"If someone said
their mom was
just a stay-at-home mom
I would say
'My mom
is not
just
a stay-at-home mom.'"
Kid announced at dinner.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
I Had Quite A Run Going
For a minute I thought I had figured out how to fit blogging back into my daily(ish) life.
I guess not.
#1 We are right in the midst of peak fall foliage around here. It makes my commute so much more bearable.
#2 This week Mr F got some kind of a stomach bug. He's been sleeping in Kid's guest bed all week to try and keep it to himself. Let's be real, the last thing I need during my commute 2 hours a day is to have diarrhea. So far my plan has worked.
#3 So, when Baby had a nightmare sometime in the wee hours of Tuesday, I just pulled back the covers and she got in.
Well, no, first I said "Do you have to go potty?"
She said "No."
We went to sleep.
I woke up to a cold wet bed. :(
Baby has only had one other accident in her life and it was Mr F's fault because he forgot to take her to the bathroom before bed. It's weird that I even asked her, I've never done that before... it must have been a psychic premonition. I should have obviously listened to myself more.
It's been 3 days and my mattress isn't completely dry.
I can't believe after all the years of co-sleeping and nursing babies and toddlers that this is THE FIRST TIME anyone has wet my bed! Of course, on a normal night she would have been snuggled back to sleep in her own bed, which has a pee protector pad (not for pee mind you but for the inevitable stomach flu). So, anyway, I've been dealing with that nightmare all week. Including the use of the shopvac... which did seem to help dry deeper into the pillowtop.
Baby's secret plan worked because I've been bunking with her all week.
#4 Mr F has also had closing week at his new job. There have been late nights (not as late as before, but after bedtime)... so the honeymoon is over. He also ran into the old douche supervisor at Potbelly's. I wish I could have been there to experience that awkward meet up. Or not because I still want to maim him.
#5 Kid has had mostly good days at school but one ultra rough night. I think it's the 2 steps forward one gigantic step back syndrome. Things are definitely going better and I think, right now, the plan is to stick it out the entire year. I don't think we'll return next year, but I do think it will be easiest for her emotionally not to leave mid-year. Sticking it out through the whole year will allow us to make the best most informed decision about what to do next year. I'm definitely more at ease knowing she is doing so well academically. Did I tell you that their GPA is calculated DAILY? Yes. She's got 6 As and 2 B+s (as of today)... so, you know, it could be a hell of a lot worse. And I have to say it really validates my teaching over the last two years! We brought her up from the bottom of her class academically in 2nd grade public school (and 1st and K to be honest) to the top of her class at a very academically rigorous school. It's a kind of ironic twist that it took sending her to school to validate the homeschooling. But there you have it. Seeing how well she can do, even under extraordinary stress, is eye opening. We originally took her out of school because she was falling so behind that the teacher didn't believe she was capable... and we weren't sure what we'd find at home. We knew she was smart but were open to academics being a road that might not demonstrate that intelligence in a direct way. At home, I quickly saw her progress but had nothing to compare it to. Now, I am extremely encouraged. She was just a late academic bloomer (you know sometimes Steiner is right) and if I hadn't taken her out she would have never had the chance to skip ahead the way she has. And if I hadn't put her in this school I might never have recognized how much she can handle and what she might be able to achieve academically. So there's that.
#6 Baby started gymnastics this week.
She is IN LOVE. This is a sport made for her. Even more than dance. Did I tell you she was asked to join the competitive dance team? We had decided to wait until next year. Now I'm really glad we did because this might be where it is at. And Lord knows you can't be doing competitive dance and gymnastics. Unless you are homeschooling ;)
#7 Those of you not on Facebook missed this beauty:
Kid's covert spy notes taken during our Monday night dinner out.
#8 Halloween Sneak Peak:
I guess not.
#1 We are right in the midst of peak fall foliage around here. It makes my commute so much more bearable.
#2 This week Mr F got some kind of a stomach bug. He's been sleeping in Kid's guest bed all week to try and keep it to himself. Let's be real, the last thing I need during my commute 2 hours a day is to have diarrhea. So far my plan has worked.
#3 So, when Baby had a nightmare sometime in the wee hours of Tuesday, I just pulled back the covers and she got in.
Well, no, first I said "Do you have to go potty?"
She said "No."
We went to sleep.
I woke up to a cold wet bed. :(
Baby has only had one other accident in her life and it was Mr F's fault because he forgot to take her to the bathroom before bed. It's weird that I even asked her, I've never done that before... it must have been a psychic premonition. I should have obviously listened to myself more.
It's been 3 days and my mattress isn't completely dry.
I can't believe after all the years of co-sleeping and nursing babies and toddlers that this is THE FIRST TIME anyone has wet my bed! Of course, on a normal night she would have been snuggled back to sleep in her own bed, which has a pee protector pad (not for pee mind you but for the inevitable stomach flu). So, anyway, I've been dealing with that nightmare all week. Including the use of the shopvac... which did seem to help dry deeper into the pillowtop.
Baby's secret plan worked because I've been bunking with her all week.
#4 Mr F has also had closing week at his new job. There have been late nights (not as late as before, but after bedtime)... so the honeymoon is over. He also ran into the old douche supervisor at Potbelly's. I wish I could have been there to experience that awkward meet up. Or not because I still want to maim him.
#5 Kid has had mostly good days at school but one ultra rough night. I think it's the 2 steps forward one gigantic step back syndrome. Things are definitely going better and I think, right now, the plan is to stick it out the entire year. I don't think we'll return next year, but I do think it will be easiest for her emotionally not to leave mid-year. Sticking it out through the whole year will allow us to make the best most informed decision about what to do next year. I'm definitely more at ease knowing she is doing so well academically. Did I tell you that their GPA is calculated DAILY? Yes. She's got 6 As and 2 B+s (as of today)... so, you know, it could be a hell of a lot worse. And I have to say it really validates my teaching over the last two years! We brought her up from the bottom of her class academically in 2nd grade public school (and 1st and K to be honest) to the top of her class at a very academically rigorous school. It's a kind of ironic twist that it took sending her to school to validate the homeschooling. But there you have it. Seeing how well she can do, even under extraordinary stress, is eye opening. We originally took her out of school because she was falling so behind that the teacher didn't believe she was capable... and we weren't sure what we'd find at home. We knew she was smart but were open to academics being a road that might not demonstrate that intelligence in a direct way. At home, I quickly saw her progress but had nothing to compare it to. Now, I am extremely encouraged. She was just a late academic bloomer (you know sometimes Steiner is right) and if I hadn't taken her out she would have never had the chance to skip ahead the way she has. And if I hadn't put her in this school I might never have recognized how much she can handle and what she might be able to achieve academically. So there's that.
#6 Baby started gymnastics this week.
She is IN LOVE. This is a sport made for her. Even more than dance. Did I tell you she was asked to join the competitive dance team? We had decided to wait until next year. Now I'm really glad we did because this might be where it is at. And Lord knows you can't be doing competitive dance and gymnastics. Unless you are homeschooling ;)
#7 Those of you not on Facebook missed this beauty:
Kid's covert spy notes taken during our Monday night dinner out.
#8 Halloween Sneak Peak:
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Good News
Kid has had all smiley faces on our emotions chart all week (so far). This despite having had 3 major review tests already. She also has a 3.62 GPA. (no bell curve either). So, all in all, that's pretty great considering that she has test anxiety and doesn't understand what the hell the teacher is saying half of the time.
