Today I got an e-mail from one of MACs teachers. She is missing homework. We got a voice mail from the school last night that ParentConnect is finally up and running for the year. ParentConnect is the school system's way of keeping us informed. They update absences and the teachers put in all the work that they are grading, and the grades are updated weekly. It had not been working since the beginning of the school year and I have missed it!
Before I left the office today I was able to go in and take a look at exactly what homework she is missing from which classes. ParentConnect is wonderful when it's working! Of course when I picked her up from the bus today and we had a discussion about homework and turning it in she said, "Oh, yeah that's in my binder, I guess I should turn that in".
I wish ParentConnect had been up a few weeks ago, we have almost hit mid quarter and there was a LOT of work that needs to get turned in. We started tonight. There was a lot of reading and a whole lot of writing tonight. We all had a late dinner and she took her pills before heading to bed. Tomorrow will be a few e-mails to teachers and more writing!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
...In Which We Find Wellness
Sorry that it has been so long between posts but between the RenFaire and not feeling very well has had me doing a lot of sleeping in the last few days.
Friday I had a sore throat and then working two full days at the RenFaire had me really feeling sick on Monday morning. Of course we are now in the final stages of year end close at Smithsonian and I had to be at work. Monday MAC woke up on time and we left the house on time but we missed the bus. Apparently they have been getting to school a little late and Friday the bus driver decided to get to all the stops about 5 minutes earlier (which MAC "forgot" to tell me about).
I got the first "behavior" phone call from the school at 3:30. It went better than I expected, she did not lose her field trip on Tuesday but was written up. Tuesday went really well. The field trip was a wonderful performance for several of Anne Arundel County's top executives. Breakfast was provided for the group and the kids got a bus ride back to school.
I have finally begun to feel better and it seems as if MAC is doing better. I hope that we can continue on this uphill trend at school.
Friday I had a sore throat and then working two full days at the RenFaire had me really feeling sick on Monday morning. Of course we are now in the final stages of year end close at Smithsonian and I had to be at work. Monday MAC woke up on time and we left the house on time but we missed the bus. Apparently they have been getting to school a little late and Friday the bus driver decided to get to all the stops about 5 minutes earlier (which MAC "forgot" to tell me about).
I got the first "behavior" phone call from the school at 3:30. It went better than I expected, she did not lose her field trip on Tuesday but was written up. Tuesday went really well. The field trip was a wonderful performance for several of Anne Arundel County's top executives. Breakfast was provided for the group and the kids got a bus ride back to school.
I have finally begun to feel better and it seems as if MAC is doing better. I hope that we can continue on this uphill trend at school.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Italian Bates Buck
MAC has been earning real money for note taking and Bates Bucks that she earns in class. Thursday for the first time ever she brought home 2 from Italian! She has been taking Italian for 3 years now and this is the first time she has ever seen one of these.
She was very excited to be able to tell me that she had earned not just one but TWO of these elusive items when she got into the car. Hubby and I couldn't tell her enough how proud we were of her! This is the way the school year should be going! YEAH MAC!
She was very excited to be able to tell me that she had earned not just one but TWO of these elusive items when she got into the car. Hubby and I couldn't tell her enough how proud we were of her! This is the way the school year should be going! YEAH MAC!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The New 52
Our family has been spending Wednesday evening together. We have gone out, had a cheap dinner out and talked. This Wednesday has been no different.
Hubby loves to listen to pod casts and heard about a DC Comics relaunch, they call it the New 52, several weeks ago. He and MAC talked about what it entailed and which characters they were keeping and which they were discontinuing. MAC has watched "Teen Titans" and found that she really connected with Raven (a goth type character). Unfortunately she is not currently in the relaunch, but we are holding out hope that she will reappear since we hear that she is very popular among young girls. She has been excited to see if there are any comics that we all want to read.
We went to our local small business (3rd Eye Comics in Annapolis) and picked up the titles that sounded good to us. It is really nice to go into a reading store and not spend a whole lot of money! I had forgotten how cheap comics were! It is also nice to go into a store where everyone wants to be.
MAC knows that Wednesdays are release day for the new 52 (during the month of September) so when she gets off the bus she automatically is doing her homework. It is really nice not to have any fights over doing homework and we both feel good when I ask her about it and she can say, "It's done".
Hubby loves to listen to pod casts and heard about a DC Comics relaunch, they call it the New 52, several weeks ago. He and MAC talked about what it entailed and which characters they were keeping and which they were discontinuing. MAC has watched "Teen Titans" and found that she really connected with Raven (a goth type character). Unfortunately she is not currently in the relaunch, but we are holding out hope that she will reappear since we hear that she is very popular among young girls. She has been excited to see if there are any comics that we all want to read.
