Free at last!!!!!!!!!

[SandyRN]

Got up at 5 am this morning to make sure my new high schooler got up and on the bus by 6:40 am then got my lil red head up at 6:45 and on the bus by 7:50, and now I'm sleepy, in pain because my body is NOT used to being awake at this hour of the day, but I'm also going through a whole range of other emotions.

My daughter walked out of here looking like a beautiful young woman, very sure of herself...*I* was the one nervous on her first day of high school...Can't believe how fast time flies. I just can't.

My youngest starts 7th grade today and he even seems motivated, for now! LOL

I made them a nice, hot breakfast....no cold cereal here this morning. Was discreet as possible while watching to make sure the buses showed up on time so they wouldn't be horrified by Mom watching the bus stop!! Heaven forbid! LOL

I don't really quite know what to do with myself. I've got tons of stuff to do here at home, but I'm really thinking that sleeping another hour or so would be super nice.

I know it's a cliche of sorts, but if you have small children, cherish every single second. They grow so fast....you literally turn around one day and they're almost adults. I look at my son in college and just can't believe it.

It's days like this that I sit and re-live their births, first steps, first words, first everything. So, now that I've managed to make myself cry I guess I should find something to do with myself!

[humpieumpumkin]

You finally get a break! Hope the school year starts off good for you and all your children.

Erika:hi:

[leelee88]

Sandy,
I know just how you feel.. I have a few pictures left of the kids when they were small and when I look at them I smile and laugh and then just start crying..lol Funny huh but we love them as they are now, but miss them as they were..I always tell all my friends with small kids.. Love them and
(spoil< in a good way) now, because they will be grown up before you know it..:smile tee

[SandyRN]

If I were to drag out all their baby pictures I'd have to mop the floor because I'd be crying so much. I do that a few times a year and it always leads to hours and hours of fun reminiscing with them about times they remember and times they don't. It's so strange but I can remember each one's exact birth weight, length and time of birth....and I NEVER did forget the pain. They say you forget, but I don't think you do, not totally! LOL

I worry so much over everything....I worry about my daughter being in a high school with 3000 other kids, but she did a great thing and got herself enrolled in the Academy of International Studies which is a school within a school....basically about 400 kids for all 4 grades total, in their own building and the only time she's integrated into the regular school is for lunch and P.E. They don't let just anyone in either, so it's an honor. She's taking all honor classes in everything that offers an honors course.

My youngest is also in honors....I don't know how I got so lucky because that makes all 3 of my kids that have been in AP/honors classes and they're all really, really smart. They didn't get that gene from me!

Anyway, I'm rambling. Figured I'd be asleep by now!

Thanks for the replies girls...it's just a strange day for me...happy one second, crying the next....and I'm not even pms-ing! :)

[ICNJess]

Awww be extra good to yourself today!!! They really do grow so fast...it seems like just yesterday I was more than ready to "GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME!!!!" (LOL) and in the blink of an eye she is almost 18 months. Next thing I know she'll be embarrassed to be seen anywhere with me!

[ICNDonna]

:grouphug: I used to worry about how I would feel when my children grew up. Now I know and it's actually a very good feeling. I don't have any little children to cuddle any more, but I have some really fine, caring adults to hug when they visit (which is often).

Donna

[SandyRN]

Jess, I remember feeling that way about my mom and now it makes me sad. I try to stay in the background as much as possible so that I don't embarass them any more than necessary! LOL

Donna, I know what you mean. I am getting to know my oldest son as an adult now and it really is neat. He's a great young man and it's fun to have grown up, adult conversations with him, but he's still willing to go out with ole mom and have fun doing things like the Ostrich farm a few weeks ago. I know to appreciate all the stages of their lives, it's just hard not to mourn a little bit for those tubby little toddlers who used to pull every pot I owned out of my cabinet and when bathtime was their favorite time of the day.

:::sniff:::

[dancemomof2]

OK Sandy I had the same story here also. Bitter sweet wasn't it. Colten was a grandma's last night so I walked back in and it was so quiet I had no idea what to dowith myself at that hour in the morning. IF I had went to the photo's it would not have been a good thing at that time.

