LADDventure

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I'm thankful for right this minute while I'm back in Wisconsin for a bit...





A safe, half empty flight to Milwaukee that got in early and was only half full.  We had a seat between us and lots of room to stretch out, and it felt like an absolute miracle compared to the last time I was on a plane.

The pilot announcing that the current temperature in Milwaukee was 72 degrees.  (Happy smile with eyes closed)

Sleeping in our first cute house in our old bedroom, since my sister and her beautiful family now rent from us.  Lots of memories in this little bungalow, and I love that it's still in the family.

All 4 of us walking Anahi to school this morning, seeing her kindergarten classroom, at the elementary school I went to.

A Harvest Latte at Wilson's and an apple fritter at Larsen's for breakfast.  West Racine Bliss.

Snuggles and bedtime stories

What Your Child's Kindergarten Teacher Wants You To Know

6 years ago, the string of nieces began.  We were blessed with 3 nieces within a year between my brother Ben, my sister Kelli, and Jeremiah's brother Job, which means they all started talking around the same time, got potty trained around the same time, and they all started kindergarten this year.  It's been so fun watching them all go through big milestones together, and I can't even believe that they are all in school now.  So grown up! (Warning:  triple adorable first day of school pictures coming right up)

Paige on her first day - look at that grin! (photo by Brooke Mikutowicz)

Emma on her first day - uniform! squeal!  (photo by Jess Blascoe)

Anahi on her first day - with such a big girl smile and boots! (photo by Kelli Luis)

As a former kindergarten teacher I am so excited for them, knowing how much they will grow this coming year.  Kindergarten was by far my favorite age to teach.  There is absolute magic when they start to make the connection between those ABC's they've been singing since they were 2 and the written word.  They start to read stories and write their own as confidence grows.  There is nothing like watching that whole world open up to a little one, and it is such a privilege to be a part of that!

I've always been the one on the other side of the classroom door, but talking to my sister and sister-in-law these last couple weeks about what it's like from their perspective to hand over their babies has got me thinking.  It is back to school season everywhere.  Reading online and talking to my family,  I know there is uncertainty and tears, more from the mamas than the kids probably.  I can't really know what that feels like, but I have decided to help you out with what I do know.  So, to all the moms and dads that dropped off their pride and joy at those classroom doors for the first time, and then went home and ugly cried, these are the things your child's kindergarten teacher is too tired to tell you at the end of their first day or even week. But I think they would like you to know...

     You have done so much to prepare them that you didn't even know was preparing them. They are
      ready. Every time you colored with them, sang songs, said no, and followed through on a
      consequence, you helped them with essential skills to be successful in school.

      If they cried a little, or even if they screamed and clung to you and had to be peeled away by the
      teacher, they were much better after you left.  They always are, and it gets easier as they become
      more familiar.  The unknown is scary for all of us, but it should feel good that you are their safe
      place.

     They are going to be completely exhausted for a while (as is their teacher).  That's a long day for
     little bodies (and big ones).  Be patient and allow time for everyone to get in a rhythm.

     Keep a clean change of clothes in their backpack.  Trust me on this one.

     They found friends even if they told you they didn't.  Kids at that age are amazingly accepting and
     inclusive.

     They learned something even if they told you they didn't.  They are starting to develop their
     school self and often want that separate from their home self .  It's their first attempt at creating
     their own identity away from home and sometimes they don't like mingling their two worlds.

     Along those lines, they may have a tough time with some rules at first.  The structure of school is
     much different than home.  Some kids have a hard time understanding at first that what works at
     home with just them and their siblings, does not work in a classroom full of 20-30 children.
     They'll get it.

     They can do so much more than you might think.  They are going through their day with all kinds
     of independence and responsibility, following directions, cleaning up after themselves, and
     solving problems.  You'd be amazed at what they are capable of! So, don't let them fool you that
     they don't know how to do their homework, or clean up their own room, and for the love of God,
     please don't carry their backpacks for them.  (Sorry, that last one is a personal pet peeve of mine.)

Overall, just remember that you are still your child's first and most important teacher.  Don't ever forget that or underestimate the impact you have on their everyday life.

Fallification

I have a seasonal disorder.  Not the kind that makes you all depressy if you don't get enough sun and vitamin D in the winter, but the kind that means I am kind of  crazy about my seasons.  I decorate my house by them, choose nail polish and lotion by them, cook by them, even listen to music by them.  I am kind of militant about fully participating in the change of seasons.

