First, we thought we were weird to be feeling anything but thrilled to be home during the day, not working. It was nice to know I wasn't the only one and to have someone to talk to about it. Secondly, and most importantly, talking with her today just reinforces to me the importance of having another person to connect with and share your common interests with. Getting to know someone better over coffee is a great thing! I am going to continue to make coffee dates with those I want to catch up with, friends that I want to reconnect with, new friends that I don't know as well as I would like to, and those that I love whole-heartedly, but haven't made time for lately. To listen and be heard.
Showing posts with label time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time. Show all posts
Monday, February 9, 2015
Coffee Connections
I met with a friend, and former coworker of mine, for coffee this morning. She has also recently left teaching after many years. The events that led to her decision to leave the classroom were very similar to mine and she and I decided to meet in order to talk about the transition, or troubles with transitioning, to become the stay-at-home mom. I've shared some of my own struggle in a previous post, and it was really nice to talk with another mom going through the same transitions. It was great to be able to share our new found freedom, and talk about our kids (favorite subjects right?), but what I loved most about this time together was two things.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
apples and trees
Recently though, I've been able to find more similarities between my dad and I because I was blessed to have him with us at our home. Over the summer as I traveled east to his home in PA, we had a lot of time to talk and reminisce and muse about the future. Being diagnosed with cancer contributed to his musings; he knew his time was shorter than we all planned it to be. He knew that he didn't have a lot of time to do and see all he wanted to.So we talked, rambled, looked deeply at things. We watched for little joys in the day; like the deer that wandered into his yard daily and the hummingbird that flew to his new feeder moments after we hung it up. We looked at the kids playing in the yard and marveled at their creativity and intelligence at work. We laughed together at old pictures and knew how important it is to take those pictures to save the stories that we might forget later on. I save those moments too. I write them down and cherish the stories. We walked around the lake near his house. One day we went together, another day with my own kids, and it was bittersweet to me that we wouldn't continue to do this with him. I will continue to take my kids to the forest preserves, lakes, camping, hiking and show them the beauty of outdoors...but it will be without my dad walking with us. He knew it was important to teach kids about the names of animals and trees. To notice the difference in bird calls and leaf patterns and fish that you catch (and release). Mark and I will keep that going.
As a teacher, I know the importance of education. But I know that and feel it in my bones because my dad taught it to me. He wanted us all to do our best and get an education. He saved and worked hard to make sure we had our shot to go to college. I blew my opportunity from him and disappointed him to the heart, I'm very sure of that. But I worked hard later and graduated from college because I WANTED it. And I know he was proud of that later. I know he was proud of ME. I'm glad he saw me graduate and do something with my education. I'm glad he knew it worked out in the end and I learned from my mistakes. Because we're both pretty stubborn. If there is an idea in our heads, we aren't going to let it go lightly. It really is impossible not to look at my own kids and how we parent them, when going through all the old pictures and hearing the stories from my aunts about Dad's childhood and growing up. As we planned his memorial, the stories flowed, as they often do, and Dad's sisters told stories of how he picked on them, defended them, got into trouble, saved the day, worked and was lazy. I loved watching their faces as they told the stories. He was protective of his sisters, like Adam to Lucy, but also tormented them because that's his right as the brother! Love it!
My dad died on November 9, 2012.
One month before his 67th birthday. I was there, alonge with his sisters and our immediate family, when he left this life and walked home with Jesus. I watched the light leave his eyes, and the pain leave his face. I remembered every single time I knew I disappointed him and a few times I managed to make him proud. I know that he wanted to do much, much more with us, but our time and God's time runs very differently. Dad told me that I shouldn't wait forever to do the things I really can do now. He told me to love and hold on to my kids, to respect and care for my husband, to be a strong wife and mother. He told me to be sensitive to them and be careful with my words. Words can hurt. So I'm trying Dad. I'm trying to do that. So that I can be what you modeled for us, and learn from your mistakes too. People often use the phrase "apples and trees" -usually while rolling our eyes a bit- to compare children to their parents. I hope I CAN follow what Dad told me. Because it would be an honor to have someone say "apples and trees" when they look at me, and think of my dad. He was a good man, strong parent and I feel confident that on his walk Home, he was told "well done my good and faithful servant". Miss you Dad.
.
As a teacher, I know the importance of education. But I know that and feel it in my bones because my dad taught it to me. He wanted us all to do our best and get an education. He saved and worked hard to make sure we had our shot to go to college. I blew my opportunity from him and disappointed him to the heart, I'm very sure of that. But I worked hard later and graduated from college because I WANTED it. And I know he was proud of that later. I know he was proud of ME. I'm glad he saw me graduate and do something with my education. I'm glad he knew it worked out in the end and I learned from my mistakes. Because we're both pretty stubborn. If there is an idea in our heads, we aren't going to let it go lightly. It really is impossible not to look at my own kids and how we parent them, when going through all the old pictures and hearing the stories from my aunts about Dad's childhood and growing up. As we planned his memorial, the stories flowed, as they often do, and Dad's sisters told stories of how he picked on them, defended them, got into trouble, saved the day, worked and was lazy. I loved watching their faces as they told the stories. He was protective of his sisters, like Adam to Lucy, but also tormented them because that's his right as the brother! Love it!My dad died on November 9, 2012.
