Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Campers!!
This past weekend has been circled on the calendar in the JDHTEACH house hold for 6 months. This past weekend was Pack 817 Fall Camp Out! Why was this so important to our family? Because it was going to be the first time EVER that we were going camping as a family. This is a journey that began back in April of this year. The SPRING camp out I missed due to recovery from pneumonia. This greatly upset Jack but he understood. Caroline did not go as well. She stayed with other family members. Tracey was not to gung ho about it because neither she nor I had grown up camping. Bugs…staying in the elements…um not so much.
The start up cost for camping can be expensive. We had no idea if Jack would even like camping so as far as we knew back in April this could be a ONE AND DONE kind of deal. So we borrowed just about EVERYTHING from some friends of ours that are seasoned campers.
Tracey and Jack came home and Jack could NOT STOP talking about all of the fun he had. In talking with Tracey she said, You know…we actually had a lot of fun! So now we were committed. We knew the next camping trip with the pack was in October so we started purchasing camping gear at special occasions. Through Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and my birth day we had purchased blow up mattresses, battery powered lanterns, and a huge tent! We had the essentials.
This time we were all going. Tracey, Jack, Caroline and ME! We had an absolute blast. We knew our camping site buddy family very well so we enjoyed getting to sit around and talk with them.
Here is what I really enjoyed about the trip!
- Everyone helped one another- We helped each other set up and take down the camp site. This makes is go by so much easier.
- The kids could run and play- Everyone watched out after the kids. You did not have to worry about where your kid was at all times. Somebody was always with them.
- Caroline had many kids to play with. There were a ton of younger siblings there and Caroline had a nice crowd to hang with.
- Jack let Caroline hang with him quite a bit. He was not bothered at all that she tagged along at times. Usually this is the case but we thought with his Boy Scout troop he would want to be “with the guys” more but he looked after Caroline very well.
- Jacks pack is a great group of boys and their parents are great. I enjoyed visiting with everyone.
- Everyone was so nice to me because they knew I had had to lay low due to exposure so they were all very welcoming.
- I enjoyed going from camp site to camp site seeing all the neat set ups people had.
- I guess since we were in tents we were camping but we were not what you would call roughing it.
Things I did not enjoy about the trip
- Restroom was 75 yards through the woods.
Things we learned this camping trip.
- Christmas Lights- Everyone puts up Christmas lights at their camp site. If offers a soft light so that at night you can see your way around the camp site.
- Mesquite Wood- Made some very good smelling and long lasting fire wood.
- We are going to get another tent the same size as the one we have. This way we can have a boy tent and girl tent with some ROOM to move. The way it was at night we were butt cheek to butt cheek.
- Packing- we are going to purchase more storage bens. No more fights putting the tent back in its tiny bag. We can also categorize stuff- Sleeping Geer, Battery Powered, Electrical. In the future when it is time to go we won’t have to search multiple crates.
- With my deep dish skillet I can cook up quite a meal at the camp site in the future.
Overall we all had a great time and we created a family memory that will last forever! I can’t wait for our next trip! We are officially CAMPERS!!
The start up cost for camping can be expensive. We had no idea if Jack would even like camping so as far as we knew back in April this could be a ONE AND DONE kind of deal. So we borrowed just about EVERYTHING from some friends of ours that are seasoned campers.
Tracey and Jack came home and Jack could NOT STOP talking about all of the fun he had. In talking with Tracey she said, You know…we actually had a lot of fun! So now we were committed. We knew the next camping trip with the pack was in October so we started purchasing camping gear at special occasions. Through Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and my birth day we had purchased blow up mattresses, battery powered lanterns, and a huge tent! We had the essentials.
This time we were all going. Tracey, Jack, Caroline and ME! We had an absolute blast. We knew our camping site buddy family very well so we enjoyed getting to sit around and talk with them.
Here is what I really enjoyed about the trip!
- Everyone helped one another- We helped each other set up and take down the camp site. This makes is go by so much easier.
