Never Ever Dull
With every conversation, I always seem to end with "Never a dull moment"....our lives are rich, complex, and beautiful stories. Join me in laughing about everyday things and appreciating life-bumpy roads and all.
Ever since graduating from college, I've been on the move. Finding a place to make my new "home" and settling in, finding a community of people I love to hang with, and enjoying life's experiences together. I figured out a system of how to integrate my kids and me into every new place that we were planted. I've lived in (prepare yourself!)....Charlotte, Wilmington (NC), Kannapolis & Concord (NC), Charlottesville (VA), Franklin (TN), and now in Raleigh. Along the way, I've had to say farewell to many wonderful friends and I was always teary as I gripped my steering wheel pulling away with my last home in the rear view mirror. Lately, the tables have been turned. I'm now the one standing still and watching my loved ones move away. I think this is much harder. This week, my Blonde packed up all her belongings for the summer and stored her college items away. I took her to her summer job, knowing that she'd only return for a week before zipping off to start her sophomore year in college. [Funny story: She is working at a camp in the NC mountains. After navigating all the switchbacks to the top of the mountain where the camp is located, I glance at her. She's pale and clinging to the side door. My driving was fine. I promise. It was just really windy and steep. The Blonde realizes she's simply scared of heights. We get out of the Tank and learn she'll be in charge of high ropes course, rock climbing, and zip lining...all positioned at the top of the mountain! =)]. The Blonde and I load up her suitcases and bags and haul them to her new home, a cabin with 16 staffers. I quickly help her make her bed and assist in unpacking just the necessities. Her cabin-mates call for her since they need to head to their first orientation training. She gives me a quick hug and skips off with her new set of friends for the summer. I watch her go, start up my Tank, and head back down the switch backs. Then, I hear this sound coming from somewhere inside me. It was that deep hurting cry that I hadn't experienced in 5 or 6 years. That, "Oh, I can't believe this is happening to me" gut-wrenching moan. I drove for the rest of the way home, convincing myself that the Blonde will have an awesome summer filled with memories for a lifetime. I prayed for her-not only for that little problem with her fear of heights working the high ropes course...but also that He would take care of her. It's difficult to be on this side of the fence. Saying good bye and standing still while you watch a loved one flit away to a new adventure that you won't be a part of and wishing that life didn't have you part ways. So far, so good. The Blonde has shared she's made a new home, found community, and is enjoying experiencing life together with her new friends. She's even worked her way to the top of the ropes course. Thankful. My Oldest sees me working through it all and asks if I'm going to feel the same when she moves....next week! Here we go again....simply learning to stand still and say my good byes.
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I tell my co-workers at school, "School is my quiet place. The rest of my life outside these walls can be crazy." They've always listened and nodded with sweet understanding looks. But they truly captured my circus act of spinning and balancing the plates one afternoon this week. It all started with a text to my kids: "Be home in a few minutes." To my credit, I did gather up my stuff and headed to my classroom door. But my favorite teachers were chatting and I joined in. I guess I stayed longer than my "few minutes" because I looked up and noticed two figures parading up and down by the giant classroom windows. The Blonde with no shoes riding a scooter. The Oldest wearing dark jeans on a 90 degree day riding a bike. I let them into the building and they entered riding their vehicles. Yep. My co-workers laughed knowing my children love to have fun and riding down the halls was pretty awesome for them. Even if my girls are 21 and 19. Sigh. My girls don't hold back anything and share that not too long ago, their mom took a bike off the display rack and rode it through Target. Oh, great. I guess the apples don't fall far from the tree. I look at my co-workers and see them shaking their heads in disbelief. I need to change subjects quickly so I questioned my oldest about her wardrobe: Me: So... why are you wearing jeans on a day this hot? Oldest: I woke up this morning and found I have varicose veins. I'm never going to let anyone see my legs again. Me: Gotcha. Oldest: I heard that you can get some kind of surgery during your lunch hour to get rid of them. That's what they said on some commercial on the radio. Want to go tomorrow? A few minutes later, I'm in my driveway about to say good-bye to the Oldest as she takes the Tank (my Tahoe) [You see, we always name things. "Max", the Oldest's car had to go to the repair shop for new brakes. Costly, but we figured it's important for a car to stop. Even at the repair shop, we find a common bond. The guy fixing "Max" had a Mustang he named "Dorothy". Truly a car bonding moment.] As my Oldest dangles the Tank's keys, she casually asks for toilet paper. I get it. We're back to the Toilet Paper War. Last fall, no one in her house of girls would go out and buy t.p. Finally, one of the many roommates caved. Amy, the super-hero roomie, took an empty backpack to the 8th floor of NC State's library and loaded up. TP for weeks! But no roommate is budging this time. I give her some rolls. I love having my girls back around the house even if it's only for a couple of weeks. I'll miss them and how much they make me laugh. Here's a final one: We see a license tag: HILARY The Blonde: Hi, Larry? Why would someone put Hi Larry on their license plate? Me: It's Hilary. The Blonde: Oh, I was wondering why they spelled Lary with only one R.... (Remember she's a bio-chem major...=) ) Again, it's never ever dull. 