We went to our local small business (3rd Eye Comics in Annapolis) and picked up the titles that sounded good to us. It is really nice to go into a reading store and not spend a whole lot of money! I had forgotten how cheap comics were! It is also nice to go into a store where everyone wants to be.
MAC knows that Wednesdays are release day for the new 52 (during the month of September) so when she gets off the bus she automatically is doing her homework. It is really nice not to have any fights over doing homework and we both feel good when I ask her about it and she can say, "It's done".
Monday, September 12, 2011
Clear Communication
This morning was the beginning of an awful day. MAC and I had some communication issues this morning. She was not feeling so well and had apparently told Hubby last night and it did not get told to me. When I woke her up she was not a happy camper. She was downright mean.
We had a few loud words that continued for almost 20 minutes. By 7:10 when we had had it with each other and I had to get to work. I finally left her. We had both called Hubby and by the time I had gotten to work, he had come home. He called me to say that she really wasn't feeling good and that she loved me.
Communication needs to get better in this house. Between the three of us sometimes it gets really muddy. One of us gets upset and says something that one person takes one way and the other takes another way. Before you know it we are all angry at one another.
The family group helped us for a little but now we seem to have forgotten how. We need to take some time, slow down, look at each other and TALK.
We had a few loud words that continued for almost 20 minutes. By 7:10 when we had had it with each other and I had to get to work. I finally left her. We had both called Hubby and by the time I had gotten to work, he had come home. He called me to say that she really wasn't feeling good and that she loved me.
Communication needs to get better in this house. Between the three of us sometimes it gets really muddy. One of us gets upset and says something that one person takes one way and the other takes another way. Before you know it we are all angry at one another.
The family group helped us for a little but now we seem to have forgotten how. We need to take some time, slow down, look at each other and TALK.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Back to School Night
I have been meaning to post for several days now. I was going to post Thursday evening after back to school night. It was the best one so far. Both Hubby and I went. For the first time since MAC started at the school she did not have to perform. This year it was the new 6th graders who did a song. MAC and her group of 8th graders will be able to perform next week for the superintendent.
We had already met three of her core teachers but Thursday we got to meet the Algebra teacher and got to talk with the choral teacher. We got to say hello to all of the administration: the principal, the three vice principals, the guidance counselor and the new scheduling director for PVA.
It was a long two hours but it was worth it. We had a wonderful meeting with the science teacher where we got the best report ever: MAC had not only had the best day yet but the teacher wanted to make sure that we knew it, she had meant to write it in her planner and had forgotten. YEAH MAC!!
Of course then there was Friday, MAC said she had a "problem" in first and fifth period.
We had already met three of her core teachers but Thursday we got to meet the Algebra teacher and got to talk with the choral teacher. We got to say hello to all of the administration: the principal, the three vice principals, the guidance counselor and the new scheduling director for PVA.
It was a long two hours but it was worth it. We had a wonderful meeting with the science teacher where we got the best report ever: MAC had not only had the best day yet but the teacher wanted to make sure that we knew it, she had meant to write it in her planner and had forgotten. YEAH MAC!!
Of course then there was Friday, MAC said she had a "problem" in first and fifth period.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
My Side
We are having an on going issue here...yes we have had 5 straight days of rain but that isn't the issue I was talking about. The issue is that every time I ask MAC to do anything she doesn't want to do she gets angry or stubborn and says that I can't make her. It used to be that I could call Hubby and he and she would talk and the homework would get done. Now her response is, "It doesn't matter if you call him, he always takes your side! I don't care!" We have had discussions about this with the different hospitals and with the different doctors and talk therapists. There really isn't anything I can do, homework is something that has to get done and good behavior is always a must.
Last night was no exception. I asked to see her planner which had all the homework written in it. She had 2 extra days to do her weekly reading last week and "forgot". I told her she had to make it up with a real book (not a Manga or comic). I asked to see her algebra and got a look. By the time we had made it through the 7 classes I was back to being "That Horrible Woman who lives in the same house".
I know I need to stick to my guns and make sure that the homework is completed but with this happening 4 out of 5 nights a week gets old. Before she went to bed at least I got an, "I love you" even if she wouldn't give me a hug.
Last night was no exception. I asked to see her planner which had all the homework written in it. She had 2 extra days to do her weekly reading last week and "forgot". I told her she had to make it up with a real book (not a Manga or comic). I asked to see her algebra and got a look. By the time we had made it through the 7 classes I was back to being "That Horrible Woman who lives in the same house".
