New Year New Me?

I have been seeing New Year's resolutions all over the place. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter. It's interesting to me how one day out of the year make a difference. Why do we wait for the New Year to make resolutions? If I want to better myself, why not today? I've never been one to make New Year's resolutions. I've never really understood them. If I want to make a change I'll do it now, not wait for the first of the year. I guess it has significance in being a new start, but the change really needs to start with me. One day can't really change my life, that comes from within. The new year is just another day and who I am, that comes from the heart. See, the calendar isn't going to make change happen; I need to make the change. Decide who I want to be and be that person. I have to live for me, and not wait around for a specific day. So, in this new year, I guess I hope that you see who you should be. Not just today, but every day of this year.

Taking Time for Me

It's been a while since I have written a blog post.  I guess I feel like I don't have anything important to say most of the time.  I decided I'm going to try to post at least once a week for the coming year to help me keep focus on my new endeavor.  What is it, you might ask?  I have decided to go back to school (again) to get my administration certification.

If you are like my daughter, you are asking why?  Don't you have enough on your plate?  The answer is yes, and no.  I have spent the last 15 years of my life focusing on the most important things in my world: my kids.  I have been their taxi driver, scout leader, cheerleader, and teacher.  I stayed at the same school for 10 years because my children were at my school.  I've helped with homework, watched karate, swim lessons, and dance practice and listened to them play piano, guitar, sing, whatever their little hearts are into at the moment.  I have spent so much time loving and caring for them that I forgot about taking care of myself.  My children are growing up now and though they'll still need me for a while, I know the days of staying busy for them are coming to an end.

So now it's my turn.  I earned this time.  I am going to do things for me.  I see an opportunity to better my career and I'm going to take it.  The next 17 months aren't going to be easy; my classes are going to take a lot of my time.  I still struggle with the fact that I am often doing homework instead of playing games or hanging out with my family.  But I'm learning that it's okay to take a few hours out of my week to do something for me.  I'll be a better person for it in the end.

I'm having an affair

It's true.  I sleep with it every night, I worry when it doesn't get enough attention, and when it vibrates, I get so happy!

Yep, I'm having an affair with my Fitbit.  We've been together for almost a year now (well, I did trade up when the new Charge came out, but I've been faithful ever since!).  We sleep together, eat together, work together and run together.  I never thought I'd feel this way about anything other than my husband, but, it turns out, I can't live without my Fitbit.

In fact, I even dream about the future with my Fitbit.  I think to myself, will we grow old together?  When I'm 70 year old, will it's little vibrations (at 10,000 steps) excite me as they do now?  Will I strive to get to 10,000 steps every day?  Will I have the cute little tan line on my wrist?

My Fitbit and I have been through so much together!  From those days when I could barley run a mile to now, where we get cranky if we don't run at least every other day.  5K?  No problem!  10K?  Piece of cake!  As long as I get my happy little vibration and my little Fitbit party (as I like to call it).

So, my husband has some competition.  I suppose it's not really fair, since my Fitbit and I are rarely apart.  We'll see how he stacks up.  ;)

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ― Martin Luther King Jr

I haven't really been watching the news lately, it just depresses me too much, but you would have to live under a rock to not know what is going on in Baltimore.  I know that people are angry, frustrated and scared and that I'll never understand that kind of fear because, well, I just never will.  I can't help but feel like society is going backwards.  Black people are afraid of cops, white people don't know who to believe, it's all just getting out of hand.  Here's what I do know:
There are bad cops.
There are bad black people.
There are bad white people.
There are bad brown and beige people.
There are bad Muslims, Catholics, Christians and Atheists.
There are bad teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, waitresses, bankers and investors.
There are bad people of every race, religion and field of employment (and even bad unemployed people).

But, here's what I believe:
There are good cops.
There are good black people.
There are good white people.
There are good brown and beige people.
There are good Muslims, Catholics, Christians and Atheists.
There are good teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, waitresses, bankers and investors.
There are good people of every race, religion and field of employment (and even good unemployed people).

And I believe that the good outnumber the bad in every one of those categories.  I know things are looking dark right now, but what if we all tried to see the good in others?  What if we lifted each other up, complimented and gave praise instead of looking for the bad and criticizing?  I know we can love each other and end violence.  I know that we can be happy and non-judgmental.  How do we get there?  That's where I want to be and that's how I'm going to live.  Maybe I'm just some crazy naive white girl, but I am going to look for the good in everyone I meet.  I hope we all can do the same.

I'll never have money, but I'm oh so rich

This week has been one of those weeks; scratch that, this month has been one of those months, or maybe this year has been one of those years.  I admit it; I've felt sorry for myself, stressed and have been upset.  My life doesn't always go as planned, and, well, it pisses me off sometimes.  My car is making noises it shouldn't be making.  My friends are going on trips I can't go on.  My child didn't get into the school she wanted to;  Sometimes life really stinks.

Yet...most of the time life is so amazing.  I feel like such an ungrateful shit for feeling sorry for myself.  I have an amazing family, a husband who loves me and two children who are really good great kids.  I'm not just saying that, somehow I ended up with these amazing two little people who live in my house, who I really probably don't deserve, yet here they are.  They are smart, talented and well behaved, and they are the loves of my life.

