Uncoordinated

"We'll meet you at the new waterfront," we told Josh, but after paying 20 dollars to park, he was no where to be found.

"I'm down by the water," he texted and then sent his location. He was by the water at the other new waterfront a mile and a half away. After some debate, we sent an Uber, because his account was unfunded since he was robbed at knifepoint a couple weeks ago. (Yes. That's another story.)

"I'll put Hank's Oysters as the destination," I told him, looking up at the big sign to my left, "and we'll meet you in front."

"I'm here!" he texted, except he wasn't. I checked the app. He had been dropped off at the restaurant's other location on Capital Hill.

I sent another Uber. 

A Breath of Fresh Air

It's official-- the middle schoolers have

lost.
their.
minds!

It's May; it's Friday; testing has started; there was an assembly after lunch; it's been raining all week, and I cannot count the number of ridiculous redirections I was forced to make today. Even the kids who are usually super-compliant are pushing the limits. For example, I confiscated the iPad of a straight-A student for showing a picture of a yawning bulldog to anyone who would have a look after three explicit warnings.

After lunch she stopped by my room. "I forgot my iPad here," she told me.

"Forgot?" I repeated skeptically. "You didn't actually have your iPad when the bell rang."

"Oh, yes," she said. "About that? I'm sorry."

I accepted her apology and handed her the device.

She looked me in the eye. "It will never happen again," she promised.

And I believed her. As she walked out of the room, it occurred to me how rare a conversation we had just had. Usually kids want to sulk or argue about how whatever they did was fine in the given situation, but she accepted responsibility for a mistake and promised not to repeat it.

Wow!
Middle school
educator
mind
blown!

Come Again Another Day

It started raining Saturday night and it hasn't really stopped since. With wet weather predicted at least through next Wednesday, my tolerance for drizzle and drench is draining. I'm sure there must be a silver lining somewhere, though, if only because there are so many dang clouds. I'll let you know when I spot it.

Validation

In a week filled with family drama, household catastrophes, and oh, yes, standardized tests, Heidi headed reluctantly to the obedience class that she and Lucy are taking. An hour and a half later she arrived home with bright eyes and a big smile. Seems like both of my girls were at the top of the class today-- each received plenty of praise and positive feed back. Hooray for them!

And really? That's usually all it takes to turn a tough time around, at least for a little while.

Noted.

What a Drip

"Your washer's not leaking, Ma'am," the technician informed me. "The spring is broken and water is splashing over the top." As he spoke, he gestured toward the washer, stripped of its outside panels, the tub swishing nakedly along.

"Are you sure it's not any of the hoses?" I asked dubiously. "There's some water on the floor right there."

"All the hoses are fine," he assured me.

"There's water coming through the ceiling down here again!" Heidi called up.

He went down to check and returned looking alarmed. He turned back to the washer with the flashlight on his phone. "Ma'am," he said, "I have some bad news for you. The whole tub is cracked."

I looked at him and at the washer. "That's a lot of water in there," I said.

And...

it's
still
dripping.

Like it Is

"How come you haven't taken the candle I gave you home yet?" a student asked me this afternoon about the gift he had given me for teacher appreciation week.

"I have it on my desk so I'll remember to do that," I told him. "In fact I'm going to put it in my bag right now, and then every time I use it, I'll think of you..."

He smiled.

"And I'll think That guy was so smart, but he never did his work!" I continued, looking him dead in the eye, as he sat there not working.

His eyes widened and he frowned. "Hey!"

"But you can change my memory right now!" I said, "C'mon over here and get some work done! It would be a shame to ruin that nice candle!"

Sidekick

A rusty-feathered robin startled me more than a few times as I was weeding this morning. Whatever bugs I was turning up were so irresistible that she kept hopping within inches of me. If I could have? I would have put her to work! As it was, a whole flock of her friends took over the plot as I headed out the gate.

Bon appetit mes petits oiseaux!