Goodness and Mercy

I can identify with this mom :-) Letting go of our children is TOUGH!!!

 

 

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbour if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.

She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway and it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbour boy he knew. She did this for the whole week. As the boys walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do it every day all week. Finally he said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is."
The friend said, "Well, who is she?"
"That's just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy replied, "and her daughter Marcy."
"Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? "
 
"Well," Timmy explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!"

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you all the days of your life.

 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life"

 

How to stay married!

Thought this was sound advice LOL!!!!

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared
everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets
from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the
top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or
ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day
the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not
recover.
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the
shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.
She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money
totaling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she said,
"my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never
argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep
quiet and crochet a doll."
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two
precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two
times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with
happiness.
"but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"
Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the dolls."
For all men with a good sense of humor ..
Women will love this..
A Prayer...... .
Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive
him;And Patience for his moods; Because Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death, as I don't know how to crochet. Amen!

Its been an "up" day!

 

Had an up day today-Thanks for all the positive comments.They really helped!

Here are some more priceless proverbs from the kiddies! Gotta love 'em!

Strike while the                                                            insect is close

Never underestimate the power of                                      ants.

Don't bite the hand that                                                looks dirty.

Better to be safe than                                                   punch a grade 7 boy.

If you lie down with dogs, you'll                                         stink in the morning.

It's always darkest before                                             Daylight Saving Time.

You can lead a horse to water but                                     how?

No news is                                                                  impossible.

A miss is as good as a                                                    Mr.

You can't teach an old dog new                                         maths.

Love all, trust                                                              me.

The pen is mightier than the                                            pigs.

An idle mind is                                                             the best way to relax.

Where there's smoke there's                                         pollution.

Happy the bride who                                                    gets all the presents.

A penny saved is                                                          not much.

Two's company, three's                                                the Musketeers.

Don't put off till tomorrow what                                    you put on to go to bed.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and           you have to blow your nose.

There are none so blind as                                     Stevie Wonder.LOL-poor guy:-)

Children should be seen and not                                   smacked or grounded.

If at first you don't succeed                                      get new batteries.

You get out of something only what you                        see in the picture on the box.

When the blind leadeth the blind                                 get out of the way.

And the favourite:
Better late than                                                         pregnant

Roller coaster

Isn't life a roller coaster ride?? Yesterday I posted an entry about my boys.I love them so much that my heart could burst! Yet,today I'm riding that good ol' roller coaster of parenthood. How shall I put it?

I had a testing day.Not at school though! My little pets at school are doing well! My own little pets at home are another kettle of fish (well, today anyway :-)

I had to nag about washing lying around, homework not done, too much T.V., too much computer game time etc etc. I didn't have a good day. I don't enjoy having to discipline my boys (but it has to be done!).I took a deep breath and remembered the woman who two days ago lost her daughter when the house burnt down(no-one I know personally, but that is beside the point) reminding myself of how privileged I am to have children.

I think being a teacher, can sometimes hamper motherhood.I find I have patience with my class, but not much left over for my own boys.That makes me feel so guilty!

I sometimes find the responsibility of parenthood overwhelming! Tiring is what I actually mean! :-) Do you all relate to that? I know you do and that's why it's good to be able to share with my cyber friends (cos you understand :-)

The roller coaster ride is great but sometimes you have too much and throw up-the towel that is :-) Oh well, it can't be helped! We just have to get back onto the ride and enjoy the highs (which are WONDERFUL) and accept the lows (which are bearable!)

Well, I'm getting off the ride for now-enough ups and downs today.
Take care !!!

Boys

 

Boys

Oh joy to have a boy

To hold and kiss and 

Cuddle

To read to, play with 

Tuck into bed and sing to

 

Oh blessed am I to have two

Boys to love and laugh with

Teach and learn from

Oh what a joy are boys!

 

Smells of paint

And mud and candy

Caps,balls,bats

And lego bricks

 

Time is fleeting

Tears are flowing

Boys soon men will be

 

Always there

A golden thread

A cord that cannot be broken

Love so awesome, Love Divinely

Imparted into my heart

Forever

 

Someone lost a child to death today so I was feeling really blessed by the presence of my boys today(and sad for the mommy that lost hers) This photo was taken in Jan.Chris starting High School and Travis Gr 4.They attend Muir College Boys' School.

 

Viva la difference

I don't know how many of you have seen this one,but I found it too funny not to share!Funny how true it is!!!!Enjoy HEE HEE

A sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

"Please note that this Bank is installing new drive-through ATMs
Enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.
Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures
Outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful
Research, MALE & FEMALE procedures have been developed. Please follow
The appropriate steps for your gender."

MALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off
FEMALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up, pull forward, back up and so forth and repeat as
Many times as required to align car window with the ATM.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate bank
Card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive
Distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way with magnetic strip pointing the way
The little picture indicates.
10. Dig through handbag and examine each receipt to see if PIN# is
Written there. Finally, search through phone book to find your PIN
Written on the inside of the back page.
11. Enter PIN into ATM.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of
Checkbook.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot
Provided.
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Redial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.LOL :-0

Love kids!

