And the Votes Are In!

So yesterday was Election Day at the kid's school.

All children heard speeches on Monday from the upper class mates running for Student Government President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

In their own classrooms, each candidate had to give a short speech about why they would make the best classroom rep to Student Government.

Miss M and Drewby both gave their campaigns their best effort.

Votes were cast on Tuesday and results were announced this morning.

At pick up this afternoon...the looks on their faces said it all.

Drewby and Miss M were both defeated by other students.

Miss M took the loss in stride...this was (after all) her 5th attempt at a Representative spot.

Drewby took the loss a little bit harder.

But he was pleased with the little girl who won for his classroom.

I was also very proud of Miss M.

She clapped for the winner of her class and made it a point to personally go over and congratulate her after the announcement.

Miss M actually seemed a bit shocked the other losing candidates did not do this.

Miss M is really growing into quite a young woman.

She has her moments when she shows us through her actions and words, that for the last 10 1/2 years she has been listening, and paying attention to know what is the right thing to do in situations.

It does appear that next year, Miss M will not be running for office again.

After 5 years, she is (finally) abandoning her political aspirations.

Drewby on the other hand, made it a point in the van to talk about how he will change his campaign for next year.

And how he hopes a certain little girl is NOT in his class next year!

At least we have a year to prepare....not that I am that organized!

Til next time, I'll still be...

Being Brenda

Campaign Central

So it is that time of the year again - Election time!

For Student Government, that is.

Both of my kids have decided to run for their respective classroom Representative positions.

For Miss M, this will be the fifth year she will be running (yes, she has run each year since 1st grade - unsuccessfully - but remains determined)

For Drewby, this is the first year he is able to run.

Tonight was campaign poster making night. Drewby came up with the idea for his poster...and I helped a little on the computer and with the big cutter.

"Score a Touchdown...Vote for Drewby" is his slogan. He put his face on a flying football...very cute.

He is one of 12 kids in his class (of 23) running for class representative.

Miss M was in total control of hers. It is filled with a picture of her, her slogan "Your choice for a New voice", and traits she possesses which would make her a good rep.

Oh and we cannot forget the pink hearts, yellow stars, and green clovers...just kidding (about the green clovers).

She is one of 9 kids, out of 22 running for class rep.

Tomorrow night will be sticker making night (since we don't have the button making gadget we do round stickers).

And there is a strict policy of no candy hand-outs. (that was Drewby's first choice!)

Which is a good thing as one of the girls in Miss M's grade is our State Reps daughter. The one year she ran, there were helium balloons with her name on them as a hand-out.

I don't even try to compete with that!

Then, they will both have speeches to write and the weekend to work on presenting them.

Next Monday is Rally Day, when they will each give their speech to their classes.

And next Tuesday, is Election Day.

It is a busy week for a 6 and 10 year old - on top of homework and sports.

Of course, I am way more into this campaign than the actual political campaign going on. (On that front I am still undecided.)

As for our homefront campaign - I know who my choices would definitely be.

Oh that's right - only the students get to vote!

So I will wait (impatiently) for the results of this election to come in next Wednesday.



Til next time, I'll still be...



Being Brenda

What a Week!

I cannot believe it has been so long since I've had a chance to post.

Mondays are our "free days" here. No one has any after school or evening activities. So that was my last chance to post.

One of the things making this week so crazy is Miss M's homework.

She is technically in 5th grade - but her and some other kids have tested for placement into 6th grade math.

She can totally handle the work, understands the math concepts - it is the sheer volume of homework.

She has 30 math problems each night. Most of which have multiple steps, with all work needing to be shown.

Add onto that, spelling - written word definitions, and sentences.

Then she has social studies - writing key words and definitions, as well as the occassional worksheet.

Then she has English - at least a page or two of various English papers (definitions, dictionary skills, etc.)

Then she has science - questions or worksheets or definitions. Oh and she has a biome project due in 10 days.

Then she has reading - typically review/reread the story and answer questions in writing. Or read pages in the current novel being read. (Big project subject)

Then she has Religion - which at the 5th grade level is very conceptual, and requires a significant amount of rereading and discussion. (another big project subject)

Add onto all this homework, which has been taking approx. 2 1/2 hours each night - two nights of cheerleading practice and two nights of field hockey practice.

