Innocence of Children

Bubbles in mouths....hands in lap....and they just do it for the teacher!  When I think about it, I love my job.  I am so blessed to be able to walk into a school every day of the week and see children learning, playing, socializing, even teaching and a million other things throughout the day.  They are our future and what a future it can be!


Things I don't think about often, these kiddoes can cause a smile to spread across my face!  For example, all the things they say as they walk past my door on the way to the cafeteria.  Or I just love it when they stop at the lab door just to wave or say hello....they don't even know me but they trust and give a piece of their heart to me when they greet me.


Wouldn't it be wonderful if adults smiled as much as children.  I mean, really!  They grin all the time and it IS INFECTIOUS.  Try it.  Take this one little thing the innocent child does hourly and incorporate it into your day.  Smile more at the people around you - see if it doesn't make a difference, not only in the person you smile at but in your day as well.

Olympics 2010

Wow!  That's it, just Wow!

Communication on all levels....

Have you ever noticed how the lack of communication ruins EVERY thing in all facets of our lives?  For example, asking for assistance in a retail store, the gas station, a restaurant, your work place, at the dinner table, with friends, on FB, through an email, on a blog, etc.  It is subject to so much reading between the lines.  It seems to be getting worse instead of better.  You'd think with all the technology we have in the world today, communication would be outstanding, instead, the lack of communication is standing out!

For example, there should be a translator for all sorts of things that automatically comes with your email.  Like when you receive something from your husband, it should have what he wrote and then in parentheses what he really meant to say.  Or, from your child, have what they said and then what that new slang means. 

The lack of these types of translations lead to frustration, which leads to anger, which leads to miscommunication, which leads to the lack of meeting goals, which leads to more frustration...you get it right?

Why is it that when you try to communicate about anything, people take it personally, especially when you truly aren't complaining you are COMMUNICATING, or attempting to anyway.  Funny thing is you are usually trying to help a situation and by the time it gets done you've made every person along the way mad at you, others, and themselves.

Maybe the problem is we move so fast that we don't have time to LISTEN anymore.  We don't have time to read at a slow enough pace to recognize the message.  

Whatever it is, I don't like it. I want everyone to know that my whole goal in life is not to get up in the morning and think of who I can tick off that day through an email, phone conversation or face to face.  I really do want to be and try to be - clear and thoughtful.  I want you to understand my message and respond with a well thought out answer.  I don't want you to take it personally or read into what I am saying.

Life is too short to get bent out of shape because of misinterpretation of a communication.  If you aren't sure about what someone is saying, asking or showing you - ASK FOR CLARIFICATION.  Most people I know would gladly give more information if it would help.

Then again, maybe it is just ME!

Baby bumps....

When did we first start calling pregnant women's protrusions baby bumps?  I know it does sound better than protrusion, belly, etc., but when did that happen? 

I have a very close friend that has just posted her baby bump - it just "came out" this week.  We are so excited and can't wait for the baby to debut in September.

I'm sure I'll have more to discuss later in the day but I'm covered up this morning - meeting with my wonderful teachers at Southwood Valley!!!

Real Friends vs Pretend Friends

As I was sitting in my meeting this morning, my friend suggested I blog every day.  Hmmmm…..do I really want to do that?  I mean, one more thing to take up time.  Later, as I drove away to my next stop, I thought, hmmmm….that could be fun.  Lord knows I have tons to talk about, even if no one wants to listen.
 
AND, since my friend suggested I blog, I’m going to begin by blogging about my friends.  They’ll LOVE that!  LOL!

When I taught high school, many moons ago, I had a student talk to me about her friends….her “good friends” that were real, and her “pretend friends.”  Yes, PRETEND FRIENDS.  Now I just don’t get this.  What is a pretend friend?  Why would you want a pretend friend?  Really?  She explained to me that a pretend friend was a friend that you pretended to like in the right social places but wasn’t a real friend at all.  Now how hurtful is that!  I was floored.  I always thought less of that student after that.  She went on to say that a real friend was someone that you could count on for everything and that you were a real friend to as needed.  I wonder if she knew she might be a pretend friend to some of her real friends.

To me, my “friends” are just that, friends, although some are techie friends and others are friends I actually know in real life.  I don’t have any pretend friends.  You either are a friend or you are not.  I can’t imagine calling someone a friend when I am only pretending to be their friend.  Seriously, that is rude. 

I hope that my friends would feel the same way about me that I do about them.  I want them to know I am there for them as needed, loyal and have their back at all times.  I will be there to make them laugh or sit with them when they cry and cry too.  I hurt when they hurt and celebrate when they celebrate.  They are like my family, in fact they are a part of my family.   AND, should they ever do something to annoy me, I will let them know or ignore it, because they are my friend.

My circle of friends has increased over the years as I have become “techie – ER!”  My students have become Facebook friends as have my high school classmates and even some of my high school teachers.  It’s been such a welcome exchange to make contact with all of them again.  What a joy to find that some of my students became grown ups and responsible adults, even mommies and daddies - and now my friends! 

Friends of friends are becoming my friends now.  I’ve loved hearing stories along the way about the friends that I hang out with now.  Bonds have been created with new people because of my friends. 

The more I think about my friends, the more I know I am blessed.