It's All About Gaby

Gabriela arrived on August 13th, just a few days early.  We were up at the cabin and didn't get to meet her until a few days later.  Gabriela is just beautiful.  She is a healthy and peaceful baby. 
 Cassie was so happy to finally meet Gaby.   She had set aside a pile of books to read to the baby at their first meeting.  And, Cassie read, even though Gaby was asleep during our entire visit.  Ever since Cassie started speaking, she has called Gladis "big sister."  Now, Cassie is thrilled to be Gaby's aunt.  She has specified that she wants to be called "Tia," which is Spanish for "aunt."  Cassie has established a "Gaby fund" and is saving money to buy Gaby an American Girl doll.  Cassie has already gotten Gladis to promise that Gaby will spend Halloween with us.  Cassie told me that she can't wait until Gaby is 4 or 5 years old so that they can have a real conversation.


Lacey was really fascinated by all the baby stuff - the pink and white bassinet, the tiny hats and mittens, and Gaby's tiny bracelet.  I gave her my camera and let her take pictures of everything.  I was a little nervous about letting Lacey hold the baby.  So, I let Lacey slip her arms under Gaby, next to mine.  It was at that moment that Gaby chose to release some gas.  Boy, was Lacey every surprised.  She told me that it would be okay if I wanted to put Gaby back in "the cage" now!

Gaby in my arms

Cassie reading to Gaby

Sleeping Beauty



Gaby and her "Tia"



The 3 girls

The 4 girls

Happy Mom

7lbs, 6 oz, 20 inches long

"I can't wait to hear her voice!  Which American Girl doll should I get her?"

School Supplies

Last Saturday, I decided to take advantage of Virginia's "tax-free weekend" and shop for school supplies.  In preparation for the big event, I had downloaded lists of required supplies from the school's website.  The girls and I then sorted leftover supplies and verified that we could recycle some.  This wasn't going to be too expensive!  We headed to Target, confident that we'd find well-stocked aisles and the best prices. 

First, I whipped out the list for first-graders.  "24 yellow sharpened pencils. . . There's no way Lacey is going to use 24 pencils!"

"No, Mom, she won't," piped in Cassie.  "Remember, the teacher is going to tell her to dump the pencils in 'the bin.'"


Ah, yes, "the bin."  Several years back I discovered that having colorful school supplies made Cassie a little happier at school.  Sparkly pink pencils seemed a small price to pay for my kid's happiness.  Then, we learned about "the bin." This is the community repository, where supplies are made available for students who either don't bring in their own or lose theirs.   Cassie handled this masterfully, politely explaining to the teacher that her mother didn't allow her to share!  There was no way she was letting those pretty pencils out of her hands.  I had no problem with this because Cassie goes to school with a full inventory of supplies and doesn't need to take anything from the bin.  Well. . . we are trying to instill in Lacey the importance of following rules.  So, I dodged about 15 grabbing arms and retrieved two dozen pencils.


"Okay, Lacey needs scissors with a point," I continued.


"Remember, Mom, we have a lot of scissors at home," reminded Cassie.  Oh, my, the scissors!  A couple years ago, Cassie arrived home from school, upset because she had been chastised by the teacher for not completing an assignment. She explained that she had loaned her scissors to another child and couldn't finish.  When I asked why she loaned her scissors, she said that she hadn't wanted to, but the teacher had scolded her for not sharing.  So, I bought a second pair of scissors.  By the end of the year, I'd sent in a third pair of scissors because both children seated next to Cassie had lost theirs.  So, we have plenty of scissors at home.  Cassie also routinely collects unclaimed pencils and crayons from the classroom floor.  She stores all these in a bag in her desk and offers these to classmates who always need to borrow.  I admire her resourcefulness.


Next - both girls needed two compsition books each.  Parents have been repeatedly reminded that teachers prefer plain composition books.   Okay.  I confess.  We don't do plain.  Well, Lacey was pleased with yellow marbled covers and snatched two.  But, sadly, Target's supply of composition books was limited.  Cassie didn't see anything she liked.  We eventually went to two other stores to find acceptable notebooks.  But, before you label me insane for doing this, I will explain that the composition books are used on a daily basis.  And, if a book with an attractive cover makes my kid smile and feel a little happier about being locked in school all day, I'll spend a little extra time finding the right books. 
Meanwhile, we continued to dodge carts and customers who were madly pawing through the bins of supplies.  The aisles were so crowded that we decided to park our cart a few rows away and try to squeeze our way through the rows of supplies. 