- The kids could run and play- Everyone watched out after the kids. You did not have to worry about where your kid was at all times. Somebody was always with them.
- Caroline had many kids to play with. There were a ton of younger siblings there and Caroline had a nice crowd to hang with.
- Jack let Caroline hang with him quite a bit. He was not bothered at all that she tagged along at times. Usually this is the case but we thought with his Boy Scout troop he would want to be “with the guys” more but he looked after Caroline very well.
- Jacks pack is a great group of boys and their parents are great. I enjoyed visiting with everyone.
- Everyone was so nice to me because they knew I had had to lay low due to exposure so they were all very welcoming.
- I enjoyed going from camp site to camp site seeing all the neat set ups people had.
- I guess since we were in tents we were camping but we were not what you would call roughing it.
Things I did not enjoy about the trip
- Restroom was 75 yards through the woods.
Things we learned this camping trip.
- Christmas Lights- Everyone puts up Christmas lights at their camp site. If offers a soft light so that at night you can see your way around the camp site.
- Mesquite Wood- Made some very good smelling and long lasting fire wood.
- We are going to get another tent the same size as the one we have. This way we can have a boy tent and girl tent with some ROOM to move. The way it was at night we were butt cheek to butt cheek.
- Packing- we are going to purchase more storage bens. No more fights putting the tent back in its tiny bag. We can also categorize stuff- Sleeping Geer, Battery Powered, Electrical. In the future when it is time to go we won’t have to search multiple crates.
- With my deep dish skillet I can cook up quite a meal at the camp site in the future.
Overall we all had a great time and we created a family memory that will last forever! I can’t wait for our next trip! We are officially CAMPERS!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Random Thoughts My JDHTEACH
I have a bunch of randomness here.
Update about the child I referenced in my previous post. He is having one of those days today. We have no other choice but to shut the door when he is like that. I am now convinced this is not where this kid needs to be. He can’t be learning anything in this setting. Same goes for the other students in that class with him.
Jack has been doing very well handling his feelings. He still can push it but he is so much better. He sees the anger lady for a second time next week. He is looking forward to it.
I am not sure “anger lady” is the best name for her. What about the “worry lady”. That is really what she works with Jack on. How to handle his worries.
Jack is a worrier. I wish we could get him to be less of a worrier but then again he has had to face some serious situations in his 8 short years.
Jack passed his Math Benchmark….he made a 70. Man did we pump him up. Especially since the class average was not that great.
Jacks teacher makes me shake my head sometimes but I have to give her props when she deserves it. We are seeing evidence that the two other teachers are doing things differently than Jacks teacher. We have recently found out through our connections that the other two teachers have been together for many years and they don’t exactly go out of their way to help anyone new to the team. So Jack has a teacher who is in a new grade level and a new school and she is having to survive on her own. THAT….pisses me off. I HATE teachers that do that.
Obviously the principal is either unaware of this or he does not want to rock the boat.
There was a teacher at Tracey’s campus last year that was “untouchable” The principal left that grade level alone because she did not want to rock the boat.
As an administrator I don’t get this line of thinking. If you asked the teachers who worked for me I would confidently tell you they felt I valued their opinion when making decisions as to what I thought was best for kids. That does not mean they always liked my decision but they had to respect it. If something goes wrong it’s my job that is on the line. So I can’t have teachers personalities effect my decision making. Having two teachers run together and leave the other one out to dry is unacceptable and I would address it immediately.
When I got my principal job I had a group of teachers that were in my office almost daily that summer. Most of them were there to honestly help me get settled but some were there to kiss butt and to figure me out as far as what type of person I was going to be. I remember one teacher who was very vocal about how things are here at JDHTEACH Intermediate and she sure let me know how important she was to how things run. She forgot one important detail. I don’t care. Sure enough on her first walk through she was horrible. We agreed to reschedule and do it again. She sucked again and I let her know about it. We scheduled it AGAIN and it sucked again. I told her I was going to send her to classroom management classes. You would have thought I suggested she got caught stealing. She was “offended”. I told her I really did not care that she was offended. My job was to make her the best teacher she could be and to do what is best for kids. She hinted that if I was not careful she would resign. This was Friday morning. I told her I needed her resignation on my desk by 8:00 Monday morning.