[ICNJess]

Sandy, it's so nice of you to duck out of the way so your kids won't be embarrassed LOL. I know what you mean, I think back to when I was about 12 or so and was sooo embarrassed because, and this is what makes me so ashamed, my mom and dad always walked around with me like at school events like they were about to bust with pride. They wore these huge grins and applauded so loudly for me when I was in choir on stage or in band or steel drums...and I was mortified!

I feel guilty now because now I'm not embarrassed by them and I know now how they must have felt. Teenagers! Oh well, I'll start practicing now...ducking into doorways, dropping off at school about a block away LOL.

[Claredale]

Well remember ladies, they will want you around at times...When they need money! LOL! I always know the signal when my younger son either calls me and asks me how my day is going, or if I am at home, he comes up to me and gives me a huge hug! My next line is usually, go get my purse.

I remember people telling me that I need to enjoy them when they are young since that is when they are the sweetest. I am so glad that I have been able to enjoy them (most of the time) for their entire lives.

Hang in there Sandy!

Tracey

[SandyRN]

I made it through the day and now I'm sitting here waiting on the bus that is, of course, late. Megan was due home about 20 minutes ago, and Adam should be here by about 4 pm. I know to expect bus delays for at least the first week or two....I usually have given up by then and have started driving them the mile or so down the road to school. Seems silly to me to have them get up so early to catch a bus that will take them around the world to get to school when I can get them there in less than 10 minutes and that includes waiting in the carpool line. I do flat out refuse to pick them up though...my days of sitting for an hour before school lets out in the carpool line are over.

I can't stop rambling....good thing Tom's at work or I'd have driven him bonkers by now! LOL Thanks for putting up with me. :rolleyes:

[hdb1982]

My daughter's teacher is coming for a home visit tomorrow. She called and scheduled it today. Kaitlyn is excited to meet her teacher. I went and spent close to 100 for extra supplies for the teacher and classroom. Crayons, paper, pencils, tissues, plates, napkins, a box of hand sanatizer markers, and 1000 stickers. Teachers don't make nearly enough and here in WV they can't require students or parents to provide any supplies and if each student doesn't have a certain thing the teacher can not use them. Plus teacher's budgets are so small I figure each little bit helps. My mom always bought all of the extra supplies for the entire class. As soon as she found out who my next years teacher was she would get them at the end of the year and asked what they needed and took it to them before the year even started. I can't afford to buy everything like my mom did but I bought what I could and figure I can help out more as the year goes on. My mom is giving me grief b/c I won't let Katie ride the bus. Something about 4 year olds and 12 year olds on the same bus wih 1 adult doesn't seem right to me. I know I rode the bus but 12 year olds are alot different then they were 20 years ago when I started school. Maybe I am bring a little overprotective but Katie is my one and only so I think I am entitled to be!

[Claredale]

Your teachers do home visits??? And give you 1 day notice!!!! Yikes!

You are very sweet to buy the supplies for the kids. I have a friend that's daughter teaches in a very low-income area in the Delta part of Mississippi. Her daughter is constantly buying shoes and stuff for the kids in her class since most of them don't have the money. When she first started teaching, she wasn't married and lived at home, so she spent almost her entire check on these kids. I live in a large city that tries to help provide clothes and supplies for the kids in need. My friends started telling their Sunday school class about their daughter's situation and her huge heart! They started taking up money to help. Amy is married now and definitely can't afford to do it on her own, but she is still there every year (won't change to another school for anything) since she feels that God has put her where she is. I am sure that the teachers you help are so grateful!

So Sandy...how did the first day of school go? Did you get ANY rest????

[SandyRN]

School went great. They both came home exhausted and I was also exhausted from pacing the floor and THINKING so much!! I was up late signing my name to papers in duplicate for the school system and realized how much I missed doing it in triplicate since my oldest is now in college and that set off another set of the sniffles!

