Musings from a middle school reading specialist. I encourage my students to read, talk, write, and have fun!
I parent two amazing young-adult daughters with my husband of 30+ years.

March 31, 2015

Finished SOLC #31

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Finished is a word I rarely use.

I hear, "I'm done!" from my first graders way too much.  I want to say to them, 
"You're not done (because you're not a casserole), and you will never truly be finished, 
unless you give up."

To me finished means...

you stop changing
you stop growing (emotionally, socially)
you stop learning.

Finished means you have moved on and never want to return 
to this project, this person, this anything.

I prefer to use the words in progress.

I'm in progress of becoming more organized
(all right, who am I kidding)
I'm in progress of becoming a better 
mother
teacher
friend
listener
wife
exerciser
(I walked a mile today!)
eater.

I don't know if I'll ever be finished with anything
or anyone.

The Slice of Life Challenge is over today,
but the writing continues,
on Tuesdays,
or any day you care to write.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.  

8 comments:

  1. To be finished is not something I want either. Maybe with some physical tasks, but not with learning, growing, living, slicing, etc. Thanks for sharing your words--simply profound.

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  2. I love your take on "being finished" Chris! You are right we should never be finished because there is always more! I never really thought about it this way...thanks you are so smart! See you on Tuesday! xoxo

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  3. Each day, I find blogs I've not met before! I love, love, love this post! This might be my favorite line I can snatch to use with my second graders: "You're not done (because you're not a casserole)". They will certainly look at me funny when I say that!

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  4. Each day, I find blogs I've not met before! I love, love, love this post! This might be my favorite line I can snatch to use with my second graders: "You're not done (because you're not a casserole)". They will certainly look at me funny when I say that!

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  5. Your slice is perfect for how I'm feeling today. I so enjoyed reading your slices! You are a very talented writer! I will be stopping by to read more on Tuesdays. Thanks for all your encouragement. I had fun!!

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  6. such a great post! My fave part was, "You're not a casserole!" You're so right...we're all in progress! :-)

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  7. I love your thinking! Yes, a work in progress. Aren't we all? Great words to use with kids too ... reminds of that one little word that is so powerful ... yet.

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  8. What a great post, Chris! I will be semi-finished with my classroom days as a teacher at the end of this year. It's been a wonderful career life for me. The decision did not come easily at all. However, I'm hoping to be able to support others in the classrooms in their careers. Fingers crossed! Thank you for commenting so often and encouraging me this month. It's been a turning point, and so great to have SOLC to help me through!

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