Not so coincidentally she has befriended the Korean exchange students (have you heard of this? I find this kind of disturbing... and by 'kind of' I mean 'very'... Korean families send their elementary aged children to the US to go to school and live with host families. Our school is a very popular choice for this and about 15% of the school population are Korean exchange students) Anyway, the point is that Kid has become tight with the Korean girls partly because none of them know what the hell is going on and so they can just wander around lost together. I just think about how hard this is for us and my heartbreaks for these little kids who are away from their families and siblings many of them just learning English.
How long this respite from overwhelming school stress will last no one can guess... but for this week it's been a welcome reprieve.
Not so coincidentally she has befriended the Korean exchange students (have you heard of this? I find this kind of disturbing... and by 'kind of' I mean 'very'... Korean families send their elementary aged children to the US to go to school and live with host families. Our school is a very popular choice for this and about 15% of the school population are Korean exchange students) Anyway, the point is that Kid has become tight with the Korean girls partly because none of them know what the hell is going on and so they can just wander around lost together. I just think about how hard this is for us and my heartbreaks for these little kids who are away from their families and siblings many of them just learning English.
How long this respite from overwhelming school stress will last no one can guess... but for this week it's been a welcome reprieve.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Oh Goody Another Long Boring Post (You're Welcome)
There are a few specific things I miss about not having TV service... Food Network and House Hunters International! Damn, I miss the opportunity to veg out hardcore while watching people get all riled up that their potential Berlin apartment doesn't have a kitchen in it.
Today is weirdly foggy and disturbingly warm and I have an ever worsening cold and I'm still tired from that crazy Cathe workout I did on Monday (seriously, I thought I was on the verge of cardiac arrest...SERIOUSLY) and I'd love me a long House Hunters International marathon.
Instead I'll regale you with the minutia of my ongoings:
Yesterday, after waxing poetically (or not) about Mr F's new job... he came home late. Ha Ha! Joke's on me! I was irrationally pissed. It's a long trying day in Casa Furious now that the kids are in school... I have a tremendous amount of balls in the air at once. (I know this confounds me, too) I just assumed having 3 hours sans kids would equal getting MORE done not LESS. I was wrong. (Veteran moms are laughing everywhere) Not only is there all the morning routine hullaballo which had me (literally) monitoring all four burners this morning (hot breakfasts and lunch... that's how I roll) while cutting up strawberries and making Mr F's coffee and packing Kid's lunch and doing Baby's hair and locating 6 plastic spoons for her to bring to school. You get the picture. It's an hour long after school special on the dangers of multi-tasking. Mr F said one day he could handle it and I could sleep and I laughed and laughed and laughed. And laughed.
Anyway, back to how I have less time. Believe it. While I've theoretically gained the 3 hours Baby is at school I've also lost 2 hours commuting. Add to that the fact that we are prisoners to Kid's homework every single afternoon from the time we arrive home until we set the table for dinner (most of which involves me actively participating) and now I've lost 5 hours a day. I try and workout in the morning and get one chore done and then it's time to pick up Baby. We get home have lunch and either attend her extra curriculars or run errands (or most days both) and then we go back and get Kid. Then it's homework, dinner, showers, book reading with the girls, Mr F and I usually try to watch a show, then I take a sleeping pill and go to bed. It's glamorous. All the books I pick up for myself at the library sit in a stack unread. This is not what I imagined it would be like... and I tried to set really low expectations.
I'm still cooking. I made chicken noodle soup last night. I'm making Kid's lunches. One day, maybe soon, I'll get back to posting all of that stuff again. We're almost done with our CSA (praise God!) and I can go back to actually planning our meals and not throwing out 90 pounds of rotted kohlrabi and kale every week. I've had a love hate thing going on with the CSA and as the weeks drag on it's more hate hate. Ironically we've eaten out more than we have ever since having the CSA because more often than not I just can't face dealing with it at dinner time. I spent way too many hot summer afternoons cutting up vegetables no one even particularly liked for 2 hours in order to make some kind of meal out of them no one really wanted to eat. I wish I was exaggerating. It was a grueling job and after 20 weeks I am ready to quit. Next year?... farmer's market. The End.
We've done a few things to try and make our life a bit more bearable during the school week. Most of them are food related. On Mondays you will find us at Red Brick Kitchen & Bar making the most of both 1/2 price appetizers and free kids meals. If you ever want to run into us, you know where to find us. 6 PM. The food is great (really good) and the kids meals are huge and top notch. We always end up taking half of everyone's dinner home for lunch the next day (win-win... and combined with the free kids meals makes this an affordable choice). Mondays are usually rough with a lot of homework and this gives us something to look forward to. Plus it's nice to have the concentrated family dinner conversation time that just doesn't always happen at home when there are dishes and such to get started on. We also like to cap off the week with a Friday night family date to Culver's. Culver's is the bomb. We don't even eat the ice cream. Pot Roast sandwich... I'm coming for you.... Friday 6 PM. Again you know where to find us. They have amazing root beer. The point of this is that I only have 3 nights I have to juggle homework and dinner at the same time. This is the most we've ever gone out to eat in YEARS, but life is a challenge right now and dinner doesn't have to be ;)
Okay, Jillian I'm coming for you...
Today is weirdly foggy and disturbingly warm and I have an ever worsening cold and I'm still tired from that crazy Cathe workout I did on Monday (seriously, I thought I was on the verge of cardiac arrest...SERIOUSLY) and I'd love me a long House Hunters International marathon.
Instead I'll regale you with the minutia of my ongoings:
Yesterday, after waxing poetically (or not) about Mr F's new job... he came home late. Ha Ha! Joke's on me! I was irrationally pissed. It's a long trying day in Casa Furious now that the kids are in school... I have a tremendous amount of balls in the air at once. (I know this confounds me, too) I just assumed having 3 hours sans kids would equal getting MORE done not LESS. I was wrong. (Veteran moms are laughing everywhere) Not only is there all the morning routine hullaballo which had me (literally) monitoring all four burners this morning (hot breakfasts and lunch... that's how I roll) while cutting up strawberries and making Mr F's coffee and packing Kid's lunch and doing Baby's hair and locating 6 plastic spoons for her to bring to school. You get the picture. It's an hour long after school special on the dangers of multi-tasking. Mr F said one day he could handle it and I could sleep and I laughed and laughed and laughed. And laughed.
Anyway, back to how I have less time. Believe it. While I've theoretically gained the 3 hours Baby is at school I've also lost 2 hours commuting. Add to that the fact that we are prisoners to Kid's homework every single afternoon from the time we arrive home until we set the table for dinner (most of which involves me actively participating) and now I've lost 5 hours a day. I try and workout in the morning and get one chore done and then it's time to pick up Baby. We get home have lunch and either attend her extra curriculars or run errands (or most days both) and then we go back and get Kid. Then it's homework, dinner, showers, book reading with the girls, Mr F and I usually try to watch a show, then I take a sleeping pill and go to bed. It's glamorous. All the books I pick up for myself at the library sit in a stack unread. This is not what I imagined it would be like... and I tried to set really low expectations.
I'm still cooking. I made chicken noodle soup last night. I'm making Kid's lunches. One day, maybe soon, I'll get back to posting all of that stuff again. We're almost done with our CSA (praise God!) and I can go back to actually planning our meals and not throwing out 90 pounds of rotted kohlrabi and kale every week. I've had a love hate thing going on with the CSA and as the weeks drag on it's more hate hate. Ironically we've eaten out more than we have ever since having the CSA because more often than not I just can't face dealing with it at dinner time. I spent way too many hot summer afternoons cutting up vegetables no one even particularly liked for 2 hours in order to make some kind of meal out of them no one really wanted to eat. I wish I was exaggerating. It was a grueling job and after 20 weeks I am ready to quit. Next year?... farmer's market. The End.
