resolutions-what?!

Here we are again, with a new year. With a new year, there are resolutions. The goals that I tend to make for myself are all works in progress. I like them that way. I change, my opinion changes, so my goals change. I have been thinking about who I'd like to be and how I'd like my children to become as people. Alot of it is attitude; mine, theirs. I tend to be quick in my judgments. I have strong opinions. Some of my opinions I stay quiet on, to be polite. Some, when others not following through on their commitments, like callings or teaching styles, that affect my children in a negative way, I tend to voice strongly...maybe too loudly sometimes, which can affect my relationships with others. Maybe they are doing the best they can. Maybe they are inexperienced and I should give them time to figure it out. Even though it isn't the way I would do something, they are trying, or are they?  So resolution #1 is to stop and think. I like this survival show, where one of the main people is a  professional survivor guide. He walks barefoot everywhere and has for 20 years. His feet are very calloused and down right grody if you ask me.  He says that he walks barefoot so that he can take the time to feel and think before he acts. In the wild it is necessary to do that so he doesn't die...literally. Now, I am not saying that I don't ever plan on wearing shoes again, but I do plan on being barefoot in the regards of taking the time to think and feel and to respond more carefully. That is not to say that my opinions will be passive or not spoken. I plan on working on my deliverance of those opinions and reactions. The second part to the above resolution is to teach our children how to think about the things they say to one another. I would like them to be nicer to one another.

This resolution has been a hard one this week. Some months ago there was an incident at school with Josh and a classmate. I went a little crazy. It was a BIG incident. After some chatting with the other classmates parent, the Principal of the school and the AP, several times, we were able to come to a healthy conclusion. Again, it was a BIG incident.  Then there was an incident last week, with the same student, who has been in trouble a few times since our incident,  at school.  What happened the 2nd time, wasn't so bad, but it was with the same student. After more chatting with the AP, we figured it out. Students were moved and all is well. However, there are a few thieves in the classroom, with Josh's pencils being stolen out of his desk.

Jacob has had several incidents in his classroom. Bullying has been a big one. There was an incident where Jacob fought back and both boys got into trouble. Why is it, that when you've had enough of people pushing, hitting, corn dogging you, that when you defend yourself, that is all the teacher or ref seems to see?  I shared several emails with Jake's teacher, so she knew about the bullying. Yesterday (Jake's first day back from being so sick with Pneumonia), a fellow student spit in his face, intentionally. Until I said something to his teacher, she remained silent and nothing was being done. Spitting is worse than hitting. Now there is the thievery. His snack was stolen from his lunch box today & his Cardinal Cash was stolen while he was out sick.

Same type of things have happened in Penny's class too. Part of this age, is noticing people's differences and not having an internal filter.  With this learning to be with others, comes learning how to control our bodies, words, hands, feet, and teeth. It has been an interesting 1st grade year.

Erin and Libby were offered weed last week after school. The fella knew Erin's name, but she didn't know his. I must get to the bottom of this one. They told the kid, no and to go away.

In the 11 years that we have had children in school, we haven't had as much conflict, as we have had this year.  Maybe this isn't the year to start part one of my New Year resolution goal.