One month before his 67th birthday. I was there, alonge with his sisters and our immediate family, when he left this life and walked home with Jesus. I watched the light leave his eyes, and the pain leave his face. I remembered every single time I knew I disappointed him and a few times I managed to make him proud. I know that he wanted to do much, much more with us, but our time and God's time runs very differently. Dad told me that I shouldn't wait forever to do the things I really can do now. He told me to love and hold on to my kids, to respect and care for my husband, to be a strong wife and mother. He told me to be sensitive to them and be careful with my words. Words can hurt. So I'm trying Dad. I'm trying to do that. So that I can be what you modeled for us, and learn from your mistakes too. People often use the phrase "apples and trees" -usually while rolling our eyes a bit- to compare children to their parents. I hope I CAN follow what Dad told me. Because it would be an honor to have someone say "apples and trees" when they look at me, and think of my dad. He was a good man, strong parent and I feel confident that on his walk Home, he was told "well done my good and faithful servant". Miss you Dad.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
sometimes you get what you need
My family went away yesterday to participate in Adam's Cub Scout summer camp out. It was a sleeping in a tent situation. There is definitely a reason why I was in favor of purchasing our camper. I love the campfires, the outdoors, the exploring new places, the hiking. I like having doors that latch to separate us from the outside, and separate us from a bathroom. Of my own. So I opted out of the Cub Scout camp out, but Mark took the kids. At first I thought I would have a few friends over to my house for drinks and girl gossip. Then my thoughts moved on to just calling them up for drinks out. But ultimately I didn't do either of those things. When do I EVER get the chance to be alone in my own house? So I went for a mani/pedi and enjoyed the quiet of salon. Then I picked up dinner and a bottle of wine and came home to the quiet of my own home. I ate dinner lounging in a bean bag chair. I played Words with Friends to my hearts content. I poured a second glass of wine and turned on movies that I've wanted to see, but knew I couldn't EVER watch them with kids around. And I watched reruns of Glee. With the volume turned up. REALLY LOUD. After that I just went up to bed and realized that although my chance at a wild night out with the girls was over, I really did get what I needed. Peace and quiet and a bit of time on my own. But I sure was happy to see my family walk in the door this morning!
Monday, February 20, 2012
and they lived happily ever after
Mark and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on Friday. In this day and age, and considering all that life can throw your way in general, I am very proud of this. On the snowy, cold day that we said "I do" to each other we really couldn't have any idea what that really meant. Three step-sons, two children and a grandchild later...we are only just beginning to figure it out. But God put us together for better and for worse--we've seen both. He put us together in sickness and in health--we've see both. For richer and for poorer--we've seen both. And we're only just beginning. To celebrate, we finally made arrangements for a weekend away without kids. We didn't want to be gone too far so we decided to stay in Chicago. We booked a nice hotel, ate delicious food, shopped, talked, drank wine, saw a comedy show, napped. It was a great comfort knowing that our kids were excited for their planned sleepovers with family members, and we could enjoy the time with each other. Here's to many more years to come; to living happily ever after.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
joy and panic
So. I took out the calendar this morning and just took a look at the upcoming events in the Wold Household to get a handle on the week ahead. Just out of curiosity I began to count the actual days of school remaining in this year. Are you ready for this??
36.
Now if you're a "layperson" in the education field, this may not matter much to you. For those of us in the throngs of 4th grade, kindergarten, high school biology or middle school English...you get it. 36 days. 36 days. 36 days.
36 days to finish your last 2 US regions, states and capitals. 36 days to finish the last 2 units of math. 36 days to teach persuasive writing. To make sure all those kids who are still writing incomplete sentences are ready for 5th grade writing! To get those who still don't know their multiplication facts motivated to practice them! 36 days to reach that kid who so far this year seems...unreachable. 36 days to inspire that kid who never reads, only page-turns a book, to find a book or an author that interests her. 36 days. Panic.
36 days until we can be home with our children and get to be the ones who spend the days with them. 36 days until I can play in my garden and read books to my heart's content. 36 days until we can stay in our pjs until lunchtime if we want to. 36 days until we know our Brazil friend is on her way home to us. 36 days until the kids have my undivided attention, and I have theirs. 36 days until camping trips, bonfires, lightning bugs, long walks, popsicles, and bare feet the come inside black and green on the bottom from grass and dirt. 36 days. Joy.
In reality, out of those 36 days are last field trips, field days, assemblies, special readers, a few early dismissal days, memory scrapbooks and picnics. Our 36 days quickly dwindle down to maybe 28 days...and in perfect Seinfeldian (I may have just invented that word) style...our 36 days just became, really, like 28. Really...it's only like 4 weeks of school left until summer break.
Joy. And Panic. :)
36.
Now if you're a "layperson" in the education field, this may not matter much to you. For those of us in the throngs of 4th grade, kindergarten, high school biology or middle school English...you get it. 36 days. 36 days. 36 days.
36 days to finish your last 2 US regions, states and capitals. 36 days to finish the last 2 units of math. 36 days to teach persuasive writing. To make sure all those kids who are still writing incomplete sentences are ready for 5th grade writing! To get those who still don't know their multiplication facts motivated to practice them! 36 days to reach that kid who so far this year seems...unreachable. 36 days to inspire that kid who never reads, only page-turns a book, to find a book or an author that interests her. 36 days. Panic.
36 days until we can be home with our children and get to be the ones who spend the days with them. 36 days until I can play in my garden and read books to my heart's content. 36 days until we can stay in our pjs until lunchtime if we want to. 36 days until we know our Brazil friend is on her way home to us. 36 days until the kids have my undivided attention, and I have theirs. 36 days until camping trips, bonfires, lightning bugs, long walks, popsicles, and bare feet the come inside black and green on the bottom from grass and dirt. 36 days. Joy.
In reality, out of those 36 days are last field trips, field days, assemblies, special readers, a few early dismissal days, memory scrapbooks and picnics. Our 36 days quickly dwindle down to maybe 28 days...and in perfect Seinfeldian (I may have just invented that word) style...our 36 days just became, really, like 28. Really...it's only like 4 weeks of school left until summer break.
Joy. And Panic. :)
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