Dreading the report cards and other stuff

December 7th I have 2 teacher interviews back to back. I don't want to go. I don't need confirmation that I have one child with behaviour difficulties and one with listening deficiencies. It won't be news.

Last week's 'weekly update' advised me that 6 chose an inappropriate phrase to relate to one of her friends. "kiss my ass" was the inappropriate substitute for "hello". The teacher spoke with 6 to encourage a more acceptable greeting (like we've never discussed it at home...) The newly adpoted salutation was borrowed from one of her new friends - Mikey. According to 6, Mikey's much worse than her - he uses this on grade 8's. She just used it on a grade 3 girl! The back story is (and there's always a back story...) I could see this one coming a mile away. This particular girl was a friend last year when they were in a 1-2 split class. Now graduated to grade 3, the other girl has stressed to 6 that she is not allowed to associate with grade 2's. 6 is hurt. She doesn't handle hurt well.

4 filled me in on her school issues.
"I have trouble listening in group time. Sometimes I get distracted."
"Are you distracted by something that is going on in your head, or something in the classroom?"
"In my head."
"What is distracting you?"
"I keep thinking about how much I love my family and how much fun we have together!"

She is so full of baloney. Can't wait until this one hits puberty!

It's all Greek - literally

Tonight 4 started Greek school. It is an international language program at school after hours. In this case it is Monday nights from 5-7:30pm. We are not Greek. I speak no Greek. But 4 has been determined since the beginning of the year to join Greek school so she can speak with her friends.\! It is not often that she will ask to do something different from her sister, so here we are. I must admit I felt a bit strange with all the Greek parents looking at me curiously -"Why are you here?" They were amused.

Now. How do I help her with her homework?

12 step program for Broadway addictied kids?

I have created a monster (or 2)! One stressful evening last week, I pulled out an old video tape of "Into the Woods" - the original cast iof the Steven Sondheim musical. Both kids sat glued to the tv for almost 3 hours.

This is not necessarily a musical for kids. It is closer to operetta - very few spoken words in teh show. It interetwines a number of fairy tales - all main characters have to go into the woods to get what they need to fulfill a wish. Act one ends "happily ever after". Act 2 is after happily ever after. "Do you know what you wish - are you certain what you wish is what you want?"

6 is completely addicted. She has memorized almost every word, begs to watch it endlessly (so long Game Boy!) and rewinds/fast forwards to her favourite parts. One night at dinner, the conversation was all around whose fault it was that the play went the way it did. They unravelled the story trying to determin if one person was ultimately responsible for the outcome!

These are interesting kids. Annie never had this impact!

825 laid off

Last Thursday, 825 staff were laid off - terminated or given the opportunity to retire or be demoted. Many I know. Among the casualties... the boss formerly known as ^%$#@! Could hardly keep the grin from my face! He was not fired - just demoted - to my level...

The new boss is one I have worked for, so in a matter of 24 hours I went from incompetent to the one called upon to coach and train peers...what a difference a day makes!

Unfortunately, one of my staff was put on working notice. 12 weeks. Her husband had hip replacement surgery 3 weeks ago, and she had just joined the team 4 months ago. She did not take it well. Who would? We are putting together an action plan to address any training issues within the next few months. I would like to see her transferred to a new area. She is not comfortable with some of the technology, but has all the right work ethic and a will to learn.

After the emotional day at work, I arrived at the school to pick up 6. Hugged on arrival - trouble is brewing! 2 incidents that day. One taunting another child, one throwing leaves (iin which a stone was hidden- accidentally). Hit a girl in the eye with the stone and ran to hide. Took a long time to draw a confession out of her. Thursday night, her room was stripped. No toys, no games, no knick knacks. Just a bed, pillow, blankets, and one book to read. Found a bad smell while cleaning her rooom. Gerbil had been trapped in a drawer and died of dehydration. Lovely. Thought his skin might come off when I picked him up, but fortunately, he was removed intact. Stiff, but intact.

6 has had 7 good days. She is earning her stuff back. The message got through. Whew!

Thursday night received news that a friend's birth mother had been admitted to hospital. Turns out it was a malignant brain tumour. Surgically removed yesterday. They did not get it all. Prognosis is 6-12 months. The two were reunited 5 years ago after 40 years of searching. Is this good timing? Or bad?

The roller coaster continues

Halloween

Thanks to Kath and her technical advise, I think I am able to add pictures...here goes...
(if Dorothy looks a bit fuzzy, its not a bad thing - Dorothy had an attitude problem all day!)
4 went out with a group of her school friends - all princesses. She insisted on striding down the street repeating "liars and tigers and bears, oh my!" I have heard munchkin voices all night - 'we represent the lollipop kids..." and follow the yellow brick raod". The princess party did not end up with the same volume of loot as the older kids, but they sure had huge fun!

Super 6 dressed for Halloween. She went on a 2 hour trek with a couple of friends (and their parents) and came back with bags full of candy! They visited a haunted house and had a blast!