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I also discovered this today and would like to share.

Looking forward to the time change and a relaxing weekend!

So while I love watching the kids dress up and have fun competitions, it’s just an exhausting week for everyone where our routine is skewed and there is a lot of time spent in the gym with screaming kids during the competitions. There’s also a lot of time Wednesday-Friday spent just sitting in class staring at each other when we’re not in the competitions. I’m really glad they have these events because I think they build school unity, but it’s just tiring for the faculty and the kids. It will be nice to rest and recover quietly and coinless this weekend.

More yoga and praying tonight to help lower the stress level.

Today we proceeded with the madness that is Homecoming Week. We had a dodgeball competition in the morning between the juniors and seniors. The seniors won because they win everything during Homecoming. Then we had lunch and one class where I and about 10 other people rolled money faster than it’s ever been done before. Then we went to the Academic Battle of the Classes. (Kinda like Jeopardy between freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors). Guess who won! Yeah. But the freshmen surprisingly came in 2nd place! They had more spirit than I’ve ever seen a 9th grade class have so early in the year. I was proud of them. I would like to think that my Peer Assistants mentoring them in someway influenced that… And that was our day. Tonight is Powder Puff and you know some drama will go down from that and we’ll all hear about it tomorrow.

BUT the single most exciting thing of the Homecoming Festivities is we came up with a Teacher Unity theme for tomorrow. We’re the “Tired Teachers” and we’re all wearing pajamas. HOW FUN IS THAT??? And please let me share how excited I am that I’m wearing pink footie pajamas!!!. Target people. Target. My new favorite store.

Three other very exciting things this week:

1. They opened up a Panera very close to our house. SO excited about that breakfast option in the mornings!

2. Yoga podcasts. Thousands of awesome yoga workouts for FREE!

3. I learned to do the Stanky Leg today.

Now off to do one of those yoga podcasts because I slept wrong and my shoulder’s killing me.

Not only is it a week of HYPER kids with crazy activities Wednesday-Friday, I’m also in charge of this competition called the Coin Drop. This is a contest where, well actually, nobody really cares, except the high school kids involved…what it really boils down to is I have to roll a whole bunch of coins day after day after day. And they have to be right and they have to be turned in pretty fast. It’s stressful and I’m not a fan. I am a fan of kids having fun stuff to do and of raising money for the school because let’s face it the economy isn’t exactly helping education, but it just makes for an intense week for me.

To add to that, tomorrow we have some really important visitors coming to the school to visit in a very important process that all schools have to go through. They walk through the classrooms and interview students and teachers about our school and how we do things and I think everyone is stressed out about it. I know we’re a great school. We’re one of the top five in the state and one of the top fifty in the nation. I know it will go well. It’s just nerve racking and adds to the tension of this week for the teachers. Meanwhile, most of the students are happy as larks, very unstressed.

So I vote that at the end of this very long stressful week we all get a nice break. Won’t happen, but that would be my suggestion.

The first year I did it we did “The Two Step” and it was awesome. We were the last song and totally rocked. Everyone loved it. And I was so cool. Oh yeah. And then last year we all did songs from tv shows. I was with the group from Hawaii 5-0 even though I never really watched that show and have no idea what it’s about. I know. Scream in horror. And then at the end of that song we busted out with a cool little rap song dance. Again…how cool am I. And ghetto I might add.

So this year I’m so pumped up for my “Teacher Skit.” I’m thinking that it’s going to be something really cool and hip and again I’ll be really impressed with how sassy I can still be. And then I found out I’m going to be a…wait for it…Spice Girl. But I am Scary Spice. And let’s be honest. She really was the coolest one of all. So I’m thinking a fro wig, big sunglasses and no one will know that it’s me lip syncing “Yo I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want. So tell me what you want what you really really want.”

It’s unsettling the way they think about some things. They just don’t consider the consequences of their actions. But duh, they’re teenagers. It’s wired into their brains not to think about the consequences of their actions. We went from, “marijuana is not as bad for you as cigarettes,” to “it’s not a real drug,” to “I’m not ok with other drugs, just that one,” and all other kinds of ridiculous things. Do I see how they could think these things? Yes, because I knew people in high school and college who thought the same way. Important point to note: most of those same people still haven’t finished college and don’t have much of a career, but who’s really keeping track, right? And they had fun and that’s all that really matters, apparently.