Everyone was shocked that I got rid of her when others have tried.
My ship …. My rules…..if you think you can do better go get you a degree and get a job….you are in luck ….many universities offer a masters in education administration.
In other news…. The Halloween costume party we had last Saturday was a very big success. Loved all of the costumes. Everyone really got into it. We already have plans for next year.
I am seriously thinking about doing a FALL tree this year. It’s like a Christmas tree only it’s decorated in fall items…ribbons orange and gold and pumpkins ….. just thinking.
Anyone ever done a Fall Tree? I saw one the other day and it was really a beautiful tree.
Update about the child I referenced in my previous post. He is having one of those days today. We have no other choice but to shut the door when he is like that. I am now convinced this is not where this kid needs to be. He can’t be learning anything in this setting. Same goes for the other students in that class with him.
Jack has been doing very well handling his feelings. He still can push it but he is so much better. He sees the anger lady for a second time next week. He is looking forward to it.
I am not sure “anger lady” is the best name for her. What about the “worry lady”. That is really what she works with Jack on. How to handle his worries.
Jack is a worrier. I wish we could get him to be less of a worrier but then again he has had to face some serious situations in his 8 short years.
Jack passed his Math Benchmark….he made a 70. Man did we pump him up. Especially since the class average was not that great.
Jacks teacher makes me shake my head sometimes but I have to give her props when she deserves it. We are seeing evidence that the two other teachers are doing things differently than Jacks teacher. We have recently found out through our connections that the other two teachers have been together for many years and they don’t exactly go out of their way to help anyone new to the team. So Jack has a teacher who is in a new grade level and a new school and she is having to survive on her own. THAT….pisses me off. I HATE teachers that do that.
Obviously the principal is either unaware of this or he does not want to rock the boat.
There was a teacher at Tracey’s campus last year that was “untouchable” The principal left that grade level alone because she did not want to rock the boat.
As an administrator I don’t get this line of thinking. If you asked the teachers who worked for me I would confidently tell you they felt I valued their opinion when making decisions as to what I thought was best for kids. That does not mean they always liked my decision but they had to respect it. If something goes wrong it’s my job that is on the line. So I can’t have teachers personalities effect my decision making. Having two teachers run together and leave the other one out to dry is unacceptable and I would address it immediately.
When I got my principal job I had a group of teachers that were in my office almost daily that summer. Most of them were there to honestly help me get settled but some were there to kiss butt and to figure me out as far as what type of person I was going to be. I remember one teacher who was very vocal about how things are here at JDHTEACH Intermediate and she sure let me know how important she was to how things run. She forgot one important detail. I don’t care. Sure enough on her first walk through she was horrible. We agreed to reschedule and do it again. She sucked again and I let her know about it. We scheduled it AGAIN and it sucked again. I told her I was going to send her to classroom management classes. You would have thought I suggested she got caught stealing. She was “offended”. I told her I really did not care that she was offended. My job was to make her the best teacher she could be and to do what is best for kids. She hinted that if I was not careful she would resign. This was Friday morning. I told her I needed her resignation on my desk by 8:00 Monday morning.
Everyone was shocked that I got rid of her when others have tried.
My ship …. My rules…..if you think you can do better go get you a degree and get a job….you are in luck ….many universities offer a masters in education administration.
In other news…. The Halloween costume party we had last Saturday was a very big success. Loved all of the costumes. Everyone really got into it. We already have plans for next year.
I am seriously thinking about doing a FALL tree this year. It’s like a Christmas tree only it’s decorated in fall items…ribbons orange and gold and pumpkins ….. just thinking.
