Never take work home with you. I'm a teacher by trade and that has been my philosophy since my first year of teaching. Never take it home with you, because, it will never make it out of the car. Knowing me I would have an accident and legal documents would be laying all over the highway. For nine years I have been able to hold to this sage advise.
But you must know having the philosophy, never take it home with you has some consequences. Consequence number one, the child that you can't stop thinking about causes your to arrive at five in the morning work on a solution. The copies you have not been able to make all week because the copier has been broke are finally being ran at nine at night. The papers you need to grade leave you in the building until four almost everyday. The standardized test you are hoping the students can pass leads you to work at six in the morning to create a plan of action. You find yourself watching your husbands band performing their half time show from your classroom on Friday night because you have lesson plans that have to altered to fit the needs of your students. Or my favorite, last night your husband calls to tell you he's taking the children to dinner and you burst into tears because you can finally sit down at four for the first time since you arrived at seven.
Being a teacher is not simple. The planning and the preparation take hours, not to mention the time that is needed to think through the plans of the low achieves that constantly have to be revised. Behavior issues take their toll on your sanity. If you are a sponsor or a coach you find yourself planning your second job as much as your first. There are days you are so dead on your feet you don't know if you can make it. You go to work so sick you can't move because you are responsible for these children. If your a parent your children suffer with you at the after school meetings, eating fast food in your classroom floor so you can finish the last bit of work that will only take five more minutes.
So would my life be easier if I took it home? Maybe, but now it's about my children. I know their teachers feel my pain and sympathisize with my concerns. I know that they are working as hard as I am without a lot of benefits.
I will say this is what I want to be. After the first full day of having my own classroom I ever thought it wasn't worth the sacrifice. My house stays a disaster area, the reastraunts in town worry when we're late for dinner, but it's still worth it. Now that football season is over with my work at home and school won't pile up as much because my husband and I will both be home to get the house back in order. My copies are made, my graphs are complete, I have turned in lesson plans for the remainder of the semester all in the name of, never take it home with you.
The Muncher Family
Thanks to Karla Burton from Karla Burton Photography
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Rumors
Those things from high school that I either made you or would break you. During my day, wow I'm old. When I was a sophomore in high school I heard a rumor about me in the bathroom. I was absolutely shocked and humiliated. To further the humiliation I actually conformed to the rumor, I became a product of slander.
I've made a lot of mistake in my life and I plan on doing what I can to not make anymore. Spreading rumors is not my thing, so, why is everyone else still trapped in high school?
I've made a lot of mistake in my life and I plan on doing what I can to not make anymore. Spreading rumors is not my thing, so, why is everyone else still trapped in high school?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
If I Eat my Weight in Chocolate?
I often find myself wondering what would happen if I ate my weight in chocolate. I've wonderered whether I would grow a tail, or become obese, or just be happy. Then I find myself wondering how many ounces of chocolate does each problem deserve. Does a fight with Mike equal eight ounces? Is twelve ounces too much when dealing with work related issues? Is it even possible to eat my weight in chocolate?
These are the questions that plague me each night as I go in search for some type of chocolatly goodness. Then I find myself looking at the mirror in disgust after inhaling a king size candy bar. My problem is not a lack of magnesium, or even a lack of self control, it's that I have become to passive. I started allowing people to vent their frustrations and take advantage, because I have become passive. I was so proud of myself for becoming passive aggressive yesterday that I thought I deserved a pat on the back, then I realized that wasn't the answer either.
Is there an answer? No. Is there even a question? Yes, why is it at thirty-one, I find myself still in the same battles I fought in high school?
These are the questions that plague me each night as I go in search for some type of chocolatly goodness. Then I find myself looking at the mirror in disgust after inhaling a king size candy bar. My problem is not a lack of magnesium, or even a lack of self control, it's that I have become to passive. I started allowing people to vent their frustrations and take advantage, because I have become passive. I was so proud of myself for becoming passive aggressive yesterday that I thought I deserved a pat on the back, then I realized that wasn't the answer either.
Is there an answer? No. Is there even a question? Yes, why is it at thirty-one, I find myself still in the same battles I fought in high school?
