Homework Woes

Last year, I was frustrated that my boys had to be in only half-day kindergarten and then had to bring home work because there wasn't enough time in a half-day for the teachers to get through all the curriculum. Now, as first graders, I thought it'd be better since they're there all day. Nope - it got worse.

This year (so far...), the boys have 15 minutes of math, 10-15 minutes of reading, spelling words and "sight" words practice (words they have to know "by sight" since the usual phonics rules don't apply - like "have" and "was").

This comes to about 30 - 45 minutes of work after they were in school for 7 hours! What gives? This weekend, they had everything but the math ("Free Fridays" on math) and my 8th grade daughter had NOTHING. Yep - not a single thing to work on. She didn't have long term projects, lots of math or social studies questions, not even a book report due!

The hubby and I discussed this and the more we talk about it, the more we agree that when kids get home at night, especially younger kids, they should have the time to be KIDS - running outside, building things, doing crafts, baking cookies and just generally decompressing.

By the time we're able to get off work and pick them up, it's already 5pm (which is also part of the problem - neither of us is ever able to leave on time and the 20-30 minutes drive between our jobs and home is another time eater - but that's another rant). Three nights a week they have sports they choose to participate in (2 football nights and 1 karate). With dinner, baths and sleep routine (aka, cuddle time) that leaves about an hour or so to just be kids. Oh - wait - in that hour they now have to get in the 30 - 45 minutes of HOME WORK!

This was their schedule just for today:

• Get up at 7:45 am
• Leave for school at 8:30
• School from 8:50 to 3:50 pm
• After-care until pickup at around 5
• Football practice from 5:30 to 7
• Dinner at 7:00
• Showers from 7:15 to 7:30
• Homework from around 7:30 until 8:15
• Cuddle/chill time until 8:30
• Bedtime at 8:30

Tomorrow is essentially the same thing, except we have dinner then karate instead of football then dinner. Wednesday and Thursday is a little looser since there isn't a sports practice on those days, but we do have Emily on Wednesdays which muddies up the works some.

Is it really any wonder adults are workaholics and stressed all the time? Apparently, we're taught to be this way from our youngest school years. I can see the stress and unhappiness in my Travis' eyes whenever we pull out the homework folders. He struggles with it more than Thomas, but beyond that, he just wants some time to play and watch some cartoons. He got about 5 minutes of TV today - and that was only because I didn't catch him right after his bath to jump on the homework! Thomas didn't get any TV at all. And neither of them got "downtime" today. And there won't really be any tomorrow either. there may be some on Wednesday and Thursday, but by that time in their week they're bushed. By Saturday they're just crabby and whiny and we spend a lot of Saturdays just being lazy around the house trying to recoup from the insanity of the week!

So, what kind of America would we live in if we simply allowed kids to be creative and free-thinkers (aka, "themselves") for those few hours at night instead of forcing them into MORE schoolwork and conformative thought? Would our kids know how to leave work at the office and spend time with their kids when they grow up? Would they get more sleep and be happier in general? What exactly are we teaching our kids LONG TERM with "homework"?

Anyway, just a little venting and food for thought. I gotta go check my work email and test a few websites now. *sigh*

A Year in The Life

A co-worker of mine is a great scrapbook maker and has committed to doing a "week in the life" scrapbook project - where she'll be taking pictures, writing notes, etc. for an entire week. Trying to get down the little things that happen in her week. While I think that's very cool, I just don't have the time to commit to do that right now.

However, every year I do make a scrapbook calendar for the great-grandparents and I have a hard time always coming up with good stuff to include. I was inspired by her project to modify my own. And, since Wednesday is the 1st of a month, I think this is a good time to implement it!

So, on the first weekend of each month (or 1st day we have Emily!), I will take a picture of all three kids, separate and together. A family picture if I can get the hubby to agree. Preferably it will be a "seasonal" based picture - like with pumpkins or Christmas decorations or Valentine's etc. Then, I'll try to keep a good calendar/journal of all the activities we do for the month - like in October alone the boys have 3 field trips, 2 Halloween parties, Karate and a host of football games. Emily has soccer, movies with friends, school projects, etc. I've got a work event, Halloween parties, karate, running goals (and my first race!) and other things. Joe of course has football. :-)

Between now and next October, I'll be able to have a good set of photos and notes to create my 'in-depth' calendars for the grandparents for next Christmas (not sure how I'll do THIS year's yet!). A glimpse back at where we were as we plan for where we're going type of thing.

I figure if I can devote just one solid day to this a month, I can get a good calendar/scrapbook out of it. If I can keep it up over several years, how much better will that be! Let me know how you would improve on this idea - suggestions always welcome!! :)

Running Advice Needed!

