seinfeldian/Bloggy moment: I'll have a contest about...having a contest!

Da Rulz:

1. Leave a comment telling me what type of contest I should hold.
- Should I ask you to guess the next disgusting thing to go near my child's mouth?
Why invite bad karma for the sake of a contest?
- Should I ask you to guess the boys' real names?
I'd prefer to stay married.
- Should I do the movie meme again?
I'm cynical realistic. Too easy to cheat.

2. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday, November 10th.

3. During this time, you may submit additional comments lobbying for your favorite entry.

4. Winners will be decided by ME.

5. I will post the Top Three Winners sometime on Wednesday, November 12th.

Da Prizes:

1st Prize: The Bible, The Wine Bible
2nd Prize: A bottle of Manic Mommy's Finest

(Look for the package marked "cooking oils")

3rd Prize: A $10.00 Starbucks gift card, just in time for Egg Nog Lattes!

So, think funny, think clever, think about a decent Merlot! And think about telling your friends and readers. You know how I feel about putting myself out there waiting for you guys to reply. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

* While family member and employees of She's Just Another Manic Mommy, LLC. Are not eligible to win prizes (although it would certainly save me a bundle in shipping charges), they are encouraged to participate nonetheless.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Injury

Insult to Injury

Why I Vote

In July of 1969, my parents brought my sister, 2 years, and me, 10 months, out from our cribs to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. Today, I brought my son with me to vote.

• Because the United States is my home and I am a part of this republic
• Because the country needs fixing
• Because it's my responsibility
• Because I have opinions and live in a country where we're encouraged to express them
• Because I don't agree with the war and want to support our troops by bringing them home
• Because Hillary Clinton's mother was born into a world where women could not vote and Chelsea Clinton was able to vote for her mother in the primary
• Because we're not perfect but we keep trying
• Because I refuse to settle
• Because the United States has an amazing capacity for good in the world
• Because a 15-year-old girl was stoned to death in Somalia for adultery
• Because the biracial son of a Kenyan and a Kansan could be president
• Because I am a mother
• Because my boys need to live in the best world I can give them
• Because my children will know that all things are possible
• Because I have more than most people in the world
• Because freedom isn’t free

Why do you vote?

Happy Halloween

...and may the force be with you.

How About a Little Context?

Thanks everyone for your comments, words of encouragement, questions, and even your disagreement regarding my last post. For those of you just judging, thanks for stopping by, move along now.

Because I have no brain space for another topic at this time I thought it might help if I provided a little context for those of you just tuning in. Here's a bulleted list (cause that's the way I roll) of our reasoning. I would have alphabetized or categorized it but, you know, I'm not rigid or anything.

• She is COLD. By all accounts, including her fellow teachers.
• Any and all attempts to reach out to her have been utterly and completely rebuffed.
• She's got a 3 month old and a 3 year old. We all know how hard that can be and as a mother, I sympathize. As the mother of my child, if you can't handle the kids, stay out of the classroom.
• HRH does nothing in school besides busy work - pages and pages of rudimentary work sheets (Last week's homework was to trace the letters of the alphabet).
• She's done nothing to break them up into groups based on reading/academic level.
• HRH is constantly being given timeout for truly minor infractions such as talking in the corridors or touching a friend.
• One day, she forgot about him during one such time out and he sat at his table for the entire free period while the other kids were playing around him.
• The day we pulled him out, he reported that someone had crumpled up a tissue and thrown it on the floor. Mrs. Smith told the entire class that unless someone owned up to it, the entire class would not have 'free time.' HRH eventually confessed, not because he did it but because he thought he might have done it.
• His entire class was made to keep quiet for a day because Mrs. Smith had a headache.
• HRH's out of school personality has changed dramatically. He's having constant meltdowns over nothing, doesn't want to play with his friends after school, and is fighting constantly (up from most of the time) with his brother.
• His reading skills have deteriorated since starting kindergarten.
• Last but not least, he's developed a stutter.

Again, thank you all for your insights. Trust me when I tell you this decision was not made in a vacuum. We did discuss moving him to the other kindergarten class and/or talking to the principal however, she's not going to change her entire style of teaching because I complained, the other kindergarten teacher is brand new, so we didn't even have anecdotal history to go on, and we did not want him to be 'the kid whose parents moved him.' Plus, some of the assignments sent home are coming from both kindergarten teachers, so I'm not convinced the other teacher would be teaching at a higher level.

We were very fortunate in that his preschool just started a kindergarten this year. After speaking to the teacher (who was HRH's last year's teacher, under whom he THRIVED) and the director, we were able to move him into that class (at twice the cost...). We need to start back at square one planning for next year and this option definitely created the least upheaval in his life. On the contrary, the last three months would be the blip.

For the past two mornings, HRH has woken up enthusiastically, gotten dressed and ready eagerly and cooperatively, and went to school with a huge grin on his face.

Life's problems are not so easily solved, nor will we immediately jump to fix every bump. But this was something we felt strongly enough about to make the changes. And we're standing behind them.

I Think We Made a Bad Call

I've regaled you all before with my misgivings about HRH's kindergarten experience. I think we may have the nail in the coffin on St. Somewhere's. Here is an email (their preferred method of communication) I sent to his teacher two weeks ago. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent:

Dear Mrs. Smith:

If possible, I'd like to arrange a meeting between you and my husband, Andy and me rather than simply the TeacherEase update outlined in Mr. Madden's Bugle email of 10/3.

Below are the topics I'd like to discuss:

- HRH's transition to kindergarten/St. Somewhere's
- Kindergarteners' daily schedule
- How the individual subjects are taught
- HRH's social development
- HRH's educational plan/goals
- In-class volunteering opportunities (for me)

I apologize if this comes across a little "rigid". I was a Project Manager in my previous life and tend to think in bullet points. Andy and I look forward to meeting with you. Ideally, a half hour prior to school would work best for us however, we will of course make ourselves available whenever works best for all.

Best regards and thank you,

Christine Manic

Here is her response:

Mrs. Manic

I am not offering conferences at this time unless there is an issue. HRH has adjusted nicely to Kindergarten and is doing well. I will contact you when conference times will be available.

Have a wonderful afternoon.
First Name Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I spoke at length to his last year's teacher, whom we love and whose opinion we highly value. She was very close to tears when I told her of HRH's "treatment" at the school and truly livid about the letter above. Andy is on board and he and I are making immediate efforts to remove my boy and right what was apparently a very bad call on our part.

How have you and your kids done with transitions?