Grrr teacher conferences

2 kids + 2 teacher conferences, what are the chances they will schedule BOTH my conferences at the same time? Apparently 100%. I have hubby do our son, because honestly this teacher makes me overly angry and since I work there that could be a very bad thing. I tell him all my concerns and let him go at it. In my conference with my daughter it was exactly how I expected, she is doing wonderful and if there was a chance she could do better she would already be doing so. She got the best grade 1's in everything she could possible, they aren't allowed to give 1's for SS and science because they don't test in that yet. School is her thing so no issues there. Now I go to the end of my son's conference to find out he is basically failing Writing, Reading, and Spelling. OK .. what the heck! I am at that school almost 5 days a week, I am always in the halls, heck a lot of the time I am peeking in his classroom. I have personally asked his teacher 3 times that I can remember how he was doing in class, always good, fine no issues. No progress report saying he is doing poorly either. If my son was not the honest boy he is I would not of already known he was doing so poorly in Spelling. He told me.. this should be where you ask why didn't you see the test papers.. the answer would be NO! She still has them. She has been hording his paperwork. I asked her about this a week ago she said it was because they were so busy preparing for Meap.. yeah Meap ended over 3 weeks ago. Then papers that my son saw in his bin (each student has a bin) are now mysteriously missing. Thankfully he already told me the scores. So now what? I ask some of my friends they say switch his teacher, so I ask. Apparently he is not allowed to switch classes now. I ask for an aide so he can catch up on his lost skills and I get told " No, we don't do that here" really what the heck are all the aides doing here then. Again I get told its only for " special ed" Whatever.. I know of a number of students who are NOT special ed getting additional help. Once again it's left to me, I know have to go in every day to make sure I get my son's papers from his teacher, and I may have to sit in class to make sure he comprehends and the teacher is not just passing him over. I laugh at the NO Child left behind, as it not a phrase honored at our school.

Thanksgiving..

Thanksgiving.. a time to remember what we are truely grateful for! I tend to get all wound up in my own self pity and the drama of every day chaos that I do not always remember that I am so fortunate. I am so blessed and have so much to be thankful for!

First I am grateful for an ever loving and forgivening God. Time and time again I fall from his path and yet he never forsakens me. HE is always showering me with his blessings, I await for the day that I can be in his presence.

My husband, never have I experienced a truer friendship than what he shows me. Im not saying our marriage is perfect far from it. His acceptance of my flaws and quirky ways is unmeasureable. He is kind, and caring and loyal. Always a provider, I never feel worrysome about how we will manage.

My children are a great blessing, even though they try my patience, tolerance, acceptance, intelligence.. all the "ences" LOL. I have only ever really had one passion and that was to be a parent, so I am truely blessed 5 times over.

My family and friends.. you are always there, although some of you silently. I know push come to shove you will be at my door with money, food or a shoulder to cry on. I thank you for your constant support.

New PTO Drama

So the PTO staff finds out that some of the teachers are not passing out the notes we make to the students. I don't believe they are doing it to be malicious, I think they just don't place any importance on our group or what we do. So I whip up a note asking them to please make sure notes get to the students and explain what money that we raise goes to them so they see that it's in their best interest...

Here's the note;
Dear Teachers and Staff,
It has been brought to our attention that students may not be getting full access to our notes, or information on our current programs. We do understand that you are are all very busy and have full schedules, however without your help in spreading the world we get fewer responses from our Monroe Families. This is going to be a very trying year on us financially due to the existing economical conditions. Our budget this year is $19,215,00, approximately $4000.00 of that is for teacher/staff resources not counting field trips or teacher luncheon. Getting the information out our fundraisers, raffle tickets, candy grams, and family fun nights is essential in order for us to meet our budget. Please take the time to read our notes so that you may be able to answer questions to students or remind them of deadlines. We appreciate your help. We will be posting an envelope on our PTO board for any questions, requests, or complaints you might have. Our goal this year is to make our school into a community, for too long have the teachers, parents and students been separated, only together can we make this a school we are proud of.

