The Weirdest Thing

I've had this stupid little cold for a couple of weeks now. I decided last night, at 2am....when I couldn't sleep again that this is the weirdest cold I've ever had. Normally they flow quite predictably. I get a sore throat for a day or two and then it heads into the full blown nose thing. After 3 days I start to improve and within about 2 weeks it's all over.

This time, I've had a sore, niggley throat for about 5 days. I thought that would be the extent of it, but no. On the 6th day I got the nose thing. But thankfully, just the nose. None of the tired feeling that leaves you wanting to sleep all day. And ever since I started having to blow my nose it's been quite a constant thing....never one day worse than another.

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Today stretches before our family somewhat lazily at the moment. We have nothing planned. Nothing! I don't suppose the extroverts will allow that to be the case for too long. I'm hoping some housecleaning will get done. And then I think my books and my major assignment might keep me company.

I know the day has just begun, but perhaps I'll have a snooze first. I've not slept well the last two nights. Yesterday I woke at 2am and went back to sleep 15 minutes before I had to get up. Last night was only vaguely better. I didn't sleep soundly when I went back to sleep and then had this stupid song from the P/1 Indonesian lesson running through my dreams!!!!!!

Normal Returns

It was a nice break from my normally high-energy-output days while it lasted. Today it was back to normal. Kind of. My Prep student was on a bit of a doing-my-own-thing bender. Mrs B and I made eye contact over little people's heads a number of times during the day!

However I've realised some rather significant things. Things about the nitty gritty little details of the actual work I do. And things about the physical and mental intensity of working with someone who has rather high needs in both areas.

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Miss Sunshine was back at school today and behaving quite like herself this morning. By this afternoon she was quite the Queen of Frustration after one of her classes. Her class is challenging in the behaviour department at the moment and she finds that quite unacceptable. Interestingly, she seems to think it's perfectly fine for her to lose it at home!

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I have one last 'Starting Points' morning and then I'm done for a month. I can't say how much I'm looking forward to next Friday. I'm like a goldfish with no concept of what it is to focus. I keep thinking of all these things I could do....I wonder what I'll settle on?!

I love Wednesday's

I always love Wednesday's because it is the one day that I spend in one classroom all day long. I know that means a full day for Mrs B, but for me, it means a lot less running around and more sane pace to the day.

This week my whole week, so far, has been quite sedate with my Preppie still unwell. It's funny ~ other teachers wonder what I do when my young charge is not there for me to concentrate on. Well...as in all classrooms, there is always a myriad of other tasks that can be completed. For example, if he is still away tomorrow, I will spend the first lesson dealing with homework folders and returning readers. Today I spent quite a bit of time one-on-one with different children helping them master the art of writing on dotted third paper.

Miss Sunshine had a day at work with her Daddy today. I discovered last night, after some pretty awful behaviour, that she has some 'stuff' going on at school. This morning the poor girl was feeling a little under the weather, but not in a quantifiable, detectable kind of way that this mother likes to be able to measure. We decided some mental space away from school for a day would do her little harm and in fact, probably a lot of good. I suspect her physical ailments are more stress induced than really being unwell. This is quite a 'first' for me. My kids have usually got to be really unwell to be allowed a day off. I hope that come tomorrow she'll be feeling a little more resilient and ready to keep perservering.

Monday's Menu Planning

I had a very surreal day today. In a nice way that is. I'm not even sleepy and it's 8pm! I have realised today that my job is truly as full on as I imagine it to be.

My Prep student was away, so I was able to have recess and lunch with everyone else ~ always a special blessing. Since I had no other tasks pressing for my attention I also had the privilege of doing some literacy testing on the Prep's. They're such a cute little bunch of people. They all seemed to decide that coming to visit me at the teacher's desk and sitting on the other whirly chair a couple of times each during the day was the highlight. And then I had a handful of gorgeous little girls declare their undying love and appreciation that I'm in their classroom. Heart-melting cuteness in pink-lined 6yo packages LOL. Tomorrow if my student is away I'll see if I can organise to spend a little extra time with my Yr 3 student.

Now for my menu plan...

Monday: Chicken & vegetable curry, brown rice
Tuesday: Polenta crumbed chicken, vegetables
Wednesday: CP cranberry and orange lamb roast, vegetables
Thursday: Pasta with vegie sauce
Friday: Lamb with rosemary and vegetables, mashed potatoes
Saturday: Quiche, potato wedges, vegetables
Sunday: Roast ... maybe chicken

Actually, I might swap Tuesday and Wednesday around....first staff meeting and all. I believe they're inclined to finish quite late in the afternoon and then I'll need to pick the kids up from their uncle's.

'A Widow's Hope' by Mary Ellis

My review for this wonderfully fresh approach to Amish fiction has been posted here at Relz Reviewz. 'A Widow's Hope' is the first in a series by Mary Ellis, the next of which will be published in 2010.

Many of you will know by now I have a bit of an obsession for Amish fiction and Rel is the generous enabler of my little 'habit'. Mary Ellis is a new author to this genre and I was really excited about her storyline and the characters she introduces. I'm looking forward to the sequel with quite some eagerness.

How to Fool Your Kids....

...into thinking you're a GREAT parent? When your daughter asks if her friend can come after school on a Friday, you offer for the friend to sleepover instead.

My actions this week have purely been a study in parental laziness or self-preservation. Whichever you feel is a more befitting explanation. One of Miss Sunshine's favourite friends lives about 20 minutes from us and when I thought about me dropping her off or her Mum having to come here I felt exhausted for us both. We have an Open Day at school tomorrow, so we'll return her to her parents there. Apparently Open Day's have more uses than one might otherwise imagine!

The Mid Point

It is now precisely half way through third term. Grandparents day..morning really..went beautifully. Most kids had someone special come and visit them. I even managed a moment to duck out and say hello to my parents. I wouldn't have seen them otherwise! Now to prepare for Open Day LOL. The excitement will continue for a little bit yet.

I had reason to ask my boss if I'm supposed to attend staff meetings....or not. Ahh...hmmm...yeah, I am. Good to know that! So, from next week I'll join the ranks of them who get to stay late. I'll also have to organise for my children to have permission to use a space at school. Somewhere like the library, where they can watch a DVD and do some homework or whatever.

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I've been pondering issues of home organisation over the last few days. Particularly when I realised this morning, that the dishes weren't done last night and the pile grows too quickly, especially when we're all dashing in and out of an evening. I wonder how one is really able to fly through the day, getting everything accomplished that requires attention. I rise earlier than everyone else and I try to keep things simple. I am even happy to have a less than perfect house and let some of those things go, rather than expecting more than I'm capable of.

Now I just wish I had time for all the things I would still love to have time for. My books and my stitching both compete for my time, amongst my study and housework! I wonder whether other busy Mum's have come across the perfect solution to my wondering. Or is it all truly impossible?