Meanwhile, on whatever planet Hans is on …

... Life was being lived.

Here is what has happened with the shoe situation!

ASid, who said he would buy a pair of shoes for his brother, was busy packing and moving the last few weeks. His girlfriend and he moved into a rental place that they co-signed together over the Thanksgiving weekend. After the move, ASid has been busy unpacking and settling in! So, Hans decided to buy his own shoes. He got them shipped, with the help of a friend, from a country that does an amazing job with knockoffs. He got 2 pairs in 2 colours - black and white. I asked him to wear them and walk around. He said the white ones are not that comfortable and the black ones were. (They looked the same to me.) So, I asked him what he was going to do. He said the white pair were for style and he will use them for the short walk to school. Then, he will switch to the black pair while at school. The plan made no sense to me. Hans was like "trust me mom" and I was like "okay, kiddo"!

Since then, I have come home and seen the 2 pairs sitting sadly at the entrance while the boy continues to use his hol(e)y pair.

And here are couple of his culinary escapades!

- he broke a sturdy spatula while trying to make a grilled cheese sandwich and sent me an apology note. That spatula outlived my marriage, but Hans decided to put it to rest.

- he did something with a noodle bowl in the microwave that didn't exactly work out. So, he got rid off the "evidence" and made no mention of it. However, I found the interior top of the microwave covered in black 'soot', and I found the 2 small packs of oil and seasoning that came with the noodle bowl neatly displayed on the kitchen counter.

(Hans' current favourite show/character is Dexter. And I am like "did Hans not learn anything about cleaning up a crime scene thoroughly?".)

I guess he figured I would miss the spatula, but not a noodle bowl?!

Finally, here is what happened with Hans and Hockey!

The boy who hasn’t played hockey in a league for 2 to 3 years, suddenly decided to try out for his school team! It made no sense to me. I am usually up by 5:30 am and on my way to work by 7 am. I enjoy my leisurely morning ritual. It was abruptly interrupted one morning as Hans woke up at 6 am to leave for the try-outs at 6:30 am. It was like 2 universes collided at an ungodly hour. 

Quite predictably, Hans didn’t make the team. I wanted to know what insanity drove the boy to try out for his school team in his last year of high school?! His response: “I will take free ice however I get it!”.

On any given day, I am so glad I have this boy of mine. He makes me smile. I am happy to be on whatever planet he is on!

Finally …

Yesterday was the worst workday ever. Michael forgot another student … this time on the playground. I had to run out and retrieve her. Michael didn’t take any responsibility, and I was livid. Then, he did not support the prep teacher and asked me to do his job of writing journals with the students and bussing them! Apparently, he had a deadline, and he was stressed out!

The man sat in front of the device on his desk the entire time all the above transpired!

I did not say anything to him yesterday as it was his stepdaughter’s birthday and he had a family dinner planned. And then I ended up not attending my parents’ anniversary dinner as I didn’t want to ruin their evening with my frustrations.

This morning, I knew it was my ‘do or die’ day.

It was my 1^st field trip with my students, and I wanted to enjoy it, but first I needed to get all the negative feelings out of my way. So, I spoke with Michael before the kids arrived. I told him how much I dislike having such conversations. I told him that he clearly needs to communicate with me about where his head is at because his behaviour from the day before was confusing. I told him some other stuff.

I felt so relieved after that. I did not need a posse; I was good enough on my own.

With those words of confidence, I will rest my case. I am tired of writing about this man who will perhaps never change. And I hate how this seems to have taken over my life. I need to get back to happy thoughts. And the happiest thought right now is that I had the best field trip with my students today. I did not know what to expect, but they came through. Even my littlest one, who is a flight risk and who is on a safety plan, was kind to everyone and enjoyed the day!

I guess there is still hope for some of us …

I want Momley Teacher!!!!

Those were (not exactly) the 4 words that got me to finally start the conversation with Michael.

The 4 words (actually) uttered by one of my work kiddos - not once, but twice, on 2 different days … got the ball rolling. Both the times, we were outside for recess, and this little guy wrestled with Michael and ran towards me and held my hand and happily walked with me. The first time, Michael looked perplexed. The second time, he wondered why the little guy would say that?! Then, he comforted himself by remembering that the parent mentioned their child gravitated to females more than males!

I simply listened and decided that I really needed support to get Michael to reflect on not just that one situation, but on all the other situations in our classroom.

Before I continue, I want to say thanks to the boys’ UB who suggested that I talk directly to Michael (and perhaps not have conversations with everyone else about Michael!). Obviously, I have condensed several words of wisdom into that one ‘sort of sentence’, but that was the gist of it.

So, I approached the other ISP team and asked if we could have a team meeting. I couldn’t just walk up to Michael and talk about all the deficiencies in the way he fulfills his role as a CYW. Fortunately for me, the other 2 had some grievances as well and were happy to have a meeting. This morning, Michael realized that he needs to do more than what he is doing right now. I hope the realization leads to some action.

After the meeting, Michael acknowledged that he is happy to work with me, and he couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. He said he likes our classroom. I felt the need to remind him that Ms Bean and I worked hard to get the classroom to where it is now. And we must continue to keep at it. That was literally the message I had for him.

At the end of the day, I couldn’t believe how easy it was for a 7-year-old to ask for what he wanted; in fact, demand it! And it took me several days and a couple of conversations with friends and a few posts here and a little dilly-dallying to finally ask a person to do what he needs to do!

When someone reminds you of someone else … and it is NOT the best reminder!

I won’t go into details; but recently I had a conversation about PTSD and Craigley ... and realized that Michael reminds me of Craigley … basically not a bad guy, but a seriously clueless guy!