Now I will admit, the lack of traditional seasons is one very stupid thing about living in a desert. I say we have two seasons really:  
     1.  Hot as Hell season for 4 months from June to September
     2.  Perfect Weather Season the rest of the year when it gradually gets chilly from October -
         January, and then gradually warms up from February to May

Don't get me wrong, Arizona has more traditional seasons, especially in the mountains.  But alas, I live in the valley.  So if I want the leaves, brisk air, and hoodies I need to wait until December (when it actually feels like fall here) or head to the mountains this time of year. Those mountains are a short drive in any direction, and believe me this year we plan to be out in the Jeep every weekend in search of some autumn.

However, in the meantime, the process begins to create a synthetic autumn oasis inside, despite triple digit temperatures outside. I call it fallification, and it usually starts with a serious trip to Bath and Body Works.  (I promise this is not an advertisement for them, although if they want to pay me for the plug in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin scented anything I would be fine with that.)  Smells are so important for me in creating that seasonal vibe, and Labor Day always feels like it should be the start of fall, so I start to stock up.

This coming weekend we are heading back to Wisconsin for the wedding of some good friends of ours.  I can't wait to celebrate with them and soak up some 70 degree weather.  I always get a bit homesick this time of year, because it is truly the best time to be in the Midwest as it starts to show off with its cool nights and football. 

I took the beautiful changing seasons for granted back there, how nature just does all kinds of decorating for us.  In a way, I actually appreciate the seasons more now.  They are more intentional.  We have to work to create them here, which forces us to stop and pay attention to the passing time.  They seem worth embracing and celebrating.

When we get back it will be time for more fallification - baking with apples, pumpkin decorations, and Halloween party planning.But for now, it is 90 degrees at 11:40 p.m., and I am happily typing away on my laptop with the air conditioning on, a fan blowing on me, and my Autumn candle burning in the background smelling like apples, leaves, and firewood.  Bring on fake fall!

Random Reading - Labor Day List

Happy Labor Day everyone!  Loving a 3 day weekend with the husband.  He has been super busy with work lately, so it's been great to see him out of our office for more than 15 minutes at a time.  Our weekend has been full of fantasy football drafts and doing some "why haven't we already done this?" projects around the house, like finally getting this full length mirror.  ($39.99 at Stein Mart people!)  Good thing too, because we had discussed the fact that if we couldn't get our collective act together enough to obtain a full length mirror after living here for 3 years, then we should probably just call it quits and get divorced.  Whew!  Broken home averted.  We now have the ability to see our shoes at the same time as our shirt without perilously perching on any furniture or doing high kicks in the bathroom mirror.

Since most of us have the day off, I thought I would link up to the best things I've found online lately for your clicking pleasure:

School-Homing (The Onion)
In light of back to school season, a little teacher humor

Best Time to Blog (Jason Keith for Social Fresh)
Learning lots about blogging and blogging strategy.  It's fascinating to me, and I'm going to try to start following some of these tips, like making sure to have a blog post ready first thing in the morning.  So come back tomorrow and have some coffee with me!

Needy Here vs. Needy There (Joy in the Journey)
I followed a group of bloggers as they traveled to Sri Lanka with World Vision, and this post on poverty and perspective was fabulous.

How to Stay Organized in the Kitchen (Tracy Benjamin)
Tracy writes a weekly column at HomeFries, and I just love her blog, shutterbean.  I love to cook, but hate to clean up the colossal mess I always seem to create in the kitchen.  The tip about the cookie sheet is genius!

Our Veganish Diet (rising shining)
I loved my neighbor Kelsey's explanation of what vegan means to them and how it looks on a day to day basis.  Her blog is great about transparent, practical insight into everyday life.  I'm learning tons from her, and love that we have a birthday, a street, and a blog in common.

Meet Glennon (Momastery)
Came across this gem of a blog, because one of my faves Kelle Hampton was meeting her for coffee in real life after meeting online.  She instagrammed about it, which prompted me to check out Glennon's blog, and to remember that the internet can be a wonderful place.  Just reading her "about" page led me to spend a crazy amount of time on her blog, but it was not wasted.  She is honest, loving, raw and everything I love in a writer.  Go check it out, you will be glad and teary-eyed.


Hope you are having a great weekend. See you tomorrow, bright and early!