I know I need to stick to my guns and make sure that the homework is completed but with this happening 4 out of 5 nights a week gets old. Before she went to bed at least I got an, "I love you" even if she wouldn't give me a hug.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
First Day of After School Activities
This was supposed to be the second full week of school but with Irene coming through amazingly it is only the 7th! It was the first day of after school activities so when she packed her lunch I tried to make sure she packed an extra snack.
She doesn't always like what she is put into but when I picked her up from the bus at 6pm she seemed ok with the new class. She describes it as a technique that will help her to calm down before a performance. I was excited. MAC said, "When was the last time you saw me get nervous?" I explained that although this was focusing on before a performance if she learned the technique couldn't she use it during the rest of the day if someone annoyed her? She considered that for a moment and then smiled and said, "Yeah..."
She doesn't always like what she is put into but when I picked her up from the bus at 6pm she seemed ok with the new class. She describes it as a technique that will help her to calm down before a performance. I was excited. MAC said, "When was the last time you saw me get nervous?" I explained that although this was focusing on before a performance if she learned the technique couldn't she use it during the rest of the day if someone annoyed her? She considered that for a moment and then smiled and said, "Yeah..."
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A day together
This is our traditional end of summer, Labor Day. For most of us this means the beginning of school, and a day off of work. It is really nice here for our family because it gives us an extra day to work on homework and a day of rest.
Well for 2/3 of the family. I have taken a second job at the Maryland Renaissance Faire. We are open 10 weekends including all three days of the labor day holiday. Saturday went very quickly, and today was a little longer. I can only hope that tomorrow goes as fast as yesterday.
MAC and I had a misunderstanding yesterday and decided a day together would be nice. I was working the late shift today so we could play for the first part. It truly is amazing everything you can get on a stick: steak, pork chop, macaroni and cheese, sausage, and my favorite cheesecake on a stick.
MAC and I went around and did a little shopping as well as watching some shows and having a snack here and there.
When she left at 5 she told her father that she had a fun time. One of the items that she got today was a custom made mug lid. She did the design and Tiger from Tiger Tore Masks is going to create the mug lid from MAC's design. I am so excited about it!! When I suggested it this morning MAC was really excited too. Neither of us can wait to see how it turns out.
It was really nice to spend some time with her where we weren't angry at each other and where we had fun. If we can only remember to talk nicely to each other and explain what is pushing all the buttons we will have a much better time together.
Well for 2/3 of the family. I have taken a second job at the Maryland Renaissance Faire. We are open 10 weekends including all three days of the labor day holiday. Saturday went very quickly, and today was a little longer. I can only hope that tomorrow goes as fast as yesterday.
MAC and I had a misunderstanding yesterday and decided a day together would be nice. I was working the late shift today so we could play for the first part. It truly is amazing everything you can get on a stick: steak, pork chop, macaroni and cheese, sausage, and my favorite cheesecake on a stick.
MAC and I went around and did a little shopping as well as watching some shows and having a snack here and there.
When she left at 5 she told her father that she had a fun time. One of the items that she got today was a custom made mug lid. She did the design and Tiger from Tiger Tore Masks is going to create the mug lid from MAC's design. I am so excited about it!! When I suggested it this morning MAC was really excited too. Neither of us can wait to see how it turns out.
It was really nice to spend some time with her where we weren't angry at each other and where we had fun. If we can only remember to talk nicely to each other and explain what is pushing all the buttons we will have a much better time together.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
What the Teacher said...
Today was the first meeting with MACs new set of core teachers. We met at the school at 2 today. Hubby took the day off and made it to the meeting. It was really nice to have him there. He didn't have much to say but it was great to have the moral support.
The teachers said she was working well and we discussed e-mails, and notes home. MAC has been paying attention in class although she has been doing some drawing. We plan to have a little discussion about that...
It has been a treat to have her working on her homework with no real prodding from me. She has done her algebra every day, and today she did her language arts and social studies just in time to watch one last half hour tv show before heading to bed. Everyone got what they wanted! Yeah 8th grade! Hopefully this will continue.
The teachers said she was working well and we discussed e-mails, and notes home. MAC has been paying attention in class although she has been doing some drawing. We plan to have a little discussion about that...
It has been a treat to have her working on her homework with no real prodding from me. She has done her algebra every day, and today she did her language arts and social studies just in time to watch one last half hour tv show before heading to bed. Everyone got what they wanted! Yeah 8th grade! Hopefully this will continue.
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