(Something happened today in my classroom that reminded me of something that happened about 17 years ago … and I was inspired to write this post.)

A few weeks after Hans was born, we decided to go to a restaurant with my mother and Craigley’s parents. We were in 2 cars. We found a parking spot right in front of the restaurant and we let Craigley’s parents have it. Craigley decided to drop us off, park his car down the street, and come back with Hans who was in a detachable infant car seat. A few minutes later, Craigley walks into the restaurant and the five of us who were waiting shouted in unison, “where is the baby?”. Craigley forgot baby Hans in the car and just sauntered in. Even after he received all the distressed looks, he leisurely walked out to get Hans.

Craigley still looked sane while the rest of us looked insane!

Today, I came back to my classroom halfway through my lunch break. I like to do that because I only need 20 minutes to eat, and I’d rather hangout with my *work kiddos* for the rest of it. As I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised to see them lined up and ready to go outside for recess. Michael looked like a thorough professional. Then, I was like “where is kiddo A?” and Michael looked like he lost her and then realized that she was in the other ISP classroom. So, I told him to leave with the 4 who were ready, and I would bring the 5^th one out when she is ready. Michael insisted on leaving together. By the time the involuntary straggler was ready, the other 4 started acting up. One of them flopped to the floor and refused to get up. Michael wanted them all nicely lined up, and eventually they did, and this is what he said verbatim, “It took you all 8 minutes to get ready and it is almost November!”. When he said that, he looked ridiculous to me.

If Michael hadn’t forgotten a student, they would have already been outside!

A school year is 10 months. It has barely been 2 months, and I am beginning to lose my patience. I hope Michael gets a clue soon or it will get ugly! I am fiercely protective of all my kids. If anything will get me to be confrontational, it would be incompetence and the inability to apologize for its consequences.

Thanksgiving Sunday

Yes, I know that the Canadian Thanksgiving Day is always on the 2^nd Monday in October. However, my family always celebrates on the Sunday and takes Monday off! That’s the best bit about being Canadian. There is no one way.

Hans said that he had the best day yesterday as he spent the day with people who matter the most to him. Hans was with Craigley in the morning. He spent the day with my side of the family in the afternoon and evening, and he slept over at his friend’s home with his peeps whom he calls the ‘Core Four’. Hans got home this morning, and he was happy with his life.

Almost 3 years ago, When Hans and I moved into our apartment, I was worried for the boy and how he was going to survive all that was thrown in his way. I am happy to say that he turned out splendidly.

In another beautiful coincidence, I just watched the ending of S6 E1 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ titled ‘Train’. It gave me goosebumps ... because there is no better joy than knowing your child is safe ... there is no better joy than knowing your child is going to be alright.

Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone. Have a splendid day!

I legit lost my mind … for a few days!

In my last post, I mentioned how my principal requested a DQ ice cream cake for her birthday. I also wrote about how I picked it up and had it in my freezer ... between then and now, I managed to transfer it to the freezer at my work, and today, it was beautifully cut into 20 slices by my principal and eaten by all.

So, how did I lose my mind?

I will go back to Monday to answer that! I got to DQ and was confused by all the options they had. When did they get 'Jamocha Almond'? And so many other flavours?! When it was my turn to order, I asked them if they could make the original with fudge crunch? They were like "what?!". So, I explained to them that I want the classic ice cream cake. The lady patiently asked me what flavour of ice cream I wanted. I told her vanilla with the fudge crunch. She was like "we will do the vanilla ice cream cake with the fudge on the top".

I sent this note to my principal:

Ms Principal,

 

The DQ ice cream cake has been ordered. It was so complicated ... so many varieties now. I told them I need the classic and I hope that's what they make!!

 

Just an fyi. Have a good evening.

Today, when she saw the cake, she seemed pleased. When she cut into it, I did not see the fudge crunch. Then, someone asked where the cake was from? My principal responded "Baskin Robbins".

Then, it hit me ... almost 5 days later ... that I went to Baskin Robbins and not DQ, and I was the crazy woman and NOT the wonderfully patient woman who took my order!!

This has never happened to me. How could I have confused BR with DQ?! How did I have a few conversations about the ice cream cake and each time, I said DQ?!

Fortunately, my principal loved the cake, and everyone enjoyed it too.

If it ended well, does it mean all is well?!

One Year Job Anniversary

The 1^st day on my current job was Thursday, October 10, 2024. I didn’t know then, but my principal celebrated her 50^th birthday on the very same day.

This year, October 10^th is a PD Day. Yes! Barely 2 months into the school year, and it is the 2nd ‘Professional Development’ day already!! It is probably because the government took over TDSB or maybe some other reason, but now teachers must show up in person on all PD days. So, I decided to celebrate my 1^st anniversary by treating the staff to a breakfast. Food always brings cheer to even the most mournful of gatherings. Then, I thought it would be nice to bring a cake for my principal. I didn’t want to surprise her and asked her to name her favourite cake … turns out it is a DQ ice cream cake!

Since I asked, I had to deliver. I am not sure why I make my life unnecessarily challenging … I don’t have a car. Imagine a person carrying an ice cream cake, and walking to the plaza and lining up at ‘What a Bagel!’ on a Friday morning to pick up 24 bagels, 24 bourekas and some cream cheese … yes, that would be me. Since I imagined it first, I didn’t want that to be me! So, I ordered the cake on Monday and picked it up a few minutes ago. I will take it to work tomorrow morning, so my hands are free on Friday morning!

I also had to rearrange my freezer so I could fit the cake in it. I made it work!

I feel an insane amount of joy when I share food with people. Just felt like writing about it since I have been such a tragic figure in the last few posts … I am done with that now!