We've done a few things to try and make our life a bit more bearable during the school week. Most of them are food related. On Mondays you will find us at Red Brick Kitchen & Bar making the most of both 1/2 price appetizers and free kids meals. If you ever want to run into us, you know where to find us. 6 PM. The food is great (really good) and the kids meals are huge and top notch. We always end up taking half of everyone's dinner home for lunch the next day (win-win... and combined with the free kids meals makes this an affordable choice). Mondays are usually rough with a lot of homework and this gives us something to look forward to. Plus it's nice to have the concentrated family dinner conversation time that just doesn't always happen at home when there are dishes and such to get started on. We also like to cap off the week with a Friday night family date to Culver's. Culver's is the bomb. We don't even eat the ice cream. Pot Roast sandwich... I'm coming for you.... Friday 6 PM. Again you know where to find us. They have amazing root beer. The point of this is that I only have 3 nights I have to juggle homework and dinner at the same time. This is the most we've ever gone out to eat in YEARS, but life is a challenge right now and dinner doesn't have to be ;)
Okay, Jillian I'm coming for you...
Monday, September 24, 2012
Things That Are Going Down
A) Mr F's new job is 100 billion times better. People are actually qualified and passionate about their jobs = refreshing change. Added bonus: all of the people Mr F works with directly have kids. This is a life changer. He's been home at dinner time every single day. Now I know how the other half lives and let me tell you it's a lot better. It boggles the mind that he had to work 2x as many hours with a bigger department at the other place. WTF? I'm so glad we got out of there before it gave us both heart attacks. Also, if I had to go through all of this school stress with Mr F working his old hours (aka never home... ever.... ever) I wouldn't have been able to handle it.
B) Mr F and I are working our way through Breaking Bad on Netflix. I don't love it. It's fine... I think it's incredibly slow moving and it doesn't have that pull that other series have had (Lost, FNL, Justified) where Mr F and I can't stop watching the episodes back to back. We need another one like that, any suggestions (must be dvd or Netflix as we have no TV service).
C) I was making great strides (Ha!) working out in the AM after the kids went to school. Then last week the school stress just got unbearable and I started going to back to sleep after sending them off for another hour or two. I don't know what it is but extreme stress shuts me down and I am INCREDIBLY sleepy. I used to be like that during finals in college. Also, I was just burning it at both ends. I have to get up a couple of hours earlier to get everyone ready for school and then I don't actually go to bed a couple of hours earlier. Plus I'm driving so many hours a day... it's really mentally fatiguing (seriously it is). Well, anyway, now we have mice in the basement and I can't workout until Mr F secures the perimeter. I'm am going to try and do ye olde Cathe in the living room. If I get motivated... hopefully soon.
D) We found mice in the basement. WTF, cats?!
Get your lazy asses up and get on that shit.
E) Kid has 4 tests this week. Pray for us. I am now keeping a daily emotions calendar and charting how she feels about school before, after, and during homework. I'm hoping sometime before the next tuition payment is due we'll have a clear pattern we can go off of. She said if she could choose again she'd choose to homeschool, but now that she is there it's very hard for her to quit. I get it. I'm hoping that by charting it, I'll be able to make the best decision possible for her. If after 60 days the negative feelings dominate then I think we should pull her out.
F) Despite living in the safest area we've ever lived in, we just installed a home security system. For those of you that already have one this will seem like no big deal, I'm sure. For us, this is ground breaking! We've always kind of felt like if someone was going to break-in they were going to break-in and you might as well leave your door unlocked than have them smash out the glass of your antique door. You know? But then we were hit by the tornado and I have a very different feeling about how much stress and trauma I want to live through and feel much more comfortable being proactive. There has been a huge increase in break-ins in our county and even extending into our little village... the beauty of our house is that it is set way back on a heavily foliaged acre lot... which is also the negative in this circumstance. Better safe than sorry. We've got this baby rigged up tight! It seems a little overboard, but as I said, I'd much rather be in that situation than the other. One of Mr F's coworkers, at his old job, had their house ransacked while she was at work... when he saw how devastating and traumatizing it was he was on board lickety split. We got our system from SimpliSafe and I have to say, I'm loving it. It was very easy to install and use and I love having the key fob... really does make it as easy to use as a car alarm.
E) The weather decided to abruptly match the change in season. We've had the heat on the past two days (and trust me I really try to prolong that as much as possible since I'm crazy about our heating bill) and we're back to hot coffee. This kind of weather really makes me miss Asheville. I loved the sound and smell of the heat coming off of the radiators in the morning... I had the perfect spot to drink my coffee right next to a big radiator and my windows looking out at our gorgeous maple tree lined street. Fall was definitely the best season there. Of course, now we have THIS at the end of our street... so I'm not complaining ;)
B) Mr F and I are working our way through Breaking Bad on Netflix. I don't love it. It's fine... I think it's incredibly slow moving and it doesn't have that pull that other series have had (Lost, FNL, Justified) where Mr F and I can't stop watching the episodes back to back. We need another one like that, any suggestions (must be dvd or Netflix as we have no TV service).
C) I was making great strides (Ha!) working out in the AM after the kids went to school. Then last week the school stress just got unbearable and I started going to back to sleep after sending them off for another hour or two. I don't know what it is but extreme stress shuts me down and I am INCREDIBLY sleepy. I used to be like that during finals in college. Also, I was just burning it at both ends. I have to get up a couple of hours earlier to get everyone ready for school and then I don't actually go to bed a couple of hours earlier. Plus I'm driving so many hours a day... it's really mentally fatiguing (seriously it is). Well, anyway, now we have mice in the basement and I can't workout until Mr F secures the perimeter. I'm am going to try and do ye olde Cathe in the living room. If I get motivated... hopefully soon.
Get your lazy asses up and get on that shit.
E) Kid has 4 tests this week. Pray for us. I am now keeping a daily emotions calendar and charting how she feels about school before, after, and during homework. I'm hoping sometime before the next tuition payment is due we'll have a clear pattern we can go off of. She said if she could choose again she'd choose to homeschool, but now that she is there it's very hard for her to quit. I get it. I'm hoping that by charting it, I'll be able to make the best decision possible for her. If after 60 days the negative feelings dominate then I think we should pull her out.
F) Despite living in the safest area we've ever lived in, we just installed a home security system. For those of you that already have one this will seem like no big deal, I'm sure. For us, this is ground breaking! We've always kind of felt like if someone was going to break-in they were going to break-in and you might as well leave your door unlocked than have them smash out the glass of your antique door. You know? But then we were hit by the tornado and I have a very different feeling about how much stress and trauma I want to live through and feel much more comfortable being proactive. There has been a huge increase in break-ins in our county and even extending into our little village... the beauty of our house is that it is set way back on a heavily foliaged acre lot... which is also the negative in this circumstance. Better safe than sorry. We've got this baby rigged up tight! It seems a little overboard, but as I said, I'd much rather be in that situation than the other. One of Mr F's coworkers, at his old job, had their house ransacked while she was at work... when he saw how devastating and traumatizing it was he was on board lickety split. We got our system from SimpliSafe and I have to say, I'm loving it. It was very easy to install and use and I love having the key fob... really does make it as easy to use as a car alarm.
E) The weather decided to abruptly match the change in season. We've had the heat on the past two days (and trust me I really try to prolong that as much as possible since I'm crazy about our heating bill) and we're back to hot coffee. This kind of weather really makes me miss Asheville. I loved the sound and smell of the heat coming off of the radiators in the morning... I had the perfect spot to drink my coffee right next to a big radiator and my windows looking out at our gorgeous maple tree lined street. Fall was definitely the best season there. Of course, now we have THIS at the end of our street... so I'm not complaining ;)
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Sorry This Has Taken Over...
the blog and my entire life (waking and sleeping... which is hardly ever).
