A Plethora of Empathy

Story Time:

I may have already told this story, so if you've heard it before skip on ahead.

Once upon a time when I was in 5th or 6th grade my Dad mentioned that the school he worked for was having a skating party. My younger sister and I liked to skate. We were happy to go.

One of my Dad's students decided to use my Dad to stop themselves. I really doubt she tried to make him fall. My Dad wasn't too happy with her when he did fall. He threw his arms out, and broke both elbows at once.

Instead of having a staff member drive him home, or ask to use a photo to call a friend or family member to take him to the hospital, he decided to drive home.

On the way home I had to help make turns. The whole time he pounded out cuss words. Every turn, every bump it was, "Fu**!"

I think I only roller skated a few times after that. When I first had to drive I wasn't all that excited.

That happened right before Christmas. My Dad finished painting a painting for my Grandpa he had started with his mouth. Whenever someone complains that they can't paint I think of this story.

Fast Forward to Today:

There's been a few times where the boys wanted to go to skate parties with their elementary school. I've always hated going. I picture one of my kiddos falling like my Dad did on both elbows.

You'd think they'd catch on how to skate, but Mica lacks coordination. He looks a bit like Gumby. Yep made of clay, and barely moves. The poor boy happened to see 4 or more people from his elementary class, and they can skate good.

Gumby was found here.

Isaak's gone skating more than Mica, but is rocky at first. After 10 minutes he's going pretty good.

A Plethora of Empathy:

One thing Isaak was born with is lots of empathy.

He was always around his brother and cousins (because Travis, my sister and mom and dad took turns watching them). Since Isaak was the youngest he was treated unfairly. Once Isaak was big enough to defend himself - he wouldn't put up with unfairness. He'd stand up for himself. There were some people in my family that saw Isaak as the trouble maker. I didn't see it this way though. Isaak was so sweet, but if anyone crossed him watch out! He just stood up for himself.

This carried on into school. Kids that befriend him, and his friends are treated with such respect. Isaak's the best friend anyone could have. If anyone crosses him, or his friends watch out! He's been in 3 small fights this year alone. The crazy thing is, is that I'm not worried about it. I find out what the fight was about, and it's justified. Some kid pushed Isaak or one of his friends, and Isaak pushed back. No one has gotten hurt. Isaak won't let bullies, bully him or his friends around.

To be honest I wish I had more Isaak in me. He's my sweet and sour kid. I wish everyone would have more Isaak in them! We'd have a world full of empathy, and fairness.

A little girl showed up to the skate rink that has never skated before. She's had medical issues her entire life. An NG tube, a G button, lots of meds, and hospital stays. I don't know the extent of her medical conditions. I don't even know her family situation. I've seen a lady come to conferences for her. She has 3 other kids that have special needs with her. Something tells me that she's a foster child. I have no clue.

Once she was taking off her coat, and her shirt pulled up. A punk that Isaak has gotten in a fight with said, "Ewww gross! Your stomach is the nastiest thing I've ever seen!" Isaak was pissed!

Isaak befriended this girl. She is nice. They both love to write. So much so, that they were bombing writing class. Not because their work wasn't good, but because they took so long to do it. They both add in lots of details in their writing! No worries we got Isaak up to an A by having him work on writing at home.

Isaak said, "Oh my friend is here. She's never skated before Mom. I'm going to make sure she's ok, and skate with her." I nearly started crying when I saw them together. The little girl said to Isaak, "Isaak my sister may make fun of me if she sees you skating with me." Isaak said, "Don't worry about it. You need help, so I'm here for you."

They aren't the BEST pictures, but I love them!

I didn't mind seeing the boys skate that night. It was like a breath of fresh air. 

Do you think we need more empathy in the world? 

Holiday Freeze Frame Program

Isaak's elementary school had a really fun holiday program this year called Freeze Frame. I think I enjoyed it so much because Isaak was in it so much. 

He's in strings this year:

I think he was thinking, Mom why do you have to take a photo of me?

It slightly cracks me up that Mica and Isaak are some of the tallest kids in their grades, and their best friends are the shortest.

He's not a master of the violin, but for starters he plays really well. Their whole class is ahead of where classes usually are.

Isaak likes to play. He practices songs beyond where they are at. He tells me the hard thing is to stay with the others. During the concert his teacher played the piano to get them to stay together.

