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Kids, Cars and Chaos
Look for the gems hidden in the sands of time. Thursday and Friday of this past week were so busy the large McDonald’s coffee I drank before school on Friday left me wondering if they had made a mistake and given me decaf. By noon I was dragging and I had promised the students’ lunch with me in the classroom. I pulled out my travel mug of green tea and my Greek yogurt loaded with protein and played charades with the kids marveling at their energy after an equally long week. I had one and half more hours, two fall projects and a math lesson to complete before the end…
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Change
When I close my eyes, I see a giant snowball rolling down a white mountain. I am balancing on top, smiling, running as fast as I can, directing the snowball around trees and boulders, feeling the cool wind sting my cheeks. My heart races, the snowball grows, I am in control. Suddenly, I slip, the snowball consumes me and I am rolling down the mountain gasping for air, frozen with fear, my head spinning, my view of the beautiful mountain gone. I wonder where I will end up. I wonder if I will ever see the beautiful mountain again. It is in the times of fear and unrest, when I…
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Teaching
Tap, tap, tap, “Mrs. Rausin.” Tap, tap, tap, “Mrs. Rausin.” One day I smiled and tapped back before I answered-I couldn’t resist. I wondered where he had learned such a habit. He looked at me with bewilderment and laughed. That’s what my days are filled with, moments of silliness, laughter and sometimes exhaustion because third graders have a tremendous amount of energy. I am reminded daily of how peaceful my life once was. I used to spend my mornings sipping coffee and typing in silence creating characters, now, I have a room full of them by seven-thirty. “Mrs. Rausin did you know that boy humpback whales sing?” “Mrs. Rausin instead of…
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The Bad Wife
“I CAN is 100 times more important than IQ.” I saw this poster hanging on the wall at my son’s school. The amount of effort I put into something directly affects the outcome. This pertains to work, family, friendships, everything in my life. I remember once when I was young, I was asked to sweep all the fall leaves from our driveway. I wanted to play football with the neighborhood boys, not waste my day sweeping. After a short time, I asked my father if the drive way was “good enough” in hopes that he would set me free from my bothersome chore. His reply was “Did you do the…
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Be The Wall
They’re big, full of life, curious, fearless, and they watch your every move with inquisitive eyes. Life with teens can be unpredictable, exciting, frustrating, and awe inspiring – all in one day. There was a time when the thought of having a teenager, especially a girl, put me into a panic. How was I going to parent a teen? It didn’t seem like that long ago since I was hanging out with my E-town friends at Friday night football games. Decorating the ladies room at our school district education building is a poster that reads-Be The Wall, the teen brain is still developing into the early twenties. Be the wall.…
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Works in Progress
Yesterday was a day of firsts. My son wrote his first song and my daughter had her first driving lesson. Some days, like the day they were born, are etched in my memory forever. Yesterday was one of those days. Standing alone in a hospital Body is in control Calming my young mind We will be fine. Holding her in my arms Eyes staring into mine Love, intense, blankets my fear Mom, that is me Sixteen years of practice vanish like a dream. “Just get in the car mom, I can do this.” My eyes open to the brave person she’s become. Mom, that is me. Surrounded by friends and…