This was inspired by Guido at http://journals.aol.co.uk/pharmolo/NorthernTrip

Some test questions and answers (grade 3)

 

Name a use of cow hide?

To keep the cow together.

 

What is an autobiography?

It’s the history of cars.

 

Name 5 things that contain milk?

Butter, cheese and 3 cows

 

What is the past tense of eat?

Hungry

 

What is the use of eye teeth?

To watch that the other teeth are chewing properly.

 

What is a terminal illness?

When you get sick at the airport

 

Translate “I beg your pardon?” into French.

HuH?

 

What do you call someone who beats skins?

Mum?

 

What do you get after you lose your milk teeth?

Your  peppermint teeth!

 

I guess this is why I love my job!

 

 

Gun at school

Today my son came home and told us that a boy in his class brought a gun to school and hid it in another boys' locker! He brought live ammunition as well and was planning to sell it to someone! This boy is only fourteen!

Of course, as any mother would, I flipped my lid! I was shocked, angry and worried all at once! This boy used to be my sons' best friend in prep school. I wasn't too keen on the friendship as there were signs of problems then already, but I gave advice and soon enough my son broke off the friendship.

The boy had stolen the gun from his fathers' gun safe. The police were called and he was taken to the station in the cop car as a scare tactic.I have no idea what the parents  reaction were, but I know the mom was always concerned about his poor behaviour.

I told a staff member at school and her first reaction was to ask what colour the child was! Yes racism is alive and well in South Africa (he is a WHITE child- gasp, shock, horrors!) All I can say is that I now fear for the safety of my children! Our schools are very slack here compared to overseas.The rural schools are very poor and some don't even have desks to sit at or paper to write on, and at these schools, gangsters are a problem. I believe most countries have this problem.I guess where there are parents who can't or won't care for their children, we will have delinquent (although I detest that name!)
I feel strongly that the welfare in our country does not intervene soon enough in problem families! I have had too many cases of abuse and phoned welfare to be told that their case loads are just too great to cope with! Who else can we turn to???

Sometimes I feel very helpless and limited to the classroom, when all I want to do is to intervene in the life of the child-where the problem is-at home! Sadly, I can't do this and the burden sometimes becomes too great to bear.PRAYING is the only thing I can resort to! It really works-many times I've prayed for some kind of intervention and God has graciously answered the prayer. Other times I just need to trust that He knows best. That's very hard to do sometimes!

My own class is making such progress (behaviour wise) that I have had a really good week.They are laughing and enjoying school and that makes me happy.Learning should be fun! I was spoilt for valentines day and the little love notes I get from my kiddies are treasured in a big box! Needless to say, after 16 years my box is rather full! My "cup" runneth over HEEHEE! I took great delight in showing my 26 year old niece (who was in my first class) a note she wrote to me.Her eyes welled up and so did mine!

 

Can you hear me?

My class had swimming today and I decided to leave the whistle behind.I told them that I would be raising my hand once (the equivalent of speaking once)as per yesterdays entry.

The changing into their costumes part ran smoothly enough.... But- once we had got into the pool area, two of my boys proceeded to jump into the pool after I had said(ONCE) that they were to stand on the side and wait.Time outs on their towels were their "reward. The rest of the lesson went perfectly.The time out duo (after 5 min on their towels) enjoyed it as much and earned the praise they got for behaving the rest of the lesson.

I happily (maybe a little smugly) lead them back to the change rooms,explaining(YES,ONCE ONLY) that I would be giving points when we got back to class if everyone behaved.They LOVE getting points on their team race chart(My class sit at stations of 6 pupils each)so I was expecting them to be good..... I really did!!!!:-)

Alas,it was not meant to be! One of my boys came running out of the changerooms (situated behind the hall , but the doors lead into the back of the hall) ran across the hall stage and just fell off the stage!!!Tears!!!Of course I comforted him,but gently reminded him that he should not have been running! Then another two boys came CHARGING out hitting eachother with their wet costumes! I took a deep breath and held up my hand- they froze (I dislike shouting-but do resort to it occasionally!)I think the look on my face said enough(and they each got a demerit).Sometimes with this age group, a look is enough.

All in all, it was a gooood day! My grade 3's have been with me for three weeks and slowly the class routine is taking shape.Its' hard work but consistency pays off.
I have a little boy who works very very slowly (ADD) and today he finished ALL his work  HOORAY!!!!! I have been giving him stars for the slightest bit of progress and this has definately helped.At this age they still respond to stars.I never put up a list of my childrens' names to show progress/behaviour etc as I feel that the weak children are just not motivated by seeing their names way behind the stronger kids. I like to have a group behaviour (my team race) and an individual motivation(for good work/behaviour etc I have crowns they keep at their desks(keep or lose if naughty)At the end of the day they get a star on their uniform to show parents if they've kept the crown for the day.This works really well.

I would love to hear from other teachers about how you motivate good behaviour.I was taught at college to "catch them being good" in other words-if someone is being a little chatty or daydreaming etc I would focus on another childs good behaviour and reward them, miss chatty pants is sure to also want a star and buttons up!IT WORKS!

While I have much success in my classroom with motivating 31 pupils, my three boys at home are another story :-) I wish someone had taught me about sibling rivalry at college!!!!!!