Staycation plans #SOLC17

Join the Slice of Life Challenge
Write every day in March.
Rainy days can bring ideas.
Two Writing Teachers

My lunch time is the last one on the lunch schedule at 12:15 p.m.  I share my lunchtime with the math  & reading resource teachers and music specialists.  Friday's conversation with my fellow "right-brained" teacher was fun, as usual.

Everyone was describing their spring break plans.  The orchestra teacher is headed to New York with his wife and tickets to four Broadway shows.  The math teacher is bound for Florida with her parents and sister.  My fellow reading teacher is spending time with her teens and going on a college visit.  I'm faced with a week at home, with my youngest daughter at classes and my husband in another town. 

The teachers at the table decided to help me make a list of possible activities for my spring vacation.  They encouraged me to accomplish the items on my must do list (passport renewal, doctors appointments) as well as some more exciting items.  Our brainstorming included:

• pay it forward at Starbucks, paying for the order from the car behind me
• create a "car pool karaoke" video
• sleep through breakfast and enjoy brunch each day (at home or out)
• collect postcards of my town (if they exist!) and send them to friends
• mix up some DIY skin treatments and have a spa day

I have a hard time finishing things I must do, so I'll be using these ideas to inspire me to get my to do list finished.  I'm also planning on binge reading a TON of books!

Looking foward to a week of sleeping without setting an alarm!

Road trips! #SOL16 26/31

It's the annual Slice of Life Story Challenge!

Read other slices, join our community of writers at

Two Writing Teachers

The laundry is done, the bags are being packed.

We are heading out on a mini road trip!

This weekend we will visit Lindsey in Iowa City.

On Monday we will visit Bloomington to take an closer look at Illinois State U.

Can I limit what I pack?  

Nope.  

Games, computer (MUST SLICE), two pairs of shoes, comfy clothes, dress up clothes, tooooo much!

Gotta run and hit the road!

Homebody SOLC #22

Yesterday I sent one to NYC.

Today I sent one west, and another one east.

I am staying home.

To sleep and sleep some more.

To read and write.

To dream and contemplate.

To make messes and clean.

This week I'm the homebody.


Sending Her Off SOLC #21

Read more Slice of Life stories and

join the March Challenge at

Two Writing Teachers

Tonight Allison will hop on a bus with her school choir and travel to New York City.  \
This is her big first trip without parents or grandparents.  She has to be in charge of herself.

She's 16, so this should not be a big deal.  

But it's a big deal.

Allison is my younger, right-brained, clock-ignoring, carefree, Mixed Cereal daughter.  I (unfortunately) have been her alarm clock and task adviser for 16 years.

The girl has an alarm clock that lights up like the sun and creates bird noises that could wake the dead.  Do I let her learn how to get out of bed?  Nope.
I walk past her door every morning and tell myself, "I WILL NOT WAKE HER UP TODAY!"
And then I go in and give the Morning Speech.

Ugh.  If she misses something on this trip, it will be all. my. fault.

I've been encouraged told straight out by experts and friends to let her fail.  Let her be late.  Let her face the consequences.

But I can't.  I haven't.  I should have.

So now I will send her off to NYC.  I hope and wish that she will use some of her own time management skills (and her new watch) to stay on time and not be left behind.

oh boy.

What I'll Miss SOLC #27

Join the Slice of Life Challenge!

Write every day in March!

Two Writing Teachers

As the plane wiggled, shook and swooped its way into Chicago (breathing in 4s is a great strategy for staying calm!), I realized that our trip to Florida was a gift.  A gift of time spent with my traveling parents, a gift of seeing my daughter and friends march through Magic Kingdom, and a gift of being somewhere green and warm.

We returned to a rainy, cloudy Chicago day.  Nothing new for March.  There are still piles of snow here and there (70" of snow does not melt quickly).  We are happy to be back home.  I'll miss and not miss a few things.

I won't miss the MILLIONS of people at the Disney parks (pull your kids out of school, I'll forgive a few days to avoid spring break madness).  I won't miss the bugs that chewed up my legs.  I won't miss the stress of weaving between scooters and strollers.  I won't miss the sad part of my heart, wishing my husband was with us instead of working.  He truly needs a break!

I will miss the chirping of birds in the morning, the sweet taste of a Mickey ice cream bar, the thrill of the rides, the laughter, seeing band students enjoy themselves away from home, my dad's random conversations, my mom's hospitality, the green grass, the palm trees, and the warmth of the sun.

Now it's back to reality with only three days left of break.  Time to rest up before school starts on Monday!

Calendar confusion SOLC #20

Join the Slice of Life Challenge!

Write every day in March!

Two Writing Teachers

You don't realize what elementary students don't understand about the calendar until you try to explain spring break.  Between my classroom and a few other resource rooms, these were the reactions to the announcement that we would not be in school next week.

1st Graders:

"Do we get to wear shorts?"

"Will it be hot next week?"

2nd Graders

"Will I be in 3rd grade when we come back?"

"When is my birthday?"

4th/5th Graders

"Nine days without homework!"

"It's not a vacation if I'm not going anywhere."

The hardest reaction to hear were four simple words, "I will miss you."  My heart aches for the kids who look forward to school because it's the most predictable and calm part of their day.  Students know the grownups at school care about them.  We are a sea of friendly faces, even if students make poor choices.

I'll miss their shining faces for a week, but I'm glad for the chance to recharge my enthusiasm for the remainder of the school year.

Spring Break Planning SOLC #9

Join the Slice of Life Challenge!
Write every day in March!
Two Writing Teachers

What day is today?  The 9th?  Already!!?

On past spring breaks, we've done college visits or just stayed home.  This year we are taking a trip that includes a plane ride, packing for much warmer weather, and finding care for the crazy parakeet.

We are going to Disney World!!

I have mixed feelings about going.  How is that possible, you ask?  It's the happiest place on earth!  Well, oldest daughter, Lindsey, is traveling to WDW with her high school band.  They will be spending 24 hours driving each way on a coach bus.  My parents are driving their RV down to Orlando.  Allison and I will be flying down to stay with my parents in the RV.

I have mixed feelings because my husband, Jeff, is the biggest Disney fan in the family, and he has to work.  There's a big presentation at his client.  I really wish he could go with us.

Will I make the most of our time in Orlando?  Yes! We plan to hop between Disney parks, visit the Harry Potter park at Universal, and soak up the warm sun. 

I appreciate that my parents have helped make this trip happen.  I'm thankful for an opportunity to have a full-out vacation this year. I'll just be missing Jeff.  He needs this vacation more than any of us!