Saturday, September 22, 2012

Cubscout, you have a call?



So, the other day the home phone rang, and I answered it thinking, "Dang election...wish it was November 12th already."  But, this time, it wasn't for the head of the household nor the lady of the house.  It was for the Cubscout.  Hold. The. Phone (literally).  I found the Cub and told him with question marks in my eyes, "It's for you."  He took the phone from me and went into his room for more privacy (since when does he need privacy?).  Does this mean that his world does not revolve around his family (particularly his mother)?  When did this happen?  Why is my baby growing up?

Another "wait, what?" moment came when I received the permission slip for him to see "the movie" (you know, the movie).  I knew this would only bring questions my DH has to answer (I'm in charge of the Clover's questions).  So, the other day, the entire 4th grade boy population viewed the movie and now my Cubscout is sporting Umbro Power deodorant (because, "Mom, it's not cool to smell bad.").

It seems like just yesterday he was a tiny baby (actually, he's never been tiny...he was 9 lbs. 6 oz. at birth, afterall).  I really wish I could slow things down a bit.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I had a rabbit in my class

(I know, right?).  This story is only kind of sad (because the "had" just means the rabbit isn't in my room anymore, not that she went to the big cloverfield in the sky).

So I got my year off to a rockin' start, so far.  My students have the sense of urgency that they need.  I am loving my new district.  Loving.  So what better way to throw a monkey wrench into the whole thing?  Get a class pet, of course.  One day, my next door colleague was telling about how she had a rabbit in her class last year, but now has a guinea pig, and she really didn't know what to do with Nala (weird name, I think...for a rabbit).  I'm not sure what possessed me, but I said, "OHHHHH...I had a rabbit as a pet once, and I loved her."  NDN (Next Door Neighbor) said, "Do you want another one?"  and I said, "Sure."  Then she practically screamed, "OK! No backsies!"  And that, friends is how I got a rabbit.

Nala was the kind of class pet that is extremely low maintenance.  I just opened the cage door, and out she hopped to hang around the classroom.  My class LOVED her.  In fact, she was a better classroom manager than I may ever be because she instinctively hopped back in her cage when the room got a little too noisy, and that did the trick (some teachers use a Yacker Tracker...well I had a living one).  The biggest privilege in the world for my class was to be chosen to give her a carrot treat at the end of the day.  

And then came the sad news...
My principal called me into the office to tell me that Nala had to find a new home because she was a fur-bearing animal in an allergy-free room.  Rookie mistake on my part for not checking.  So, I tried not to cry, and said I would move her out and tell the class in the morning.  Let me just say that class meeting consisted of a lot of tears.

Enter:  my mom.  She said she would take Nala until the end of the year, because I want her.  I loved having a bunny.  So currently, in my old bedroom, is my mom's office and one rabbit.