Lessons Learned

Daily life gives us continuous lessons. These are mine as of late:

-While beginning my first "real" job search, I have realized that I am competing with 23423 people for the same job. It's difficult to not get discouraged and remember (or find) reasons that you are unique among the rest. I am considering investing in a giant, neon sign for every room in my house that says, "It is not about YOUR plan. Calm down. Do your best." This is very hard to remember, especially after job fairs where your resume is tossed on the table atop 300 others.

-Four year olds can have the tempers of a hungry lion. Never underestimate a tantrum.

-No matter how many lists I make, I will still be going to the grocery store at least 2 other times during the week.

-Family reunions are not to be dreaded. They are to be cherished. It is truly a craft of God's for family to come together and not only immediately, but naturally feel/provide love and support for one another -even after long absences. The acts and love that come out of simply being family never cease to amaze me.

-Relaxation and good company is great therapy and essential to squeeze into busy weeks.

-A positive attitude can make the day go quicker.

-If you actually follow the recipe, things do turn out.

-God has a reason, plan, and purpose for everything. He is at work and when you step back and watch this it is the best show.

-Yes, kids deal with things no child should have to experience; but they also deal with things even no adult should have to experience. You may be there only smile, patient hand, or soft voice that day. There is so much you can't do, but the basics are what you can do.

-Things break---all at the same time.

-Boys don't see messes. This may come as sarcasm, but seriously, they really don't see it. An unmade bed simply means they just slept in it. Then the thought stops. Oh well, I prefer to make it anyway. Will hasn't exactly picked up on hospital corners.

-I like living in our little quaint town more than I have realized. The thought of moving makes me a little sad. (Not that we are).
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Pictures of events in the past few weeks. The whole Cousin family was back together for Will's Grandma's funeral. Although the end of a life is always a devastating loss, Grandma Cousin had been a victim of Alzheimer's for a very long time and it was a blessing to see her at peace. I did not have the opportunity to know her before the onset of the disease, but seeing the family she raised and loved, I know she was a very special woman.

The Countdown

I am more than half way through student teaching and it is taking every last bit of me not to make a paper chain countdown. Countdowns seem to only make things feel longer and I can't risk feeling more time drag. For those of you who have had the pleasure of talking with me during student teaching, most likely have not encountered a Positive Patty, but rather a Negative Nancy. Both the nature of student teaching and the pressure I have put upon myself haven't made it my most favorite experience in life. The truth be told, there is only a fraction of things professors can teach you about the teaching profession in a lecture hall. My eyes have been opened to so many different aspects of being a classroom teacher. While there are positive and negative things, it has been a lot to process and figure out how things I've been taught in courses connect to the real-world.
Apart from my eyes being opened, I have put too much pressure on myself and have struggled stepping back and telling myself to RELAX. While there are people assessing me, I certainly don't think they are analyzing my every move to the extent I am. I am beginning to think they may actually have lives they go home to and might not spend there evenings critiquing my every move and word that day. You think?

Through my obsessing and stressing, I seemed to win over at least a few of the 2nd graders I had at my first placement. They left me with cards, goodies, and well wishes. The picture below is one of my favorite prizes from student teaching. (Note the card). If one of the kids thought I was the best teacher in the 2nd grade than I must have done SOMETHING right.

Going further, I will try to find more peace during the next 7 weeks. I will aim to put Negative Nancy to bed, as I do not want to send out apology cards with my graduation announcements.

Let the countdown begin!

Be Mine

I have a "sweet" spot for Valentine's Day as Hallmark continually suckers me in every year. With the right attitude, it can be a warm and fuzzy feeling type of day. After all, it's hard to go wrong on a day dedicated to kissing and chocolate.

Will's valentine treat was an office full of red and pink, a couple sappy crafts, and post it notes. He received nothing of use, but much love. After doing a little snooping on his Amazon account I was convinced I was getting a label maker. I don't know what's worse... my excitement for a label maker or believing that was what he came up with for Valentine's. Either way- my detective skills are apparently lacking as I looked over the stylish yoga mat bag he ordered. I now have all the bells and whistles when going to yoga class, but have yet to touch my toes. I'm now the girl with the cutest mat, tote, and pants, doing all the stretch "modifications". You've got to set yourself up for success though. Am I right?

