Dingos Jogging Into January 2012! - Page 25

[tjsmama]

DS's school uses everyday math, too. I have conflicting opinions on it so far. Some of it seems fine, other parts, eh. Mostly I just wish that DS was starting to get a little more concrete math work because I think he's ready for it, but the stuff the EM K curriculum is working on is far more basic.

I got put on release from work tonight...which I found out AFTER I drove in, checked in with my charge nurse who told me I was floated to another floor, and going to that floor only to find out that they didn't need me after all. Now I'm just hoping that I do NOT get called back in, especially since we have a blizzard starting up and I sent the nanny home. I'm actually ok with it, as long as I DON'T get called back in, given that I was not thrilled at the prospect of cleaning anywhere from 6-24" of snow off my car in the morning and trying to drive home!

[Plady]

It's interesting to see ED math being used so widely.  I didn't get it at first and it kind of pissed me off that I couldn't just help dd do her homework by doing things the way I learned to do it.  But after I sat down and got the kool aid about how it works for kids and why it's done and I felt less irritated by it.  But this year, after watching dd struggle with pretty basic stuff for years it's kind of amazing how suddenly she gets it, all of it, fractions, percentages, division, multiplication and she can figure things out from a slew of different places which shows me that she isn't just plugging in numbers where she's been taught they should fit but that she actually understands how they are all related and in a variety of ways.  I'm pretty amazed because while I was a perfectly B+ student throughout my math career I didn't get it that clearly until much much later in life when I was long out of school and I started finding connections on my own.  I can see how the spiral/running-in-circles method could get frustrating for a kid who grasps it all the first time, but for dd, it's like she'd been watching a merry-go-round turn and finally figured out where to jump on and have a good time.

Anyway.

Jo - I'm sorry dh must be acting like an idiot.  He must be scared that you're able to contemplate leaving him and acting like a typical boy in response.  (The conversation in the car tonight, dd: Mom, are you serious about why you think Gavin F is always bugging me and calling a$$hole? Me: Yes, I think he has a really big crush on you and he doesn't know how to handle it. DD: Ewarghupluuuuu!)

So today was okay.  I tend to approach it as if I can just act normal then it won't be a big deal but I only got to about noon before the tidal wave of sadness hit me and I just crumpled in the kitchen in the midst of a conversation about how high my new desk should be. We followed Kerc's lead and took kids out for pizza and beer, which we literally never do.  It was nice to get out of the house, even though Alison insisted on chirpily explaining to everyone we saw that we were out to celebrate her dead baby sister's birthday. ~sigh~ Poor innocent bystanders.  Then we came home to chocolate angel food cake with a ton of whipped cream.  I used a recipe from Joy of cooking and it was tasty but the 1/4tsp of lemon extract made it taste way more like lemon than the 1/4c of cocoa could overcome. Whatev.  We also each wrote a little note to Wendy and tied them to some balloons and let them go.  We watched the bundle until it was out of sight which took nearly ten minutes it was so clear and the clouds were so high.  It was nice.

RR: Boxed.  Need to ice my wrist.  I was hitting a bag a little too hard and misjudged how it was going to swing back at me. Duh.

[1jooj]

Plady  It never really gets easier, but I think you get wiser and ever better at making your way.

P.S. You are incredibly insightful.

Dh is definitely in a panic over the very idea that I would choose not to be here for longer than 2mos. At the same time, he has no qualms about spending his 30 days of vacay in North Africa. Double standard much? So I am doing this day by day. Finding cheaper rental properties in the meantime that are not in some rinky-dink armpit of the city, counting on online school, and planning not to make any binding decisions. Maybe ever.

And meantime, need to face my hatred of life here and do the bootstrap thing and carry on. Back to writing after the long parental visit.

[Realrellim]

Just popping in to say congrats to tjsmama! And as for the test and feeling like an idiot, I'm going to pass along the advice I heard repeatedly from my advisor: It's part of the ritual. But you're done!

[Geofizz]

On EM,it get vilified,but like Plady is seeing, it provides a lot of conceptual understanding. Many of the complaints I see from parents I often translate as meaning that the parent doesn't really understand the math enough to adapt to a different algorithm. Some of how EM teaches is inefficient, so it is good to teach the standard algorithms. Also, straight up EM does not mandate memorization of math facts. People will debate this necessity, but it is very useful to free up the brain space to focus on a larger problem than figuring out the intermediate steps.

For DD, who I am slowing figuring out how unusual she is, kindergarten EM taught her enough that she was able to abstract it to the point that she had no need for first and second grade.

And yes, Jo, we started encountering layout problems in the 5th grade book, where there wasn't enough space for long division, and problems down the left hand side of the page and suddenly one hanging off on the right side.

Know that for the 48 states who have adopted the Common Core, EM's days are numbered. The scope and sequence are very different from the EM approach, so districts will be forced to adopt new curricula that cover significantly less (though with more "rigor", whatever that means) in a given year.

More on education, I'm getting better at calling in professor favors. There is a ed psych specialist now very interested in reading DD's report and giving me suggestions on how to work with the school, someplace she was just at meeting with our principal.