Now the diocese has established homework guidelines for each grade level. For 5th grade, the guideline is 60-90 minutes per night.

I have talked to other parents, and this is not just happening with Miss M. Many of the students are taking 2 - 3 hours to complete the assigned homework each night.

Thank goodness I pick the kids up at school and she is home by 3pm. She ends up doing homework until 5pm when we leave to go to various practices. Then we are home by 8:30pm, she eats and finishes her homework, showers, and gets to bed around 10pm.

So here is my question, is this typical homework for a 5th grader? (Miss M is my firstborn - so I really don't know what to expect)

I also cannot ask any 5th grade parents from last year - as this is the first year the school has allowed advanced placement of 5th graders into 6th grade math.

What do you all think? What has been your experience?

Til next time, I'll still be...

Being Brenda

Rules...and Consequences

I am having a hard time with something.

Rules.

More specifically, how certain rules often times do not apply equally to everyone.

And it is partially me having the problem, but more so Miss M.

See, over vacation Miss M wanted so much to have one of those hair wraps put in her hair. I figured, it's the end of June, it will come unravelled or fall out by the time school starts.

And it looked quite cute on her.

So the first week of school, the children have a "Fashion Show" detailing what is appropriate to wear with their uniforms, and what is not.

You guessed it, hair wraps are not allowed. All girls were told, by the principal, to have them removed by 9/2.

And of course, Miss M's hair wrap was still fully intact.

So, Monday night - Labor Day, Aunt Kiki painstakingly used a seam ripper to remove the hair wrap and save Miss M's locks.

All last week, things were good in school.

Friday, I pick Miss M and Drewby up from school.

Here's the conversation that occurred:

M: "Mom, (girl's name) still has her hair wrap in"

Me: "Really?"

M: "Yeah, she said her mom (who works at the school as a teacher's aide) asked the principal and was told she could keep her wrap in. Why would the principal do that? All the other girls and I had to take ours out and we all listened. It's not fair."

Me: "No M, it's not fair. Are you sure you heard the principal correctly at the fashion show?"

M: "Yes. We were told we had to take them out. My teacher was even the one who asked"

Hubby was.not.happy.

Those hair wraps are pretty expensive. And I can totally understand not wanting to have to either 1) cut the hair wrap out or 2) like Kiki did, rip the wrap out and deal with the knotted mess of hair underneath.

But we, like all the others, followed the rule. Without Question.

Hubby was ready to go right back to school Friday and demand to see the principal. Luckily for me, he had to leave for work.

Had this all occurred on Thursday, I probably would have also been THAT parent on Friday morning. But it was Friday afternoon. I had all weekend to mull this over.

So, in a rare moment of brilliance, I decided to teach Miss M how to use her voice.

I told Miss M that if she didn't think this was fair - she should approach the principal for clarification. I am her mom, and will support her always. But I will not (for lack of a better phrase) fight her battles for her. She can stand on her own if she feels unfairly treated.

So on Monday, Miss M bravely spoke to the principal.

M: "Principal(P), may I ask you a question?"

P: "Sure Miss M. What can I do for you?"

M: "Did I hear you correctly at the fashion show - you stated all hair wraps were to be removed. Correct?"

P: "Yes. You heard me correctly."

M: "Well, there is a girl who still has her hair wrap in. Should I say something to her about it?" (this part was not completely done how we had rehearsed)

P:" No, and don't say any names. I will keep an eye out and when I see this girl, I will remind her it needs to be removed."

M: "Thanks!"

So we waited.

Miss M came home from school today.

M: "Mom, (girl) still has her hair wrap in. She said she was told by the principal she can keep it in until it falls out or comes unwrapped. But the principal told me she would tell her to take it out."

Now, I am more than a little disturbed.

Either, this girl is a great liar - and keeps well away from the principal.

Or, the principal lied to my daughter.

Either way - I am torn about what to do.

I do not want to be the mom that rushes into the school when something does not go my kid's way.

But I do not feel rules should be selectively applied either.

However, I know there may be exceptions made for circumstances, but then should that not be explained - as best possible - if questioned?

Please help me out here.

Should I not expect the rules to apply to all students? Should I not expect the principal to be forthright with my daughter?

Hubby is not happy that this is a school where morals and values are being taught but not reinforced.