Monday, November 28, 2011
November 2011
And I made it. I finally caught everything up. It took a while, but I did it.
Keeping up with the family has been difficult because we are so spread apart, but we made sure to do the family Thanksgving again this year and it was once again a lot of fun. I love being in our growing family and can't wait until the girls have more cousins to harass and grow fond of. I was just thankful we were together, and that we didn't all become overly emotional during the blessing of the food. It's been a busy month, and December is only two days away.
Keeping up with the family has been difficult because we are so spread apart, but we made sure to do the family Thanksgving again this year and it was once again a lot of fun. I love being in our growing family and can't wait until the girls have more cousins to harass and grow fond of. I was just thankful we were together, and that we didn't all become overly emotional during the blessing of the food. It's been a busy month, and December is only two days away.
October 2011
Pumpkin patches, first soccer games, the coldest October Marching band contest I have ever been to, and what the crap, I have MONO.
if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm the luckies person alive. I mean who gets mono twice in ten years. The person with like five sick days left does. What can I say, I have all the luck.
if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm the luckies person alive. I mean who gets mono twice in ten years. The person with like five sick days left does. What can I say, I have all the luck.
September 2011
It's been ten years since 9/11. Football is under way, and I feel like something never change.
August 2011
It's back to school time. Zoey has entered the three year old program and Abby has entered the toddler program. Marching season is in full swing and the days are HOT!
June 2011
June, the month of weddings. The first week of June we were in Jasper preparing for Chad's wedding. It was beautiful, and simple, and gave us happy memories and made us think fondly back to March. Mike and I celebrated another anniversary and then it was off to Destin for our first family vacation..
May 2011
The end of the school year. The end of dance, a few concerts and a wedding is around the corner. May greeted us with a smile and the determination to go on our first family vacation.
April 2011
April Showers.
April was a violent month. There were more tornadoes than one could count, not to mention some of the deadliest tornadoes on record. April also brought the death of my father. Just three short weeks after the last time I saw him I found myself boarding a plane to San Antonio with Jennifer in the wee hours of the morning on April 7, 2011. Dad had had a heart attack and after several hours of trying to get his phone to work they were able to finally get a hold of my mom, followed by me. I will never forget the phone ringing at 4:10 am. I will never forget the mad rush to pack and the few minutes I was on the phone with Jenn trying to figure everything out. That day ended up being the longest day of my life, and by 9:40 PM I had to tell my mother the hardest thing in the world, Dad was gone.
Jennifer and I spent just twenty- four hours in San Antionio, trust me, we were awake for all of them, packing Dad's office and his house, and saying goodbye to all of his friends. The longest flight led to the longest drive back to Alabama where Mike and the girls were waiting at mother's for my arrival. We made it safely from Texas to Alabama in record time. Sadly that was only one leg of the journey, we still had to get Dad back to Jasper. We arrived on Saturday, Dad followed us on Tuesday and on Thursday April 14, we laid him to rest next to his two sons.
I returned to work the following Monday feeling lost and empty. I was met by so many hugs and words of encouragement I didn't know where to begin. During my absence from school my principal had hired a sub to provide some intense behavior intervention. He told me that I was not to stress and just ease back in. I made it from Monday to Friday without having a break down. I made it a whole week, and survived some rain and potential tornadoes. April wasn't over yet. April 27, 2011 dawned violently. I awoke to James Spann advising me to call my boss and have my boss call James Spann. James Span. Was terrified and so was I. I started calling my mom to check on her. None of us had any idea what that day had in store for us.
By two o'clock what appeared to be the worst weather had passed through Jasper, mom had lost cable, but not power and we were being sent home. By four o'clock I was watching a tornadoe cross over I65 and telling my mother to take shelter. Then the most horrible thing fell out of the sky on live television and destroyed most of Alabama in a moment. From that point on cellphone coverage was snotty. I'm not going to lie, I looked to the heavens and said," Seriously? Seriously?! I just buried my father, now you're torturing my mother? I was angry and terrified. Luckly honor thy neighbor was still being taught in Jasper and my mother, braved no power, and little to no food for four days. She has just lost her husband, and almost lost her home and her sanity two weeks later. April just couldn't end fast enough for me.
