I have never really considered myself a poet; however, our poetry study this year has truly inspired me (and hopefully the kids). The first poem was inspired by a newly planted tree that is outside of our classroom window. We have been given the duty to water it twice a week and we are all excited to watch it grow! The second one was inspired by the first...it sprouted from a personal connection....and the third is just fun...enjoy!
Baby Tree
Little stick peering out of the cold, hard dirt.
Are your roots warm enough?
A wisp of a ribbon
baby blue
dances in the wintery breath.
It's draped around your limb like a necklace.
Wear it proudly.
You are adopted by a family that loves you
cares for you
and will give you what you need.
A few shrivelled leaves because of the season.
We pray them vibrant with color soon
Baby tree we care for you and hope you grow up strong.
We will love you through all seasons.
Please know you are not alone.
Welcome to our family
New Student
Welcome friend to your own little corner of the Earth.
I haven't met you yet but I know that I love you!
Swaying through the doorway like your not sure which way to turn.
Consider yourself adopted to a growing family.
You have so many friends and you don't even know their names.
I am so proud to share this world
this corner
this space.
You will change me.
You will help shape me and my decisions.
You will change my future,
my soul.
Dearest friend,
grab my hand and run through life with open eyes.
See things with 200 fingers, 40 eyes, and 20 hearts.
Learn with me!
Classroom Silence
cling-clang....whisper-whisper
swish-swish....crumple scratch
whooooosh......whiiiiirrrrrrrr
classroom silence
a melody floats in the air
moving pencils
building thoughts
sniff....sniff....ACHOOO
cough-cough...ahem
tap-tap....rap-rap
Notes made up of noises
during quiet time
a symphony of silence
Listen!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Words Worth Waiting For
It's Martin Luther King day and Eric and I are enjoying our Monday morning, sipping our coffee, he is reclined back on the sofa with his head on the arm and I am sitting opposite of him using the other arm of the couch as my seat.
"Eric, what would you do if I proposed to you?" He commenced to do what I call his "dirty diaper trick" where he tries to pretend he's asleep even if he is sitting upright; his smirk gives him away every time. "Eric, will you marry me?" I smiled. Eric's smirk got a little bigger-eyes still closed. Just then, Connor enters and says..."WHAT? are you and daddy getting married?!?"
"Well, I asked him but he hasn't said yes yet." Connor dramatically pretends to faint at the very thought of marriage--to him all girls have cooties.
"Daddy...are you going to marry Teresa?" He asked through clenched teeth emulating Eric's pose. Eric has on a big, wide, teeth exposed grin, his closed eyes are marked with wrinkles from the effort to keep them shut.
"Come on Eric let's go to Vegas, It'll be fun," I am having too much fun watching him squirm. "Is it money or are you just not ready?" He opened his eyes and looked straight into mine "I'm ready," he smiled.
I walked in the door with pizza in hand. The evening was chilly and upon entering the house I was pleasantly surprised with a blazing fire in the fireplace and a fully decorated living room. Connor had covered the walls with a multitude of newly created pieces of art of different mediums: crayon on paper, collage, finger paint, and watercolors. The lamps were covered with scarves and toys were strategically placed. Afghans draped over furniture completed him idea of the ultimate party theme. Connor bounced to meet me at the door with Jace on his heels. "Teresa, Teresa, we're going to have a big party for you! We're going to have a....a....a...."
"Pizza party," Eric finished.
"Yeah, a pizza party and a dance party!" Connor ran up to Eric and "whispered" "I didn't say it Daddy, I didn't say it!" This is when I started to get suspicious. Again, I saw Eric's smirk and noticed that he was avoiding direct eye contact; I knew something was up. Dinner commenced and we had a dance party in our living room (we do this quite often although none of us really can dance by any professional or probably 'allowed in public' standards).
We put the kids to bed and went to enjoy the peace of the evening. We sat side by side on the hearth, our backs being warmed by the fire, chatting about nothing in particular. Finally I turned to him, "You're acting strange," my narrowed eyes searched his face for hints, "And I'm pretty sure Connor's in on it."