Because what is it teaching the majority of the kids who DO follow the rules, when those few kids who do NOT follow the rules suffer no consequences?

Til next time, I'll still be...

Being Brenda

My Little Man

Today, Miss M and Drewby went back to school.

It is hard to believe Miss M is starting 5th grade and Drewby is in 1st grade.

Drewby has the same teacher Miss M had for 1st grade.

I walked Drewby to his classroom as he was a little apprehensive.

The teacher welcomed him warmly. She showed him where to place his bookbag and bag of tissues and paper towels.

He saw several friends from last year.

Then he was fine.

So fine, he walked into the classroom without giving me a hug or kiss.

I was a little (okay, more than a little) shocked.

Is this the same little boy who held my hand walking down the hall?

Who needs to sit right next to me (or on my lap) whenever he can?

Who needs to be tucked into bed several times by me to be able to sleep?

Who would give me a hug and a kiss every hour of every day if he could?

Yes, it is the same little boy, although he is not so little anymore.

He is growing up quickly, learning something new everyday.

At the end of the school day, Drewby came running right out to me and gave me that big hug I didn't get this morning.

Then he and Miss M took turns telling me all the great things that happened today.

And we all went for an ice cream cone to celebrate the beginning of a new school year, and for me to remember my kids will only be little once.

Although, Miss M will always be my baby girl and ...

Drewby will always be my little man.


Til next time, I'll still be.....

Being Brenda

Back to School Time

I cannot believe summer is coming to an end.

Miss M and Drewby will be starting school on Monday.

Class lists came out, school supply and uniform shopping has been done.

Last year, we decided to forego the cheap "character" backpacks for the kids and invest in really good backpacks. And it was a good decision. Both Miss M's and Drewby's backpacks are in great shape still.

That is not good news to a 10-year old.

Backpacks - to my Catholic school, uniform wearing children - are the equivalent of name-brand clothes to public school students.

I had no idea.

Miss M is horrified that someone will notice she is using the same backpack from last year.

Here was the conversation:

Miss M: "Can I get one of these backpacks for school?"

Me: "No, we bought you a good backpack last year and it is still in good shape."

Miss M: "Please Mom?"

Me: "No, you're using your backpack from last year."

Miss M: "Are you serious?"

Me: "Yes, I'm serious. You're backpack is still fine."

Miss M: "You know, I will be, like, the only one using the same backpack. All the cool backpacks are like this (holding up a backpack the looks very similar in style - just a different color/pattern to what she already has - with a price tag of $59.99)"

Me: "Well, I'm sorry honey but that's just the way it is. Your backpack is in fine shape."

Miss M: "You so don't get it. This is the cool backpack - I will look stupid with my old backpack."

Me: "You will not look stupid."

Miss M: "Whatever. You don't get it."


Maybe I don't get it.

But we had spent almost that much on her backpack last year - with the intention that it would last for two years.

And she knew that. She spent hours (well, maybe not hours, but a long time) picking out her current backpack.

We also still had new uniforms to purchase for both Miss M and Drewby, as well as both school shoes and sneakers. (Miss M has moved up into skorts and polo shirts from the jumper dress.)

So I was staying firm on no new backpacks.

Then I got to thinking about back to school shopping when I was a kid.
(I went to public school.)

I always looked forward to that shopping day - the new jeans (I remember my first pair of Jordache jeans), new tops, and sneakers.

I always had an entire new outfit on the first day of school.
(My mom probably still has all those pictures)

Miss M and Drewby have not ever had that experience. Going out and shopping for a whole new "wardrobe".

Each summer, we go to one store - the uniform store, and buy clothes that look exactly like what everyone else in the school will be wearing.

They have other clothes too, but we purchase things here and there.

Never all at once.

So now Miss M has asked for a pair of Marc Echo Red sneakers.

They're a new name brand. Vanessa Hudgens wears them - or, at least does in the commercials.

The equivalent of Nikes when I was in school. And I remember my first pair of Nike's too.

So, I guess I do get it.

Since we skipped the new backpack, and she needs new sneakers anyway...Miss M will be getting a pair of Marc Echo Red sneakers.

I only hope she's allowed to wear them to school.

Maybe she will remember the day she got her first pair of Marc Echo Red's - just like I remember my first pair of Jordache jeans and Nike sneakers.


Til next time, I'll still be....

Being Brenda