Last night I heard Kid screaming and wailing in her bed. It was so unusual that I thought Baby must have been having a weird tantrum with Mr F about going to bed (not as unusual).
After awhile Kid came out and said she's done, she wants to drop out of school.
I don't know why I'm conflicted, I guess I don't like to quit things either.
Or I don't like to have to confront the teacher and principal and say I'm removing her (ding ding ding).
On the one hand she is doing more (and better) than I ever thought possible.
On the other hand I told her last night ...
"I think you might have a learning disability"
and she said "Oh, I've always thought I had a disability."
And I said "What do you mean?"
And she said "I don't know." (of course).
And then I pressed her because I really do need to know what she means and what she thinks.
She said "I have always thought that."
"For how long?"
"Ever since I was ever in school."
"But in what ways?"
"I take much longer than everyone else to do things and I never understand what I'm supposed to do."
Which for a minute just try and imagine what that feels like every single day.
And after reflecting on everything I know about her school history and with working with her at home... I think that that pretty much sums it up.
I put her in this school because she got a perfect score on the entrance exam and so I thought "good, it won't be too hard for her!"
BUT the entrance exam was given one on one, and when she didn't understand the directions the principal EXPLAINED them to her. (which is what I've been able to do for her at home).
Without that crucial piece in the puzzle, as hard as it is to understand, she does not understand written instructions. BELIEVE me... I cannot tell you how many times I would get extremely frustrated with her while homeschooling that she hadn't followed directions correctly (that I thought were pretty self explanatory). I always chalked it up to her not bothering to read them or pay attention. It never occurred to me that someone who can read and comprehend 6 grades above her level could not read and comprehend 2 part directions. It seems crazy... but I now think that is the crux of it.
Well, anyway, I am torn between get her tested and seeing the recommendations and seeing if the school will implement. And taking her out and just implementing them myself. I worry that we have gotten an extremely stubborn teacher who is going to dismiss that this is even a possible disorder. I'd really hate to force Kid to suffer through however many months it will take to get a diagnosis and then possibly not get the desired result from the teacher anyway.
But I also want to say how impressed I am with Kid. She has really risen to a very difficult challenge. She had to learn all of the books of the Old Testament and she did it (on top of homework mind you!) in 3 freaking days! She also has been getting A+s on her math homework and spelling tests. When she understands the directions she is clearly at the top of her class. BUT the work they do in class she is often getting 50-75% correct and when I review it, it is ALWAYS because she didn't follow the directions not because of a lack of comprehension on the topic. Unfortunately, she has a teacher that seeing something done incorrectly does not explain the directions and give you a chance to correct it... she marks them all wrong and that is the end of it. In my gut I don't think this is a teacher that is going to work with us... I think she is a teacher that we would have to live through.
And for the record I don't really believe in that.
Last night I heard Kid screaming and wailing in her bed. It was so unusual that I thought Baby must have been having a weird tantrum with Mr F about going to bed (not as unusual).
After awhile Kid came out and said she's done, she wants to drop out of school.
I don't know why I'm conflicted, I guess I don't like to quit things either.
Or I don't like to have to confront the teacher and principal and say I'm removing her (ding ding ding).
On the one hand she is doing more (and better) than I ever thought possible.
On the other hand I told her last night ...
"I think you might have a learning disability"
and she said "Oh, I've always thought I had a disability."
And I said "What do you mean?"
And she said "I don't know." (of course).
And then I pressed her because I really do need to know what she means and what she thinks.
She said "I have always thought that."
"For how long?"
"Ever since I was ever in school."
"But in what ways?"
"I take much longer than everyone else to do things and I never understand what I'm supposed to do."
Which for a minute just try and imagine what that feels like every single day.
And after reflecting on everything I know about her school history and with working with her at home... I think that that pretty much sums it up.
I put her in this school because she got a perfect score on the entrance exam and so I thought "good, it won't be too hard for her!"
BUT the entrance exam was given one on one, and when she didn't understand the directions the principal EXPLAINED them to her. (which is what I've been able to do for her at home).
Without that crucial piece in the puzzle, as hard as it is to understand, she does not understand written instructions. BELIEVE me... I cannot tell you how many times I would get extremely frustrated with her while homeschooling that she hadn't followed directions correctly (that I thought were pretty self explanatory). I always chalked it up to her not bothering to read them or pay attention. It never occurred to me that someone who can read and comprehend 6 grades above her level could not read and comprehend 2 part directions. It seems crazy... but I now think that is the crux of it.
Well, anyway, I am torn between get her tested and seeing the recommendations and seeing if the school will implement. And taking her out and just implementing them myself. I worry that we have gotten an extremely stubborn teacher who is going to dismiss that this is even a possible disorder. I'd really hate to force Kid to suffer through however many months it will take to get a diagnosis and then possibly not get the desired result from the teacher anyway.
But I also want to say how impressed I am with Kid. She has really risen to a very difficult challenge. She had to learn all of the books of the Old Testament and she did it (on top of homework mind you!) in 3 freaking days! She also has been getting A+s on her math homework and spelling tests. When she understands the directions she is clearly at the top of her class. BUT the work they do in class she is often getting 50-75% correct and when I review it, it is ALWAYS because she didn't follow the directions not because of a lack of comprehension on the topic. Unfortunately, she has a teacher that seeing something done incorrectly does not explain the directions and give you a chance to correct it... she marks them all wrong and that is the end of it. In my gut I don't think this is a teacher that is going to work with us... I think she is a teacher that we would have to live through.
And for the record I don't really believe in that.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I've Been Doing A Lot Of Research
I'm pretty sure we've been dealing with some sort of GT/LD. It all makes sense in retrospect. I had been attributing a lot of her school deficits to the OCD/anxiety when now I think it is probably just a processing disorder. All of her issues fit this. Extremely poor memory, difficulty writing out thoughts despite high comprehension, inability to break down multistep directions, etc.
Obviously, I was able to circumvent a lot of this at home. I have just read through all of the proposed modifications and it was like "yep, yep, yep...". Dictating or reducing written assignments, having directions broken down into one step processes, having math problems presented one at a time, have directions written and spoken and repeated back, etc. I had just naturally done those things as I learned how we could be most effective at home. I cared about comprehension and she has always been able to demonstrate that. Her very high reading level, comprehension of complex advanced subject matter, very advanced sense of humor... yet lack of ability to manage time, follow directions (or understand them), slow writing and extreme frustration/lack of ability to express herself through writing, poor memory (I've mentioned this with spelling/math facts), etc all fits this GT/LD. Our psychologist believes that Kid's issues are so subtle a school district test will probably not pick up what her processing issue is. We're going to look into getting a thorough outside neuro-psych (although she noted those can be too detailed and I know some of you understand that implication). I'm not sure what will happen after that. I don't think this school can accommodate (or will, or is the best place to) everything she really needs in order to be successful. So many simple things could be done, like emailing me the assignments, etc... that just aren't happening. Even my going in after school to copy the board assignments and double checking that she did all of that REALLY irritates the teacher. This woman really believes in a sink or swim mentality that is only going to result in failure.
I'm pretty sure we're in the worst possible school placement for this type of disorder.
I also think having an answer will be very validating and uplifting to Kid.
Then we'll see. Obviously, with that we could make better informed choices as we move forward.