"I don't know what you're talking about," his eyes remaining on the floor directly in front of him.
"Well then, I'll just have to get the scoop from Connor when I pick him up from school on Wednesday," I joked. Eric pulled me to my feet and was hugging me, giggling. He began to whisper in my ear "I love you so much.....you are such an amazing woman....and I want to spend the rest of my life with you" A feeling that I can best describe as sunshine filled me. Such an amazing, life-changing, powerful wave of emotion flowed over me. It was the words "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" that echoed in my ears and gave me everything. He proceeded to get down on one knee and slide the ring on my left ring finger. "Teresa, will you marry me?"
"Yes.....yes.....yes!"
The ring is beautiful and I already have an insurance policy on it (I just don't trust myself) but in that moment and even now the thing that continues to keep me filled up are those words that he whispered into my ear. Words worth waiting an eternity for..."I want to spend the rest of my life with you"
"Eric, what would you do if I proposed to you?" He commenced to do what I call his "dirty diaper trick" where he tries to pretend he's asleep even if he is sitting upright; his smirk gives him away every time. "Eric, will you marry me?" I smiled. Eric's smirk got a little bigger-eyes still closed. Just then, Connor enters and says..."WHAT? are you and daddy getting married?!?"
"Well, I asked him but he hasn't said yes yet." Connor dramatically pretends to faint at the very thought of marriage--to him all girls have cooties.
"Daddy...are you going to marry Teresa?" He asked through clenched teeth emulating Eric's pose. Eric has on a big, wide, teeth exposed grin, his closed eyes are marked with wrinkles from the effort to keep them shut.
"Come on Eric let's go to Vegas, It'll be fun," I am having too much fun watching him squirm. "Is it money or are you just not ready?" He opened his eyes and looked straight into mine "I'm ready," he smiled.
****
I walked in the door with pizza in hand. The evening was chilly and upon entering the house I was pleasantly surprised with a blazing fire in the fireplace and a fully decorated living room. Connor had covered the walls with a multitude of newly created pieces of art of different mediums: crayon on paper, collage, finger paint, and watercolors. The lamps were covered with scarves and toys were strategically placed. Afghans draped over furniture completed him idea of the ultimate party theme. Connor bounced to meet me at the door with Jace on his heels. "Teresa, Teresa, we're going to have a big party for you! We're going to have a....a....a...."
"Pizza party," Eric finished.
"Yeah, a pizza party and a dance party!" Connor ran up to Eric and "whispered" "I didn't say it Daddy, I didn't say it!" This is when I started to get suspicious. Again, I saw Eric's smirk and noticed that he was avoiding direct eye contact; I knew something was up. Dinner commenced and we had a dance party in our living room (we do this quite often although none of us really can dance by any professional or probably 'allowed in public' standards).
We put the kids to bed and went to enjoy the peace of the evening. We sat side by side on the hearth, our backs being warmed by the fire, chatting about nothing in particular. Finally I turned to him, "You're acting strange," my narrowed eyes searched his face for hints, "And I'm pretty sure Connor's in on it."
"I don't know what you're talking about," his eyes remaining on the floor directly in front of him.
"Well then, I'll just have to get the scoop from Connor when I pick him up from school on Wednesday," I joked. Eric pulled me to my feet and was hugging me, giggling. He began to whisper in my ear "I love you so much.....you are such an amazing woman....and I want to spend the rest of my life with you" A feeling that I can best describe as sunshine filled me. Such an amazing, life-changing, powerful wave of emotion flowed over me. It was the words "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" that echoed in my ears and gave me everything. He proceeded to get down on one knee and slide the ring on my left ring finger. "Teresa, will you marry me?"
"Yes.....yes.....yes!"
