This lesson has been modified to fit your screen....

Okay, this one is going to be a vent.

I am not technology challenged, but neither am I am technology genius. But I am seriously scratching my head over the last 4 weeks of middle school.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a limited amount of screen time for our kids- including computer screens, ipods, phones, and tv time. At least, that's the way I understand it. This is already a struggle in my home as I have two gamer sons. So, why, oh, why, must there be so much REQUIRED screen time in our middle school agendas and learning? I'm ok with some of it- I know you need to relate to what the kids are doing now, but let me enlighten you about what it does to me as a parent- because I can't even imagine how overwhelmed Mason feels right now...

Mason has 7-8 periods a day. With at least 7 teachers. Each teacher has an email address and corresponds with me by emails. So I have spent the last 4-5 weeks frantically searching my email box for their correspondence, only to find some of it 2 days late, in my junk folder. Oh, wait- we added a new permanent social studies sub, so even though I added the original teacher to my in box, the new teacher is now going to my junk mail. This sender, (and the other 7) are now safe. Phew, that should do it, right? I should be getting everything I need to know, right?

Oh, wait, no, they don't all email- some prefer to use the school "education app" Edmodo- it's really cool- like a facebook for teachers, parents and students. Oh, but wait- we don't ALWAYS put the assignments or correspond by Edmodo- sometimes we prefer to have the students write them in their agendas instead, so please check that too. Please see Mason's specific username and passcode 3795867b voho to access Edmodo. You will only have the parent view of the folder unless you log in as Mason using his specific username and passcode woiuer oiuo.

By the way, you can conveniently check all of his grades, attendance and tardies on our "Home Access Center". This is convenient way to stay on top of his work and grades. You will need his other username _________ and password lwiu iuoe. Oh wait, he's late on his assignment? Please check his agenda...

It depends on the teacher as to whether they want to have assignments in the agenda or on Edmodo...

Oh wait, he didn't write it in his agenda? Then maybe you better count on him to bring the notebook home with the notes and assignment in it to complete at home. I'm sorry if you didn't know about said notebook and said assignment needing to come home, and it wasn't on the Edmodo tab- but he didn't complete his assignments on time, so now he will have to stay after school for 3 HOURS to complete it.

Oh, wait, you didn't know we use three additional sites for Math? Oh, I'm so sorry, they're in my signature line on the email that went to your junk folder. There are also individual usernames and passwords for each of the other two math sites we use to keep the kids sharp.

Please keep these usernames and passwords in a safe place where you and your child have access to them and please stay on top of your kids to make sure they are completing all assignments on time.

Please bring your own device to school, because we will be "flipping" the lesson- we'll give them notes, but they'll need to go online to learn the lesson...

What, the what????? Someone, please help me- am I alone here? I have no idea how to know what's going on at any given time, and I really feel like to get to the bottom of it, I have to spend a good 30 minutes of MY day making sense of something like homework assignments that really shouldn't be that complicated. Help. I'd love any of your tips and tricks to make this middle school thing flow easier.

Pinterest Punked

Hey girls, I'm sure we all have that one story (or several) that we can tell- all about that time that Pinterest totally punked us. NAILED it.

Pinterest has come through for me time, and time again, and I even have a board that I call, "I tried it and it's true". Well, now, apparently, I'm going to need to create a board that states the opposite... and I think I'll call it "Pinterest Punks".

Have you seen the cool pin that shows a girl's hand, with a beautiful French manicure created by those little round hole punch reinforcement tabs? Well, that's not my hand, but here's my review of that process.

So far, so good...

Okay, so it's not a perfectly straight line, and there's adhesive all over my nails, but nothing a little finger nail polish remover won't take care of....

Okay, so I know my cuticles are shot, and I don't profess to be a nail tech or anything, but most of what you see in this picture is either glue/adhesive or nail polish that has now clumped up and stuck to my nail. I was starting to consider some goo-gone and mentioned to Hubby that this pin was NOT working as planned, to which he responded- "Hey, is now a good time to download those built-in bookcase plans from Pinterest?" Ha. Hah. Aren't you just the comedian?