Please read this post on my other blog - http://2008accountability.blogspot.com/2008/09/running-advice-needed.html

Then - HELP ME!

All advice is welcome. Thanks!

MY FIRST RACE

I just signed up to do my first "race" - The Jared Coones Pumpkin Run/Walk 5k here in Olathe, KS. It's a 3-mile course that I'm somewhat familiar with as it's in my BF Tina's old neighbordhood, more or less (I think...)

I know I can do 3 miles within an hour easily and hopefully I can push myself to do better than that. But, this adventure will be a good thing for me, no matter how I do. At the very least, I'll get a sense of what participating in a run will be like and what are some of the "To Do / NOT To Do" tips I've read might work for me (or not).


I'm also trying to raise additional funds for this worthy cause along with running in it. If you could contribute to my tiny little goal of $100, I would really appreciate it. Please follow this link to make a pledge now. Any amount will help me meet this goal!! THANKS!

Marathon Trainig Update

Tonight, best ever in lots of areas!

Time: 30 minutes - longest ever!
Mileage: 2 miles - farthest ever!
Pace: 14:45 - not my best ever, but still pretty good for me!
Calories Burned: 265 - probably the most ever, except maybe on the day I gave birth to the twins! :)

Days till Marathon - 185 and counting...

WHOO HOO!

Current Events

Sorry, this post isn't about me or the kids and our fun doings. It's literally "Current Events" - those upcoming events that I work on or with at my job with Digital Evolution Group. Be sure to check them out if you haven't already. Even if you can't attend or participate, please consider making a monetary donation to help their causes - every little bit helps!

PUMPKIN RUN/WALK
The 10th Annual 5k Run/Walk will take place on Saturday, October 11 and will benefit these organizations - Children's Mercy Cancer Center, The Dream Factory, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Heart of America Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Solace House, and the Jared Coones Memorial Foundation. Register to participate NOW or find out more about the event here: http://www.pumpkinrunwalk.org. Registration is currently $20 per person.

BACK IN THE SWING RETAIL THERAPY EVENT
The 9th Annual Retail Therapy Shopping Extravaganza is back and helping breast cancer survivors get Back in the Swing of life! Buy a $25 discount card and take advantage of 20% savings (or similar discounts) at over 800 Kansas City area retailers and restaurants from October 13 - 19! 100% of the proceeds from card purchases goes to benefit various cancer research and survivorship programs in the Greater Kansas City area. Get your card today at http://www.backintheswing.org! You can also purchase special BITS branded merchandise online this year. click on the image below to find out more information!

HILLOWEEN
The 8th annual costume party benefiting the Lee Ann Britain Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Medical Center will be on Saturday, October 18! Specifically, they are raising money to build the new Autism Therapy Program. RSVP now at http://www.hilloween.org! Tickets are $50 for regular attendance or $100 for R.I.P. attendance. There will also be an online auction from October 2 - 16 with over 100 items available ranging from trips to jewelry to toys for the kids. Don't miss out on your chance to get a great item and help others at the same time!

And, although it's not in October, and we don't have a website done for it yet, be sure to mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party benefiting Operation Breakthrough. We'll be getting dressed down and having a grand old time at Tower Tavern on December 12, 2008! Be there or be square!

Moments for Myself - 10 September 2008

Not every day of our lives is overflowing with joy and celebration. But there are moments when our hearts nearly burst within us for the sheer joy of being alive. the first sight of our newborn babies, the warmth of love in another's eyes, the fresh scent of rain on a hot summer's eve - moments like these renew in us a heartfelt appreciation for life.

- Gwen Ellis, Moments for Myself, Daily Inspirational Calendar

Moments for Myself - 09 September 2008

The reflection on a day well spent furnishes us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.

- Thomas A. Kempis, Moments for Myself, Daily Inspiration Calendar
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I didn't really have any triumphs today, but I know I spent the day well. I was coordinating and entering content for four different sites for four very different project leads, training the client for one of those sites, and doing lead activities for five of my own projects. So, busy and productive (which to me means "a day well spent") but no real "triumphs" to speak of. Interesting how true this statement is when you stop and think about it!

How did you spend YOUR day? Was it productive? Did you appear to make others happy or fulfill some need? If so, then be JOYFUL in your work! :-)

Treads & Threads 2008

Well, another gala event has come and gone. This time, I got a lot of pictures of just about everyone in the company who was there. Enjoy the pictures using the links below if you're not on Facebook.

Set 1- http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50434&l=ff288&id=505720795

Set 2 - http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50440&l=34253&id=505720795