The ring is beautiful and I already have an insurance policy on it (I just don't trust myself) but in that moment and even now the thing that continues to keep me filled up are those words that he whispered into my ear. Words worth waiting an eternity for..."I want to spend the rest of my life with you"
Friday, January 14, 2011
Positive News Search
Our daily news is infused with untimely deaths, natural disasters, and other disturbing issues. I do believe it is important for us to know about these devastating things...maybe we can help...maybe we can change things. While there are usually some cute human interest stories I am left wanting more...ever the "glass half full" kind of thinker I choose to walk through life understanding and learning from the negative but focusing on the positive. This morning I put a search in Yahoo to see what news outlets there are for news stories focusing on the positive. I had to laugh when my search for "positive news" yielded these as the first two results:
Positive - News Results
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Chomping at Bubbles
Snow has blanketed our neighborhood for two days now. Two days snowed in...no school...no work. There has been time spent building snow men with freezing hands, staring at the sky while making snow angels, having snowball (ice ball) fights, and sipping creamy hot chocolate by a roaring fire. There has also been a sense of cabin fever. We don't have a big house--I think the word cozy describes it well. The truth is we live in absolutely every inch of our house and it just seems that we all always end up hanging out in the same room. Family togetherness is fantastic but I will admit with all four of us crammed into one room with two 70+ pound dogs demanding attention it can be a tad overwhelming.
Well, it seems that this has really been getting to Eric. He loves to play with the boys outside, garden, or do anything that has to do with chasing a ball. I think all this time inside has really begun to take a toll. We've had a really hard time getting in stride with each other the last couple days. If you have been in a relationship for any length of time you know what I mean. Everything seems to be said in a grumble and everything the kids seem to do is followed by a quick snap of caution. It's very easy to be drawn into the downward spiral of frustration and grumpiness especially when even three rooms away you can hear what each other are thinking. I was falling into this trap of negativity when I was saved by the power of bubbles!
Eric's claustrophobia was evident this morning when he almost became unhinged when both boys wanted to "help" him start the fire. I smiled to myself knowing this feeling all to well both at home and at work. I sort of revel in the feeling of everyone being interested in what I'm doing yet I know that it can become quite trying when you are focused on completing a task.
The boys and I gave him his space and started playing with some blocks. Eric was trying to pull himself out of his funk by sneaking around the corner to begin a full-on Nerf-gun war when all of the sudden I herd a groan of frustration. Apparently Jace (almost 2) had decided to stuff a few darts in the gun causing it to not work at all. I, being the problem solver I am, spent the next hour attempting major surgury on the weapon, unscrewing all 15 screws and putting in back together only to completely render in useless promptly after unclogging it. Aside from being completely in awe of the intricacy of a Nerf gun I was completely and utterly frustrated.
The boys had moved on to blowing bubbles in the living room, Eric was hiding under a blanket on the couch and I tried to sneak my defeated, dejected self to the bathroom to take a really, really, really long shower (this is about the only place you get peace and quiet with two young children). I almost made it, I was in our bedroom at the threshold of the bathroom when I heard Connor, he's five, ask, "Teresa, will you please blow bubbles for us?"
"Not right now honey, I'm going to take a shower." Surprised by a sudden commotion at my feet, I looked down to see Jace wearing only a Winnie the Pooh t-shirt and diaper on all fours trying to eat a bubble that had landed on the carpet but not yet popped.
"What is Jace doing?" I half asked and half laughed.
"Jace and I are trying to eat the bubbles!" Connor promptly blew a half a dozen bubbles from the wand and the two commenced to making ridiculous chomping sounds as they ran wildly chasing the bubbles open-mouthed, tripping over each other. Their giggles were absolutely contagious!
I caught their infectious laughter and tears began to gather in my eyes. I grabbed the bubbles out of Connor's hand and ran around the room jumping up and down on the bed blowing as many bubbles as possible. I made it my mission to fill the room with bubbles so the two could continue their game. As the giggles continued I felt all of my frustration and self-pity melt away. So, as I type this memory while the snow slowly melts into a slushy mess outside my window, I am reminded of time's promise to move forward and my constant choice to make this time beautiful. I am eternally grateful for my two amazing boys whose very beings remind me to let my spirit dance and chomp at bubbles!