Obviously, I was able to circumvent a lot of this at home. I have just read through all of the proposed modifications and it was like "yep, yep, yep...". Dictating or reducing written assignments, having directions broken down into one step processes, having math problems presented one at a time, have directions written and spoken and repeated back, etc. I had just naturally done those things as I learned how we could be most effective at home. I cared about comprehension and she has always been able to demonstrate that. Her very high reading level, comprehension of complex advanced subject matter, very advanced sense of humor... yet lack of ability to manage time, follow directions (or understand them), slow writing and extreme frustration/lack of ability to express herself through writing, poor memory (I've mentioned this with spelling/math facts), etc all fits this GT/LD. Our psychologist believes that Kid's issues are so subtle a school district test will probably not pick up what her processing issue is. We're going to look into getting a thorough outside neuro-psych (although she noted those can be too detailed and I know some of you understand that implication). I'm not sure what will happen after that. I don't think this school can accommodate (or will, or is the best place to) everything she really needs in order to be successful. So many simple things could be done, like emailing me the assignments, etc... that just aren't happening. Even my going in after school to copy the board assignments and double checking that she did all of that REALLY irritates the teacher. This woman really believes in a sink or swim mentality that is only going to result in failure.
I'm pretty sure we're in the worst possible school placement for this type of disorder.
I also think having an answer will be very validating and uplifting to Kid.
Then we'll see. Obviously, with that we could make better informed choices as we move forward.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Rough
Last week was.
There are several factors at play: an old school teacher, much more rigorous academics than I had anticipated (or think is developmentally appropriate), and then there is the OCD factor.
Any one of those things could create too much homework... all of them?... well it's created a nightmare.
Kid wants to go to school, she just likes to be in that setting around large groups of kids.
I think it makes it easier for her to socialize when it's A) consistent, as in every day and B) organized activities so you don't have to work as hard to interact.
Homeschooling went very well for us. It was a great fit for us as a family. It had amazing academic results for Kid, since her OCD doesn't flare up as much when she isn't anxious. But homeschooling has never been the perfect social fit for her.
While there are numerous (more than numerous... overwhelming even) social opportunities and extracurricular classes for homeschoolers where we live.... if you have social anxiety seeing people once a week doesn't break that down. Even if you went to one every single day (and we did) you don't get the constant presence of the same kids in your everyday life. It's just different. Kid knows that about herself. If she is in school full time she has the best chance of having a GOOD time when she is with her classmates. If the activity is once a week she doesn't have time to break through her anxiety and she isn't as comfortable and doesn't have as much fun.
Kid is amazing, in that at 9 years of age she completely understands herself.
So, last week she had 2.75 hours of homework on Tuesday, 1.5 hours on Wednesday, and 2.36 hours on Thursday (that's with me foraging one assignment and dictating another.... which I don't take lightly but I also think things had entered into a level of torture that was inappropriate).
Kid wants to go to school so badly that she'll do this. She'll torture herself and sacrifice all down time, play dates, extracurriculars, and family time.
It's heartbreaking how badly she wants this.
This thing that is such a bad match for her learning style.
At some point we have to make a decision about what is in her best interest as a whole being.
It feels ironic that we want to say "You can't go to school, it's not a healthy choice"... about school... not eating junk food or riding your bike without a helmet or watching TV all day.
It's hard to hold your sobbing daughter on the couch while she accepts that this is too hard for her... not everyone else.... but her.
That she isn't like the other kids.
She can't have the one thing that she really wants.
"I can't learn that way." Kid whispers out between sobs.
To make everything more convoluted is that she is still getting all As and Bs. The work is NOT too hard for her. Which is partly why the teacher is not willing to make any long lasting accommodations for her. Even the Bs were 100% correct just not completed in the way the teacher expects (but had not issued clear directions for... trust me... I can't figure out the expectations)... which adds another layer of frustration when you spend 2 hours on your homework get all of the answers correct and still get your work marked down! The problem is the amount of work being assigned and the level of independence expected of the students to manage that workload. Kid just can't keep track of that much work and manage her time during her day... and I don't think it's even developmentally appropriate to expect that.
This week we're allowed to have her print all of her work at school and at home and see if this allows her to get more work accomplished at school. The cursive has been a real OCD trigger and she'll often erase a word 3 times until it's all perfect and she's obsessed with writing it as small as she can (smaller than typed font) and she said she just can't let it go. We've also been given a 1 hour homework time limit. After an hour whatever she hasn't finished should be exempt from grading (I think). So, we'll see how this week goes. If it helps hopefully the teacher will be more open to letting us keep these changes.
There are several factors at play: an old school teacher, much more rigorous academics than I had anticipated (or think is developmentally appropriate), and then there is the OCD factor.
Any one of those things could create too much homework... all of them?... well it's created a nightmare.
Kid wants to go to school, she just likes to be in that setting around large groups of kids.
I think it makes it easier for her to socialize when it's A) consistent, as in every day and B) organized activities so you don't have to work as hard to interact.
Homeschooling went very well for us. It was a great fit for us as a family. It had amazing academic results for Kid, since her OCD doesn't flare up as much when she isn't anxious. But homeschooling has never been the perfect social fit for her.
While there are numerous (more than numerous... overwhelming even) social opportunities and extracurricular classes for homeschoolers where we live.... if you have social anxiety seeing people once a week doesn't break that down. Even if you went to one every single day (and we did) you don't get the constant presence of the same kids in your everyday life. It's just different. Kid knows that about herself. If she is in school full time she has the best chance of having a GOOD time when she is with her classmates. If the activity is once a week she doesn't have time to break through her anxiety and she isn't as comfortable and doesn't have as much fun.
Kid is amazing, in that at 9 years of age she completely understands herself.
So, last week she had 2.75 hours of homework on Tuesday, 1.5 hours on Wednesday, and 2.36 hours on Thursday (that's with me foraging one assignment and dictating another.... which I don't take lightly but I also think things had entered into a level of torture that was inappropriate).
Kid wants to go to school so badly that she'll do this. She'll torture herself and sacrifice all down time, play dates, extracurriculars, and family time.
It's heartbreaking how badly she wants this.
This thing that is such a bad match for her learning style.
At some point we have to make a decision about what is in her best interest as a whole being.
It feels ironic that we want to say "You can't go to school, it's not a healthy choice"... about school... not eating junk food or riding your bike without a helmet or watching TV all day.
It's hard to hold your sobbing daughter on the couch while she accepts that this is too hard for her... not everyone else.... but her.
That she isn't like the other kids.
She can't have the one thing that she really wants.
"I can't learn that way." Kid whispers out between sobs.
To make everything more convoluted is that she is still getting all As and Bs. The work is NOT too hard for her. Which is partly why the teacher is not willing to make any long lasting accommodations for her. Even the Bs were 100% correct just not completed in the way the teacher expects (but had not issued clear directions for... trust me... I can't figure out the expectations)... which adds another layer of frustration when you spend 2 hours on your homework get all of the answers correct and still get your work marked down! The problem is the amount of work being assigned and the level of independence expected of the students to manage that workload. Kid just can't keep track of that much work and manage her time during her day... and I don't think it's even developmentally appropriate to expect that.
This week we're allowed to have her print all of her work at school and at home and see if this allows her to get more work accomplished at school. The cursive has been a real OCD trigger and she'll often erase a word 3 times until it's all perfect and she's obsessed with writing it as small as she can (smaller than typed font) and she said she just can't let it go. We've also been given a 1 hour homework time limit. After an hour whatever she hasn't finished should be exempt from grading (I think). So, we'll see how this week goes. If it helps hopefully the teacher will be more open to letting us keep these changes.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Preach It Sister
"I'm starting to think I don't even want to go to that fucking school." Kid says (somewhat sheepishly) over her homework.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
I'm Not Sure
But I think 2 hours and 45 minutes of homework (5 subjects) is a bit much for a nine year old.
