Why I Want to be a Teacher

So I am now in the process of applying to get back into college (graduate studies) and begin taking classes toward my teaching credential. First I have 4 classes that I need to complete as pre-requisities (co-requisities) in the Spring. Then I should be approved for the Credential program, which I am hoping is available to start over the summer, otherwise it will be in fall.

California right now is in crisis mode, like so many other states, and teaching has not been left untouched. Our budget for the state is in serious trouble, and our state legislature remains paralyzed over how to proceed. Not unlike the Congress of our country. Anyway, for the second time in as many years, teachers' unions are facing the unenviable task of trying to decide how to save money in case the state has no help for them, and that usually means layoffs.

In our state, public school teachers receive their tenure after only 2 years. But that does not guarantee protection, especially when they are talking about laying off teachers who have been on the job up to 5 years. And there are plenty of good teachers in that mix. Teachers who are doing the job for all the right reasons....not just for the benefits. And they may be lost while so many veteran teachers (not all of whom are very good at what they do) remain on the job simply due to seniority. I don't want to address this issue right now since it is more complex.

But, the point is, why on earth would I still want to teach, knowing how unstable the profession is? The answer is....I have a passion for it and it is always something I secretly longed to do and never thought I would be in a position to try. I have been teaching as a substitute teacher for the last 4 years and loving every minute of it. I have learned so much from not only the teachers, but the students as well. I cannot imagine doing anything else.

I will work for the students who struggle, not the students who are high achievers and will succeed with or without me, but the ones who just need that extra push to "get it". I love to see when they are on the verge of grasping a concept, and I just keep trying harder to reach them, and when they finally have a breakthrough, it is a victory for both of us. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing that light bulb go on in a child's eyes. They are so proud of themselves, and I am so proud to share in that moment with them. It gives me a thrill that is hard to describe. And they give you so much LOVE in return.

I believe I will be a good teacher...perhaps even a great teacher. Because I want to be great for the kids to get the most out of me for themselves. I want them to understand all of it. Even the hard to reach ones. It sometimes only takes one person in a child's life to make the difference between tuning in or dropping out. And I am going to be working so hard to make them tune in. I think 4th grade may be that pivotal age, my dad and I talked about it. That's the age they try to test the waters...see what they can get away with. And the subjects get harder, and that's when alot of them seem to unplug if they don't get it.

So...I'm going to finish my education, and I will work in the school system. Even if I am unable to get a teaching job right away, I will stay in the academic arena, waiting for the opportunity to serve in the classroom. Turning on a child's mind is the biggest reward for me. I get teary eyed at the kids' plays and achievements, and they're not even mine. It is just such a natural high for me to see that spark, to be surrounded by the joy and exuberance of children.

I cannot wait......

Parexting

Yes, you read the title correctly....Parexting. I watched The View on Friday when they had a speical "how to handle your teens" episode. One of the things they discussed was texting (or IMing) on cell phones, computers, Sidekicks, etc. They introduced the term "Sexting" which is Texting + Sex = Sexting. So I am introducing my own term, Parexting: Parenting + Texting. I figured if they can have their own teen friendly lingo, why shouldn't parents be able to text their kids to let them know what they're thinking?

So....here is a list I have started.....I'm sure I'll be adding more as the years go by. Feel free to add your own in the Comments:

WRU - Where R U?
WRUD - What R U Doing?
WRUW - Who R U With?
CHN - Come Home Now
IMI! - I Mean It!
CYR - Clean Your Room
PUYC - Pick Up Your Clothes
PUSA - Put Your Stuff Away
STT - Set The Table
CTT - Clear The Table
CUTDP - Clean Up The Dog Poop
STL - Scoop The Litterbox
LMSYH - Let Me See Your Homework
WIYRC - Where Is Your Report Card?
GJ! - Great Job!
W2G! - Way 2 Go!
UrTB! - Ur The Best!
UIT - Ur In Trouble
WCUBLYS/B? - Why Can't U Be Like Your Sister/Brother?
UG - Ur Grounded
UG4L - Ur Grounded 4 Life
ISLU - I Still Love U
YNDIML - You'll Never Drive In My Lifetime
WIYS/B - Where Is Your Sister/Brother?
GAYM/D - Go Ask Your Mom/Dad
NNIHH - Not Now, I Have a Headache (can be used with hubby too!)

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Disclaimer: I LOVE MY KIDS!!!! But, I am NOT looking forward to the teen years!

Womb for Rent

With all the news about Nadya Suleman and her crazy obsession with babies I have been walking around today in kind of a pissed off mood. It's what I refer to as irresponsible reproduction. I was going to blog about this and vent all my anger and frustration regarding single parents who use their children to collect money (that includes divorced parents who wreak hell on their ex-spouses by trying to wring every last nickel out of them so they can stay home and sit on their asses), but I figured once I got going I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

So.....I am going to try the humorous approach.......

I have decided that my new life's calling is going to be surrogacy. After all, my hormone balance while I was pregnant seemed to be optimum. Unlike other moms I have heard about, I was not on a hormone roller coaster, but rather I was the most even tempered I've ever been. Nothing seemed to bother me. My husband and I often joked that he was gonna keep me knocked up for our entire marriage. Now, we can make our dreams come true.

People pay big bucks who need to rent a womb. And all medical costs are covered. I could use the money to stay home from teaching and get my teaching credential. Full time school without having to work, now that's what I call living. And the best part is, I'd get to use Stork Parking at school and not have to walk as far to the campus buildings. And people are Sooooo nice to pregnant women. I could have it real easy again for 9 months at a time. I'm healthy for my age, pregnancy was not a terrible experience for me, and other than the normal discomforts during the last trimester, I could handle it easily. Plus, I wouldn't actually have to RAISE the kids myself, and no more midnight feedings.