Anyone ever done a Fall Tree? I saw one the other day and it was really a beautiful tree.
Steve McNair = Sorriness
So the police reports are coming out now about text messages between Steve McNair and the young lady that killed him on July 4th. I want to say that I really feel that this is a very sad situation and that Steve McNair did not deserve to die in this way. Having said this I have a couple of questions.
Steve McNair was married and a father of four. Why is no one mentioning the word affair in their reports? They say he was dating or seeing the girl.
Why is Steve McNair getting a free pass on the fact that he cheated on his wife? I know the argument what good does it do the man is dead. I understand that but no one even uses the word AFFAIR. He was dating….seeing outside of his marriage…everything but affair. And no one is raking him over the coals just a little bit. A politician has an affair and it ruins his career. A former athlete…eh…not so much.
Police now know that McNair was seeing AT LEAST one other lady in addition to the 20 year old that killed him. Good LORD…..AT LEAST??? So that means they have evidence of more?
Is this situation just accepted? Rich man is going to have a woman on the side. What about the woman that was with you when you had nothing?
How can his wife declare she knew nothing this situation. He left his house at 12:30 in the morning. Um Steveo----where are you going at this time of night big guy and leaving me at home with the kids? I just don’t buy that she knew nothing. He is transferring money to pay this girls bills for crying out loud. I think she knew something was up but as long as she was being taken care of she kept quiet.
Then there is the He is 36 and she is 20. He is college educated and she works as a waitress with a history of “issues”. What could you possibly talk about? She was 8 when you were a rookie in the NFL. Have you read some of the text she was sending him? Whatcha doing? Where are you? I need some money to pay some bills. I am losing my mind about these bills.
WHAT A FREAKING WHIP to deal with….and what does he do? Pays it. Oh that will teach her. Obviously she must have met his physical desires but I am so sorry…. NOT WORTH IT!!!
I feel there is a percentage of SORRINESS that was Steve McNair and sense no one else will say anything I will. McNair you are sorry for doing what you did to your family.
Steve McNair was married and a father of four. Why is no one mentioning the word affair in their reports? They say he was dating or seeing the girl.
Why is Steve McNair getting a free pass on the fact that he cheated on his wife? I know the argument what good does it do the man is dead. I understand that but no one even uses the word AFFAIR. He was dating….seeing outside of his marriage…everything but affair. And no one is raking him over the coals just a little bit. A politician has an affair and it ruins his career. A former athlete…eh…not so much.
Police now know that McNair was seeing AT LEAST one other lady in addition to the 20 year old that killed him. Good LORD…..AT LEAST??? So that means they have evidence of more?
Is this situation just accepted? Rich man is going to have a woman on the side. What about the woman that was with you when you had nothing?
How can his wife declare she knew nothing this situation. He left his house at 12:30 in the morning. Um Steveo----where are you going at this time of night big guy and leaving me at home with the kids? I just don’t buy that she knew nothing. He is transferring money to pay this girls bills for crying out loud. I think she knew something was up but as long as she was being taken care of she kept quiet.
Then there is the He is 36 and she is 20. He is college educated and she works as a waitress with a history of “issues”. What could you possibly talk about? She was 8 when you were a rookie in the NFL. Have you read some of the text she was sending him? Whatcha doing? Where are you? I need some money to pay some bills. I am losing my mind about these bills.
WHAT A FREAKING WHIP to deal with….and what does he do? Pays it. Oh that will teach her. Obviously she must have met his physical desires but I am so sorry…. NOT WORTH IT!!!
I feel there is a percentage of SORRINESS that was Steve McNair and sense no one else will say anything I will. McNair you are sorry for doing what you did to your family.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Is This Such A Good Idea?
My office is housed in a school. In this school the class for students with major handicaps is housed. This class is about 4 doors down from my office. We also house the districts staff development center in this wing. For the most part the kids in this class are awesome. They love coming to school and they are so sweet.