Isaak tried out for  Show Choir, and got into that:

As his teacher puts it, they are just starting. Their Show Choir consists of 4th and 5th graders. Show Choir usually doesn't start until 7th grade in many schools. They do minimal actions.

After a few months, Isaak still loves to go to Show Choir in the mornings! He got really bummed once when he and Dad forgot about it.

Little man was sort of stressed out because he had Strings, then Show Choir right away. He had to hurry to take away his music stand. He wanted to wear his dress up shirt for Strings, but decided it was too much, too fast to have to put his Show Choir shirt on between them. He just left it on.

Some of the songs were from The Beach Boys. Isaak wanted to hear them on YouTube. He said, "Why are all their songs about surfing and the beach?" I laughed and said, "Well they are called The BEACH Boys." He said, "Oh."

I of course recorded everything, but the last section of song. That was the best part. Oh well.

He also sang two songs with his class:

The next photo cracks me up! It's Isaak telling the other kids to be quiet! It wasn't time for talking! He's great at standing up for himself, his friends, the rules, fairness and what's morally right. Bossy to some, but to me I wish I had a little more of him in myself.

Most years my Mom leans into me and says, "Now why can they sing about Hanukkah, but not Christmas?" Well they did sing about Christmas, just not Jesus. Nor did they sing about God, Mohamed, or any other spiritual leader. I had to point that out to her.

Just like some get hung up on weather one should say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, there's people that get hung up on if kids doing The Pledge of Allegiance in school, and what's sung in holiday programs. I have people in my life that are really religious and people that are not religious at all. Whatever is fine by me. I error on the side of schools not getting into religion; as they are state funded. If they do, they should talk about many religions. Not just Christianity. If you want a religious base go to worship somewhere, put your kids in a private school, or homeschool them.  What are your thoughts on this? I have people I love on different sides, so I'm not here to judge your thoughts. It's an interesting conversation.

Did you go to any holiday programs this year?

My Only Elementary Schooler

It's kind of odd that only Isaak is going to elementary school this year.

Everything seems foreign with middle school. The principle still hasn't gotten back to me from an email I sent last week. An email I sent the vice principle bounced back to me. Travis called last week to find out that they don't have a supply list, bus schedules went out on Friday, and back to school night is on the 15th.

I looked over Isaak's supply list. I was ready to go fork over a lot of money just to find out that I bought a ton of supplies when Shop-Ko (a store similar to Walmart) closed down. Score for me.

Isaak got Miss Nelson for a teacher. I don't know either teacher, so I have no opinions either way. We had to laugh because of the children's book, Miss Nelson is Missing. If you're unfamiliar with the story the nice Miss Nelson goes missing and comes back as mean Miss Viola Swamp to basically get her student body to act more appropriately.

Travis texted Isaak's friend Ben's Mom to see what class he got. Ben is Isaak's friend from Argentina. He got the other class. I was really heartbroken for Ben more than Isaak. Isaak will make or have friends in either class. Ben doesn't know very much English. Last year Isaak communicated with Ben through gestures, and drawings. 

Every day Isaak was excited about something he taught Ben, or something that Ben taught him. One day Isaak said he was humming the Indiana Jones theme song, and found out that Ben knew it too! That amazed Isaak. 

His teacher last year said that Isaak would stand up to show Ben it was time to get in line. He'd put his hands in his pockets when it was time to be quiet. 

For the first time in my life I felt like crying for someone else's kid, that I didn't even know. 

Could you imagine going to another country at the age of 9, and not know much of what they were saying? Ben connected with Isaak, and now they are going to be split apart. 

Argentina's government is really messed up, and they moved right before Trump was elected. I just can't imagine how they feel. If I were in their shoes I'd feel unwelcomed, unwanted, and confused. 

I wrote a letter to the principle on behalf of Benjamin. I said everything I felt. I ended it with saying something like: Please get their teacher from before - her input. He wrote back saying that their teacher from before suggested the switch. 

When I mentioned to Isaak that they were going to have different teachers (after I knew for sure) he said, "I know Mom. It's probably because we talk too much!" I asked, "How can you talk too much to someone that barely speaks English?" He said, "He speaks enough Mom." 

My emotions took over the situation. I felt all this empathy for this kid I don't really know. My kid duped me.

We took a trip to Iowa to go school shopping. Iowa had no sales tax much of the weekend. 

Mica got some new pants at Rue 21 that's closing. $19 for 3 pair of pants isn't too shabby! We got shoes at Kohl's. Some school supplies, or things we needed we got at Target. 