Do you know the teachers went crazy. They are offended. I have even been told they are rallying against me. Not sure what that entails, lol! We have been warned that now all notes must be approved and initialed by the president of the PTO, then approved by the secretary and the principal before they go out! What amazes me is I thought that being a tax payer, and a parent that I paid for the services of the school. So in all truth the principal, secretary and teachers work for ME!!! Isn't it funny how teachers, doctors and others think just because they have a license or a degree in something that you do not they feel they can over power you? Unfortunately for them, I am not one of those people. I educate myself in my rights and stand firm! Tomorrow is our PTO meeting, I'm sure it will be brought up and I have been informed I have the right to speak for myself and defend what I did. So perhaps tomorrow a new blog will be needed :)

My Teenager!

I find myself at a odd place. I remember my teenage years still quite well, and honestly I hate me for them LOL. Now that I am a parent and an adult, I realize I was just a bad kid. If I believed in karma I would say that I am getting my share of what goes around comes around. I pray that all the grief Kylie is giving me is just her trying to find herself..however I fear it's just a complete lack of caring for anyone but herself. First let me says, yes she gets good grades, no she has never gotten suspended or detention at school. She does not talk back disrespectful. But she lies continuous, about everything, good, bad.. all of it. I would go as far to say she is a compulsive liar. She steals, she is constantly obtaining things I know for a fact I didn't buy her. She gets caught taking things at the house too. I want so badly for her to get past this and be able to live a great life, but swear she resists anything good. Example; She was grounded for lying about taking a lunch to school (long story) and then she got ungrounded, 2 days later she gets in trouble for lying about not using soap in the shower (yuck right?) so she gets grounded, she is suppose to get ungrounded the very next day.. but she gets caught stealing candy, and not just any candy but the EXACT type of candy she cannot have due to her braces. So.. she is not getting ungrounded. I feel like such a failure, I have tried talking, counseling, rewarding good behavior, praying, grounded, spanking, grounding... in the end she always does whatever the heck she wants. People think I'm cruel because I'm so hard on her. But what do I do? Give up let her go find herself? Let her eat sticky chewy candy when I am paying $5600 for her braces? No one seems to have any answers except to condemn me for always coming down on her. Seems I lose no matter what, and Kylie's bad behavior continues. I wish my parents were alive to tell me that what I am going through and feeling was similar to what I put them through. Then atleast I would have the security that Kylie would bounce back and be a responsible, caring adult! For now I pray, pray she has God in her life, and that she is saved by his grace.

I voted!

Well I did it, I voted! I always feel so tiny when doing so. I know that it's my duty as a citizen and I do take it seriously. I research what I am voting for and I do not vote for things I do not understand. But I always wonder did my tiny votes really make a difference? I mean Michigan is mostly Democratic and well I am Republican.. does my vote matter as a whole? This is a year of many questions for me as I am not 100% about either candidate. I neither totally dislike or like them. I personally don't want either for president, but alas one will be. I am scared of my future when they take over the presidency. I fear of the years to come and how this will effect my family. Im not sure any political respresentative can really do things for the general people of the U.S.A. because they don't live like the general public. They are usually rich or well to do, they get to do things that the normal people don't. How can these men and women really know what is best for the middle and lower class public, which is the highest percentage of the nation? They do not live where or how we live. Sure you hear how at one time they had great struggle.. but that was before laptops, pdas, internet.. and misc things that now have changed life. Im sorry I doubt there will ever be in my lifetime a new president to bring GREAT change, or help to this nation. However I will continue to pray for great leadership and perhaps when my kids are grown they will have a true leader and be proud to be an American.

Halloween ... more tricks then treats!

10/28 Well first Halloween started with our pto sponsored family fun night. I had to be at the school at 8am to start getting the gym and hallways ready! We also had to pick up the games & booths. Thankfully Ron took off work to help. So after dropping kids off at school the work begins. First I have collect all the scarecrows from parents and students.. then put them outside. Ron volunteers to go get games with another parent.. only to find that when he gets there they are waaay to big to fit in our van. Again, thankfully we have my father in law with his trailor come and pick them up! Whew diaster deverted! We leave at 1130am to be home for the boy's bus to drop them off. After which I leave to do errands. We are back at the school at 2pm and stay till 4ish. Have to run and by run I mean speed to the house to get costumes and back at school at 445. Parents are already there.. mind you it doesn't start till 530! Party goes on 530-8pm and from what feedback I got it was a great hit. We not only broke even we made a $20 profit LOL! After clean up I am home by 9ish.. only a 13 hour day..