It's 7 PM and she's been doing homework (with a break for dinner) since she got home at 4 PM... and she's not done.
It's 7 PM and she's been doing homework (with a break for dinner) since she got home at 4 PM... and she's not done.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Improvements
After a rough couple of days today seems to have gone MUCH better... despite being hit in the face with a soccer ball (so I guess that's saying something).
Her teacher even praised her today in front of the whole class for her neatness (which we all know is next to cleanliness which is next to godliness).
After 3 days of hearing her call Kid "slow" at least 5 times during our 30 second conversations (each day people) (and, yes, in front of her... cause you know what will make her work faster?... disparaging her), the praise was an astonishing turn of events.
Kid also got an A+ on her math homework. So she's somewhat redeemed after her B on yesterday's pretest. (that was rough, peeps, homegirl does NOT like less than 100%... and, yes, I do know where she got that)
One of the big problems is that everything they do is done old school style. There aren't any worksheets, all of their math work has to be copied out of the book and then solved... this takes a VERY long time (obviously). Kid likes to do things very neatly and that takes effort not speed and then she runs out of time to finish things, misses the directions for the next thing... and it snow balls. I'm happy to say that today she had managed to copy all of her assignments into her assignment book so that's an improvement. A lot of the issues are just basic things based on how the classroom is run that she is unfamiliar with and that the teacher seems to assume she'll just pick up or are self-evident. Unfortunately, if you don't explain that they have to copy their assignments down into their assignment book Kid isn't going to know to do that. I'm not really sure what the teacher's tactic is here... I'm definitely frustrated because we had had what I thought was an understanding before school started... but I'm just going in the room with Kid after dismissal EVERY single day to double check that she wrote all the assignments down and that she has all of the stuff she needs to complete it. Again, bringing home graph paper might be obvious to the other kids that have had to copy all of their work out of their books for years, but Kid (and I) aren't going to know that intuitively. Add all that to the fact that Kid just isn't good at multi-tasking and it's a set up for a really bad time. But today went better. I've steered her toward some girls I think she should play with at recess and she has taken my advice and it's worked out well.
Here's hoping next week is even better, even though we'll be adding in our arch rival spelling into the mix! Oh and one hour of homework a night (if you aren't slow... so 1.5-2 for you know who) for 4th grade!
Her teacher even praised her today in front of the whole class for her neatness (which we all know is next to cleanliness which is next to godliness).
After 3 days of hearing her call Kid "slow" at least 5 times during our 30 second conversations (each day people) (and, yes, in front of her... cause you know what will make her work faster?... disparaging her), the praise was an astonishing turn of events.
Kid also got an A+ on her math homework. So she's somewhat redeemed after her B on yesterday's pretest. (that was rough, peeps, homegirl does NOT like less than 100%... and, yes, I do know where she got that)
One of the big problems is that everything they do is done old school style. There aren't any worksheets, all of their math work has to be copied out of the book and then solved... this takes a VERY long time (obviously). Kid likes to do things very neatly and that takes effort not speed and then she runs out of time to finish things, misses the directions for the next thing... and it snow balls. I'm happy to say that today she had managed to copy all of her assignments into her assignment book so that's an improvement. A lot of the issues are just basic things based on how the classroom is run that she is unfamiliar with and that the teacher seems to assume she'll just pick up or are self-evident. Unfortunately, if you don't explain that they have to copy their assignments down into their assignment book Kid isn't going to know to do that. I'm not really sure what the teacher's tactic is here... I'm definitely frustrated because we had had what I thought was an understanding before school started... but I'm just going in the room with Kid after dismissal EVERY single day to double check that she wrote all the assignments down and that she has all of the stuff she needs to complete it. Again, bringing home graph paper might be obvious to the other kids that have had to copy all of their work out of their books for years, but Kid (and I) aren't going to know that intuitively. Add all that to the fact that Kid just isn't good at multi-tasking and it's a set up for a really bad time. But today went better. I've steered her toward some girls I think she should play with at recess and she has taken my advice and it's worked out well.
Here's hoping next week is even better, even though we'll be adding in our arch rival spelling into the mix! Oh and one hour of homework a night (if you aren't slow... so 1.5-2 for you know who) for 4th grade!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Win-Win
If we aren't moving then I can finally get my old Venetian chandelier installed (last seen 2 houses ago) instead of this beauty...
If we are moving it's still boxed up from our move in 2008...
(and, Yes, it's been there on the floor of the dining room blocking that door for ONE YEAR)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
SAVING YOU MONEY... ALERT ALERT
Hey, hop on over to JCPenny ASAP.
Until the end of August all kids haircuts are FREE
and unbelievably all kids glasses are TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!!!!
What?!
Yes, it's 100% true.
All kids glasses (frames up to $120 and lenses) are $25 until Aug 31st.
I kind of hate that that is even cheaper than what I have to pay with our freaking vision insurance.
I don't know if this is a typical yearly special, but if so, I won't even get the insurance next year.
Full on craziness.
For $25 I'm getting Kid an extra pair just in case something happens to her's at school.
Also you might think about getting a cheap pair for wearing to the beach, amusement parks, etc.
For the love of god... they are only $25!
I'm just floored that this is even a real deal.
It is.
I swear it.
Until the end of August all kids haircuts are FREE
and unbelievably all kids glasses are TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!!!!
What?!
Yes, it's 100% true.
All kids glasses (frames up to $120 and lenses) are $25 until Aug 31st.
I kind of hate that that is even cheaper than what I have to pay with our freaking vision insurance.
I don't know if this is a typical yearly special, but if so, I won't even get the insurance next year.
Full on craziness.
For $25 I'm getting Kid an extra pair just in case something happens to her's at school.
Also you might think about getting a cheap pair for wearing to the beach, amusement parks, etc.
For the love of god... they are only $25!
I'm just floored that this is even a real deal.
It is.
I swear it.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Updates
It's hard to even keep this current, so much crazy stuff happens every single day.
Mr F had 3 interviews last week (2 for 1 job, 1 for another). Both seemed to go well. One is to stay and one is to go. It's very hard to know what the situation is, how many candidates are up for them, how soon they'll be through the process, and if he'll be left standing. Some jobs are very clear about time frames and his position in the pool, other's not so much. People can talk like he's one of one candidate.... when there could be 4 or 10... trying not to assume too much at this point.
Mr F revealed all the craziness related to his current supervisor to an upper management co-worker who is in the position to maybe help advise him on how to handle it and/or alert the boss if needed. He basically said he wasn't surprised and felt really badly that everyone had kind of dropped the ball on that front and knew his supervisor is A) a bad designer that never had the credentials to get the job and no one but the boss wanted him hired B) is a terrible manager and communicator C) the boss is clearly not going to fix that even if it drags the whole magazine down. Weird. It's very hard to even understand a situation where they are paying someone 2x what Mr F makes to do 15% of the work (badly), while Mr F does 60% yet has no content control so he can't head a redesign or keep the supervisor's shit out of the book, they know it and they won't fire him... even after hearing that he is also self promoting himself for another job with his staff's work. WTF? The boss is a loose cannon who is out of touch with reality. Case closed.
Remember when I thought this was going to be the year where I finally could have some time to myself? Things would finally be stable, the girls would be in school, and I'd be able to make working out a daily priority? Ha! What a joke. I laugh about that pretty much every single day. Then I cry when I look in the mirror (kidding... but... really I could). Prolonged stress (tornado and now job/move) combined with age and it seems my metabolism is basically giving me the finger.