They both actually had homework last night and I guess thats a good thing in a way...definately a sign of things to come. I gave in this morning and drove my son to middle school---the bus was late and I wasn't giving up any more of my morning waiting on it. My daughter's bus was actually 5 minutes early and we barely made it this morning. Then I came home and SLEPT like a log til almost 1 pm. I couldn't believe it. I really WAS exhausted.

hg---I'm assuming since your daughter is 4 this is a preschool of sorts and this is a preschool teacher coming to your house? I've only seen this happen once to us....we lived in a very small town in eastern NC and a 3rd grade teacher made the mistake of pulling my son's hair....yes, pulling his hair, to get his attention--very long story, and I was one mad, MAD mama, and she came to the house to justify her back woods country minded hair pulling to me. I was ready to have her job. Other than that, I've never, ever had a teacher come to my home and really don't think I'd want one to actually. I much prefer meeting on their home turf, not mine. It's nice of you to buy supplies. I also send in supplies throughout the year--tissues, liquid soap, whatever they ask for. I don't want or expect any teacher to use their own money to buy supplies the school system doesn't pay for. It's terrible what we pay, or rather, don't pay our teachers.

Anyway, all in all, a good day, and looking forward to a good report for day 2!!! :)

[hdb1982]

Yes she is strting Pre K. I was glad they came. It gave us a chance to meet one on one and for them to answer my questions individually. Where we are they do it once when they first start school. Explain the first day etc

[mary124]

I thought I put a stop to this a few years ago when my youngest graduated from high school, but nooooooo. My sister who has guardianship over her grandson started pre-K today and she took him to school- I told her yesterday how to get there but she said no that doesn't seem like that is the way so she called the school and they told her a different way (they confused her to no end~!!-- so this morning as I was driving on the freeway not too far from her house, she called me almost crying and telling me she is totally lost! so here I was trying to tell her and with her crying and yelling and all (I couldn't understand her so I finally told her to park her car in the gas station and I'll meet her there and take her to the school. Got her and grandson there safely and took lots of pics (my husband had a feeling that she would call and get lost so he had put the camera in the car last night just in case!!) We took lots of pictures of him and teacher. he was excited till we started to leave and then of course, he didn't want us to leave - but I reminded her that he does all right afterwards. She said what am I going to do now till 3:30? (Pre-K is all day) i told her she still has a 2-1/2 year old to take care.
Anyway, I hope all Mothers/Aunts/Grandmothers survive today.

[SandyRN]

Those pre-k days were REAL hard on me. I'm ok with the middle years, like when they're in 2nd-5th grade or 7th and 8th, but when they START elementary or middle or high school THATS when I lose it...not to mention when they start college!! You're a nice lady to help her get to school! :) I know how she feels...what am I gonna DO all day now? Today I figured it out and I SLEPT! LOL

[dancemomof2]

School supplies are a bugger to pay for. Why on earth hdb1982 did youspend like that when the state of WV sent a memo to the county BOE's that the teachers couldn't really send home lists. They could make suggestions but that was about it. Here is a link.

http://wvde.state.wv.us/news/1486/

THey were getting so nit picky about what they wanted that it was creating a hardship for some families to try to do. I know my own daughter got a suggested list for a specific brand and item number scientific caluclator that was $59 bucks when I went to get it, well the $20 did the same thing and thats what she got. I have a hard enough time with medical co-pays presciption co-pays and deductibles to help anymore then I do with the 2 in middle and high school the costs are unbelievable.

[SandyRN]

Leslie, I know all about how much those school supplies cost. It's insane. We went through the thing with the calculators and invested in all 3 that they needed, ONCE. They've been passed down between children as they didn't need them anymore they passed them onto their younger sibling and then they use it. Those calculators are expensive!!

I do not like the idea of a teacher spending her/his own money to provide for my child, but then again, the school system OUGHT to be accountable considering how high our property taxes are and the reason our taxes ARE so high is because of all of the school bonds they keep pushing through. I get it, they need $, the schools are overcrowded, but when a teacher has to come to a parent for help with supplies then something is wrong with the system. I really feel for today's teachers. Every single teacher I've known in the last 14 years that I've had a child in public school has tossed his or her own money into the pot to buy supplies and it's simply wrong.