10/29 Up to the school at 830 to pick up the games and booths.. to return. Then back up to school pick up my own stuff (cornstalks and scarecrows). Then wait for boys to get home and make Kylie's end of the cheer season party treats (chocolate covered pretzel sticks with sprinkles). Go back to school print out November notes... pick kids up take treats to Kye. Return Emmys cheer uniform, stay for cheer party.. home by 7pm!
10/30 Twin's Halloween class party!! 10 preschoolers dressed up and parading through school :)
10/31 Ron home again! Get Zach and Emmy dressed for Halloween party and parade, Drop kids off at school, go to McDonalds for breakfast, mind you I am dressed too as a clown.. funny how many crazy looks you get being an adult dressed up on halloween.. where is the fun in the world gone? Up to school to drop off cupcakes and then watch the school parade.

In the school to help out at Emmy's party passing out treats. Leave to be home for twin's bus. Clean up back yard ( winterizing) and get ready to carve pumpkins. Let me just say how greatful I am that my sister and brother in law gave us these HUGE pumpkins but wow-o were they thick and hard to cut through!!!


Naptime yay! Everyone but daddy and the twins nap. Dinner time, get dressed up time, trick or treat time..


the twin's loved it and Ashton became quickly obsessed with no one touching his candy bag. We did 2 full blocks and 1/2 of another. Kylie and a friend passed out candy and I promised them I would take them to haunted houses. So finally at 8ish I was backing out of the drive to take them and carefully looking to not hit any trick or treaters that would be wandering the streets ( because they were alot of em) I backed up into my neighbors brother's car! Smashed out my tail light.. and barely I mean barely scratched this guys car.. I was coasting not even foot on gas... he insists on me calling the police for a police record.. fine I do. Police come and do report.. now here is the fun party (not really) see I got this ticket in April, there were a ton of people picketing on the side of the street. Lots of firemen there so I was looking to read signs to see their cause and I ran a red light ( just turned red but red none the less). At the light was a police officer.. I immediately pulled over and let him follow, he didnt even have time to turn on lights :) He lowered to a no pts obstructing traffic $150 ticket!!! I paid it... apparently their computers didn't feel the need to send that info on, so I am driving on a suspended license because of it.. in which the police officer doing the report just gave me a court date to resolve!!! I have reciept of the payment and the bank statement showing they got their money... but now not only do I have a broken tail light I have to go to court!!! Grrrr. Can I just tell ya Im happy Oct is over??!!!!

PTO mayhem

First off let me say that had I known the frustration, intense work, and general lack of volunteers and participation I would of got from joining the PTO I can honest say that I probably would not of joined. I joined in the beginning because one of the last year's members had to quit due to her parents health, also because I was basically the only regular attending parent. I went in with high expectation and hope that we (the 4 members) could turn this school around and do some new exciting.. even great things for our children's school! I got nominated as Secretary but my duties have well surpassed that of just a record keeper. I came up with what I thought were great ideas. One idea was called " change a kid's life" and what we wanted the kids to do was bring in spare change. I bought piggy banks for each classroom. Each month we would count the change and it would go into a account for helping our own families within the school. My first frustration was that I would have to do this by myself.. no one in the pto helped me. My second was when I went to collect the money I noticed that the teachers tossed aside the piggy banks. Obviously they are not into helping the families within the school. I reached out to the Media dept at our school and now have it being announced on the morning news, hopefully that will help. Another idea I had was that we could get businesses within the community to help us out via gift card, certificates, or however they could.. again this was left up to me to do solo. I don't want to sound like the other PTO mom's do nothing.. that isn't true, they all have their hands into something or another. I just feel overwelmed. I don't want to not do these projects as I think once they get going they will really make a difference, and I don't mind the work as nothing worth doing is every easy! Today my frustration is we are doing a Pantry food drive, this is a huge undergoing and it looks as once again I am flying solo! How will I do all of this alone? How is it no one sees I need help? I have meantioned how it's too big of a job but it seems as if everyone is just too busy to help.. I want to quit.. I want just give up because it's so hard, but I know that if I do there is no chance for these people I am trying to help to get help through our school. I just really wish it didn't have to be so hard to help others and to get others to help out! Also I am having a hard time managing taking care of 5 kids,being a good wife, working on the pto, 2 girls in cheerleading and trying to be there for some friends in crisis. If I were one more person I swear I could get a handle on how much work there is too do. Every time I feel like I am going to get some downtime another project has to be started. How do I manage all this.. what do I give up if anything.. where are all my answers hiding?