Spring Break

Our kids' school is on a schedule called 'modified traditional.'  So that means they get 2 weeks for fall, winter and spring breaks and then only 2 months for summer break.  Overall I really like this schedule.  Sometimes, though, 2 weeks with kids home isn't all that great.  Sometimes I REALLY look forward to them going back to school.

Today we started week 2.  I'm actually very pleased with how well they have been doing so far.  I have a 'plan' for each week day that is helping to keep us focused and regulated.  Monika and John are spending about 20 minutes at the start of each day doing something I call power sitting.  They are sitting on the floor, looking at the wall, and they are supposed to be thinking about how strong they are going to be for the day.  They are supposed to be thinking about being obedient, honest and respectful.  Call me crazy, but I think it's working.  While they other kids don't have to do it each day- because they are obedient, honest and respectful on a fairly consistent basis, they can easily earn 20 minutes of power sitting and each of them have at least once.

Now, I'm NOT naive- I have no illusions that they are actually thinking about their behavior or attitude while sitting there.  Most likely they are sitting there thinking about how much they dislike me and all the wonderfully creative and completely disrespectful names they'd like to call me.  The only reason I think that this is working is that I think they hate the sitting enough that they DO NOT want to earn more 20 minutes sessions throughout the day so each morning they are again reminded that it is better to do the right thing than earn more power sitting.  Whatever.  On the 2 days that I didn't require sitting they got in way more trouble than the days they have sat.  SO... we're sticking with it.

Tomorrow is Caleb's 11th birthday.  11 years I have been a momma.  11 years ago today I was already in labor.  My labor with Caleb lasted about 31 hours.  NOT FUN.  But by golly, I did it without an epidural, regardless of the fact that for the last 6 hours I was screaming and crying, "Please knock me out and cut him out of me!  Please!!"  Nobody listened.  Fo my next labor with Ethan- I definitely got an epidural.  And after his ended in a c-section- I just scheduled a c-section for Anna.  Spinal blocks are FAR better than epidurals.  In fact, if I could, I'd have one on a monthly basis at the spa.

That was a random tangent.

Caleb's birthday.  He's getting a cell phone.  I never thought I'd buy any of my kids one of those.  But I did.  Can you believe that he is one of only 3 kids in his class who doesn't have one?  He's in the fourth grade for crying out loud!!  Anyway, he is my super responsible, super obedient first born.  I'm excited to be a little extravagant with him.  Excited to get to show him in this crazy way that I appreciate him and understand his desire to fit in.  We won't ever provide our kids all the things that all the other kids have, but occasionally, we want them to feel like they get to be a part.  He's going to be beside himself when he opens that gift!