Well, it seems that this has really been getting to Eric. He loves to play with the boys outside, garden, or do anything that has to do with chasing a ball. I think all this time inside has really begun to take a toll. We've had a really hard time getting in stride with each other the last couple days. If you have been in a relationship for any length of time you know what I mean. Everything seems to be said in a grumble and everything the kids seem to do is followed by a quick snap of caution. It's very easy to be drawn into the downward spiral of frustration and grumpiness especially when even three rooms away you can hear what each other are thinking. I was falling into this trap of negativity when I was saved by the power of bubbles!
 |
| Here we are...all crammed in one room...watching Eric do something. |
Eric's claustrophobia was evident this morning when he almost became unhinged when both boys wanted to "help" him start the fire. I smiled to myself knowing this feeling all to well both at home and at work. I sort of revel in the feeling of everyone being interested in what I'm doing yet I know that it can become quite trying when you are focused on completing a task.
The boys and I gave him his space and started playing with some blocks. Eric was trying to pull himself out of his funk by sneaking around the corner to begin a full-on Nerf-gun war when all of the sudden I herd a groan of frustration. Apparently Jace (almost 2) had decided to stuff a few darts in the gun causing it to not work at all. I, being the problem solver I am, spent the next hour attempting major surgury on the weapon, unscrewing all 15 screws and putting in back together only to completely render in useless promptly after unclogging it. Aside from being completely in awe of the intricacy of a Nerf gun I was completely and utterly frustrated.
The boys had moved on to blowing bubbles in the living room, Eric was hiding under a blanket on the couch and I tried to sneak my defeated, dejected self to the bathroom to take a really, really, really long shower (this is about the only place you get peace and quiet with two young children). I almost made it, I was in our bedroom at the threshold of the bathroom when I heard Connor, he's five, ask, "Teresa, will you please blow bubbles for us?"
"Not right now honey, I'm going to take a shower." Surprised by a sudden commotion at my feet, I looked down to see Jace wearing only a Winnie the Pooh t-shirt and diaper on all fours trying to eat a bubble that had landed on the carpet but not yet popped.
"What is Jace doing?" I half asked and half laughed.
"Jace and I are trying to eat the bubbles!" Connor promptly blew a half a dozen bubbles from the wand and the two commenced to making ridiculous chomping sounds as they ran wildly chasing the bubbles open-mouthed, tripping over each other. Their giggles were absolutely contagious!
I caught their infectious laughter and tears began to gather in my eyes. I grabbed the bubbles out of Connor's hand and ran around the room jumping up and down on the bed blowing as many bubbles as possible. I made it my mission to fill the room with bubbles so the two could continue their game. As the giggles continued I felt all of my frustration and self-pity melt away. So, as I type this memory while the snow slowly melts into a slushy mess outside my window, I am reminded of time's promise to move forward and my constant choice to make this time beautiful. I am eternally grateful for my two amazing boys whose very beings remind me to let my spirit dance and chomp at bubbles!
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Help: I remain in awe...
My mom put this book in my hands on Christmas Day. That night, I found myself snuggled in bed ready to read myself into a deep slumber when all of the sudden I blinked and found myself transformed...Kathryn Stockett grabbed me from my bed and shoved me into the body of a black maid in Mississippi during the 60s in all of it's racist splendor. Anger heated my skin as the high society white women prattled about how they would ban together to protect society by demanding that a seperate maid's quarters be placed in every white home so that the diseased black bottoms would not infect the frail and vulnerable white tushes.
Kathryn did not leave me there long; she played with my emotions like the metal sphere in a pinball machine as I was pulled from one deliciously crafted character to the next. Thrust in and out of maids and their employers (more like masters) as they struggle with their insanely intimate, yet publicly separate, relationships each with her very own overflowing trunk-load of drama. A partial hero emerges as a woman of society begins to consider what is going on...she falls upon an opportunity that could be something big...something that could change things...if she can only make it work...
