Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Surviving
Do you ever feel like you are just getting by? Pushing through life, but not enjoying it? That's been me lately. There just aren't enough hours in the day! by the time I get everything (well, most of the things at least) done that I HAVE to there is no time left for the things I want to do. A dear friend said to me yesterday "You're just in survival mode. Keep your head down and push on, because if you look up you will see all of the things you forgot and are missing out on". That pretty much sums it up. I am working on getting out of survival mode, though. Certian "have tos" just need to take a back seat to things like relaxing with my husband or playing with Emma, or (dare I say it...) doing something just for me! My posts lately have been a little depressing. It's not that I am unhappy... I'm just surviving. After I survive this time in my life I will be stronger and enjoy those everyday things that I have been missing even more!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Parents Wanted!
No one ever said being a parent was easy... and if they did they must not have been a parent! Disciplining your children isn't fun, and often you don't see the fruits of your labor until YEARS down the road. I guess this is why so many parents just give up. When they let their children have everything they want, don't follow through on punishments, or speak out of both sides of their mouths. Actually, out of these three, letting your kids have everything they want might do the least harm!
Not following through on punishments teaches them that your threats are empty, and they won't take anything you say seriously (this gives them all of the power!!!!). Eventually they will meet a superior (boss, teacher, etc) that won't let them get away with things and then they will learn this lesson at a time when it is even harder. Also, when you SAY something is important, but don't ACT like it is you send a mixed signal... and remember that old saying "actions speak louder than words". If you say school is important, but don't care if your student does their homework or fails a test will they really believe you think school is important?
Teachers often see the effects of these actions and words in the classroom. If parents could only hear the thinks their children say about them in the classroom. It is easy to see why some students have the troubles they do in school based solely on what they say happens at home.
My poor child might think I'm mean, strict, "unfair", or too hard on her, but I guess that's what children of middle school teachers get. I hope her future teachers never hear some of the things that I hear from middle schoolers coming out of her mouth!
I just keep telling her (even at 2 1/2) that she will thank me for this someday!
Not following through on punishments teaches them that your threats are empty, and they won't take anything you say seriously (this gives them all of the power!!!!). Eventually they will meet a superior (boss, teacher, etc) that won't let them get away with things and then they will learn this lesson at a time when it is even harder. Also, when you SAY something is important, but don't ACT like it is you send a mixed signal... and remember that old saying "actions speak louder than words". If you say school is important, but don't care if your student does their homework or fails a test will they really believe you think school is important?
Teachers often see the effects of these actions and words in the classroom. If parents could only hear the thinks their children say about them in the classroom. It is easy to see why some students have the troubles they do in school based solely on what they say happens at home.
My poor child might think I'm mean, strict, "unfair", or too hard on her, but I guess that's what children of middle school teachers get. I hope her future teachers never hear some of the things that I hear from middle schoolers coming out of her mouth!
I just keep telling her (even at 2 1/2) that she will thank me for this someday!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Failure!
This week has been difficult in the Turner house. Matt was very ill Tuesday and Wednesday I (Kalli) went back to work after almost a month off.
My month off was all about moving, packing, and unpacking. Needless to say, very little FUN happened. As I prepared to return to work I began feeling like I had somehow let Emma down by my time off being all business. I felt like I had been so exhausted from the move that I went to bed early instead of spending time with Matt. I felt like I hadn't given myself anything I needed either. In short, I felt like a FAILURE!
In the classroom I know what I am doing. I'm good at my job! At home, I feel like I am constantly letting those who should be at the top of my priority list down.
As the week went on this feeling grew. Emma is the ONLY girl in her class that isn't fully potty trained. She is beginning to get very clingy with me. She screams when I leave her at bed or nap time. She has always been an amazing sleeper, so this is very new for me. Emma has also begun acting like a terrible two with her tantrums and screams. All of this compounded my feelings of failure.
Being a working mom is tough. (and I get WAY more time home with my daughter than most working moms) I give all 110% at work and have very little left in the tank when I get home. Then the new struggles with Emma drain what little I have left, so when Matt gets home and I get dinner on the table I am spent.
With the new year I am trying to find a balance in my life. I need to feed (emotionally, spiritually, physically) my family and myself first. Out of my five top priorities in life work CAN'T (and shouldn't) be number one.