Mica's all into being appropriate. When we ate at Burger King, Mica did not care for Isaak wearing a paper crown. Mica, "Isaak that's embarrassing!" So I put one on. Then heard Mica and Travis say, "You're not really going to wear that?!" I acted like I was going to, but took it off.

Are you still friends with anyone you were friends with in elementary school? 

WW: Last Day of Elementary {Linky}

Mica had his last day of Elementary School a week and a half ago. I think it's so odd that we make such a big deal out of kids ending preschool, which is only a year or two, but we don't for elementary that's five or six years. I'm not saying that Elementary School should have caps and gowns, but why do many of our preschools?

Anyhow Mica will be moving on up to middle school next year. He'll be bussed for the first time. Many of his fellow classmates are going to different middle schools. An old chapter ended, and a new chapter is soon to begin.

Mica and his teacher Mrs. Hume:

I admit that I did tear up when they kept calling Mica's name off for different things:

• 1st in the Science Fair that he did with his friend Aiden. They did theirs on germs in the house.

• Safety Patrol all year long, before and after school.

• Student Council where this year they mentored younger children. Mica felt super proud of that!

• Gold for academics. 

• He was mentioned for being the top of the school for the Spelling Bee, and in a group for the Golden Sower Reading Competition. 

I was holding my composer just fine, until Mr. Miller asked for the box of tissues because he just couldn't hold his tears back any longer.

I handed Mica his book that I had all his teacher's sign. I only wish that I would have thought to have his PE, art, music, councilor and technology teachers sign it. Oh well. All his main teacher's signed it.

My little boy started out at this school as a shy Kindergartener: 

Now he's a confident 6th grader:

I know awards are just pieces of paper, but they do make me proud:

Back to School {Linky}

The boys are heading back to school tomorrow. As parents we're so glad. The boys really like school, and do best with a routine. They had a Meet the Teacher Night last night. They both got the teachers they wanted.

Isaak is big about patterns. So far he's had the opposite teacher than what Mica's had every year. He got the same teacher Mica had in 3rd grade, but we convinced him that the pattern is still in place. That teacher got married, so she has a different last name then when Mica had her. Isaak has 3 great friends in his class.

Mica lost a few friends because one moved on to a magnet school, and another is going to a private school. I reminded him that this may happen. Thankfully he has a few good friends in his 5th grade class. It's his last year at his elementary school. It sucks to grow up at times. Mica said, "I feel like Kevin from The Wonder Years when Winnie went to a different school, and Paul went to a prep school." I feel for him. There's always more room for friends.

The boys look like they are giants. They are in this stage where they are not picture friendly. We brought all their loot on Meet the Teacher night. It was less stuff to worry about taking to school on the first day. Mica donated gel pens, and Isaak donated markers to the whole class.

Mica started what seem like a full time job: Safety Patrol. It's not like when I was a kid: Everyone took turns. Nope! He has to man this post before and after school. I was a little worried about task considering that Isaak would need to be there at a later time. No worries though. Mica's teacher said that Isaak can hang out in the lobby. He will be a teacher's helper, or just have a chance to read before breakfast.

I think the sun was in Mica's eyes when I took this photo.

School

I usually don't take my kids to school, nor do I pick them up. Travis does that.

Of course since Travis was out of town a lot I did a lot of dropping off, and picking up. Isaak loves the before and after program; Mica on the other hand could do without it. They are both so different. Isaak loves people, while Mica needs time to himself.

One morning we were on our way to school and saw this:

It's unusual to see a wild turkey in the city. Then it started to cross the road. We started telling, "Why did the turkey cross the road?" jokes. Isaak was really worried it would get hit by a car. I've seen them before, but not very often. We had a few that lived behind the school where I work for awhile. One day I was standing talking to my Dad outside, and a turkey flew over my head. It reminded me of a Wallace and Gromit movie. It was this big massive thing in the sky.

Where the kids go to school they have two trees that are blooming right now. They are so pretty. I call them popcorn trees. For some reason small white blooms look like popcorn to me.

We filled out paperwork to see if Mica could get into one of the three middle schools that start at 5th grade. The school district I went to had elementary that went from Kindergarten to 6th grade. The boy's school goes from Kindergarten to 6th grade now. Next year they are dropping 6th grade. This district is really odd because some middle schools start in 5th grade, some in 6th grade, and there were a few that started in 7th grade. It's super confusing!