This year, I reached a new personal best of having 21 Valentines. Although I went home from school sick and missed the Valentine's Day party, I thoroughly enjoyed going through all the kiddos Valentine's later on. They came up with some pretty cute cards and did not disappoint on building up my candy stash.

Like Riding a Bike

Contrary to what I have been told and what seems to be the experience of others, getting back on skis certainly is not similar to getting back on a bike. Unless, of course, getting back on a bike means a couple face plants and tumbling feet over head. You may have already assumed this was my experience last week. It didn't help that while enduring the awkward - public- struggle of getting back up with a wooden plank strapped to one foot, a ten year old helped me retrieve the other ski and both lost poles. So naturally, I was about to pull a "mom" (Dixie) and began trudging up the hill with skis in hand, watery eyes, convinced that I would be parking myself in the Chateau for the day where I was warm and safe, free from humility and danger. However, along comes my 2 year old niece and brother-in-law to reassure me that I can safely spend the day snow plowing and Lissy (Yes, the 2 year old) could show me how. How can I refuse such a sweet offer? It's an auntie's role to sacrifice dignity and hot chocolate after all.
Why did my husband not teach me you ask? There is an understanding of how the Cousins teach things and Will did not disappoint. Their technique is quite simply- after saying "Oh it's easy! Just watch!" They (Will) proceeds to do it perfectly and you are left with no clue as to what is going on, but are left with eyes on you, waiting for a reciprocation. I need it broken down into steps people. Small steps.

So, after some snow plowing lessons and getting a little confidence back, we had a good day on the slopes with our friends Jay and Tess. I may have been a little sub-par, but I kept up with the rest of them either snowplowing or skiing on my butt down the black diamond. Tess tried to convince me that she was terrible, but when her goal turned to the backwards ski...there was no foolin'. I don't think I will wait 6 years before getting back on skis again.

Major #3

Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education have me busy; but my third major has been the most demanding by far. My major in Procrastination has very extensive requirements such as maintaining a 4.0 in time wasting and constant professional development to keep up with the new, more unproductive ways to procrastinate.
Currently, the focus of this field is useless applications on one's ipad or iphone. The latest one that I have been using for the majority of my time wasting practice sessions is the app. "Instagram". It's basically an app. that lets people pretend they are up and coming photographers. I am currently getting an A+ in this form of procrastination. Here are the results of my studies:

To Be a Kid

The first couple weeks of student teaching have entailed some hard reality checks. It turns out that if I plan the way I've have been taught for the last 4 years, I will not sleep, eat, talk, walk, smile, etc. Also, mother nature has thrown a few more curve balls in there by prompting snow days, so it's just all a scheduler's nightmare. While this has been a hard adjustment to make and entails relearning teacher planning, I have had countless chances to be reminded of why I got myself into this spreadsheet-plan mess in the first place. A child's joyous, carefree, honest spirit is something that lasts for only a short period of time and can never again be attained. Isn't that something? I think God had a fantastic plan when making kids. He not only made it a very special, unique time, but added the endearing qualities that are so necessary for helping adults keep their patience when that one kid just won't shut up. :) Of course, sometimes the endearing qualities are simply not enough to remain patient and that's when you have to rewind, and remember what being a 2nd grader was all about. Snow days were like Christmas, time tests instigated panic, recess really should've constituted as a "favorite subject", you were immune to the cold in 5 degree temperature, and you may have confused the bathroom as a playground once or twice. It's both necessary to remember the mentality of a 2nd grader and appreciate it. It's such a sweet time in life and more often than not, I'm jealous of their outlook on things.

Will and I (and friends) were excited little 2nd graders while we went night sledding down the town's old ski slope. We not only remembered to appreciate the child-like spirit, but thoroughly enjoyed feeling like kids again. Of course, you can't fully get that child bravery back so I'm sure when I was 7, I didn't yell "We're going to die" all the way down or opt for a face full of snow just so I could bail early; but I still laughed my head off in a snow bank, forgetting about the snow in my boots and the cold in my hands.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I can see it. I don't always remember that I can see it, and I wish it would shine a little brighter some days. But the light at the end of the long tunnel called "college" has been turned on. Week one of student teaching is nearing the end, and although there's been some panic and moments of overreaction - I think I'm going to make it through. I may bookmark this entry to keep reminding myself the light is on and I will make it there :).

(One of the) first days of student teaching. AKA my very last semester as a student.