[hdb1982]

I bought what I did for a few reasons 1: I am very thankful for the teachers and what they so in assisting us to raise good children 2: They are extremely underpaid for what they do. These celebrities making millions for nothing and teachers barely breaking 30,000 if not less 3: I think each child should have nice new supplies each year and the school budget doesn't allow for it and I don't tink our children's educations should suffer for it. I am aware of the ruling about parents being required to purchase supplies but teachers can still put out supply list for donations. My daughter is at a brand new school with brand new supplies but eventually a few years from now things won't be like that and I feel that if I am in a situation where I can help I will. I will also be volunteering at the school 3-4 times per week. I am trying to be as involed in her education as I can be. I know I don't have to do those things but I feel better helping people that's the way I am.

[Briza]

Gosh, ya'll, I can't even read all these posts...read the first few and I was crying cats and dogs and I don't even have kids, mostly likely never will, and never really wanted any unless I met a man I felt worthy of fathering my children LOL but I never did.

But, wow, what a great bunch of moms you all are. :smile tee

I have my animals...it may be hard to understand, but I feel the same way about them. My dog June Bug was just a wee pup a year ago and now she's grown and 1.5 yrs old and I'm already crying because how time flies. So y'all have got to stop this, Sandy, lock this thread...I'm crying my eyes out here because I know I'm only going to have my DOG another 13 or so years, God willing...imagine if I had kids???!!! I'd never make it. I'd love 'em too much and never be able to let them out of my sight!:loco:

God bless you all for being such incredible moms.:angel: And a special high five for those of you whose grown kids don't call TOO often to ask for money :lmao:

Bri

[dancemomof2]

THIS POST IS NOT TO OFFEND ANY TEACHER< I AM TALKING ABOUT WV EMPLOYEES ONLY DON"T BASH ME PLEASE


I am not saying I didn't buy extra, I did, I just think they expect way more then they should. If you look at the stats Teachers in WV on average make well above 30,000 a year, and my hubby on the other hand as a correctional officer/ Hostiage Negotiater/Narcotics k-9 handler for the same State is making a meer $27,000 a year, to put up with the failures that went threw the school system and family system, and the state is paying $30,000 to keep that failure for 1 year. No one makes sure that my state employee family has extras when our paycheck when his shoelaces need replaced, no one makes sure to chip in for extra work boots when hubby chases a convict down for trying to escape, no one cares when my childrens weekend was ruined because a failure wanted to hold someone hostage and take my childrens dad away for hours while he talked some sense into him for 8 hours the other night. Teachers don't stick there hands on unknown communicable disease daily and not be aloud to know they are doing so. Teachers don't get told NO you can't spend holidays with your children. To me teachers IN WEST VIRGINIA ONLY get paid very well as opposed to other state employees.

[hdb1982]

Leslie,
I was not in any way bashing you. I was simply explaining why I spent the money that I did. There a lot of people who are underpaid in the state. The national average salary for teachers is 47,000. wv around 37,000. I pick up I hit a sour note about the salary and it was not my intention to do so. But in my opinion ,based on their salary, teacher's should't have to pay for supplies. And just b/c someone is in prison doesn't mean the teachers and parents are always to blame. You can take my family. 2 of us raised the same. one a 4.0 honor student the other a felon. They make their choices on their own.

[Briza]

Leslie and other moms who have spent money on increasing teacher supply request lists...
As teachers, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We send out these lists and if we are lucky maybe, maybe a quarter of the parents will provide at least one of the things that we request and we are extremely grateful. I know the majority of my students' parents combined incomes, if are both able to work, only one is able to work, or sometimes neither has a job, and many come from single parent homes and get no child support, are in worse financial situations than I will probably ever be. If we get even only a box of kleenex we are grateful, and those boxes get fewer every year and I supply the rest when we run out in...October. At least the teachers I work with I know are understanding of this but it does put a financial burden on us, because we WANT our students to have kleenex. I buy germ-x by the gallon... and yes we are exposed to communicable diseases on a daily basis, often serious ones...TB, meningitis, hepatitis, HIV... only find out about after it's too late and we have to spend our money to get tested, and treated if necessary.

I'm not arguing with any of you, the system sucks, I agree 100%. I don't complain about my salary...I work 187 days a year, and I am in a very low salary area. Most of the teachers I know have summer and/or weekend jobs not just to make ends meet, but to be able to afford the few extras that everyone wants and needs. I waited tables summers and weekends my first years teaching...I did not get my holidays off. Though I don't have kids, I do like to be with my family during the holidays.