Occassionally there is a student that qualifies for the class and I am not sure their placement is the best placement. There is a student that has recently joined the class that fits this discription.
On the days the student shows up for school it seems all they do is scream.... and scream A LOT! To the point that we have to close doors to try and conduct business. I cannot imagine being in the classroom and trying to teach the other kids while that is going on.
I feel for the parents of this child but as a parent of the other kids in the classroom I would want to know how in the world they can meet the special needs of my child with that amount of disruption going on in the classroom.
What can these teachers possibly provide this child that they cannot get at home? I don't have an answer. Do you keep the child at home..... go to a special school. I just don't know if this child is in the right placement.
Occassionally there is a student that qualifies for the class and I am not sure their placement is the best placement. There is a student that has recently joined the class that fits this discription.
On the days the student shows up for school it seems all they do is scream.... and scream A LOT! To the point that we have to close doors to try and conduct business. I cannot imagine being in the classroom and trying to teach the other kids while that is going on.
I feel for the parents of this child but as a parent of the other kids in the classroom I would want to know how in the world they can meet the special needs of my child with that amount of disruption going on in the classroom.
What can these teachers possibly provide this child that they cannot get at home? I don't have an answer. Do you keep the child at home..... go to a special school. I just don't know if this child is in the right placement.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Good Parenting or Parent Give Up?
Overall I feel Tracey and I are very good parents. Sure we have our flaws and we admit them to ourselves and we work at getting better so that when situations arise in the future we handle them appropriately. Occassionally we resort to "old school" ways but for the most part stay away from it.
Did your parents ever say "when your my age you will understand!"
Well there is one thing that would land me in the dog house with my dad faster than anything and at the time I did not understand it. Do you want to guess what it was?
That is right...disrespecting my mother. My dad would handle a lot of things but if I so much as looked at mom wrong I was toast. My sister got it too but it seemed like I had a much shorter leash.
Well now that I am a dad I get it. Nothing gets me more upset than when Jack gets disrespectful to Tracey. It's because I know NO ONE and I mean NO ONE loves that boy more than Tracey. He is her first baby. Till the day she dies that boy will be protected by her. Tracey tears up just talking about some of the stuff he says or does because it is so sweet for crying out loud.
So Jack has been having some problems handling disappointment or a challenge. He goes from being happy to pissed in the blink of an eye. We have been working with him on problem solving and how to appropriately handle disappointment with marginal success but for the most part with Jack it seems the world is coming to an end if he does not get his way.
So we have run up the white flag and admitted we need some help. So starting this month we are having Jack meet with a counselor once a month. We have done this in the past when I was sick and it seemed to really help. We shall see...financially it is impacting but I will pay whatever for the emotional security of my son.
So Good Parenting or Parent Give Up?
Did your parents ever say "when your my age you will understand!"
Well there is one thing that would land me in the dog house with my dad faster than anything and at the time I did not understand it. Do you want to guess what it was?
That is right...disrespecting my mother. My dad would handle a lot of things but if I so much as looked at mom wrong I was toast. My sister got it too but it seemed like I had a much shorter leash.
Well now that I am a dad I get it. Nothing gets me more upset than when Jack gets disrespectful to Tracey. It's because I know NO ONE and I mean NO ONE loves that boy more than Tracey. He is her first baby. Till the day she dies that boy will be protected by her. Tracey tears up just talking about some of the stuff he says or does because it is so sweet for crying out loud.
So Jack has been having some problems handling disappointment or a challenge. He goes from being happy to pissed in the blink of an eye. We have been working with him on problem solving and how to appropriately handle disappointment with marginal success but for the most part with Jack it seems the world is coming to an end if he does not get his way.
So we have run up the white flag and admitted we need some help. So starting this month we are having Jack meet with a counselor once a month. We have done this in the past when I was sick and it seemed to really help. We shall see...financially it is impacting but I will pay whatever for the emotional security of my son.
So Good Parenting or Parent Give Up?
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