Hmmm...

Someone phoned me this morning, claiming to be my boss. The voice sounded right, but the tone of the conversation was the complete opposite of what I am used to hearing! I heard encouragement, positive feedback and was directed to "give my team a pat on the back"! The exec must have had their little chat with him. To give the man credit, he could have taken it badly and created more hell for his direct reports. If today was any example, I have a hopeful future working with him...Came away from the meeting upbeat and energized instead of demoralized and beaten down. I had to call him again this afternoon to give a heads up on a problem that occurred. Thought I should let him know the impact of our morning conversation. It was great for the whole team! He actually met with me for 20 minutes to discuss the issue at hand and provide support and a strategy for corrective action. Was today real? I will take this attitude at face value and respond in kind. Cross your fingers for me.

On another note, with Halloween a month away, we have been shopping for fabric and patterns to create the costumes the kids have in mind. 4 has decided to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. The red glitter shoes were the deciding factor. Frankly, I think if she saw a picture of a ghost with red glitter shoes, she would opt for a ghost costume. We went to the fabric store yesterday and selected the necessary goods. On the way out, 4 spotted a sewing kit - a zippered plastic bag including pins, a pincushion, scissors, needles, a measuring tape and a tracing wheel. She begged for it. She was practically jumping out of her skin with excitement, letting everyone in the store know that she was the proud owner of "my very first sewing kit"! We used it tonight to cut out the pattern pieces for her dress.

6 has decided to be her own superhero - Super 'S'. She chose pale blue satin for pants, liquid metal blue fabric for a long sleeve top, and brilliant liquid metal blue for her cape. The cape will be lined with black satin with a pattern embossed. She also chose sparkly silver/blue buttons to use instead of a frog for the cape closure. Her favourite purchase was a length of opalescent blue sequins to trim the cape and the pants. Another happy kid. She is planning of writing a Super S comic book to carry with her, and my cousin ( who is extremely artistic) is designing a blue sparkly butterfly face-paint design for her face. I like that she is confident enough to be something so unique!

All in all, a good day. finally.

Bowling for Columbine

I desperately wanted to watch Bowling for Columbine on tv last weekend. 6 has been having alot of difficulty going to sleep since the beginning of school. She's an intense girl, and gets very anxious at the start of anything new. New classroom, new teacher and new class group has her wound up tight!

Put the kids in bed and sat dodwn to watch the movie. Who comes downstairs? 6. "Mommy, can I watch?" "No, it's a grown-up show." "I'll just lie here and I won't look at the tv..." After a few minutes of negotiating, I cave.

Explaining this movie to her was so difficult. She couldn't understand why all the people with brown skin were so poor, and why they were so oppressed. We live in Canada. Our city is a melting pot of cultures. No one looks twice at a blended family. She decided she is happy to live in Canada.

Of guns, we have had much discussion. Doesn't comprehend the need for gun violence. Thinks people who like guns are all goofballs - like George Bush and Hitler.

This child is a challenge.

She is so bright, and so intense, I don't know what to do. I try to feed her the knowledge she desperately seeks while keeping in mind she is still 6 emotionally. It's a fine balance.

Thank goodness 4 is a totally different character!

Took them to the museum. 6 and her friend went off with his mom to see everything there was displayed. Came out of the place spouting all the info they had just sucked out of the place. 4 was not impressed. "Why did they shoot all the animals and stuff them?" and in the area displaying statues after loudly commenting on the number of penises on display, "Did they only shoot people without heads?"

:)

nothing noteworthy

I'm still here.

Nothing particularly noteworthy is going on. Kids are back to school - both have GREAT teachers this year. 6's teacher sent home a note about her perfectionism. She's pegged her within the first 2 weeks! We're meeting tomorrow to discuss the opportunity this year to overcome some of the fear her 1st grade teacher instilled.

4 started karate lessons. I am hopeful that she can develop some focus this year. Some day soon the 'cute factor' will not be as effective as it is now.

Work is %^$#. I finally gave in and registered a complaint about my boss. I was the second one in line to voice my concern. The executive has assured me that I will not suffer backlash from our discussion. Any sign of problems due to my conversation with the exec can be voiced immediately. I get the feeling the boss is on precarious ground.

I hope its not really me out there on a limb!