But first, I think I need to get a divorce so I could collect additional money for child support. I'd also qualify for financial aid for school as a single parent with no income who is trying to better herself by attending school. Sometimes, the courts even PAY you to get further education so your ex-spouse doesn't have to pay as much in alimony. Hey, that's right...I'll get at least 4.5 years of alimony payments in addition to money for the 2 kids. And I'm bound to get more than his first ex-wife since she only bore 1 child. I've got her beat. She's gonna be pissed. That's an added bonus.

Hell, if this works out, I could even get my Master's. Things are really shaping up. And don't forget food stamps and welfare, because after all, what good is staying home and using my womb for profit if I'm not gonna get some free groceries on top of it all? Everyone's a sucker for the children...that's why they can't get anyone off welfare, because the children will suffer, and we can't have that. Maybe I could even go door to door asking for cash donations for infant formula like the guy who drove by our house today. Just say the words "baby, child, infant, food" all in one sentence and watch people whip out their wallets. Then, with all the money I'll be getting, I can finally get the living room redecorated the way I want.

Man, why didn't I think of this sooner? What was I thinking, staying home to raise my kids and sending hubby off to work his butt off to keep us going. I could have been doing that all along, plus popping out other kids for other people and getting PAID for it! Or maybe I should slip on a wet floor at work and throw my back out and stay home and collect workers compensation for 5 or 6 years. That would also help me stay home and love my children more, right? I mean, it IS all about the children, isn't it?

I need to hire a publicist and generate some public awareness of my generosity as a mother...then I can make even more money while I'm going to school so I can be a professional student (I mean loving mother). This is gonna be big. I'm gonna be famous. Books, movies, maybe even a Lifetime original movie or a reality show.

I think I'm onto something here.....

Skate Park

Papa and I took the kids to the local skate park yesterday. We went first thing in the a.m., hoping to avoid the crowd of older kids. When we first arrived, there were only 2 other boys so that was good. Of course, my son decided he wanted to follow them around....

....WELL.....he had never been to a skate park, and I told him that he should go slowly at first until he got to know the layout. But he was trying to show off for the other boys, so he ended up going over the edge of a part that was not designed for scooters. It launched him, quite literally, right over the handlebars and onto his face. There was no time for him to put his hands out. I waited for the screaming to start, especially since there was blood all over his hands when he put them to his mouth. I thought for sure he might have knocked his (adult) front teeth out, or broken his nose. I mean he smacked the concrete HARD!!! I started walking toward him, telling him to stay calm (I think I was talking to both of us actually). Normally when he gets hurt, he emits a high pitched scream that is even higher in tone than most females. But I think since the other boys were watching (everyone pretty much stopped when he smacked the pavement), he was playing it cool. He seemed fascinated at the amount of blood on his hands from his mouth. I took a quick look and was relieved to see all of his teeth. I signaled to Papa, who was already on his way, to take him to the restroom to rinse his mouth and assess the damage. Meanwhile, sonny boy is telling the other boys, "I'm alright, it's cool." Mister Joe Cool....where did this kid come from?

After they left for the restroom, I'm thinking, well that's the end of the skate park. I headed over to retrieve his fallen scooter, which one of other boys was kindly bringing toward me. The kid says to me with a big grin, "He's crazy!" He was clearly impressed. I said, yeah, he's trying to keep up with you guys. Mind you, they are both a few years older than my son.

I am listening for the sounds of blood curdling screams issuing from the men's room, and to my surprise, there is relative quiet. Does this mean he has passed out from all the blood? Is he in shock? Where are the girlie screams? Not a put down, that's just his normal reaction. Peer pressure is keeping him silent and brave.

When he finally emerges, he is resolute....with a fat upper lip on the right side and a blister forming above his lip. Papa says his front left tooth is a little loose, but intact. I am thankful it is not worse. Normally, he has his little tongue sticking out of his mouth (the tip) whenever he is concentrating on doing something. Thankfully, this was not the case or he would have bit it off for sure. He decides to take a small rest for awhile, but is still waving and giving a thumbs up to the other boys, like some sort of politician on parade. Amazing.

Meanwhile, girlie is still standing against the wall debating this whole skate park thing. When we visited the night before and saw all the older kids doing their thing, they were both so jazzed to go the following day. They woke us up at 7 am asking "are we going yet?" This continued for the next 3 hours until it was time to leave. But after she was faced with the actual ramp and her scooter, she seemed to be having second thoughts. I wasn't pushing it.

But, once again, the boys who were there were having some strange effect on my kids.....apparently my babies couldn't bear the thought of others thinking they were chicken. Great....not a good sign for their future. Next thing I know, girlie is pushing off on the "baby ramp" and now it is on.

All in all, it wasn't too bad of a day. We only stayed for an hour, once the bigger kids and bikes started to show up, it was safer to leave. She ended up bruising her hip when she didn't quite make it up one of the ramps and fell on her side.

Papa thinks I'm nuts for letting them do this. They are daredevils at heart...both of them. I have been living with my heart in my throat their entire lives. There will be broken bones for both I am sure. It is only a matter of time. Not that I'm in a rush. I told them both that since they are so young, they will not be allowed to go back until I buy more protective gear (wrist guards), and next time they have to wear elbow and knee pads or they can't ride. I can at least try to minimize the damage.

God help me!