Smoothing

Evelyn: "it is very smoothing"

Me: "do you mean soothing?"

Evelyn: "SOOTHING is not a word!........no smoothing. Like it is not rough it is smoothing."

So I am hoping for a smoothing day. The transition from school to being back at home as gone fairly well. I was on such a high being at school though and the ho hum- ness of summer vacation days with the kids leaves me wanting a little more. I have had a decent week and proud to say that although dinner has not been stellar I have accomplished more than super Dad Joe did. I guess it should not be a competition and I shouldn't compare, but I did it anyway. I was so afraid he was going to make being home with all of them look easy- becuase I don't think it is- but he didn't he made it look just about as hard as it is. Sure Daddy is more fun, but Mommy has taken them fun places and has been reasonable in her requests. Also the "cleaning room fairy" cleaned their rooms and left a little note for them telling them to enjoy their clean rooms. I am hoping a gesture of kindness will prompt them to care more about their rooms than all the previous nagging and reminding I had been doing. I learned so much at NEMTEC especially how little we need to "be in charge" of children. I know most of it is directed to the classroom teacher but it applies at home as well. So I will try my calm approach of guiding and not leading my children today all through Boston Swan Boat adventure. I already have a headache so we'll see how peaceful I can remain.

I do miss school though. I miss too the groove I was in while there. I still have tons of work to do to meet my November deadlines but I have lost my grove and it is much harder at night now to sit down and write lesson plans that are so painstakingly detailed.