Why I teach (my son)....

     I had a moment today.  Not just any old "mama" moment, but a really proud, heart swelling moment.  I was standing in the middle of my classroom, as my little preschoolers moved all around me, busy with their "work" in our classroom centers, and I was talking to the case worker of one of my little kiddos who is in foster care.  I actually knew her (former co worker from Ashland), and we were talking casually about our little guy and his situation in his current foster care home and his performance at school.  She bent down to talk to him, and she asked him a few questions, like "Who is your teacher?" and "What do you like to play with?" and he answered, smiling and happy.  Then she asked him, "Who is your best friend in your class?" and he smiled up at her, pointed across the room (at my son) and said, "KIRK!"  My eyes started to burn and my heart was too big for my chest....my little boy....best friends with a kiddo who has been in 4 different foster homes in the last year, wears glasses, has some major speech issues, and doesn't know farm animals or Disney characters.  I knew right then that I made the right choice for Kirk.  

     Public school allows situations like this to happen.  Kids who have more than what they need, and kids who have nothing can be best friends.  Kirk spent his playground time this morning playing with a little guy whose trailer doesn't have a doorknob, and my teaching assistant and I were afraid we would fall through the porch trying to get inside for our home visit (he's getting my Christmas donations this year!).  It doesn't matter to them if it doesn't matter to us.  I have kids who have a lot more than us, too.  I think public school is such an amazing place for all kinds of kids to come together and build a "school family" (as I call it).  

     We share our days for 9 months.  We sing together, eat together, play together, laugh together, and cry together (more than I'd like!).  Even though he drives me crazy sometimes, I am glad I can watch Kirk build friendships with all kinds of kids....and proud that I created the environment that make these friendships happen. I have been teaching public school for 11 years, and I (very) strongly believe that it teaches children (and teachers) far more than academic skills.  We all learn about life.  We all learn acceptance, tolerance, and love.  I'm glad to be a part of it, and I'm glad Kirk is too.

It's almost my birthday....

I could NOT love Kirk's super hero pictures any more.....Betsy did an amazing job!  She asked Kirk to model for her after our last family session, and he was actually great at it.  He is so animated and listens pretty well.  I'm proud to be this little super guy's mama!

We celebrated Miss Riley's 5th birthday a few weeks ago.  She had an ART party (I was in LOVE with it!).  I helped manage the painting table, and other than a tiny paint spill, we did great.  The kids had a blast, and Kirk made me a bracelet at the bead table because "necklaces and bracelets are for GIRLS!"  

Kirk is 3 weeks into his fall soccer season.  7 goals scored last week, and 4 this week.  I love to watch him play!

We celebrated cousin Bella this week with a tumbling party at AMP.  Kirk loved Bella's Princess Sophia theme (he loves the show and knows the entire theme song word for word)!  Her cupcakes were so cute!  We had a great time, and Kirk reminded her several times that he was ALREADY FOUR YEARS OLD. Ha!

We headed to Athens Saturday afternoon for the MU V. OU game. We had fun at the Big Green tailgate, and Kirk actually made his peace with Marco.  I can't believe the earth shattering fear is over!  I can finally take some pictures of him with our favorite mascot!!

PROOF

Kirk liked the giant blow up Marco, too.

Kirk signed up for the Vision Campaign at the tailgate....haha!  I was seriously about to give a donation because I was so proud of that NAME WRITING!!  So the stick is on the wrong side of the "a" in Walker, but the rest of it is really good.  He can almost write Walker without us telling him the letters, and he is a pro at writing his own name these days.  He got tired on the address line, and just left a "3," and he added some pictures (Marco standing on an "M" on the bottom, Kirk himself in the upper right corner, and Mike Wazowski (from Monsters Inc.) in the upper left corner).  It all added up to a pretty great job, and a proud mama/teacher!

I'm getting ready to turn 35 this weekend!!  Bring it on.  I don't mind one bit getting older, because my life keeps getting better.  I need to get myself to the DMV this week before my driver's license expires, and I'll be happy to have a slower weekend (no plans other than soccer!).  I'll have a busy week with my preschoolers, and I'll be grateful for another year spent with my family.  I have a feeling 35 will be a great year for me!!