Thankful in 2017 - Day 7

I love spending each November taking the time to be thankful for my life. This year, I decided to do a blog version instead of just posting my thoughts on Facebook.

Days 7 - Heated Seats

On this first truly chilly day in the Northeast, I was extremely grateful for my car butt-warmer on the way home from work. Enough said.

Thankful in 2017 - Days 5 & 6

I love spending each November taking the time to be thankful for my life. This year, I decided to do a blog version instead of just posting my thoughts on Facebook.

Days 5 & 6 - Musical Community

Yesterday was our annual celebration at the music school. It is a wonderful showcase concert of the various talents of our students, faculty, and community. The day always reminds me how amazing our musical community is. From each person who performs to each person in the audience, we are connected by our love of music and support for the music school.

And then there is the fantastic staff I work with. All of us work to create this musical celebration, and this year topped them all! The performances on stage were amazing and the reception after was more than I imagined. When the opportunity to be part of the staff of a non-profit music school came my way three years ago, it was a tough decision to leave my public school teaching position. Three years later, it is still the right decision.

Thankful in 2017 - Day 4

I love spending each November taking the time to be thankful for my life. This year, I decided to do a blog version instead of just posting my thoughts on Facebook.

Day 4 - Coffee

A cool, cloudy day requires coffee. Getting an 11yo off to middle school in the early morning requires coffee. The afternoon slump requires coffee. A cozy evening in front of the fireplace requires coffee... or wine... but that's another post. A bright, sunny morning requires coffee. A snowy afternoon requires coffee.

LIFE requires coffee. Period. And I am thankful for coffee sustaining my life.

Thankful in 2017 - Day 3

I love spending each November taking the time to be thankful for my life. This year, I decided to do a blog version instead of just posting my thoughts on Facebook.

Day 2 - Music

Sometimes the thing that brings you joy as a child becomes a lifelong love affair. From a toddler with a plastic piano and Smurf guitar, to an adult with multiple instruments, music has shaped every facet of my life. Everyday I have the honor to make music, share music, gift music and be surrounded by music. And now my boys are a part of that same musical world... by choice! I am eternally thankful for music.

Thankful in 2017 - Day 2

I love spending each November taking the time to be thankful for my life. This year, I decided to do a blog version instead of just posting my thoughts on Facebook.

Day 2 - My Sons

Sometimes frustrating, always loving, my boys are my world. They are opposite from each other, and in some ways opposite from me! But it works in some mystical, magical way.

The older one is my quiet, thoughtful guy... except when he chooses to be LOUD! He is officially a tween-ager this year and is keeping me on my toes. I never know where our conversations will end up, and I am often left wondering if I answered his questions appropriately and adequately. Some days, real life is too real and I wonder how I can possibly guide him through these teenage, chaotic years while protecting the caring, sweet boy he is. So far, we have a wonderful relationship and I hope that survives the next few years.

The younger one is my artistic, talkative kid who tests my patience with how many times I can hear "...and also, Mom..." in one day! He dreams big and has even bigger emotions, which is wonderful and challenging in many different ways. He is always doing something creative and wears his heart on his sleeve. I love listening to him sing in the shower... it's a free show multiple times a week!

Although there are days where I just want ONE HOUR of peace, I would not want my days to look any different than they do.

Thankful in 2017 - Day 1

I love spending each November taking the time to be thankful for my life. This year, I decided to do a blog version instead of just posting my thoughts on Facebook.

Day One - My Family

It seems cliche to start with being thankful for my family, however here we are. I was thinking how today is la Dia de los Muertos and how I have family members who are no longer with me. This does not diminish the impact they had on my life; it only intensifies how grateful I am they were a meaningful part of it. 

Lessons from My Grandparents: spend time with family, be there for your family member, work honestly, love unconditionally, no one leaves hungry, homemade is heart-made, all time together is quality time, silence can be comforting, and back scratching is heaven.

Lessons from My Dad: humor works wonders, girls can do anything, crying is normal, a "boo" can be the best sound during applause, follow your heart, boys suck, and a bag of crunchy Cheetos can cure most ails.

Fighting the Summer "Slide"

This summer, I was determined to give my almost-first grader and almost fourth-grader a daily routine that included academic activities to beat the Summer Slide.

Are you familiar with the "Summer Slide?" It is the concept that students forget valuable information over the summer, causing the teachers to re-teach concepts in the fall that were already covered in the spring.

Our daily routine combined academics with the opportunity to earn electronics. I asked my boys to complete 30-minutes each of math, writing, and reading (at appropriate levels) and in return they earned an electronic activity, such as a YouTube video or video game time. Each day they could also complete either the math (using IXL Math or ABCya) or the writing (using Scribblenauts) electronically. We went to library weekly to replenish the selection of books for reading time.

Overall it went well. My oldest would occasionally complain that summer was for "relaxing" and not doing school work, however the routine of the plan worked well for him. He's they kind of kid who would happily watch TV, play video games, or watch YouTube videos all day if we did not give him set guidelines. The youngest happily followed the routine and would often go to the schedule posted on the fridge to check "what's next."

School starts in just a few days for my kids, so we will see how much of the Summer Slide we prevented. How about you? What works well for you to prevent the Summer Slide? Comment with your ideas below.