So we ended the discussion with me asking why they smoked marijuana. The answer they came up with was because it made things more fun. It’s amazing that people all over the world have been having fun without illegal substances for centuries, but whatever. I don’t know anything. And I also told them I just worry about them getting hurt or arrested or just screwing up their futures, because I do. And those things could totally happen. I pray they don’t and that God keeps them safe.

I was told a couple of years ago that our brains aren’t fully developed, fully grown, until we’re 25 years old. So really anyone under 25 is walking around with an undeveloped brain and after a lot of conversations like the one I had today, and others like how Americans are superior to all other people, I remind myself that I’m working with children whose brains are still growing. These kids are also doing all of these things that mess with your brain cells while their brains are still growing. Nice, so we’re left with lots of underdeveloped, damaged brains. Lord help us all.

I think when you grow up so much older than your siblings (sibling) you feel more like a parent than just a sister or at least I do. I feel like a mom almost. I mean I seriously can’t believe he’s 19. He’s like almost a grown up. It’s ridiculous and blowing my mind. I used to wonder what it would be like when I was grown up and he was a teenager and when he was almost grown up. And it’s pretty cool. He’s really cool and I’m glad he’s my brother. We have a ton of good memories growing up and I’m really glad we share them. He’s turned out to be a really cool guy.

So later we’re going to listen to a guy play at Barnes and Noble, but just so we haven’t lost touch with all growing up reality, we’re having cake with the grandparents after that.

I’m so blessed to have watched him grow up these last 19 years. I love you Matty. Happy Birthday.

So we saw Where the Wild Things Are today. It was weird and sad. It was good, but weird and sad. Let’s just say it’s not a kids movie. Did you hear me? NOT A KID’S MOVIE. So don’t take children please. It will make them think a lot about things that are sad that they really don’t need to worry about.

Did I enjoy the movie? Yes. It was a great adaptation of the children’s book, but it was an adult’s adaptation and obviously an adult without children or an adult without a general concern for children’s psychological well being. I mean it’s not really harming in any way. It’s just sad. I know kids deal with sadness in real life, but isn’t there enough of that? Do they need to see another movie about divorce and sister’s who don’t pay attention to them and anger and fear? I don’t think so.

There were about 1 bazillion kids in there with us and now I’m genuinely concerned about what they were thinking during the movie. READ movie reviews adults, before taking children to see movies. It’s important what kids see and absorb.

On a positive note, lots of good previews for movies coming out soon. I’m particularly interested in one with Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw where they take in a troubled kid and help turn his life around. The preview made me cry, which is not hard to do, but still, it looks good.

Something else positive, I went to see Where the Wild Things Are even though pretty much every fiber of me didn’t want to. Working on the selflessness with the hubby. I have a ways to go, but he’s really good at doing things with me that I enjoy that are probably not his fav, so I’m working on doing the same. And it didn’t kill me and I enjoyed the time spent with him. I have a great husband.

Work starts again tomorrow. VERY busy week. I think it will be good though. That’s a whole different area of wild things and not at all like the children’s book.

A quick add to this post: PUHLEASE check out this blog. www.thepioneerwoman.com soooo awesome. It’s not just a blog. It’s like 4 websites. Love, love, LOVE.

Another reason this week was rough is because I’m having a hard time leaving work at work. I don’t mean paperwork, although that is a challenge. I mean the emotional side of teaching teenagers and being involved in their lives. I prayed that God would use me with my kids this year to impact them with His love for Him, that I would be a vessel for His love and be used by Him in their lives. He is definitely doing that and I am worn out. They are wearing me out. Some of them are just making bad decisions and I keep finding out about it and it’s really hard for me. I feel a little knocked down every time. I just worry about them and their safety and well being. And then some of them are really struggling to find balance and even happiness in life. Those are the ones that I really have a hard time not carrying around. I just hurt for them. At first I did pretty well praying for them individually and just giving them over to the Lord. But this week was different in that there was more to worry about. There were more difficult situations. It was just overwhelming and I’m nearing the end of myself. But I’m really loving how Christ is strongest in our weakness. He is definitely showing me how true that is these past couple of weeks. So I’m trying to lean on Him every day through all the tough situations and conversations. He is good and I praise Him for having these kids this year and the opportunity to minister to them. I’m humbled by the fact that He could use me and so thankful that He does.

Tomorrow we have a teacher workday. It will be nice to have that time to catch up on paperwork. Then the week starts again. I have some difficult things to deal with and some tough conversations that will have to be had. I know that God will continue to provide wisdom, discernment and love and comfort.