April was a violent month. There were more tornadoes than one could count, not to mention some of the deadliest tornadoes on record. April also brought the death of my father. Just three short weeks after the last time I saw him I found myself boarding a plane to San Antonio with Jennifer in the wee hours of the morning on April 7, 2011. Dad had had a heart attack and after several hours of trying to get his phone to work they were able to finally get a hold of my mom, followed by me. I will never forget the phone ringing at 4:10 am. I will never forget the mad rush to pack and the few minutes I was on the phone with Jenn trying to figure everything out. That day ended up being the longest day of my life, and by 9:40 PM I had to tell my mother the hardest thing in the world, Dad was gone.
Jennifer and I spent just twenty- four hours in San Antionio, trust me, we were awake for all of them, packing Dad's office and his house, and saying goodbye to all of his friends. The longest flight led to the longest drive back to Alabama where Mike and the girls were waiting at mother's for my arrival. We made it safely from Texas to Alabama in record time. Sadly that was only one leg of the journey, we still had to get Dad back to Jasper. We arrived on Saturday, Dad followed us on Tuesday and on Thursday April 14, we laid him to rest next to his two sons.
I returned to work the following Monday feeling lost and empty. I was met by so many hugs and words of encouragement I didn't know where to begin. During my absence from school my principal had hired a sub to provide some intense behavior intervention. He told me that I was not to stress and just ease back in. I made it from Monday to Friday without having a break down. I made it a whole week, and survived some rain and potential tornadoes. April wasn't over yet. April 27, 2011 dawned violently. I awoke to James Spann advising me to call my boss and have my boss call James Spann. James Span. Was terrified and so was I. I started calling my mom to check on her. None of us had any idea what that day had in store for us.
By two o'clock what appeared to be the worst weather had passed through Jasper, mom had lost cable, but not power and we were being sent home. By four o'clock I was watching a tornadoe cross over I65 and telling my mother to take shelter. Then the most horrible thing fell out of the sky on live television and destroyed most of Alabama in a moment. From that point on cellphone coverage was snotty. I'm not going to lie, I looked to the heavens and said," Seriously? Seriously?! I just buried my father, now you're torturing my mother? I was angry and terrified. Luckly honor thy neighbor was still being taught in Jasper and my mother, braved no power, and little to no food for four days. She has just lost her husband, and almost lost her home and her sanity two weeks later. April just couldn't end fast enough for me.
March 2011
It's wedding month! At the beginning of March we get Abby's tubes in jut in time for spring break and the long awaited arrival of Poppy. Dad was in fine form as he prepared to face Jenn's wedding. Looking back it was one of the best trips home, unfortunately, I do not have any photos of Dad and the girls for the week. We ended up spending spring break in Jasper and having a pretty good time. Lots of last minute sister activities and overcoming the hair stylist crisis kept us pretty busy that week. Sadly it had to come to an end and we gave Poppy lots of hugs and kisses. It was also the first time that Mike and I admitted that we had a new car. March ended with a bang and we rolled into April.
February 2011
For February to be so short, it was a very long month. We started the month off with my sisters bridal shower, which I thought waa a hit. Next on tap is the Valentine's Day party at Harbor. They went all out complete with crowns. Zoey had a blast, except for one tiny problem. Zoey's ear use had been draining nonstop for a while. Unfortunatly it turned out to be staph, so we ended up at Children's on February 16, happy first birthday to Abby. Abby didn't mind and lucky for us we were home the next day. Trust me, we made up Abby's first birthday over and over again. The month ended with Abby having to go to the ENT, it looks like tubes for two.
January 2011
A new year and lots to do. Zoey's third birthday party is only a few weeks away. Abby is walking all over the place and flower girl dresses are on order. Everyone is getting into the wedding craze as we head to Build A Bear for Zoey's third birthday.
December 2010
Christmas is coming. Concert after concert, step after step. December is busy month for the Muncher family. The highlight is that it's Abby's first Christmas. The stomach virus takes hold of the Muncher house and we all end up well at the last second. Unfortunately, our Christmas Eve plans have to be altered because my sister ended up with stomach virus as well. Christmas Eve was a little sad because Dad took sick at the last minute. Determined not to let the fun stop the Muncher's press on by lighting the way for the reindeer.
