Exit Meeting

Thursday was MACs exit interview with Bates.  For the most part she had a good experience at Bates but now we are looking forward to getting things settled so that she can start at Crofton Middle as soon as possible.  She has now been home by herself for 2 days and I want her to be in classes by Tuesday of next week.

The chorus teacher said that she hopes that MAC will continue to sing and that CMS has a great woman's group.  (They had also gone to State competition last year.)  The guidance counselor felt that she should also stay in the higher level classes so for the first time in three years she will get to choose her language and her extra courses.

I called CMS and they were unable to help me today.  I hope that when I call on Monday they will be a little more helpful.  I had hoped for a call back, but as of 9pm I still haven't heard a peep.

And Now for Something Totally Different

Today was the final straw.  I got a call from the school and MAC will be entering Crofton Middle sometime next week.  She will have made it through the first quarter.

I am worried about weather she will ride the bus or not, making sure everything gets turned in to Bates, and getting things together for CMS.  I am also wondering about MACs state of mind.  She was feeling rather down when we left Bates. 

It had seemed as if things were going well.  Every time I had talked with her about school she said things were going fine.  Apparently even yesterday something happened on the bus and she didn't tell me about it.

I am so tired.  I want so much for her.  How do I get through the anger to the smart girl underneath?

Fun Day

I would like to take this chance to say Happy Birthday to SG!  We really miss seeing you and the boys.  Hope it is a wonderful day.

This is the last weekend of the Renaissance Festival.  MAC and Hubby decided to come one last time yesterday.  We said that it was not a day for purchasing anything but to go and watch shows.  I worked until 4 and then when I got off work MAC was a little tired, she said she was ready to go home.  I was a little disappointed and said that I had been hoping to spend some time with them at some shows.  We went to see the Danger Committee, where MAC was a "volunteer from the audience". 

MAC and Hubby had gone to all 4 of the previous Danger Committee shows.  MAC said that she had laughed at every show!  I laughed so hard during the show that I had tears streaming down my face.  I had a wonderful time with them and it was really nice to laugh together. 

The Weekend

We are just finishing another day of rain.  I don't know about where you are but we have had more than enough rain to keep us wet (read drenched) for the next year.  I believe I read that we in Maryland reached our normal yearly rain fall last month.

When we left yesterday I asked MAC if she wanted an umbrella.  She gave me "the look" and said no.  Then I was really mean and made her put on a poncho because it was supposed to be cold.  She took and said that she would put it on on the bus.

Mom and I were talking about the week and how things had gone, I told her that MAC had a 2 hour early dismissal and off on Friday so she was in heaven!  We have plans for the weekend:  boat trip, RenFaire, and sleeping in.  I am thrilled to be able to spend time with her in, hopefully some very good, a fun setting.

It is the last weekend of RenFaire and MAC is very excited to go one more time.  She seems to be looking forward to to the weekend.  I hope that by this time Sunday we will have had fun and enjoyed some good family time.

To talk or not to talk...

MAC had a "good day" on Monday.  I love asking her every school day how things went and getting the same response every day, "Good".  I try to do the open ended questions the teachers always tell parents we should ask and usually just get grunts, or head nods.

Before she gets out of the car each morning we go through the "mantra"--
Mom--Did you pack lunch?
MAC-- *sigh* Yes
Mom--Did you put lead in your pencil?
MAC--*drawing in journal, not looking up* Yep
Mom--What do you do when a teacher or other adult asks you to do something?
MAC--Do it.
Mom--When?
MAC-- When they tell me to.
Mom--If you don't have something nice to say...
MAC--Don't say anything!

It always goes so well while we're in the car.  She knows what she should do, it is just in the heat of the moment when her mouth gets the better of her.  Yeah teenage years...

Making Life Easy?

I know that I have talked about going to the comic store a few times.  I really find it interesting that MAC will go out of her way to make sure that she does her homework before I pick her up on these "special" days.  She was done by the time I called her to say I was leaving work. We got home and she excitedly told Hubby that "we get to go"!