Here's the finished product. At this point, I was emotionally invested in the project and thought you guys deserved to see a finished product- complete with top coat (painted over the adhesive that wouldn't come off).

In a nutshell, either I'm an idiot (which could COMPLETELY be the case, since I am nail polish challenged), OR this pin sucks. I'll let you decide.

I'm happy to report that since Hubby also coined this Pin "Ghetto", I have completely removed all of said "French manicure" and sticky adhesive. All I have to say is that maybe next time I'll try Dollar Store reinforcement tabs, because Avery makes a damn good product.

Tilt-A-World

The other night I had a dream that I was going to the top of a really tall building to enjoy dinner at a five star Asian restaurant. It was beautiful up there- orchids everywhere, rich colors of purple, gold and red filling the room, and comfortable white leather couches that were sleek yet comfortable to sink into while we enjoyed dinner. While waiting to be seated, patrons could enjoy a giant ride- out on the balcony- that resembled a flower. Each patron could sit inside one of the flower petals and the ride would lift up and spin round and round while spinning round and round- picture the "Scrambler" or the "Tea Cups"- but in the air- on top of a sky scraper. I like these kind of rides, but the only problem was, the safety bar came unlatched on four of the cars, including mine. I held on for dear life. When I got off, they asked if my kids wanted to ride it next. My answer was a firm, "NO! They're NOT getting on this ride."

I'm not sure what that dream has to do with this blog, but go ahead, psycho-analyze that. And no, there was no alcohol or drugs to aide in the creation of said dream.

Now, I do want to say that my family is in the midst of the middle school transition. Lots of parents have shrugged this off when I mentioned it- stating that it's no big deal. I'll tell you right now it sure feels like a big deal. Bigger than Kindergarten. When I read stories of what goes on in middle school among middle schoolers now, I am terrified. And truthfully, coming from a small Christian school where I was a goodie-goodie- I can't relate. The stories of sex, porn, drugs, alcohol, bullying and suicide alone send me into the fetal prayer position. What if he's bullied and doesn't tell me? What if he sees stuff he shouldn't and doesn't ask? What if he falls into the wrong crowd? What if all we've tried to teach him doesn't stick? What if he doesn't feel loved? It makes my heart hurt.

I've not worried too much about my Mason with things like this in the past, and truthfully, I'm trusting God that I won't need to now. I'm doing all the stuff they say to do- keep communication open, pray, pray, pray; stay informed. And it's not that I don't think he's ready. I know he is. I know in some states they start middle school in 7th grade instead of 6th, but because of what I've read recently, I've realized I am SO thankful my son is moving into middle school at the 6th grade level at church too. There are questions and situations that he will face that will take more than a parent can give, and for that I am thankful, thankful, thankful to have the reinforcement of my church, and hopefully- some new much prayed for godly, positive influences in his life.

Coen is struggling too a little, I think. He is holding my hand a lot, and didn't play with friends on the playground at Popsicles with the Principal- he just stuck close to me. Mason was at the middle school doing the middle school stuff and I could tell it was really hitting home for him that he will be solo too. If all goes the way it should, they will never walk the same halls of the same school at the same time again. Which will be tough for these two peas in a pod- at least the little one.



I've posted pictures on Facebook of Mason and his new violin, and walking the yellow locker lined halls, and I think people think that is what's freaking me out. That's not it. Well, maybe a little (when I think about him scrambling from class to class with only 4 minutes, forgetting notebooks, losing cell phones, getting said cell phone confiscated for the year, not writing down home work, being late for class, or worse- going to the wrong class, dressing out for PE and being uncomfortable, well, there's just a few things)... but the truth is, that stuff is really exciting. A chance for him to grow up, and learn and be responsible. Which also brings a tear because I feel like I'm at a precipice where I'm grasping to hold on to the little boy I love, and he's just not going to be that - on the outside at least, anymore.

We're practicing combination locks, the route to classes, going over all the things we can prep him for on the halls of the middle school. Once he has middle school down, high school will be a breeze. And then college, and then life...

So yes, I'm freaking a little. And hoping and praying that all that we've taught and loved and prayed will stick and continue to stick. I covet your prayers for all of us, as Mason gets on this brand new ride.