Barking Up the Wrong Tree & Other Back to School Foibles

Ahhh, the fall. And what does fall bring? Back to school time!

I used to really hate this time of year but lately I have become more tolerant of it. Maybe it was when I became the teacher instead of the student, although, I loved school as a student too so I'm not sure what has changed my mind. The last few weeks I have spent some time gaining a different perspective on school than I've ever had. I am for the first time a PARENT and not the STUDENT or TEACHER and let me say, I would've been a better teacher had I had this experience FIRST! Little Jaxon, is starting Kindergarten and I'm not quite sure what to do with him or myself. But first, a funny story that was actually really

embarrassing:

I have had my past students on my mind this summer as I have seen several of them. One of my former students that I saw was from my first year teaching and I have thought about this kid a lot. I was actually pretty heartbroken when at first he didn't recognize me but given his circumstances I guess I don't blame him-that or I must've not had much of an impact on him! His name was Hayden and he was such a little stinker! He made my first year so much harder than it would've been had he not been in my class! His dad was in prison and his mom wasn't too far behind (in fact, his 18 year old sister now has custody of them because his mom is in prison now too!) and he was so naughty. It's hard when you can see what kids are going to turn out like unless they have some major good influences on them. I tried to be that influence and hopefully something sunk in but from what I could tell he had already forgot all about little old me. Anyway, I had been thinking about that year and one night while Jameson and I were out to dinner a family that was seated next to me happened to be the family of a little girl that I taught my first year. I was telling Jameson how weird it was that I kept seeing kids this summer from that year. I waited to say anything until we were ready to leave and when we had paid and were ready I tapped the little girl on the shoulder and said, "Hi Harley, do you remember me?" What I expected was a huge smile followed by a hug and a reminiscent 'Mrs. Whiting!' but instead all she did was shake her head no. Me, assuming that it was yet another one of my students (remember Hayden) that didn't remember me sadly said, "Oh...really?" at which time her parents joined the conversation with confused looks and asked what grade I taught. I went on to tell them that I taught 3rd grade but that I was in a job share so maybe that's why she didn't remember me. All the while the parents were shaking their heads no and giving me a concerned, 'who-is-this-weirdo', look. The tip off should've been for me when they asked "Which school?" but I just kept on rambling even as Jameson was catching on WAY faster than I was. They proceeded to tell me that their child-Kaylie (not Harley) never went to West Clinton Elementary and that I in fact had the wrong student.

How do you even recover from that? The next bits of conversation I try to block out of my mind even though Jameson said I handled it well. We hurriedly left BOTH feeling embarrassed-me for myself and Jameson for me and himself for having to be associated with me!! So embarrassing!! So, back to Jaxon's back to school. He had is unofficial first day on Monday but they only went to meet the teacher and then their real first day starts on Monday the 31st. He had been looking forward to going on that first day for so long and we were all geared up to go just the two of us. We showed up at the time: 12:45 to find an empty classroom (no kids) and a confused teacher. Come to find out-we had the wrong time!! Ahhhh!! I can't believe I ruined his first day!! They had two different notes that had different times on them and I read the not-so-recent one to get the time. I guess we weren't the only ones that had done that but I still felt bad. We then had to go back today for his testing and we made it at the right time! Wheew! What is wrong with me? I swear you'd think I could get the time right for the first day of school? But, since Monday Jaxon has been DYING to go back-it's as if the whole summer came to a screeching halt and is not moving for him...Monday cannot come fast enough. So, we decided to make his teacher a little treat. A little buttering up so to speak. Here's the pics of what we made.

Yes, I got the idea from someone out there on the Internet...sorry, I'm not that creative. It is a soup can that we cut the bottom out of cleaned, painted, and put candy in. Then, we hot glued the bottom of the can closed again so that she can use the pull top to open it "for the first time". Also, she can then use it for a pencil holder if she so chooses!

Here is Jaxon with his new teacher Mrs. Stephens. I actually know her because we were in a lot of the same education classes and graduated together. She also grew up in Fruit Heights and remembers Jameson and his family so the pressure is on for her! Just Kidding!

Jaxon on his (sort of) first day of school.

He's such a handsome devil and he did so good on his testing today. I could tell his teacher was very impressed when she asked him if he could count to 30 and he counted to 100 and then went on to tell her that he can also count by 5's and 10's which she had him do. She asked what books I've been reading to him and he listed off a bunch (including the ones that HE can read) and told her that we read every night and that we have also read some chapter books including "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" together. She said that Jaxon would have to be his special helper to help the other kids learn everything that he knows. He was very proud of himself and is SUPER excited to start school on Monday and I guess I'm going to have to be happy too...