Surprises

Fifth graders are so much fun! Who would have thunk it? :oP I know I've only been with these kiddos for three days, but I'm enjoying them very very much. :o) They are funny and witty and they get it when you are being facetious and funny. I was preparing to read one of my favorite picture books (I have a TON of favorites, just ask any of my students :oP) and set a purpose for their reading by asking them to identify the author's purpose and why they thought I read the book to them. They got it! I was floored--not that they got it, but that I could put forth the purpose and they could answer without any difficulties.

I take the time to sit with my students at lunch because you never know what you are going to learn from/about them. Today two different tables of students practically BEGGED me to sit with them. I was stunned. Who knew I was popular? Now if only I can be as popular with their parents... ;o)

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Brien, Lil and I will be heading to the 'burg this weekend for a little R & R. I'm feeling the need to visit Hannah at the Cascades and to reconnect with nature. Additionally, Saturday is the Hokies' season opener and ESPN Game Day will be in town. Nothing gets my blood pumping faster than Hokies football! I LOVE me some college ball and I'm pretty sure I bleed maroon and orange during the season. :oP I have found this love of all things Hokie is going to hold me in good stead with my new students. One of them has two Hokies for parents. He brought me a travel mug stuffed with maroon and orange M&Ms Friday. :o) Yay!

I look forward to having an opportunity to sit down with Grandma and talk. I am so devastated for her. I don't think anyone should have to lose a child and she lost not only her son, Johnny, but now Hannah. I know Grandma understands how I'm feeling and what I'm going through. I know everyone else is so sympathetic and wants to help and wants to understand, but in spite of all that, they just can't. And the thing is, I don't want anyone else to understand this pain and grief--I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

Besides the fact Blacksburg is home and where my heart will always be, Blacksburg is the place I go to recharge. It is such a beautiful town, full of beautiful people, and I don't mean physically beautiful, although many are. Blacksburg townsfolk have beautiful souls. They are so kind and generous of spirit they are lovely to be around. Much like my new school family. They too are beautiful people and I've grown to love them so much.

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Today's Hannah story:

Hannah had an unhealthy preoccupation with scissors from a very young age. Although not very physically adept, Hannah learned to use scissors correctly by the time she was two. She would cut fringe around the edges of paper--all four edges--calling her creations "limps" (B and I are still trying to figure out why...). She would cut paper into tiny little pieces until the floor was littered with debris too little to pick up by hand, requiring a vacuum to clean it up. However, all of this would not warrant the Monk's scissor use as "unhealthy". No, the "unhealthy" came into play with Han's obsession with cutting her hair, or my make-up brushes, or the curtains in her bedroom. Oh, she would irritate the fire out of me when she decided to play beauty shop on herself.

Jessie had just given Han a "shortcut" hair cut and it was adorable. Hannah, being the sneaky little pete she was, disappeared upstairs. I was distracted and only noticed there was trouble when I realized it was FAR too quiet. FAR FAR too quiet. Oh, NO! What was Hannah up to now?!? I'm sure you can imagine my shock and dismay upon discovering Han had lopped off the hair at the sides of her head. Thankfully, I had pulled her hair back on top and when it was down, it covered the disaster that was Han's handiwork. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I didn't know what to do with Hannah! Arrrggghhhh!!

Ah, if only this had been our only incident. Although supervised after that, Monkey Mine still managed to find a way to be destructive. Locating a pair of suture scissors, Han cut three of my expensive make-up brushes to shreds. "But Mommy, I was cutting Ron's hair!" was the cry when she was confronted with a rather furious Mommy. Ron, for those of you who don't know, was one of Han's many imaginary friends.

You would think that by the time she reached five, almost six years of age, the Monk would have outgrown the need to cut her hair. Hah! She had just recently chopped off what she assumed was an unobtrusive chunk of hair. All was well until I discovered bits of hair lying in conspicuous places, and Han had a patch of hair that was REALLY short and stuck out when pulled back...Hm.

As much as I ADORED my Monk, I have no illusions about her. She was far from perfect, and there were days I could have gladly screamed my frustration with her. There are moments when I reflect and wonder why I got so upset with her over some things, why I didn't just let them go. And then, I realize, she needed to be disciplined, she needed to learn how to be a better person. I wasn't harming her and was instead working towards helping her grow and be responsible for herself and her actions.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. School and the warmth I feel when there.
2. The knowledge Hannah is safe and happy. Knowing Han is having the time of her life exploring every nook and cranny she can squeeze into.
3. Discovering I may in fact be a decent fifth grade teacher in spite of my newness to it.
4. We're going to Blacksburg!!! :o)


Today's Milestones:

1. Quia. This is a site used by many teachers to create their own web pages, including Han's teacher last year. She would post pictures of the children and the Monk delighted in looking at each photo with me, finding herself and identifying her classmates. I had Quia training today and couldn't help but think about Hannah.
2. Looking at a book order form. I saw SO many books I knew Hannah would LOVE and enjoy, as well as books left unread on her bookshelf such as "Charlotte's Web". Why did we put off reading it?!?
3. Our first family dinner cooked and eaten without the Monk's physical presence. The Bella Burgers were DIVINE! :o)


Once again I find myself exhausted. Huh. Imagine that. I'm doing well today and was only briefly sad for a few minutes this morning. I miss Hannah. I see her everywhere and only wish I could feel her physical presence, hugging and smooching her. :o)

I'm off to bed early this evening as I'm finding it rather difficult to keep my eyes open. I wonder what sparklies tomorrow will bring! :o)