Soccer

            It’s the last day of the soccer season for our younger daughter.  Yet another tournament played on a cold, crisp fall day. An hour north of here, we are driving up with friends and the girls they are excited about the chance to prove themselves again against their peers. When we get out of the car, an icy blast of wind greets us; it’s a lot colder than we thought. My girl is in shorts and a game shirt; thank goodness Under Armor is easy and warm to layer. The parents huddle and stamp on the sidelines to keep warm as the girls are practicing doing their own warm up. Thanks to my oldest girl and her borrowing tendencies, I forgot my gloves  so I keep finding new and warmer extra gloves from my friends. I'm glad someone is more prepared than I was!

            Finally, the first game begins. My daughter gets into her favorite position, goalie. The parents talk about how intensely the girls are concentrating on the ball in the game. The team is really coming together, constantly calling out and directing their peers to help them to get that ball where they want it to be.  I hear the cry of "help! help! defense!" come up again and again. Another save by my girl, phew! One of her best buddies scores the only goal of the game. 

            The challenge now is keeping them warm for 45 minutes until game number two. A few of us take our girls to the nearby YMCA to use the facilities. It's a beautiful place, generously donated by an incredibly kind family that is well known in our state for their philanthropy. It's an open house so the girls snack on the free apple treats that are being handed out.  

            We head back to game number two. Not nearly so easy, a powerhouse defense girl just gets that ball every time it comes on her half. I wouldn't be surprised if we see her playing at a much higher-level one-day. The girls try hard, but they just can’t seem to make connections and revert back to that kick the ball forward and watch and see what happens play. It is not successful for them and they lose 0-2. 

            As we get a longer break for lunch, we talk about why things went so differently. My very wise mentor teacher told me that when you teach children things too fast, it all gets muddled together and they forget what they already know. This was a perfect example. They have been working so hard on ball skills; they are forgetting the field game. Bummer. 

     The third game is so well played, they are fast, calling out to each other, running constantly, the ball going from one end to another, they are well matched with this other team. It’s exciting to watch. Another girl is in goal and the defense leaves her alone for a split second, two of the opposition on one and she doesn't stand a chance, score 0-1. The goalie berated her defense, hilarious since she is a year younger than anyone else. They manage to keep the ball away, it’s halftime. The girls are antsy, they want to win. My daughter is back in goal, making save after save, the defense is weak, and they keep running up too far but can't get back quickly enough to defend. Such a learning curve. Unfortunately, my girl just can't save a three on one attack from the other team with the ball. She takes her misses personally, but she keeps valiantly trying to get her defense to help her out. Now the score is 0-2. They manage to keep the score the same and leave the field tired but happy that they get a medal from the tournament. 

     When we get home, she hears stories from her siblings about a family birthday party that she missed with cash in the piñata. Both of her siblings and her two cousins show her the cash that they all get from the day. Her response, "I don't care, the tournament was much more important to me! Look at my medal!!" So proud of my girl! 

Torn

The last 14 years of my life have centered around my children, my poor husband takes second place to what they are doing. Along comes a big soccer tournament, two hours south of our vacation home where we were spending the long weekend. My son is in his last season with his travel team as they end it at his age.
     After getting a concussion last weekend, he is banned from playing for a week. But he really wanted to see his friends play. I made the decision to leave him having fun with others at our camp. His team made the championships and won the entire tournament. Although there were twenty people having dinner at my house, my phone kept pinging keeping me updated of the game and the score. The clock to growing up is ticking. I should have taken him down to watch anyway. But as another mom said, "you care more about it than he does. Its just a game." It's hard not to get caught up in the sports hype. A good reminder that it isn't all about me either. I ended up enjoying myself as much as my son was after that. I only hope that his memories of a great family weekend will stay longer than missing a game.

Fall Weather!

How quickly the seasons change. Driving two hours west on Friday, I expected the temperature to drop a few degrees but was completely unprepared for the 15 degree temperature difference. Add the wind chill on that and it felt like winter!! I looked like a goof walking around in my under armor pants but it was that or my capris and sneakers!! I hope that this early cold means more snow for the winter!!

At least, the leaves were blazing with color, if the sun hit the trees, they looked like a patchwork quilt of greens, reds, oranges and yellow blending together. My favorite trees are the ones that can't seem to make up their minds, with color spreading from one side while morphing into another on the other side!!

How to fit Writing in?

         As a newly hired literacy person, I am learning the process of title one, and reading recovery. Pulling individuals and small groups from first and second grade has been a fun and rewarding experience. Most students I see 3-4 days a week for half an hour (including travel time within the building).  I can fit in the word work, the reading of new and familiar texts, the introduction to new sight vocab, but how do I fit in meaningful writing time? With all the other aspects that I have to bring in, how can I help these challenged children to learn to love writing?         

         Having taught K-2 for six years, I loved the luxury of scheduling time by blocking off big chunks of writing workshop, or tying writing into other aspects of our curriculum.  Mini lessons were an integral part of each day. As busy as our schedule was, we could always fit in a block of time somewhere.

         My second graders love to write and can string thoughts together in a meaningful way.  I know how powerful giving them enough time and opportunity to write is. I wonder if it would be too much to ask them to begin something one day and continue it the next.

         I can just imagine one little group at a time, separating and sitting by themselves scattered in my small room to find a comfortable place to write.

         Its only the beginning of October, I guess I need to think about it more. 

Early Morning Walk

 It’s amazing how your mind can play tricks on you. My dog and I were ready to take our usual early morning walk today, it's looks quite warm on the thermometer. As I turned on the outside lights, I noticed a fog surrounded the lamppost. If the dog wasn't jumping around me, I may have changed my mind. . We live in a secluded spot where the houses are 5+ acres apart. A flashlight is a must.                                                                  

         As we began our walk, i noticed how still and peaceful it was. The flashlight barely went though the gloomy fog, only twenty or so feet in front of me. The wet leaves were dripping down onto the woody ground and trees were snapping and  creaking as we passed by. Bonus, my black lab, darted back and forth across the road and occasionally went into the underbrush. I heard a continuous snapping of twigs as though something was walking nearby. I told Bonus to listen. He paused, looking around to the spot I was facing. He bolted into the woods, I heard a scuffle, please no skunk, please no skunk. It must have been a deer as he turned and came back within 30 seconds.   Being an English lab with shorter legs and a thick body, speed is not his thing! When we usually run into a deer, he will go about 100 yards and then stop and give up.

         As I kept walking, I began to revert back to a thirteen year old thinking of all the things that could jump out at me, even though I know better at my forty + years.  

         Darkness, Drip, crack, drip crack, the woods are noisy this morning.

         Nothing of course happened but your hearing certainly magnifies as you find your vision is more limited.   As much as I love getting up early and going outside, I miss the early morning light of the spring. There is nothing better than feeing like you are the only one awake, enjoying a new day, even in the black fog! 

Laundry

okay, its piling up. I folded six loads of laundry from one husband, three tweens and me. It was nicely folded into piles, each person was told to come get their stacks, I guess they "misunderstood" because it is all in a big rumpled heap again next to the dryer. No wonder it never gets done!! I guess i just need to put it on their beds, let's see how that works out!!

Life

I am a former teacher who stayed home for 13 years to raise her three children. I have been a supreme volunteer and have recently learned how to say no to new volunteer opportunities.

I started a new job this month, working in a much different position in literacy. I don't know how i am going to survive the carpools, the planning, the homework, the housework, the groceries and the  graduate class!! it makes me sweat just thinking about it.