RR Still running. Adding hills in anticipation of our April 10 miler.

[JenLove]

Finally caught up around here - it's been a busy few days and today will be just as busy.  Go pick up my mom, take kids to a children's theater of Three Little Pigs, travel to organic grocery, get back to my mom's to log into work by 4pm, and go to a Forever 31 party of my SIL's... then a 45 minute drive back home.  God grant me the patience.... :)

My workouts have fallen by the wayside.  I plan to get back at it tomorrow because well I'm being realistic, and it's not gonna happen today.

Jo ~ When do you come back to the states again?  I probably asked a million times already, but I have mommy brain.  

Plady ~ ((hugs))

Gaye ~ We knew it!  Congrats!!! :)

[JayGee]

Jooj ~  ugh... I'm so sorry dh is being not-so-understanding about your life there.

Plady ~

Geo ~ so what were the results of your DD's testing (if you don't mind sharing)? 

tjsmama ~ HUGE congratulations!  You are a remarkable woman.

RR ~ walked at the Y this morning, but had to stop after 30 minutes because my leg was so painful and I was dragging my toe on my left foot.  MRI tomorrow morning.  Fingerscrossed that it will show "something".  Walking around and around the track I got so depressed ~ lots of folks jogging, running, lifting weights, doing intervals, working hard, and all I can do is drag my foot around the track for less than 2 miles.  I went from the top of my game 3 years ago, to this ~ 15 pounds heavier, way less fit, and honestly, not very happy at all.  Mama needs a run... but unfortunately, she can't go for one.

/kvetching and complaining

[sparkletruck]

JG - and You dont have to qualify your grief and frustration here. You have lost something very significant, even if all the things that "really" matter in your life are good. There is definitely a line between who I was and how I saw the world when my body worked the way I want it to, and who I am and how I see the world now. Sometimes the change is ok, and sometimes it is definitely NOT. You know you can cycle, right? What about spin classes? Which activities can you still do? Maybe not intervals (movements too abrupt?...) but maybe a controlled weight circuit? You can still get strong and be really fit without running. What is the MRI of tomorrow? Is the foot thing new? What happened with the calf numbness? Is this connected (same leg)? One day ata time mama. You just need to find a new plan

RR: Bah. I was supposed to do weights today but just feel run down, maybe from throwing myself back into work-outs or getting a little of dd1's illness. My chest hurts when I cough. Or Im just using all that as an excuse b/c I am still sore (good sore) from Tuesdays circuit and I cant face another one yet

Otherwise, does anyone here listen to music/a playlist while exercising? Now that I am back at it, my playlist is getting old. I only listen when I cycle (I never liked running w/ any music), so I can imagine that you gals dont, but if you do, what songs are on it? I need to figure out how I can share my playlist and then I will post it here...

[JayGee]

Originally Posted by sparkletruck 

JG - and You dont have to qualify your grief and frustration here. You have lost something very significant, even if all the things that "really" matter in your life are good. There is definitely a line between who I was and how I saw the world when my body worked the way I want it to, and who I am and how I see the world now. Sometimes the change is ok, and sometimes it is definitely NOT. You know you can cycle, right? What about spin classes? Which activities can you still do? Maybe not intervals (movements too abrupt?...) but maybe a controlled weight circuit? You can still get strong and be really fit without running. What is the MRI of tomorrow? Is the foot thing new? What happened with the calf numbness? Is this connected (same leg)? One day ata time mama. You just need to find a new plan
 

Thanks sparkle. Yes, it's the same leg and all related to whatever nerve injury I have.  The drop foot just means that the nerve damage is progressing for some reason.  The MRI tomorrow is of my hip.  I'm starting to worry about more neurological causes (ie. MS), but refuse to even consider such things until nerve injury is ruled out.  Actually, I can't cycle very well right now because my left leg has very little power and it ends up hurting a lot when I'm riding in high gears or doing a lot of standing out of the saddle.  I refuse to worry about it any more until my MRI results come back though.

Off to the library to help kindergarteners pick out books !

[kerc]

so behind.....

I'm on what I hope is the recovery side of an illness. I took a sick day yesterday and since I didn't have a laptop at home (was planning on working at the office thursday morning), I didn' do work. Today is day 2 of the illness and I finally went to the chiropractor (remember when I fell down the steps?). and I feel better in that sense. I felt well enough that two hours ago I agreed to go to a candle light ski, but now I'm having second thoughts. We'll see if dh is up for taking the kiddos alone.

I decided to spend year 37 diet soft drink free. People who know me in real life are always surprised that I drink diet coke. I have since college (peer pressure, I think) and I lately have been having strange stuff happen (really really itchy sweat being one of the symptoms). I got all checked out by my family practice doc and everything and didn't find anything abnormal. But there are lots of reasons to spend an entire year diet soda free. I weaned off of it -- monday had a few, tuesday one and wednesday nothing. Today, still nothing. Go me!