My fondest memory will always be Zoey crying wanting to talk to Santa and Dad pretending to be Santa for hours, complete with the ho ho ho and all.
The end of December came with a trip to the GI, the best Christmas present I got, Zoey has grown so much we don't have to go back for a year.
My fondest memory will always be Zoey crying wanting to talk to Santa and Dad pretending to be Santa for hours, complete with the ho ho ho and all.
The end of December came with a trip to the GI, the best Christmas present I got, Zoey has grown so much we don't have to go back for a year.
November 2010
Turkey turkey turkey.
A quiet month. Wedding dates are chosen. Dad is opting to sit this Thanksgiving out again, so in honor of Abby's first Thanksgiving, we're having our first "large" family gathering. Zoey enjoyed Harbor's Thanksgiving feast and Abby, keeping up with big sister takes her first steps at the end of November.
A quiet month. Wedding dates are chosen. Dad is opting to sit this Thanksgiving out again, so in honor of Abby's first Thanksgiving, we're having our first "large" family gathering. Zoey enjoyed Harbor's Thanksgiving feast and Abby, keeping up with big sister takes her first steps at the end of November.
October 2010
Tubes are in and the girls are growing up everyday. We have the joy of participating in Mike's marching band contest (or Ben Russell's contest anyway). Not a lot that happened in October. Mike celebrated another birthday and Abby celebrated her first Halloween.
Oh wait that's a lie. October came with the nes that my sister was getting married. Not to be out done, my brother is getting married as well, let's see how the "Great Race to the Alter Plays Out".
Oh wait that's a lie. October came with the nes that my sister was getting married. Not to be out done, my brother is getting married as well, let's see how the "Great Race to the Alter Plays Out".
Sunday, July 17, 2011
September 2010
September found us at the ENT office, our new pediatrician had decided it was time for Zoey to get tubes. I was not thrilled with the idea, but she had an ear infection for four weeks. She ran a 105 temperature that lead me to the Children's Hospital Emergency Room.
I was at my wits end when they finally put the tubes in. Not to mention the five days of work I had missed since the first day of school. The only upside was I was only having to stay after school two days a week at this point.
Football season was going great for Mike. The girls and I were falling into routine and we were making it. Things were on an upward trend.
I was at my wits end when they finally put the tubes in. Not to mention the five days of work I had missed since the first day of school. The only upside was I was only having to stay after school two days a week at this point.
Football season was going great for Mike. The girls and I were falling into routine and we were making it. Things were on an upward trend.
August 2010
August started with a bang. We were off and running. The girls were on their way to preschool for the very first time and Mike and I were off to our new jobs. Just a few problems.
The preschool that Zoey and Abby were enrolled in had a ten hour limit. Don't look at it like that. I don't want my kids in daycare for ten hours, I don't want them there for ten minuets, but I like to buy them things. I had a thirty minute commute and Mike didn't finish with marching band until 5:30. I didn't finish school until 4:30 three days a week. I was in tears. I was frustrated and I was trying to keep the girls in some type of a routine. Thankfully Mom stepped in. Mom came down two days a week and kept the girls, took Zoey to dance and entertained Abby. It started making everything fall into place.
So two of the days I had to stay after school, Mom was stepping in, the other day I was on my own and it was tough.
Three weeks into school football season rolled around. I arrived at home on the first Friday of football season, I rushed in, bathed the kids, dressed them packed the diaper bag and started for the car. I found Zoey in her room playing with her toys quietly, I found Abby trying to pull herself up. I found myself putting the diaper bag down and making the first adult decision that was useful. I decided to stay home. The kids were not sick, I was not sick, it wasn't raining. It was the right thing to do.
