Nose Blowing

Even though it is early in the year, I already have a number of sick students. I am absolutely astounded at how loud a 6^th grade boy can blow his nose.  Some of my “nose blowers” sound like a race car flying around the track, or a musical instrument of some sort.  Sometimes when the “nose blower” starts, I will actually glance around the room thinking everyone is going to be snickering or disgusted; however, they are usually all on task and appear to be oblivious to the racket.  It is probably just as well that they appear to be unaware that there is suddenly a herd of elephants in the classroom because I might accidentally give them my, “I know, right?” look.  Maybe when I see a student approach the Kleenex box, I should announce, “Everybody take cover!”  

Do Mannequins Have Butt Cracks?

      Have you ever wondered if mannequins have butt cracks?  You have probably not ever asked yourself this question…..or if you have, you are not going to admit it!  I know I have not ever pondered this question; however, obviously my grandson, Brady, has!  Recently while at the mall, I noticed he and a buddy were standing in back of a male mannequin snickering rather loudly.  I quickly realized what they were doing, as did Brady’s mom who instantly put a stop to it.  Just in case you are wondering what the answer is…..”Yes”….at least this one had a butt crack according to my grandson (of course I did not peek).  I can only imagine what the future of mannequins will be.  I would suspect they will have robotic gestures and will turn to look at their watch, wink at people passing by, point to something in the distance, or, who knows, ride a trike around a toy store!  

Frizzy Hair

     Frizzy Unruly Hair.....Welcome to your daily weather update…HUMID. It just so happens that I have Scott hair….I was taught this at a young age….Scott, meaning my bloodline (James and Mary Scott).  So, as a young child I learned that Scott hair is curly hair that quickly becomes frizzy in humid weather.  If you have curly hair, you know that it just does not mix with humidity.  Almost every day is a bad hair day.  Gels, frizz control products, mud, oils, and humidity hairsprays just don’t work.  I feel like I am always looking for products and/or shortcuts to keep the frizzies at bay.   Every month in Florida is August!  I have always wanted straight silky hair…you know the kind that flips back and forth in an adorable pony tail when you jog (of course I would have to take up jogging to experience this).  So, to all my curly headed friends, I feel your pain.  

Telling Twins Apart

I have twins in my class again this year….identical twin boys.  Yesterday I asked one of them what the best way to tell them apart would be.  Now I am thinking of physical characteristics.  I am looking for a telltale feature…for example, a freckle, mole, eye brow arch, a bigger nose, creased earlobe, or even thinner fingers.   I am subtly scanning his face as I wait for his response.  He excitedly takes off his glasses to show me that the inside arm of his glasses is a different color than his identical twin brother.  I might be in a little trouble here. 

Online Dating

Online Dating.   As I prepare my classroom for this new school year, I have hooked up four computers, a SmartBoard, a printer capable of printing in two locations, and a document camera.  The good news is everything is working!  The bad news is….one of my student computers keeps giving me a message in Chinese; I have absolutely no idea what it is telling me!  Hopefully I have not connected with an online dating site in China.  I might need the network manager on this one. 

Back to School

Grandson on the left....Nana (a teacher) on the right!  

Who looks more excited!

Flashing Red Light

     Red Light Alert. I should not admit to this, I know. Driving down the road the other day, I suddenly realized a red light was flashing on the dashboard of my new sparkly car. The word, “Pass”, was displayed with the annoying red light. I thought, “Pass…..is this car telling me I need to pass?” Then I realized there was a seat belt picture displayed behind the tomato red light. Finally, I figured out what the problem was…..my purse was so heavy that the car thought there was a passenger sitting beside me and that he/she had failed to put their seat belt on! Obviously the sensor was getting annoyed that the GUY (*smile*) was not buckled in. Stupid sensor…..what does it know? I guess I am going to have to start buckling my purse up too!

Drake Fancy Baby Dance - My Grandson, Cross

Potty Training

          Potty Training!  I remember the struggle of trying to potty train my son, Buck.  I can remember pulling up to his preschool day after day and seeing him standing there sweetly smiling, holding a plastic bag that contained his soiled big boy underpants.  I started worrying that I might still be working on potty training him in middle school. 

          Watching my daughter, Jodi, work on potty training with her son, Ryder, has been interesting.   I noticed that the sticker chart wasn't working, the M & M’s weren't working, nor was the poopy dance.          

          Jodi came up with a wonderful idea for anyone having trouble getting their little one to cooperate with potty training.  The “Poop Fairy”!  Think of the Tooth Fairy……only this magical fairy leaves little gifts under the child’s pillow if he or she has success on the potty!          

          Jodi used matchbox cars (from a garage sale), gum, candy, etc.  Sometimes she would resort to using one gummy bear from a pack.  You could even purchase a specific toy that involves many pieces and put one under the pillow each time there is success.  If you think a treat for each success is overkill, you could use the sticker chart, and after x number of successes, then the fairy leaves a gift under the pillow.

          There are a lot of verses in the Bible that speak to parenting, like, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he shall not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6); however, I sure could have used a few verses about potty training a child in the way they should go!  Unfortunately, such a potty training manual cannot be found in the scriptures.

          If you need some free potty training charts, here is a great site!

                     Free Potty Training Charts

Footnote:  My son, Buck, was eventually potty trained; hopefully he is not still wearing Masters of the Universe underwear.