And then there's my job.  I complain about it sometimes, more than I should.  There's a lot of paperwork and some days are really hard.  I couldn't wait to go on a two week break.  But I have to admit.  As I was saying goodbye to the little monsters today, for two weeks, I was sad.  I really will miss them.  And I'm already dreading the end of the school year when I will say goodbye to three of them for good.

For those of you who don't know, I teach preschoolers with autism.  This is my first year after teaching regular education for sixteen years.  I decided I needed a change, so I made a huge one.  The first few weeks I was really afraid I had made a big mistake.  I felt like I didn't know what I was doing and was flying by the seat of my pants.  There are still times that I feel like I don't know what I'm doing, but then sometimes I feel like I am really making a difference in these kids' lives.  

I have seen some amazing things happen with these little people this school year.  I've seen language grow, social skills emerge and even some huge academic improvements.  I've changed lots of diapers (although my amazing aides have changed hundreds more) and I've kissed lots of boo boos.  Today, though, I saw some changes in some of my little people that made my heart grow three sizes.  

I saw a little guy share who has never wanted to share before, offering a toy to another little boy.  I heard another little guy, who could barely talk in August, say my name.  And I got a kiss from my newest little guy who spent hours screaming just a few short weeks ago.  

These may seem like small milestones to you, but to me, they are the world.  We work so hard with our little friends to show progress like this, and today, I saw it working. 

So, I don't have a lot of money, and as a teacher, I never will expect to.  But my life is so rich.  

My Plea

My plea to parents:

Teach your child manners.  He should say, "Thank you," when someone does something for him and, "You are welcome," (not "sure") when someone thanks him.  He should hold the door when he is the first one through.  He should place the napkin on his lap at the table and smile when someone walks by.

Teach your child empathy.  She should notice when someone is upset and try to make the person feel better.  She should understand when someone wants to be left alone, but be there when someone needs a shoulder to cry on.  She should know not to judge a person before walking in his shoes.

Teach your child respect.  He should not talk back to a person in authority.  He should look a person in the eyes when talking.  He should listen when being spoken to.  He should treat others the way he wants to be treated.

Teach your child kindness.  She should keep her mouth shut if she doesn't have something nice to say.  She should say nice things.  She should invite the new kid to play with her.  She should stand up for the kid who is being picked on.

Teach your child responsibility.  He should accept consequences for his actions.  He should work to be sure those consequences are few and far between.  He should do his homework without complaint.  He should have chores, and do them on a regular basis.  He should do what he says.

Teach your child cleanliness.  She should shower regularly.  She should keep her teeth brushed and her hair combed.  She should wear clean clothes (or at least start out in them).

Teach your child safety.  He should look both ways before crossing the street.  He should wear a helmet when appropriate.  He should watch for cars when riding his bike.  He should walk with others to and from school.  He should know where to go in case of an emergency.

Most of all, teach your child love.  Be sure your child knows you love her.  Be sure your child knows he is your world.  Be sure your child knows what she means to you.  Never, ever let a day go by that you don't tell him, "I love you."

Learning to Love Myself

I ran my first 5K last week, along with my 20-something sister-in-law, who ran her first 10K.  After our race, she put a picture of the two of us on Facebook.  Looking at her cute little body next to me, I felt bad at first, but then I realized, I'm almost 40 and I ran a 5K!  In the last two days, I've run nine miles!  I'm not obese, not really even overweight, but I've always been hard on myself and, let's face it, I've never been that cute skinny little girl in a bikini.  But I'm finally coming to terms with who I am.  I am a mother, a wife, a teacher, a friend.  I am so much more than my body.  Why did this affect me so much?

Well, I've been thinking a lot about weight due to Abercrombie Fitch making their beautiful people statement and I think it's really sad that a company would exclude a whole group of people, well exclude the majority of the people, by saying that they expect only beautiful and thin people to be in their store.  First of all, who says only thin people are beautiful?  In fact, I know a lot of not-so-beautiful thin people.  And, I know a lot of beautiful not-so-thin people.  So, we need to start by clarifying that skinny and beautiful don't always belong in the same sentence, just as fat and beautiful can fit perfectly well together.

Second of all, how many people really can fit into a size 0, or even a 2 or 4 pair of jeans?  I know of very few.  It seems like a really poor business decision to cater to such a small number of people.  Now, I know that Abercrombie Fitch does very well and has made millions (billions?), but imagine how much more they could sell if they were just a little more open minded.  But, if Jeffries doesn't mind losing all of that business, that's his prerogative.

So, here's what I have learned, in my infinite wisdom (that may just have to do with my age :) ) I may not be the skinny little person that I would like to be. I may not look good in a bathing suit.  But I'm healthy and I'm happy. I have the most amazing family anyone could ever ask for who loves me even if I have a little extra to love.  I will enjoy an extra glass of wine or the occasional dessert without any guilt, and I will run and run until I can't run anymore.  Although I know he'll never see this, Mike Jeffries, you can kiss my ass.  ;)