There is a logic puzzle I love to work thru. It’s the growth pattern of plants.
Plants do not have a brain, so there plant hormones work in simple manners. There is no thyroid gland to direct the growth. For instance, the evergreen tree is an excellent example. They grow in a cone pattern, wide at the bottom, and narrow at the top. The hormone for outward growth is exuded from the roots. The branches at the bottom absorb it, and then what’s left makes its way up the trunk. By the time the hormone gets to the top branches, there is very little left in the sap. So the branches do not grow out, but up.
I planted some new roses bushes. I’m watching them, admiring the way they grow. Each leaf competes with the other leaves for sunlight. If I just knew enough, I could predict exactly how they will grow. I know how to recognize the growth of a rose blossom probably 3-4 months before it will bloom.
Since I’ve put the rose bushes in the ground, I’ve noticed that emotionally I’ve calmed down a lot. It’s as if it is me who’s been grounded, and not the plants. Maybe it’s the quiet observation of the plants that makes such a huge difference. Maybe it’s tugging at weeds, and releasing my frustration. I enjoy caring for them. They don’t argue like my kids. And they reward me so wonderfully.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
Talented and Gifted
Today I got paperwork home for my daughter to be enrolled in our school's talented and gifted program. Last year, when she was in Pre-K, her teacher said it was obvious this was a child destined for the Talented and Gifted program. It's been over a year, so I guess this was a long time coming.
I filled out the questionnaire. She scored as high as possible on everything. And now I have to come up with examples of her brilliant nature. I e-mailed my ex the questions so he can contribute, and sent them to my parents to help me.
I'm so proud of her.
And yet, my son is failing first grade. I see now that it will be a while before he qualifies for this program. He is a quiet, sensitive kid who studies the world. He is not as talkative as his sister, nor as demonstrative. He is studious. The school honors and rewards bright, friendly, creative kids.
I can see that both of my kids can go far in life. My daughter fits the ideal, and will get lots of help, and information. She will know the right things, and be Miss Popular. My son is the one that I catch studying my coffee table books. He looks at things, and thinks. He can play by himself, build stuff, and tell himself stories. And he's become suspicious that Mom is the House Fairy. He catches on to things that his sister misses. He's also the one who figured out that the only way of showing his teacher he wasn't happy was to not do his work. He doesn't rebel openly against her because then he would get in trouble.
I'm upset that it's going to take alot longer for the school to recognize and honor my son's intelligence. I'm very happy they've noticed my daughter.
I filled out the questionnaire. She scored as high as possible on everything. And now I have to come up with examples of her brilliant nature. I e-mailed my ex the questions so he can contribute, and sent them to my parents to help me.
I'm so proud of her.
And yet, my son is failing first grade. I see now that it will be a while before he qualifies for this program. He is a quiet, sensitive kid who studies the world. He is not as talkative as his sister, nor as demonstrative. He is studious. The school honors and rewards bright, friendly, creative kids.
I can see that both of my kids can go far in life. My daughter fits the ideal, and will get lots of help, and information. She will know the right things, and be Miss Popular. My son is the one that I catch studying my coffee table books. He looks at things, and thinks. He can play by himself, build stuff, and tell himself stories. And he's become suspicious that Mom is the House Fairy. He catches on to things that his sister misses. He's also the one who figured out that the only way of showing his teacher he wasn't happy was to not do his work. He doesn't rebel openly against her because then he would get in trouble.
I'm upset that it's going to take alot longer for the school to recognize and honor my son's intelligence. I'm very happy they've noticed my daughter.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Dear Principal,
My son is failing First Grade. Earlier this year I met with the counselor, and his teacher. We all agreed that his academic failings were based on his inability to complete work or turn it in on time.
The three of us discussed behavioral changes that could be made on the home front to assist him. I have made these changes, and have been consistent in them. His grades improved for the 3rd 6 weeks, but plummeted in the 4th six weeks.
His teacher suggested that Ian might be exhibiting signs of ADD. We completed the questionnaire. Her portion showed that his behavior warranted further investigation. The at home portion rated him within normal. I have since made some dietary changes that have dramatically improved his behavior at home and at school.
I have concluded that the academic problem lies at school, and not at home.
I have observed a basic personality conflict between my son and his teacher. They both rigidly adhere to structures and rules. He has become very frustrated in class. He is forced to adhere to his teacher's routines and has no room to create his own. He doesn't function well when he senses a loss of control. As Love and Logic teaches, a child without control over his own situation will find other ways to maintain control. The only thing left to him is to control how much work he completes.
He is so behind that he sees no way to get caught up. The overwhelming amount of work has scared off his desire to learn. He is caught in a cycle that will have him repeating first grade.