Mr F is still finishing up the exterior paint. I think I've convinced him to take the trim color up over the blue... but he's waiting to see if we have to move before he tackles that.
I've spent some time inventorying the interior projects. There are some things we can juggle (light fixtures, etc) to help stage it for selling without needing to invest too much. And, hell, I'm going to order new stainless appliances now so I can at least enjoy them for a bit before we have to pass them on. It takes me an HOUR to boil water, people... for the love of god... I could use a new stove!
I figured out that if we had rented this house for 2 years we would have spent 48K (ouch! but true). If we sell our house for exactly what we paid (which was under assessment at that time and a fair amount under now) even after our payments, realtor fees, closing costs, and 10K in improvements (which includes all new appliances) we'll be right at 48K out of pocket... so it's a wash and I won't stress over that. The truth is we have now had about 50K in improvements (40K due to tornado) so it shouldn't be a stretch to sell this for a little bit over what we paid. If we can't we will hold it as an investment and rent it (again 2K a month which is a fair amount over our house payment). Because who the hell knows?! We could be back here again (It's happened before).
The girls start school in 8 days! They have both had home visits from their teachers, which went well, and was a really nice gesture. It reinforced our feelings about this being a good choice for them. I'll be really sad if we have to pull them out. I've got all of their uniforms and school supplies and we are all set. They even made me take them out to buy crosses... they wear them every day... it's hilarious how into it they are. The only major bummer (outside of not having them around) is that I have to make lunches again (war criminals should have to make lunches for picky kids... they'll break after the first week).
In other fronts, my stone farmhouse is still listed! The dream continues.
Mom, the summer kitchen could be your guest house it appears to have electricity... how much per month is that worth to you ;)
I've also figured out how to homeschool there... which... is a priority until we know where we should settle (if we settle). There are about one thousand school districts and it's very confusing... it's pretty unlikely that we can find a rental in an area where we would want to buy later on or that would be in the same school even if we did. Except that stoney which they are open to selling (but who knows if it's in our price range... unlikely). Either way this time WE ARE NOT BUYING! We plan to rent for at least one year while we figure out if it's a long term move or not, and where we'd like to live. In the meantime we'll homeschool (virtual charter to meet state req) and not mess the kids up with changing schools more times than absolutely necessary. This also gives us the perfect opportunity to try country living pretty risk free and see if it suits us or not.
Mr F had 3 interviews last week (2 for 1 job, 1 for another). Both seemed to go well. One is to stay and one is to go. It's very hard to know what the situation is, how many candidates are up for them, how soon they'll be through the process, and if he'll be left standing. Some jobs are very clear about time frames and his position in the pool, other's not so much. People can talk like he's one of one candidate.... when there could be 4 or 10... trying not to assume too much at this point.
Mr F revealed all the craziness related to his current supervisor to an upper management co-worker who is in the position to maybe help advise him on how to handle it and/or alert the boss if needed. He basically said he wasn't surprised and felt really badly that everyone had kind of dropped the ball on that front and knew his supervisor is A) a bad designer that never had the credentials to get the job and no one but the boss wanted him hired B) is a terrible manager and communicator C) the boss is clearly not going to fix that even if it drags the whole magazine down. Weird. It's very hard to even understand a situation where they are paying someone 2x what Mr F makes to do 15% of the work (badly), while Mr F does 60% yet has no content control so he can't head a redesign or keep the supervisor's shit out of the book, they know it and they won't fire him... even after hearing that he is also self promoting himself for another job with his staff's work. WTF? The boss is a loose cannon who is out of touch with reality. Case closed.
Remember when I thought this was going to be the year where I finally could have some time to myself? Things would finally be stable, the girls would be in school, and I'd be able to make working out a daily priority? Ha! What a joke. I laugh about that pretty much every single day. Then I cry when I look in the mirror (kidding... but... really I could). Prolonged stress (tornado and now job/move) combined with age and it seems my metabolism is basically giving me the finger.
Mr F is still finishing up the exterior paint. I think I've convinced him to take the trim color up over the blue... but he's waiting to see if we have to move before he tackles that.
I've spent some time inventorying the interior projects. There are some things we can juggle (light fixtures, etc) to help stage it for selling without needing to invest too much. And, hell, I'm going to order new stainless appliances now so I can at least enjoy them for a bit before we have to pass them on. It takes me an HOUR to boil water, people... for the love of god... I could use a new stove!
I figured out that if we had rented this house for 2 years we would have spent 48K (ouch! but true). If we sell our house for exactly what we paid (which was under assessment at that time and a fair amount under now) even after our payments, realtor fees, closing costs, and 10K in improvements (which includes all new appliances) we'll be right at 48K out of pocket... so it's a wash and I won't stress over that. The truth is we have now had about 50K in improvements (40K due to tornado) so it shouldn't be a stretch to sell this for a little bit over what we paid. If we can't we will hold it as an investment and rent it (again 2K a month which is a fair amount over our house payment). Because who the hell knows?! We could be back here again (It's happened before).
The girls start school in 8 days! They have both had home visits from their teachers, which went well, and was a really nice gesture. It reinforced our feelings about this being a good choice for them. I'll be really sad if we have to pull them out. I've got all of their uniforms and school supplies and we are all set. They even made me take them out to buy crosses... they wear them every day... it's hilarious how into it they are. The only major bummer (outside of not having them around) is that I have to make lunches again (war criminals should have to make lunches for picky kids... they'll break after the first week).
In other fronts, my stone farmhouse is still listed! The dream continues.
I've also figured out how to homeschool there... which... is a priority until we know where we should settle (if we settle). There are about one thousand school districts and it's very confusing... it's pretty unlikely that we can find a rental in an area where we would want to buy later on or that would be in the same school even if we did. Except that stoney which they are open to selling (but who knows if it's in our price range... unlikely). Either way this time WE ARE NOT BUYING! We plan to rent for at least one year while we figure out if it's a long term move or not, and where we'd like to live. In the meantime we'll homeschool (virtual charter to meet state req) and not mess the kids up with changing schools more times than absolutely necessary. This also gives us the perfect opportunity to try country living pretty risk free and see if it suits us or not.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Respite
Things are going to move slower than we initially thought. Now we have time to get the house in order (without being under duress) and won't feel as much pressure to make a rash decision (always good). We'd really like the time to make the best decision.
It feels like such a relief... like I have been holding my breath for 3 weeks straight.
I mean trying to juggle this stuff and the start of a new school and all the uncertainties with both has been intense.
There is also still a chance (maybe 2) that we might stay, which would obviously get the kids' vote. And maybe mine, too, since I haven't had a great track record of loving my life in other places. And to be honest, as things move closer to that reality... I do get a little panicked about it. You know, Asheville was some ROUGH times for me. And I'm not sure I've grown out of that. Although twice as much money could help the medicine go down (just sayin').
The more I investigate other areas and housing options, the more I realize how much I love my house... we really can't find anything that compares (price, size, location) to ours. Although the stone farmhouse is still available.... and the summer kitchen?... holy cuteness batman. And the gorgeous barn?... holy potential rodents (the only downside I have come up with so far... and that's a serious potential downside).
It feels like such a relief... like I have been holding my breath for 3 weeks straight.
I mean trying to juggle this stuff and the start of a new school and all the uncertainties with both has been intense.
There is also still a chance (maybe 2) that we might stay, which would obviously get the kids' vote. And maybe mine, too, since I haven't had a great track record of loving my life in other places. And to be honest, as things move closer to that reality... I do get a little panicked about it. You know, Asheville was some ROUGH times for me. And I'm not sure I've grown out of that. Although twice as much money could help the medicine go down (just sayin').
