The Joy of Parenting

Friday afternoon Holden pulled out an envelope with "Mr. & Mrs. Parker" written on the front in precise teacher handwriting. It was thick and sealed. That doesn't happen very often, if ever. Holden's been in school for five years and this is the first sealed thing he's brought home. "Must be important", I tell him. He's not worried though... he knows what's inside. His smile gives that away.

What's inside is a letter telling us that because of Holden's TCAP (standardized test in Tennessee for grades three & up) scores he is being screened for PASS class. The letter doesn't bother to explain what "PASS" stands for (it's obviously an acronym), but it does tell us that Holden's scores indicate that he's " intellectually gifted".

Attached to the letter is a form for the parents (mom) to fill out to document his abilities in these areas: creativity, interest, motivation, problem solving, memory, inquiry, insight, reasoning, and humor. There are 23 questions and you are to list examples for each! If he's so smart can't he just fill this thing out? This is going to be one tedious, thought-provoking exercise. I feel tremendous pressure to do a good job. This is the screening procedure! His acceptance into this special class hinges on how well I answer these questions and if my answers are the right ones.

But you know what? Holden doesn't even seem to care if he gets in or not which I love about him . Yes, he's smart, but it doesn't seem to effect him too much. He has a good sense of balance in his life. Maybe getting into a class that pushes you to do more isn't what he needs. Wonder if the pressure of that would throw his whole world off balance? I remember being carefree like Holden is now. Wanting to do well and make good grades, but not being consumed with it. That was second grade. The year before I was moved into the advanced program. From third grade on, I remember feeling like I had to keep up with the rest of the class all of whom were the smartest of the smart. Missing school was frowned upon even if you were truly ill. I was constantly comparing myself to this kid; always coming up a little short when compared to that kid.

I remained in the advanced program through the rest of my school years and graduated with an advanced diploma. My education was good and enjoyed it for the most part. I never found school boring. I actually had fun living up to the challenges. Holden will do the same in PASS Class. But when the choice comes up (like it did for my mom) as the parent you can't help but play out each scenario in full detail in your mind then still not knowing the just right thing to do. Guess that's the joy of parenting. (Along with having an intellectually gifted child!)

Worth A Look

This is a link to info about a movie coming out later this year called The Golden Compass.

http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Read it and make your own decision...

What A Rush!

Just purchased tickets for a Daughtry concert on December 20. It was an experience to say the least...

Tickets went on sale at 10am. Liane (awesome girl at work) and I are the "ticketmasters". At 10:02am there aren't even 4 tickets available together. Being the resourceful brainiacs that we are, we begin searching sets of two. We find several sets of two. Liane buys three sets! I have one set pulled up but when I go to purchase them... there's an error!

Uhoh... There are four couples we are trying to buy tickets for. And now no more sets of two.

The search for single seats near one another begins! I find two seats in section 12 row F, but not together (seat 5, 8). I purchase seat 8 then click over to purchase seat 5 and the window changes to a purchase confirmation. The ticket is gone! Great... what am I going to do with one ticket? My gut tells me that seat 5 is still there so I keep searching, but it won't pull it back up. The website is remembering that I had it and is giving me every other single seat available before it pulls seat 5 back up.

I call in reinforcements... Juli and Liane. Juli needs a plug-in... she's out! Liane is on it. Section 14... section 15...

Section 12! Row F! Seat 5! She got it! WhooHoo!

So we got all four sets that we needed, but now I need a nap.

Farmer O

We already had the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

Precious

On a recent visit to Huber Family Farm in Starlight, IN Emeline is all smiles even after a long, long day!

He's A Character Alright!

In Holden's school the counselor does character trait instruction. Every month has a featured character trait (honesty, helpfulness, etc). Each month every class chooses one student that best represents that month's trait. For five years now, Holden has been named a Character Kid. This year's trait they picked him for was goal-setting.

Report cards were sent home October 19th and Holden made ALL As! He is super proud and so are we! Forth grade is going great! He adores his teacher. We've heard nothing but good things about her and she's living up to her reputation.

Holden also joined 4H this year. All 4th and 5th graders join at his school. They hold the meetings in school once a month. He is excited to be the class secretary for the 4H meetings. It is a perfect job for him. He has had lots of note taking practice at our Christian meetings!

Another exciting thing for Holden is that he has a friend from our Kingdom Hall in his class this year. Since we do not celebrate Christmas, his teacher has decided to do one holiday craft and one winter craft instead of the usual two holiday crafts. (I told you she was great!) Holden and Kayla get to choose the winter craft, make it then instruct the rest of the class how to do it. Yet another perfect job for Holden.

Hard to believe he's 10 already! Does that make anyone feel old? Sure does me!

This Is a First

Well, this is it. I am officially a blogger. How exciting! I haven't become something new in a long while. I love writing, but don't take the time for it as often as I should. Recording my thoughts and activities has almost become a necessity because I can't seem to remember a thing on my own! This way I can record for myself and share with others.

The necessity of putting things is writing was demonstrated a few weeks ago when I was attempting to get dressed for work. Yes, I said attempting; it's a major undertaking in the chaos I call my closet. So I have chosen my outfit and I have the top part on, but I am out of underwear. I leave my room sans panties to retrieve some from the laundry room (clean, of course!). The laundry room is directly between my room and the kitchen. I head down the hall and wind up in the kitchen where I stop to ask myself the question I ask myself a hundred times a day, "what did I come in here for?". Seconds pass as I silently repeat this question in my head. What? Then it dawns on me. Maybe there was a draft. Underwear!

No major mental lapses today though. Things went rather smoothly despite Holden being unable to make it to the bus this morning and me having to take him. Ben was home because of rain. Usually my days are totally off when Ben is home during the week. They feel like vacation days and I loaf around. But today he did his thing and I did mine which was very important because my things were starting to pile up after doing the loafing thing Wednesday when he was home (another rain day).

We've had rain all week here in Tennessee so Ben hasn't worked. We are handling the rain days pretty good since these are the first in about six months. Little Owen probably wondered why in the world water was dripping on him outside because rain certainly is not in his short memory. Typically I'd be worrying about Ben not working. That is me. Taking life as it comes and enjoying the good stuff is my goal. So Owen getting wet in the rain for the first time in months is my silver lining.

And my first post wouldn't be complete without me mentioning my Baby Girl, Emeline. She is so full of life. I love talking to her. Four years old is the age you can begin having actual conversation. But sometimes she pulls out one of her lists of demands and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Like this evening during Survivor: China and dinner (the two always coincide) she is consistently reminding me that I promised to paint her nails... when I am going to paint her nails... am I going to paint her nails... I'd better paint her nails! So I tell her for at least the 10th time yes, but that I need to get Owen to sleep first. Emeline proceeds to tell me without missing a beat, "No, let me tell you what need to do. You need to give me a bite of spaghetti, get me some more sparkling cider, take me to the bathroom and paint my nails." You must realize that this girl knows what she wants and she is not shy about letting you know it. She wasn't being disrespectful just stating what needed to happen in her world. That is all HER! She is going to be one tough dame in about 18 years.

So there it is... my first blog posting. Did I do it right? Is it too much information? Too long? Too boring? Guess I'll learn as I go. Remember... this is a first.

Thanks to Tara for pointing me in the blogging direction!