I am requesting that he be pulled out of this class and placed with another teacher. I know that another failed under this, but is now doing quite well under Mrs. F. I would like Ian placed in Mrs. F's classroom. Please help me resolve this situation so my son doesn't suffer the humiliation of repeating First Grade.
My son is failing First Grade. Earlier this year I met with the counselor, and his teacher. We all agreed that his academic failings were based on his inability to complete work or turn it in on time.
The three of us discussed behavioral changes that could be made on the home front to assist him. I have made these changes, and have been consistent in them. His grades improved for the 3rd 6 weeks, but plummeted in the 4th six weeks.
His teacher suggested that Ian might be exhibiting signs of ADD. We completed the questionnaire. Her portion showed that his behavior warranted further investigation. The at home portion rated him within normal. I have since made some dietary changes that have dramatically improved his behavior at home and at school.
I have concluded that the academic problem lies at school, and not at home.
I have observed a basic personality conflict between my son and his teacher. They both rigidly adhere to structures and rules. He has become very frustrated in class. He is forced to adhere to his teacher's routines and has no room to create his own. He doesn't function well when he senses a loss of control. As Love and Logic teaches, a child without control over his own situation will find other ways to maintain control. The only thing left to him is to control how much work he completes.
He is so behind that he sees no way to get caught up. The overwhelming amount of work has scared off his desire to learn. He is caught in a cycle that will have him repeating first grade.
I am requesting that he be pulled out of this class and placed with another teacher. I know that another failed under this, but is now doing quite well under Mrs. F. I would like Ian placed in Mrs. F's classroom. Please help me resolve this situation so my son doesn't suffer the humiliation of repeating First Grade.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Mom is not the House Fairy
My son has had a moment of brilliance. Mom is not the House Fairy! He is now totally sure that Mom is not bringing the wonderful little treats.
On Saturday I went out his House Fairy treat before we left to run errands. I was so scared he’d go into the bedroom before we left the house. And he did! But he didn’t see the surprise sitting up on his bed.
When we stopped by Wal-Mart, they had a wonderful supply of the characters from Cars. My son loves these, and will do anything for them. He has two versions of Lightening, and one Mater. They are often sold out of this hot commodity, so I picked up four different ones, promising to give them to the House Fairy to use as treats. He looked at me, as if he’d caught on to how this worked.
But when we got home, he found a double pack of Ramone, and Flo, two wonderful characters from the movie, already on his bed. He was completely stunned. His nice little theory went flying out the window, and he was left to conclude that the House Fairy really did come to our house.
Ever since then, he’s been regularly cleaning his room. Now he wants to go to sleep in case the House Fairy comes to bring him one of those great toys that he saw me buy.
I love the House Fairy!
On Saturday I went out his House Fairy treat before we left to run errands. I was so scared he’d go into the bedroom before we left the house. And he did! But he didn’t see the surprise sitting up on his bed.
When we stopped by Wal-Mart, they had a wonderful supply of the characters from Cars. My son loves these, and will do anything for them. He has two versions of Lightening, and one Mater. They are often sold out of this hot commodity, so I picked up four different ones, promising to give them to the House Fairy to use as treats. He looked at me, as if he’d caught on to how this worked.
But when we got home, he found a double pack of Ramone, and Flo, two wonderful characters from the movie, already on his bed. He was completely stunned. His nice little theory went flying out the window, and he was left to conclude that the House Fairy really did come to our house.
Ever since then, he’s been regularly cleaning his room. Now he wants to go to sleep in case the House Fairy comes to bring him one of those great toys that he saw me buy.
I love the House Fairy!
My accidental genuis
This is one of those days when I wish I had a scanner.
I was going thru my daughter’s binder and found this one page of schoolwork. Since the picture she was identifying was on the right hand side, she wrote the word from right to left. The words are completely backwards; I mean mirror image of what it should be. The order is reversed; the shape of the letter is backwards.
Mind you, this is the kid who sings the alphabet backwards. She is a precocious, brilliant child. I think she just saw an opportunity to write the answer in an interesting manner. Thinking of the answer was easy enough, and she had more than enough brainpower left over to write the word totally backwards.
I’m sunk when this kid grows up to a teenager.
I was going thru my daughter’s binder and found this one page of schoolwork. Since the picture she was identifying was on the right hand side, she wrote the word from right to left. The words are completely backwards; I mean mirror image of what it should be. The order is reversed; the shape of the letter is backwards.
Mind you, this is the kid who sings the alphabet backwards. She is a precocious, brilliant child. I think she just saw an opportunity to write the answer in an interesting manner. Thinking of the answer was easy enough, and she had more than enough brainpower left over to write the word totally backwards.