The more I investigate other areas and housing options, the more I realize how much I love my house... we really can't find anything that compares (price, size, location) to ours. Although the stone farmhouse is still available.... and the summer kitchen?... holy cuteness batman. And the gorgeous barn?... holy potential rodents (the only downside I have come up with so far... and that's a serious potential downside).
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Columbo
"I need to change my underwear!" Baby hollers from the bathroom.
"How did that happen?" Mrs F calls back.
"Well, apparently there is some poop in it." Baby returns.
"How did that happen?" Mrs F calls back.
"Well, apparently there is some poop in it." Baby returns.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Good News (and lots of work)
The weather finally turned. It's been strange late fall weather, but I'm enjoying it. It also feels somewhat melancholy and I wonder if it's the last time I'll feel this weather here.
Mr F continues to paint the house. Good god, all the trim and screened-in porch is taking forever. And I just told him that the blue has to go. He's thrilled. I reminded him that we knew all along if we were selling the house we'd have to change the blue to a neutral... he said "yeah, but I'd thought the paint would have had a chance to dry first." It's definitely frustrating. Of course, we didn't think we'd be selling our house a month later. Seriously, never saw this coming. Fortunately the blue peaks are the fastest to paint and if we stick with the trim color (which I freaking LOVE) it should only take one coat to cover it up since it's equally as dark. Unfortunately, he still needs to paint the guest room (which the tornado contractors rebuilt the wall of and only painted that ONE wall), and the kitchen ceiling (tornado water damage) and the dining room ceiling (we changed the location of the light so there is a big patch there, and the kitchen walls (not much). All of these inside projects were on our list pre-tornado they just got pushed back. So he kind of wants to kill himself. All of his evenings and weekends are spent painting (for pretty much the last 2 months) and he's got plenty to go. And now there is the time crunch.
Mr F has a couple of 1st interviews coming up this week. Yay! Thank god, since truthfully all this bullshit has started to beat him down and that starts to erode the old self esteem. I'm so happy that he's getting this interest. One big job contacted him the same day they received his application... and it's a big deal... so that level of interest is a huge boost. Of course we've been down this road a few times and know it has it's ups and downs and a first interview is not the same as an offer... but I'm just incredibly grateful he got that recognition. It actually made me cry a little with relief. Both of these jobs would be starting in about a month... so it'll be an extremely fast process.... which made me hyperventilate a little.
I've been looking at houses online and have found my dream house: early american stone farmhouse with 10 acres, barn & summer kitchen and the best part is it's a RENTAL (with option to buy). Yes, selling 3 houses in 4 years kind of gets old and I'm not looking to go through it again in another 2 years! Fortunately for us we have happened to buy uniquely nice houses in desirable neighborhoods so I'm really feeling optimistic that 3rd time's the charm and we can sell this house, too. If not, we know we can rent it for a fair amount above our house payments, so that's a definite option considering we plan to rent if we move. So I'm not as panicked as I was in NC, since we can move with Mr F if we're renting. Unlike our move here when he took a paycut... any new salary would be enough to cover both payments.
The only wrinkle is that the girls' new school starts in 2 weeks. Of course, the year I decide to stop homeschooling and send them to school is the year when homeschooling would be best! But the girls are so excited and ready to go, and truthfully, if we're selling it would be extremely helpful to have them out of the house during the day. And if Mr F moves ahead of us, I think it will be good to have that kind of structure and stability while we're here. We'll see. The great news is that we don't have a contract with the school, so we can take them out without penalty.
And, yes, the girls know everything that is going on. They are doing surprisingly well with it. Of course, they don't want to move, but they can understand (well, Kid can) the position Mr F is in and that it isn't right or fair to have him stay there. Baby hasn't lived in any one place for more than 23 months... so... this is par for the course for her, anyway. I'm playing a kind of game with them, where we think about all of the kinds of places we've never lived as a family (at the sea, on a lake, in the woods, on a farm, in a city) and look for those kind of cities, towns, houses. We circle furniture for them in magazines and pretend to furnish them. It's empowering them (and me) to embrace the change and see the potential. And, I have to say, it's working. It's much easier to let this house/life go when there is something coming up that you are looking forward to.
And, just so you know, I'm really looking forward to a stone farmhouse.
Mr F continues to paint the house. Good god, all the trim and screened-in porch is taking forever. And I just told him that the blue has to go. He's thrilled. I reminded him that we knew all along if we were selling the house we'd have to change the blue to a neutral... he said "yeah, but I'd thought the paint would have had a chance to dry first." It's definitely frustrating. Of course, we didn't think we'd be selling our house a month later. Seriously, never saw this coming. Fortunately the blue peaks are the fastest to paint and if we stick with the trim color (which I freaking LOVE) it should only take one coat to cover it up since it's equally as dark. Unfortunately, he still needs to paint the guest room (which the tornado contractors rebuilt the wall of and only painted that ONE wall), and the kitchen ceiling (tornado water damage) and the dining room ceiling (we changed the location of the light so there is a big patch there, and the kitchen walls (not much). All of these inside projects were on our list pre-tornado they just got pushed back. So he kind of wants to kill himself. All of his evenings and weekends are spent painting (for pretty much the last 2 months) and he's got plenty to go. And now there is the time crunch.
Mr F has a couple of 1st interviews coming up this week. Yay! Thank god, since truthfully all this bullshit has started to beat him down and that starts to erode the old self esteem. I'm so happy that he's getting this interest. One big job contacted him the same day they received his application... and it's a big deal... so that level of interest is a huge boost. Of course we've been down this road a few times and know it has it's ups and downs and a first interview is not the same as an offer... but I'm just incredibly grateful he got that recognition. It actually made me cry a little with relief. Both of these jobs would be starting in about a month... so it'll be an extremely fast process.... which made me hyperventilate a little.
I've been looking at houses online and have found my dream house: early american stone farmhouse with 10 acres, barn & summer kitchen and the best part is it's a RENTAL (with option to buy). Yes, selling 3 houses in 4 years kind of gets old and I'm not looking to go through it again in another 2 years! Fortunately for us we have happened to buy uniquely nice houses in desirable neighborhoods so I'm really feeling optimistic that 3rd time's the charm and we can sell this house, too. If not, we know we can rent it for a fair amount above our house payments, so that's a definite option considering we plan to rent if we move. So I'm not as panicked as I was in NC, since we can move with Mr F if we're renting. Unlike our move here when he took a paycut... any new salary would be enough to cover both payments.
The only wrinkle is that the girls' new school starts in 2 weeks. Of course, the year I decide to stop homeschooling and send them to school is the year when homeschooling would be best! But the girls are so excited and ready to go, and truthfully, if we're selling it would be extremely helpful to have them out of the house during the day. And if Mr F moves ahead of us, I think it will be good to have that kind of structure and stability while we're here. We'll see. The great news is that we don't have a contract with the school, so we can take them out without penalty.
And, yes, the girls know everything that is going on. They are doing surprisingly well with it. Of course, they don't want to move, but they can understand (well, Kid can) the position Mr F is in and that it isn't right or fair to have him stay there. Baby hasn't lived in any one place for more than 23 months... so... this is par for the course for her, anyway. I'm playing a kind of game with them, where we think about all of the kinds of places we've never lived as a family (at the sea, on a lake, in the woods, on a farm, in a city) and look for those kind of cities, towns, houses. We circle furniture for them in magazines and pretend to furnish them. It's empowering them (and me) to embrace the change and see the potential. And, I have to say, it's working. It's much easier to let this house/life go when there is something coming up that you are looking forward to.
And, just so you know, I'm really looking forward to a stone farmhouse.
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