They have magnet middle schools, which is also new to me. Mica is into science, reading, writing, and drama. Those are totally different subjects. That doesn't make it easy to pick what middle school fits him. I just think it's odd that one would have a focus on a particular subject in middle school. I have college students that don't know what they want to do when they grow up. How could one expect a middle schooler to know what they want to do? 

We were open to the idea of seeing if Mica could get into one of the middle schools for next year. Both are rated high, both are far from our house, and one is in the crappiest part of Omaha. Mica was accepted into the crappiest part of Omaha one. On the letter of acceptance it had a phone number to call. The number wasn't the right number - it was out of order. LOVELY! Regardless of only sort of liking the 5th grade teachers at the kid's current school, we made the decision that Mica should stay at his elementary 1 more year. The middle school is wonderful. I've heard all good things about it. It has a planetarium, a hydroponics growing system, and more. We just can't see how bussing Mica far away in a crappy part of town can be a good thing for him. He's also not ready to depart from his friends. If he gets sick, or has to leave school for appointments it would be much harder if he's far away. 

We called the school's headquarters to know what to do to keep him in his elementary school. The paper I filled out to select a middle school actually transferred him! No one explained that one to us! It was just a single paper that had our name, address, our first pick of school, and the second pick of school. That was it. I even talked to a few upper people about middle schools, saying that we just wanted to see what might happen, they just nodded to understand us.

I got an email saying to come to the middle school to register. We went last night. Now we have to fill out a form to have him transferred back to his elementary. What a mess! 

Girls, Girls, Girls

The title of this post made me think of the Mötley Crüe song, Girls, Girls, Girls.

 
Last week I asked Mica, "So who have you been playing with at school during recess time?" It's my way of asking how his day was without asking, How was your day? over and over like a broken record.

He said, "Well...actually I've been walking around with Sally." *Her name is not really Sally, but I'm calling her that for this post.

I said, "Mica you do know you're too young for a girlfriend."

He said, "I know, but I'm not too young for a crush."

This girl made the Student Council with him. -Sigh

We went to Target. I was looking for the toothpaste I wanted. Mica said, "Mom Sally and I have the same deodorant. Here it is."

I'm thinking, How does this kid know what kind of deodorant Sally wears? Oh ya they keep them in their lockers to put on before gym class.

Source

I said, "Mica maybe you should start hanging out with your boy friends more, and walk around the playground with Sally less. She may think you're creepy because you walk around with her a lot. Plus you don't want to loose the friends you have because all your attention is going towards Sally." 

Mica said, "Sally likes me to."

I said, "Your guy friends won't understand that."

In the car Mica said, "The girls at the school think I'm the cutest boy in the class."

I said, "Really! Don't let that get to your head Mica. There's plenty of good looking kids in your class."

Mica said, "I'm number 1 on Sally's list."

I said, "Things like that change. Character is not always about how you look. It's about how you act to."

He said, "I act fine Mom."

Oh my goodness we're in trouble. This boy is only in 4th grade! He could be in 5th grade age wise, but he's in 4th grade! How in the heck do I take this down a notch, or 5 notches? This kid doesn't need more confidence. He has plenty. I don't want him to be that guy like in Beauty and the Beast - Gaston. BTW I can't believe I'm referencing Disney. That's the first character that came to mind.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Except Mica would love if a girl read, and came up with ideas.
 
My goodness he's too young for girls! I guess I had a crush in 4th grade, but I never told anyone about it. Mica's told me, his friends, Grandma and Grandpa, and even the girl he likes. 

I remember my mom saying, "Some things I just don't want to know." I think I know what she meant now. 

Science Fair

Mica's school has a Science Fair every year. Last year he made a record player out of a box, wooden parts and a plastic cup. He won second place. I didn't find out that he won second place until I went through his end of the year papers.

This year he made a potato clock. The clock wasn't working right. That turned into a tomato battery. It's a good thing Daddy can improvise with this stuff. I most certainly can't. When something science does not work, I just freak out and start over.

The boy won third place. He didn't tell me once again. I even asked, "How was the Science Fair?" He mumbled, "It was fine." I found out again when I went through his end of the year papers. Later on I mentioned to Daddy that Mica won third place. He said he knew. Grandma and Grandpa knew as well. He was dropped off at their house when the science fair was over. It was only me that was out of the loop.

A friend of mine took photos of Mica and said I could use the photos.