I’m sunk when this kid grows up to a teenager.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Football!
I am training up a wonderful footballer. My hallway has become our football pitch. We kick the ball back and forth. He screams in pleasure!
Yes, I bought my son a soccer ball for his birthday. He has informed me it is not a football. A football in a brown oval thing that you carry, Mom! See, I told him, how can that be a football, now look see, dis one-dis one we use da feet!
My one rule, hands are not used on our ball. As a result, both my kids have learned ball control techniques within the 3 days this ball has been bouncing around our home.
Tonight we spent about ten minutes kicking the ball up and down the hallway. My son still tries to use the front of his foot, but he’s quickly finding out that hurts his toes. He sees me use the side of my foot, and he’s trying to imitate me.
I got in a couple of really hard kicks. He squealed with glee, especially when the ball went high and hit the wall. I stared at him, the ashamed look of a child, and he laughed at me. Mommy became just the same as him, a kid enjoying the ball.
We’ll have to take the ball to a park around here this weekend and really chase it! Run and kick and have a good time! He’s got a lot of learning to do.
When I was seven, I was in Nigeria, playing football against the village kids. All of them knew how to control the ball, and all I could do was put my leg in the foray. I was no match for them.
My son is the same. He will never be a star player, and so what! He’s having a ton of fun, and burning off some energy!
Yes, I bought my son a soccer ball for his birthday. He has informed me it is not a football. A football in a brown oval thing that you carry, Mom! See, I told him, how can that be a football, now look see, dis one-dis one we use da feet!
My one rule, hands are not used on our ball. As a result, both my kids have learned ball control techniques within the 3 days this ball has been bouncing around our home.
Tonight we spent about ten minutes kicking the ball up and down the hallway. My son still tries to use the front of his foot, but he’s quickly finding out that hurts his toes. He sees me use the side of my foot, and he’s trying to imitate me.
I got in a couple of really hard kicks. He squealed with glee, especially when the ball went high and hit the wall. I stared at him, the ashamed look of a child, and he laughed at me. Mommy became just the same as him, a kid enjoying the ball.
We’ll have to take the ball to a park around here this weekend and really chase it! Run and kick and have a good time! He’s got a lot of learning to do.
When I was seven, I was in Nigeria, playing football against the village kids. All of them knew how to control the ball, and all I could do was put my leg in the foray. I was no match for them.
My son is the same. He will never be a star player, and so what! He’s having a ton of fun, and burning off some energy!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Sugar
I ate some sugar today, actually some candy. Bad idea, really bad idea!
I passed the candy bowl in the lobby as I went to the break room. Jessica had refilled it with my favorites, so I grabbed a few thinking nothing of it. In the break room I pulled out my granola bar, and took the candy back to my desk. As I popped the first piece in my mouth it dawned on me that these were really just little pieces of stress, and with the day I was already having, eating them was not a good idea.
But with the stress I was having, I wanted to indulge myself. And besides, it hurt so much to think of throwing them away, or putting them back in the bowl. So I ate the first one. I felt my body slow down, a nice lethargy creep over me, something akin to the quiet peace that invades as I snuggle up in bed. I ripped open the second one. Only a few bites into it, my head became light, and the all pervasive feeling of anxiety swept away any pleasure. And yet I continued to finish off the candy. By the time I was done I knew that my mental nick-name of "bits of stress" for candy was a very real name. I feel light headed, and unfocused. I was clawing my way back to reality, anxious and nervous.
Sugar. Not a good thing in my book. Stay away from it. It's a poison.
I passed the candy bowl in the lobby as I went to the break room. Jessica had refilled it with my favorites, so I grabbed a few thinking nothing of it. In the break room I pulled out my granola bar, and took the candy back to my desk. As I popped the first piece in my mouth it dawned on me that these were really just little pieces of stress, and with the day I was already having, eating them was not a good idea.
But with the stress I was having, I wanted to indulge myself. And besides, it hurt so much to think of throwing them away, or putting them back in the bowl. So I ate the first one. I felt my body slow down, a nice lethargy creep over me, something akin to the quiet peace that invades as I snuggle up in bed. I ripped open the second one. Only a few bites into it, my head became light, and the all pervasive feeling of anxiety swept away any pleasure. And yet I continued to finish off the candy. By the time I was done I knew that my mental nick-name of "bits of stress" for candy was a very real name. I feel light headed, and unfocused. I was clawing my way back to reality, anxious and nervous.
Sugar. Not a good thing in my book. Stay away from it. It's a poison.
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