I consumed this novel (or it consumed me) in two days. Much of this time consisted of me chasing my 20 month old with my book-in-hand. I fear there were times in which I regressed in my motherly duties and I allowed him to be babysat by the television (I am SO SORRY Jace). This, I promise, is a rarity but it speaks volumes about the intensely gripping story of The Help. I remain in awe of this book. Not since reading Richard Wright's Native Son have I felt so delightfully, thoroughly enraged!
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Tuesday, January 4, 2011
My Feminist Rant
It is times like these, when I want to type a rant like this, that I am glad only a few people read this blog. Someday I will have more courage to just slap in out for everyone to see like a bumper sticker (thanks Tim) but for right now I appreciate that those who read this are some of my closest and most accepting friends.
Thanks to many powerful and wonderful women who came before me I can vote, hold any job I desire, and I am entitled to equal pay; however, I still have to wait for a man to be ready and smart enough to save money for a ridiculous diamond (that frankly I am terrified will fall the way of all of my jewelry past...I'm not exactly sure where it all lives but it is definitely not with me). I am stricken to a life in limbo constantly thinking...will today be the day? Completely random surprizes or ones with a deadline I can handle. I will know what is in that shiny, bright box under the tree by December 25th. But waiting for a marriage proposal is archaic, rediculous, and NO FUN!
As a child, I viewed marriage as a Cinderella fairy tale--all glass slippers, horse drawn carriages, and a really huge glittery dress! But now I realize what it truly is. It is an absolutely brilliant and beautiful union of two people who have decided that no matter what they want to stay by each others side; all of the grandiose party decoration are hardly important.
Looking into a person's eyes and hearing and knowing that when they say "I do" it is a commitment that they promise to love you... The love may not always be pretty, there may be days when love feels a lot like it's counterpart and is surrounded by the smell of dirty diapers. But you know that together you will work it out not because you have to....but because you want to...you already chose to...and; therefore, in a sense you already have.
It just seems silly to have to wait until the man has decided. I guess I reserve the right to say "yes" or "no" but it hardly feels like a very proactive role in the whole thing. I would have no qualms about getting down on one knee myself if I didn't know that somehow it wouldn't be a story that my counterpart would feel very happy to tell. In our society, this has become the man's right...to be the one to initiate the proposal of marriage...yet their name remains unchanged by the whole deal. Shouldn't I get to be the one to say hey...I would like to take your name and slap a Mrs. in front of it...is that cool with you?
I will now step down from my soap box, curtsy, and practice being better at looking after my jewelry because who knows...maybe today will be the day...
Thanks to many powerful and wonderful women who came before me I can vote, hold any job I desire, and I am entitled to equal pay; however, I still have to wait for a man to be ready and smart enough to save money for a ridiculous diamond (that frankly I am terrified will fall the way of all of my jewelry past...I'm not exactly sure where it all lives but it is definitely not with me). I am stricken to a life in limbo constantly thinking...will today be the day? Completely random surprizes or ones with a deadline I can handle. I will know what is in that shiny, bright box under the tree by December 25th. But waiting for a marriage proposal is archaic, rediculous, and NO FUN!
As a child, I viewed marriage as a Cinderella fairy tale--all glass slippers, horse drawn carriages, and a really huge glittery dress! But now I realize what it truly is. It is an absolutely brilliant and beautiful union of two people who have decided that no matter what they want to stay by each others side; all of the grandiose party decoration are hardly important.
It just seems silly to have to wait until the man has decided. I guess I reserve the right to say "yes" or "no" but it hardly feels like a very proactive role in the whole thing. I would have no qualms about getting down on one knee myself if I didn't know that somehow it wouldn't be a story that my counterpart would feel very happy to tell. In our society, this has become the man's right...to be the one to initiate the proposal of marriage...yet their name remains unchanged by the whole deal. Shouldn't I get to be the one to say hey...I would like to take your name and slap a Mrs. in front of it...is that cool with you?
I will now step down from my soap box, curtsy, and practice being better at looking after my jewelry because who knows...maybe today will be the day...
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