I have attended every football game that Mike has been a director at, well, at least since Zoey was born. When Zoey was born I missed a few because of the rain. I stared at the walls while the kids played, I put dinner in front of them around 6:00 and by 6:30 Abby was out like a light and Zoey was only a few minutes behind her. I crashed on the couch. The rate at which I was going I couldn't keep up. I felt like I had committed a crime by not attending that football game. I felt like I was loosing part of myself for not attending that football game. That's what I did, I supported my husband. I went when it was so hot I could have heat stoke, so cold that my toes fell off, so depressing that my heart broke because the team could not catch a break. That was me, the band director's wife, Mike's Wife, that lady over there. The thing is, I wasn't that person anymore. I was Zoey and Abby's Mommy, and I hadn't realized it yet. Granted I felt like I was loosing myself and I was going to loose a part of my relationship with my husband, but no, no it wasn't like that. It was like taking off a band aide that was on a wound that had healed. It was a life I thought I was supposed to have, because that was what I had always done. I was free and we were moving on.
The preschool that Zoey and Abby were enrolled in had a ten hour limit. Don't look at it like that. I don't want my kids in daycare for ten hours, I don't want them there for ten minuets, but I like to buy them things. I had a thirty minute commute and Mike didn't finish with marching band until 5:30. I didn't finish school until 4:30 three days a week. I was in tears. I was frustrated and I was trying to keep the girls in some type of a routine. Thankfully Mom stepped in. Mom came down two days a week and kept the girls, took Zoey to dance and entertained Abby. It started making everything fall into place.
So two of the days I had to stay after school, Mom was stepping in, the other day I was on my own and it was tough.
Three weeks into school football season rolled around. I arrived at home on the first Friday of football season, I rushed in, bathed the kids, dressed them packed the diaper bag and started for the car. I found Zoey in her room playing with her toys quietly, I found Abby trying to pull herself up. I found myself putting the diaper bag down and making the first adult decision that was useful. I decided to stay home. The kids were not sick, I was not sick, it wasn't raining. It was the right thing to do.
I have attended every football game that Mike has been a director at, well, at least since Zoey was born. When Zoey was born I missed a few because of the rain. I stared at the walls while the kids played, I put dinner in front of them around 6:00 and by 6:30 Abby was out like a light and Zoey was only a few minutes behind her. I crashed on the couch. The rate at which I was going I couldn't keep up. I felt like I had committed a crime by not attending that football game. I felt like I was loosing part of myself for not attending that football game. That's what I did, I supported my husband. I went when it was so hot I could have heat stoke, so cold that my toes fell off, so depressing that my heart broke because the team could not catch a break. That was me, the band director's wife, Mike's Wife, that lady over there. The thing is, I wasn't that person anymore. I was Zoey and Abby's Mommy, and I hadn't realized it yet. Granted I felt like I was loosing myself and I was going to loose a part of my relationship with my husband, but no, no it wasn't like that. It was like taking off a band aide that was on a wound that had healed. It was a life I thought I was supposed to have, because that was what I had always done. I was free and we were moving on.
July 2010
July 2010 was filled with a lot of excitement. Mike and I started another adventure, I returned to the work force and he took another job as an assistant band director. We found out we both had jobs on July 8, I had to be at work on July 17 and he had to be there as well. Did I mention our new jobs were three hours away from our house?
Stressed to the max, that doesn't even begin to describe the situation. The first step was to find a place to live. Sounds easy enough, not really. There was nothing available. We were able to find two places to look out. Out of the two we settled for a three bedroom apartment. Okay, one problem solved. The next problem, we had to pack all of our things. That we were able to figure out, we just had to be creative. After you pack, you load a truck. That could be a problem.
Mike and I had decide that we would move over the three day weekend between the last day of band camp and new teacher orientation. There were no trucks available. There were no trucks for a hundred miles. We searched and contemplated our options. We were left with one. We had planned on loading the truck on Friday, move in on Saturday, unpack the essentials on Sunday and Monday and start school on Tuesday. It didn't work like that. We ended up having to move on a Sunday. We had to load it, drive it three hours and then unpack it. Ten hours later we had to be at work.
We were able to move. We were able to get everything in the apartment. Unpacking was difficult and a long process. It wouldn't have been so bad, but we had a mishap. I mean this is my house and my kids, it doesn't just happen like this.