'Twas the last few weeks in May, when all through the hood The parents are trying to stay cheerful if only they could Teacher gifts wrapped on the counter with care In hopes that the teachers will always stay there. The kids are crazy so they send them to beds While visions of summer pool time dance in their heads Mom, still in yoga pants, and dad in his cap Really want to settle down and simply take a nap. But from on top of the table there arises such a clatter They both spring from the couch to see what is the matter Away to their cells they fly like a flash Pushing those apps and they are off in a dash. Now, recitals! Now, EOGs! Now APs! Now, donations for gifts! Oh, banquets! Oh, parties! Oh, what did I miss? To the store to buy dessert! To the last game of the season! Now rush here and there and almost forget the reason. And then in a twinkling, all becomes still Parents, kids, teachers take in the moment, if you will As hugs are given and stories are shared Big smiles on faces, no tear will be spared. As they reminisce over the good Chaos subsides within our neighborhood You've made it! You did it! Go rest, relax, then play! Congratulations to all, and to all a good May! This week, I was touched by the simple things. One day, each of my students arrived with a flower. I gathered them together and created multiple bouquets. Since I love fresh flowers, I was thrilled. But the stories behind getting the flowers to school were even more precious. My favorite: Student: Here are some flowers for you. Me: Thank you. They are beautiful. Student: I cut them this morning. Me: From your yard? Student: No, from my neighbor's yard. Me: Ummm...was that ok with your neighbor? Student: Oh, that lady is out of town. She doesn't know. The next day, after arriving home with my college daughter and unpacking our SUV, she bursts into my room to say: Blonde: Hey, Banks found a nest filled with baby birds. Me: Ummm...are they still alive? Blonde: Yep. He just is laying there and watching them but we've got to get the nest back in the tree. So, the Blonde and one of my boys fetch our tallest ladder and on tiptoes, get the nest up into a tree. Worried that it might not stay and possibly drop to the ground again, they figure out a solution: Blonde: We used glue. Elmer's glue. We just poured a lot of glue on the branches and then placed the nest in the puddle of glue. I look up. Our tree has stripes. White glue has dribbled down the trunk. Odd, I think to myself. The Blonde is in college and thinks that Elmer's glue will hold that nest. She was right. The baby birds are thriving. It's the simple things like glue and flowers that keep me smiling. Last week, I noticed a new teacher at my school totally stressed. Teaching definitely can have its stressful moments. But this was different. This teacher was about to pull her hair out. Since she hasn't hit her mid-twenties and I didn't want her to be bald, I started up a conversation. She shared that all was going ok since she arrived to her first teaching job a few weeks ago, but she had some "friends" that were disruptive. I told her to send her "friends" to me when she needed a break. The next day, she did just that. Enter a spewing mini-volcano, spouting and mouthing off about how he didn't need that teacher, didn't need that class, didn't need this school, didn't need....He paused. And it was in that split second moment, that I saw a sparkle in his eye. A good one. One that I liked. Mini-Volcano boy came over and sat beside me. I think he anticipated the teacher lecture: telling-the-kid-that-he-needed-to-straighten-up-NOW!. But that didn't happen. I don't operate that way. In fact, I feel so depleted of energy and downright miserable if I have to ever give one of those messages. So, Mini-Volcano boy sat next to me and I listened to his side of the story. I had to interrupt him to assist my students. Then it hit me. Mini-Volcano boy could be my helper. He beamed at this idea. I gave him a stack of papers to check, questions to ask students I was listening to as they read, and the job of feeding Turkey and Pickle, our class turtles. I kept him busy until pack up time. He realized his class would be preparing for dismissal and scurried out the door with a wave. The following day, I saw Mini-Volcano boy in the media center. Alone. At a table. Obviously in a time-out situation. He looked at me. I saw him again and again. Alone. In the hallway. Being pulled out of class by an adult. While walking through the hall from a fire drill, he begged, "When can I come back?" I told him if he could be exceptionally good for his teacher, I'd love to have him because I needed him to help me. Hours later, he walked proudly into my classroom with that same sparkle. He announced, "I'm here to help!" It's been a win-win-win situation. I get Mini-Volcano boy, he is working hard to behave, and his teacher gets to keep her hair. My experiences in the classroom stretch me. One thing I have learned is that my words speak volumes to those I interact with daily. Not only within the four walls of my classroom but also as I engage with folks in the lines at Target or the grocery store, at athletic events, and in my neighborhood. Every day, we all have these interactions with grumpy, difficult people. How do you respond? I think Toby Mac's song "Speak Life" says it best: Some days, life feels perfect. Other days it just ain't workin. The good, the bad, the right, the wrong And everything in between. Though it's crazy, amazing We can turn a heart with the words we say. Mountains crumble with every syllable. Hope can live or die So speak Life, speak Life. To the deadest darkest night. Speak life, speak Life. When the sun won't shine and you don't know why. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted; Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, You speak love, you speak... You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) Some days the tongue gets twisted; Other days my thoughts just fall apart. I do, I don't, I will, I won't, It's like I'm drowning in the deep. Well it's crazy to imagine, Words from our lips as the arms of compassion, Mountains crumble with every syllable. Hope can live or die. So speak Life, speak Life. To the deadest darkest night. Speak life, speak Life. When the sun won't shine and you don't know why. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted; Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, You speak love, you speak... You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) Lift your head a little higher, Spread the love like fire, Hope will fall like rain, When you speak life with the words you say. Raise your thoughts a little higher, Use your words to inspire, Joy will fall like rain, When you speak life with the things you say. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rK6O0YtBRY I |
AuthorFun-loving mom to 4 kids and 1 big puppy. Fifth grade teacher of amazing little people who have never ending things to share with me. Love to discuss Jesus, diy projects, and life. Trying to keep it simple: Love Jesus, love people. Archives
December 2021
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