Do you feel rewarded?

While the kids were in school, I got some reading done, 3 discussion questions and wrote up all assignment due dates in my calendar.  Non school, I washed/dried/folded 2 loads of laundry.  I felt accomplished today.

I went to pick the kids up and one of their teachers, Ms. Kelly, was eager to speak with me.  She started out saying that I should get the mom of the year award.  I looked at her cockeyed.  Me?  No-way!  So I listened.  She went on and told me that my kids are so well behaved, have very good manners, listen and eat well.  What?  My kids?  We do instill all those traits to them every single day.  I feel like we harp on them consistently to use their manners, say yes ma'am, no ma'am, please, thank you, your welcome, etc.... If someone asks you to do something, you do it without fuss.  At home, it gets stressful because I feel like that's all I do all day long, so I wasn't seeing it.  They see it though and they appreciate kids that do what they're told and using their manners.  I'm glad my kids are 2 of them.

She also said that she likes that I pack them well balanced lunches and that the kids actually enjoy them.  I guess some kids don't eat what their parents send and some parents just send snacks.  What?  Snacks!  Now if we can get Sterling to eat her sandwich with her meal.  She's never been a fan, but one day, one day she will eat that sandwich!  She told the kids at lunch today that she wants their mommy to pack her lunch, lol!  I guess they liked that idea.

I guess it's time to sit back and notice that "training" kids does go rewarded.  It makes my heart happy to hear such praises about my children.

I do also like to hear the areas we need to work on.  Such as sharing :)

Xander has been in a hitting/pushing phase with Sterling.  I harp on him to be sweet to her.  I go on and ask him if he likes to be pushed or hit?  Of course not.  So then I tell him that it's not nice to hit or push and that he hurts that person's feelings and that it's not allowed.  We're working on it.  He doesn't do this at school, yet, but it's still something we are working on.

So maybe when I'm feeling overwhelmed and harping for them to do something a different way, maybe I should sit back and realize they know what I'm trying to say.  They're just showing me in a way I'd much rather them not.  Ms. Kelly's words were just what I needed to hear.  Parenting is hard, much harder than I ever anticipated, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

School School and more School

We are in school overload in this house!  I started full time, which means 9 credits, which means 3 classes this semester!  That's a lot (for me).  In my previous master's program I was taking one, which was the perfect amount.  Now, I'm about to be MIA for the next 4 months with no time for anything other than reading, writing papers, discussing chapter concepts, and taking exams.  Let's hope I don't get the classes confused and start submitting homework to the wrong class.  I already had a case of "what class am I working on!"  The first week is usually laid back, getting familiar with the class schedules, writing up introductions and readings.  

My classes are People Process Culture, Advanced Quality Management, and Seminar in Operations Management.  Sounds fun, right?!

I see many afternoons of downing Mtn Dew, and munching on carrots and apples.  I'll start going to the library next week to be able to focus and not get distracted since this week is just organizing my schedule.  I've already submitted my homework that is due this week.  Just have to finish up reading, which I'll do in 45 minutes.  

The kids are loving school 4 days a week.  Their teachers have started putting them on the potty, but Xander is still strong willed about not using the bathroom at school.  Not sure why since he's so good about it at home.  Sterling has peed once in the toilet at home but has been staying dry ALL day at school.  Not sure if I should be concerned or if she's just ready to use the potty?  

Xander has been interested in "writing" names lately.  It's cute.  He'll grab his water pen/book and say he has a surprise for us.  He's showing us our names.  I'll have to get a picture, too cute!  He also likes to draw people.  Hilarious looking right now!  Again, need a picture.

I'm submitting Xander's preschool registration form today.  Fun!

Thoughts

This post will be all over the place.  I'm sick, miserable, but feel like talking.  Kids are at school, so you're my company.

Last week there was a 5 year old little girl that was shot and killed while eating breakfast in her home.  How sad!  There is so much more violence than I thought possible here in the Omaha area.  Maybe it's more than I need to know about because there is no other news to report so the news stations report all the crimes?  I've lived in Hampton, VA...A LOT of crime happens there, but didn't hear about it ever day.  I like knowing where things happen so I can stay away.  

A few days ago, a workplace collapsed, 2 people have died.  I really do like watching the local news, keeps me in the loop.  I think they said there were 37 employees there at the time of the explosion, but I haven't seen yet if everyone is accounted for.

I had a dream that one of my friends from the military died.  Just a dream, thank God!  She's an awesome person so I'd hate to see her husband, family and friends lose her.

I'm miserable.  My head is pounding.  What does a migraine feel like?  I think I have it, whatever it is.  It's most likely just a really nasty head-cold.  I've been sick since Saturday night, then got worse Sunday and still bad today.  High fevers, drenched shirts as I sleep...yet I'm freaking freezing cold!  This flu season really hard on me.  Ii officially sucks!  We got our flu shots back in December, but I guess we didn't get immune.  Xander started this mess last week Tuesday, was home from PDO the rest of the week.  Nick and Sterling caught it Thursday.  Sterling was home Friday too.  No one was left out on this shindig.  I've been doped up on Dayquil, Nyquil, Motrin, Mucinex, and now Robitussin nasal relief.

Last night I took Sterling to the doctor to have a blistery breakout that she has looked at.  She's had it for like 3 weeks and it's not going away.  It doesn't bother her.  It's more me being dumbfounded by it.  Where did this come from?  What the heck is it?  It's not contagious, we know that.  So Dr. Hill said it looks as if something poisonous like poison ivy brushed up against her.  I don't have any idea.  I know we haven't been around poison ivy, so shouldn't be that.  He prescribed her a steroid cream that we'll apply twice a day for a week.  If it still does not go away, we'll then go see a skin doctor.

Potty training is actually going amazing!  When we're home, he uses the potty.  When we're out, he wants nothing to do with it and demands his diaper on.  Now we're trying to get him to use the potty at school.  I ask him every morning and its still "no, i don't want to use the potty at school".  I'm not going to push it, it will happen when it happens.  His teachers have been putting him (and Sterling!) on the potty though, just so he don't have to be afraid.

Nick hasn't been able to apply for the volunteer separation just yet.  For now they have pulled the officer's volunteer positions.  So now we just wait for it to reopen so we can apply.  He checks the dashboard every day!  On the day this happened, Nick thought maybe it was a "sign" that he should stay in.  No buddy, there's no "sign" until you're signing your name  :)

This is my last week before school starts and the craziness starts.  I'm not too excited right now, but that's probably because my head is pounding and I can't think straight.  I'll be taking 3! classes.  Yes, 3!  That's A LOT at once for a master's degree.  I had plans to work on applique and sewing, but yeah, that has not happened.  I don't think it'd be a good idea to inhale the fumes from the quilting spray while I have a pounding headache.