So what happened, I pulled over at an Exxon, opened the door, closed the door, and started pumping gas. I finished pumping gas went to the door and pulled, nothing happened. I looked down at the seat where my car keys laid in my front seat. I looked in the backseat where Abby and Zoey were, sound asleep. I looked at the thermometer, it was 99. I looked around for anything to throw at the window and realized I was screwed. It took about sixty seconds for me to realize I had a HUGE problem. I had just a few precious minutes because it was 99 standing in the parking lot, the car was off, the windows were rolled up, the doors were locked. So what did I do? What any reasonable person would do, I called 911. the nice little woman on the line said, "I don't know what we can do, he can't open the door". I said, "he has a gun right?" The police officer was there in less than two minutes. He looked in the car and saw the girls were sleeping and he picked up his phone and dialed a lock smith. He rambled on about something about not being able to do anything because of causing damage. I looked at him as calmly as possible and told him" I don't care what you do, I don't care if you take the car home with you, you have to get my kids out of the car!" The locksmith was there two minutes later. He had to get very creative on opening the door, but four minutes later, the door was open. Abby was in my arms and Zoey continued to sleep. I had never been so thankful in my entire life. What seemed like an eternity, had been twelve minutes. Twelve minutes, the car was 111 when the door opened. I was so relieved I didn't know what to do with myself. All I knew was the kids were safe and there was a moving truck about forty minutes in front of us that I had to catch up to.
What can I say? Just another day in the neighborhood.
Stressed to the max, that doesn't even begin to describe the situation. The first step was to find a place to live. Sounds easy enough, not really. There was nothing available. We were able to find two places to look out. Out of the two we settled for a three bedroom apartment. Okay, one problem solved. The next problem, we had to pack all of our things. That we were able to figure out, we just had to be creative. After you pack, you load a truck. That could be a problem.
Mike and I had decide that we would move over the three day weekend between the last day of band camp and new teacher orientation. There were no trucks available. There were no trucks for a hundred miles. We searched and contemplated our options. We were left with one. We had planned on loading the truck on Friday, move in on Saturday, unpack the essentials on Sunday and Monday and start school on Tuesday. It didn't work like that. We ended up having to move on a Sunday. We had to load it, drive it three hours and then unpack it. Ten hours later we had to be at work.
We were able to move. We were able to get everything in the apartment. Unpacking was difficult and a long process. It wouldn't have been so bad, but we had a mishap. I mean this is my house and my kids, it doesn't just happen like this.
So what happened, I pulled over at an Exxon, opened the door, closed the door, and started pumping gas. I finished pumping gas went to the door and pulled, nothing happened. I looked down at the seat where my car keys laid in my front seat. I looked in the backseat where Abby and Zoey were, sound asleep. I looked at the thermometer, it was 99. I looked around for anything to throw at the window and realized I was screwed. It took about sixty seconds for me to realize I had a HUGE problem. I had just a few precious minutes because it was 99 standing in the parking lot, the car was off, the windows were rolled up, the doors were locked. So what did I do? What any reasonable person would do, I called 911. the nice little woman on the line said, "I don't know what we can do, he can't open the door". I said, "he has a gun right?" The police officer was there in less than two minutes. He looked in the car and saw the girls were sleeping and he picked up his phone and dialed a lock smith. He rambled on about something about not being able to do anything because of causing damage. I looked at him as calmly as possible and told him" I don't care what you do, I don't care if you take the car home with you, you have to get my kids out of the car!" The locksmith was there two minutes later. He had to get very creative on opening the door, but four minutes later, the door was open. Abby was in my arms and Zoey continued to sleep. I had never been so thankful in my entire life. What seemed like an eternity, had been twelve minutes. Twelve minutes, the car was 111 when the door opened. I was so relieved I didn't know what to do with myself. All I knew was the kids were safe and there was a moving truck about forty minutes in front of us that I had to catch up to.
What can I say? Just another day in the neighborhood.
Where I've Been and Where I'm Going
So, it has been a while. I never realized that I would start something, do it everyday, then stop. Oh wait. I do that a lot. However, I don't want to do it anymore.
Where have I been? A lot of places. I'm going to try over the next few weeks to fill in a few gaps, and see if I can se this is an outlet like I had planned.
Where am I going? To as many as places as possible:)
Where have I been? A lot of places. I'm going to try over the next few weeks to fill in a few gaps, and see if I can se this is an outlet like I had planned.
Where am I going? To as many as places as possible:)
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