MAC has been working on Summerwork this week.  There were several books that she was supposed to have read over the summer and she "lost" the paper telling us about it, so even though I had asked her to read she pretty well only finished the mangas we had bought, so now she has had 6 days to read four books (2 of which were designated by the school) and 4 artifacts to create.

I have to wonder when she will figure out that if she does things when she's supposed to, she will have a lot more free time to do what she wants (and a lot less of me and my angry voice).

Columbus Day 2011

As Monday closes I am happy to say that MAC has been able to keep her cool in school long enough to be able to go back Tuesday.  She and Hubby had work and school today. I, being a Federal Employee, had the day to myself.

We followed the bus to the bus stop and then I went home for a half hour more of sleep before I went to Bizarre Bizarre at the Renaissance Faire.  It is breakfast for Faire Employees.  We had a nice breakfast and then my RenFaire Boss and my co-worker than went to the "Day Job" where we were able to canoe for a few hours.  I was so glad that the weather stayed nice through the day!

When I got home MAC and Hubby said that the homework was done and they were watching TV.  I was happy to have a day doing something just for me.

A Good Ending

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

As I sit here this evening, watching the Capitals play the Carolina Hurricanes I can only think "WOW, it's that time of year again."  I know that hockey season is about to start because the MD Renaissance Festival is usually going on during the first few games of the season.  We are down to only two and a half weekends left of the Faire, where did the time go?

MAC was able to finish the week well, I only had one more call from the school.  Somewhere along the line she has learned the usual foul language that teenagers usually learn once they hit middle school.  She has been saying it to the teachers when she is upset, and that is not acceptable.  Friday's phone call was about what the school planned to do if it happens again.

Friday also ended with me having secured our tickets to the London Broil Christmas show featuring Hack and Slash.  We went for the first time last year and had a great time as a family watching some of our favorite Renaissance groups perform while we sit around and laugh in our pajamas.  We have been waiting for the tickets to go on sale and are very excited to go again.  All and all a good ending to the week.

Telephone

The phone.  I have both positive and negative feelings about it.  Before 3 pm every time the phone rings I worry that it is the school, at 4pm I wait for MAC to call to tell me that she has gotten home.  On Wednesday at 4:15 she called in one of the best moods I have ever heard her in.  She was cheerful and positive about how her day went.

She has a report due to her Language Arts teacher which she happily started as soon as we got home.  It was nice not to have to stand over her for an hour telling her to get back to writing. 

I only hope she continues to have as good a week as yesterday.

Here Comes the Sun!

MAC and I seem to have had a really good day.  I was thrilled to see her get off the bus with a big smile on her face.  When I told her that I was going to make her macaroni and cheese for dinner she was even happier.  When I left for the Home Owners meeting she was surprised.  I reminded her that it was Glee night and she couldn't wait to finish her homework.

I really hope that she turns it in!

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is halfway through the week.  The weather actually turned nice today.  The temperature got up to 70 degrees and we saw the sun for more than a few minutes. I am looking forward to the weekend.

Say something nice!

My Mom used to say if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything.  It has been a really busy, crazy week and a half and I decided not to blog.

MAC has had several days where she says everything was fine and then I get an e-mail from a teacher (or two) that said she hadn't turned in homework and that although she was sitting in class she wasn't paying attention and not doing the class work either.  Hubby and I tried to take care of this over the past weekend.  I have to say I am a little worried though, I found her back pack on the couch last night and went to move it...it was so packed it barely zipped.

The weather here has turned in a heartbeat.  It went from hot, and rainy to freezing and rainy.  Tuesday is finally supposed to be nicer, actually seeing some sun and a temperature that doesn't require the heavy winter coat.  MAC and I saw a rainbow last night and I am looking forward to being able to see some fall weather.

We are all hoping for a better week.  Thank you for sticking with me!