I went to college to be a biologist, wanted to be a biologist for the state or USFW or do field work and research, but believe it or not teaching paid better, and that's not saying much, but I knew I'd always have to work a 2nd job if I took a state biology job and now that I'm ill, I need my vacations to recover so I can make it thru the rest of the year and not have to go on disability. And teachers get told no on just about everything. We have no power.

I'm not trying to start up anything here at all, just telling the reality of my life and also again want to thank any parent who was able to send their child with evn only one thing from the supply list. It's not "just" a box of kleenex to us... it's a box kleenex and cause for celebration!!!!!!!!! :) And we say tell your mom thank you, you must have a really nice mom to go out of her way to make sure you have kleenex in the classroom when we all come down with colds at the same time.:)

[dancemomof2]

THe only sore note is that the salary difference and the fact of the matter. I spent tons on supplies and sent in extra also for the ones who can;t afford the cuter cat and puppy folder or funky new pencils and pens etc, and my boxes of tissues and copy paper. IT just stinks to raise a family in this state and hear the salary whoa's when wv salaries really do get lower and no one looks at the ones who have to re train them to behave again in society. ahhhhhhhhhhhhh better now. Deep Breath taken and no bad feelings for teachers so don't take it that way.

[Briza]

Not taken that way at all...we are all stressed these first weeks of school, from the administrators on down to the teachers, aides, school nurses, students, parents. :grouphug: We'll make it, we always do.:angel:

[mary124]

Texas is just as bad as WV-- think all states are! Even though my kids are not in school anymore, but when they were, whatever was on the lists I made sure they got! Of course, it wasn't the fancy folders, but most teachers didn't want the fancy ones. Now, this year, my Nephew is in school and even in pre-K they want stuff you wouldn't believe!! Grandma really can't afford, as she is on a fixed income, so Aunt mary and Uncle Joe helps out when it comes down to it. Just bought ziplock baggies in 3 different sizes --what do they need that for??

[SandyRN]

Here in NC the legislators fought for years about whether or not to have a Lottery that would give "extra" money to the state school system. I watched them bicker back and forth over this issue and it finally passed and the lottery started up sometime last year I guess it was. I was sitting here thinking well, good, maybe this will take some stress off the teachers, give them a better salary (no, I don't know what they make here on average), allow them to buy supplies out of the funds they are given from the county instead of their own pockets, etc, but we got the same wish lists this year too.

I am angry at the way teachers are treated honestly. I know they get holidays off, I know they get weekends and summers off, etc. But, every teacher I've ever dealt with spends a lot of her/his "free" time grading papers, preparing lesson plans, getting ready for the next day's class, etc.

Like I said in my last post, something is SERIOUSLY wrong if teacher's have to come to the parent's to ask for tissues, baggies, etc because they aren't given enough $ from the school systems to cover basic supplies for the classroom. I don't want a teacher paying $ out of their own pocket for my kid, no more than I would want the tech at the pharmacy to pay for my child's prescription or the guy that pumps my gas to fork out a few bucks to help fill up my tank.

The whole system is screwed up in the U.S. in one way or another...and we all sit here and wonder why other countries are smarter than we are and beat us in Math, Science, etc......

I'm not real sure how this thread got turned onto this subject, but I think it's a great topic to toss around. If nothing else it gets us talking about education and that is definately one of the most important issues facing our country right now.

:::climbing off soapbox::: :)

[mary124]

Texas has the lottery and supposely so much of it goes for Education, Teachers salaries, etc. but you can't prove it by me and whoever else!! They are so UNDERPAID its not even funny. You couldn't pay me to teach school - sorry teachers!! (unless you pay me much more than what you are being paid now); as you are so underpaid. I know that all of your freetime(what you have freetime? where is it?? between school conferences, grading papers, meetings, etc) you don't have time to ---- I'm going to be a lady and not say what I want to say or someone will wipe my message off this thread. Anyway, I don't know where I'm going with this so............ I'm gone.

[Briza]

I was just about to post the exact same as Sandy and Mary. I'm a Texas teacher :) and yes, how did this thread get turned upside down, it started off so sweet. But you are right, Sandy, these are important topics and major issues in ALL states.