Plady I spent yesterday (err part of it) reflecting on wendy. I think its totally ok to break down in tears in the kitchen over some random discussion. that's real. that's life and whenever we all get flustered over that stuff I feel like we're all hiding our feelings.

jaygee: crying right there with you over old sports injuries. I hope you figure it out and find something that works well.

geofizz: (from a few days ago) I can't help but wonder if the anxiety comes from reading/language being really hard for dd (but no one really knows/knew that?). And from today: you should totally call in favors from friends. That's how this gig works: you get to be an expert and then help out your friends.

Jenlove: call in to work? Where do you have to call in to? Where are you working?

sparkle: there is no perfect house. period.

Jo: thinking of you. If there were a half marathon and if someone else traveled with me, I would consider it. I will not travel to the middle east by myself though. Too wimpy. I barely made it from New Zealand to Australia by myself. I don't know what my problem is. fear of other cultures. I'm the person who always went home instead of eating at my (not very close) friends' houses because I was afraid of what dinner might be.

Lisa: any news on the job front?

gaye: wasn't it just yesterday you were deciding nursing school?

and now, off to summon the energy to change out of pj pants, walk a block to pick up my kids and come back.

[bec]

Plady - I just want to send some your way.  I don't think any of us can predict how grief will come out. 

JG - I totally understand the frustration and grief and jealousy of seeing other people able to push hard through a workout while all you can do is gimp along.  I really hope you get some good answers with this MRI.

No RR for me today.  I had work, though, so was on my feet for 5 hours.  I may cycle this evening while DH is on the treadmill.  I find I have a really hard time pushing hard, though, on the trainer.  I don't know why.  I am hoping to swim this weekend, too!

[sparkletruck]

Bec - play-list

Plady -

Kerc - belated That's a good goal, I've got a diet 7-up monkey on my back ... Sorry about the illness, but hopefully a day to decompress

Jo - ugh, and sigh. I hope a solution reveals itself one day at a time


NRR: Bleh, I feel crappy. I dont have an out and out illness, but am just wiped and have had a headache all day ( i never get them). Feels good to lay in bed, so Ive been here for an hour, since dh woke up. Nice hostess for the play-date ds is having

[MelW]

Jen, hope you have survived your busy day!

Plady, the balloons sound like a beautiful celebration

kerc, happy birthday and get well soon!

sparkle, hope you're feeling better soon, too.

JayGee, it must feel strange to be wishing for a nerve injury, but I can see how faced with MS as an alternate diagnosis the nerve injury looks more "healable".

Geo, it's good to have specialists that you can call in favours and consults from. I admire your persistence and advocacy for your kids.

NRR- It's my last official day of work for the college today until March. Most of my students stopped by the office in the past two days to pick up final paperwork, and it feels good to send the graduates off into the work world. In terrific news, my car coolant leak is an easy fix, and my check engine light was related to a crack in a $3 oil dipstick case. Good news in a 10 year old volkswagen where most parts are usually ridiculously expensive. In tired, rushed mama news, my six year old managed to get to school today wearing a tank top that is both weather inappropriate and not in compliance with the school dress code without me noticing until pick-up time. She had her coat on before I noticed. She didn't get called on the dress code issue, and wore her coat outside at lunch and recess. I guess if she's willing to sit in class all day in a tank top and not complain about being cold, I'm not going to stress about it.

RR- I was really hoping for bootcamp tonight, but both kids have tired, droopy about to get sick looks. I'm going to try to give them a movie and see if I can do some strength training at home. It's easier to be motivated when I have a room full of people doing the same workout, though. On Friday evenings I need the extra push. Keep me accountable, okay dingoes?

[Plady]

Originally Posted by MelW 

JayGee, it must feel strange to be wishing for a nerve injury, but I can see how faced with MS as an alternate diagnosis the nerve injury looks more "healable".

Geo, it's good to have specialists that you can call in favours and consults from. I admire your persistence and advocacy for your kids.

~~~I guess if she's willing to sit in class all day in a tank top and not complain about being cold, I'm not going to stress about it. 

It's easier to be motivated when I have a room full of people doing the same workout, though. On Friday evenings I need the extra push. Keep me accountable, okay dingoes?

Yeah, totally to all that.  Mel, start with some squats!

JG - Sending extra Not-MS vibes to you.  That sounds scary but I'm betting on sports injury.

Kerc - You're going to rock this diet-soda-free year and never look back.

I bailed 2/3 through my weight routine this morning because I had Alison and she seemed feverish.  Since I was super hot from working out I thought she must be really hot but she seemed fine by the time we got home.  Tonight is the annual father-daughter dance and I just didn't want her to miss it and thereby make me miss the annual mother's-of-daughters-and-not-sons night out.

[MelW]

Originally Posted by Plady 

Yeah, totally to all that.  Mel, start with some squats!

 Tonight is the annual father-daughter dance and I just didn't want her to miss it and thereby make me miss the annual mother's-of-daughters-and-not-sons night out.

I did a 30 minute "squat party" workout on the Nike Training Club app, and then a 15 minute "ab burner". All in front of the tv while the kids watched a movie. Both have flushed cheeks and I'm praying that if it's a fever it means a good night of sleep.

Enjoy the mother's night out!

[1jooj]

New Thread for the Month of February

See you there.