Being a stay at home mom was always my dream, but given the life we have chosen this isn't an option, and probably won't ever be.
All of you working moms out there... HELP! Suggestions for finding balance in my life... and maybe even a little time for myself would be wonderful!
THANKS FOR LETTING ME RANT!
My month off was all about moving, packing, and unpacking. Needless to say, very little FUN happened. As I prepared to return to work I began feeling like I had somehow let Emma down by my time off being all business. I felt like I had been so exhausted from the move that I went to bed early instead of spending time with Matt. I felt like I hadn't given myself anything I needed either. In short, I felt like a FAILURE!
In the classroom I know what I am doing. I'm good at my job! At home, I feel like I am constantly letting those who should be at the top of my priority list down.
As the week went on this feeling grew. Emma is the ONLY girl in her class that isn't fully potty trained. She is beginning to get very clingy with me. She screams when I leave her at bed or nap time. She has always been an amazing sleeper, so this is very new for me. Emma has also begun acting like a terrible two with her tantrums and screams. All of this compounded my feelings of failure.
Being a working mom is tough. (and I get WAY more time home with my daughter than most working moms) I give all 110% at work and have very little left in the tank when I get home. Then the new struggles with Emma drain what little I have left, so when Matt gets home and I get dinner on the table I am spent.
With the new year I am trying to find a balance in my life. I need to feed (emotionally, spiritually, physically) my family and myself first. Out of my five top priorities in life work CAN'T (and shouldn't) be number one.
Being a stay at home mom was always my dream, but given the life we have chosen this isn't an option, and probably won't ever be.
All of you working moms out there... HELP! Suggestions for finding balance in my life... and maybe even a little time for myself would be wonderful!
THANKS FOR LETTING ME RANT!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year, New House, New (kind of) Blog!
Ok ok ok! So, I started this blog a year and a half ago. At that time I blogged once, and stopped (so in my mind that doesn't really count). Well, for those of you who don't know, 2011 was a CRAZY year for the Turners. This time last year Matt and I both worked for Kerrville ISD and commuted together everyday. We were both happy there! Well... Matt got a call from the Spurs in February, took the job and started in June (after school got out), THEN I heard about an amazing job opportunity (more on this later) and switched jobs too! To top it all off we started building a new house in August. Our old house didn't sell... and didn't sell... and didn't sell. FINALLY on the day of our final walk through we rented out our old house to a pastor and a nurse! So, on December 23rd (yikes!) we moved into our new home.
Matt loves his job with the Spurs and gets to focus on his passion, customer service. I am teaching 4 5th grade "homeschool" girls in Boerne. I am blessed with more time with Emma and a super short commute. Did I mention that my employers moved over Thanksgiving? (meaning I had to not only pack up and move my entire house, but my classroom too!) I love what I get to do everyday. Teaching amazing girls about not just math and reading, but God and life. I also started tutoring two middle-school boys in math. It keeps me on my toes thinking of new ways to present "old" ideas. :)
Emma is still in "school" three days a week and with each of our parents one day a week. This is the perfect balance for us. We are blessed to have all grandparents within 5 miles of us.
2011 brought many unexpected changes, but we feel like they were all for the better of our family. We will see what 2012 has in store for us (and if I can keep up with this whole blog thing). I must say that with all of the blessings 2011 showered on us 2012 has a lot to live up to!
Matt loves his job with the Spurs and gets to focus on his passion, customer service. I am teaching 4 5th grade "homeschool" girls in Boerne. I am blessed with more time with Emma and a super short commute. Did I mention that my employers moved over Thanksgiving? (meaning I had to not only pack up and move my entire house, but my classroom too!) I love what I get to do everyday. Teaching amazing girls about not just math and reading, but God and life. I also started tutoring two middle-school boys in math. It keeps me on my toes thinking of new ways to present "old" ideas. :)
Emma is still in "school" three days a week and with each of our parents one day a week. This is the perfect balance for us. We are blessed to have all grandparents within 5 miles of us.
2011 brought many unexpected changes, but we feel like they were all for the better of our family. We will see what 2012 has in store for us (and if I can keep up with this whole blog thing). I must say that with all of the blessings 2011 showered on us 2012 has a lot to live up to!
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