"Okay," I continued, "Lacey needs SIXTEEN GLUE STICKS?!  What?  Are they going to be papering walls with the glue sticks?  And, Cassie needs four."  As I pushed through aisles, feeling like I was at some sort of international bazaar, I suggested that the girls go select their pencil boxes.  But, wait, there were about 15 different styles and we had to try to determine the specific style each girl needed.  A "pencil pouch" for Cassie, not a "pencil box," because apparently the fifth grade textbooks are thicker and take up too much space in the desk to accommodate a pencil box.  And, for Lacey, "a pencil box no larger than 5 x 8 inches."  We eventually selected acceptable pencil containers.  About that time, I managed to identify a Target employee and verified that the store was SOLD OUT of glue sticks.  I guess every teacher in the county is asking students to bring in 16 apiece.

Now, some of you might feel compelled to point out that I could order school supplies through the PTO.  I wouldn't have to do anything except write the check.  But, why would I want to deny my kids the opportunity to participate in this cultural ritual?



Finally, I sent Cassie in search of 3x5 index cards and actually placed Lacey inside the cart to avoid physical injury.  We then dashed toward the checkout lines where I was informed that my grand total was $32.05.  I'm not kidding.  I was feeling immensely pleased with myself when Cassie reminded me about the miscellaneous supplies.  These are the things that are not included in teacher's miniscule budgets. 

The fifth graders need to provide a box of Kleenex and a gallon size box of ziplock baggies.  The first graders need to provide Liquid handsoap; a gallon size box of ziplock baggies; 2 boxes of "Puffs Plus Kleenex;" unscented baby wipes; and paper towels.  Parents are informed that teachers have specifed particular brands for some items because these brands have been found to be the most reliable.

I can't be the only parent who finds these requests just the slightest bit annoying.  Let's start with the need to blow noses.  Now, I completely understand why teachers need tissues.  But, my family is accustomed to wiping their noses with cheaper brands of tissues and everybody is just fine.  And, by the way, have you ever tried to clean a pair of eyeglasses with a greasy "Puffs Plus?"  So, I think the cheaper brand that we have at home will work just fine.

The liquid handsoap and baby wipes are for students to wash their hands.  What's the problem with soap and water?  The teachers will tell parents that it takes too much time to let students get up to wash their hands.  Sure, I understand this.  Meanwhile, we are constantly emphasizing that students need to be "green" and "save the planet."   So, let's flush those baby wipes.

In closing, I have to share that because Lacey never owned any personal possessions before, she is a hoarder in the making.  In her bedroom she has a collection of sales receipts, price tags, menus, junk mail and anything else she can get her hands on.  Once something is HERS, she does not want to let it go.  Understandably, Lace is absolutely enamored with her new school supplies.  She spreads them out on the floor several times a day to admire them and counts to verify that SHE HAS MORE THAN CASSIE!!  (Those 16 glue sticks pushed her over the edge.)  I just can't wait to see what happens when the teacher tries to take away Lacey's 24 new pencils and place them in THE BIN!

Save Our Schools

On Saturday, July 30th, Cassie and I participated in the Save Our Schools March in Washington, D.C.  The purpose of the march was for educators, parents and communities to reclaim control of public education, take the emphasis off standardized testing, and provide a high-quality education for all students.  Cassie was an informed and voluntary participant.  Although she's only 10, she has experienced the impact of standardized testing.  In preparation for the spring tests, the entire fourth quarter of each school year is spent reviewing, with no new introduction of material.  (And I wonder why she doesn't really like school.)

We left home at 8:00 a.m., prepared for a hot day on the national mall.  We met up with colleagues from Arlington, donned T-shirts and gathered posters.  While we waited, a bus of educators from Miluakee arrived.  Even though they had endured a 15-hour bus ride, they were full of energy.  They gave us some buttons, we gave them some posters and everyone began chanting, "This is what democracy looks like!  This is what democracy looks like!"  Cassie's eyes lit up and she said, "Wow.  This is really fun!"



At the rally point



Arlington educators (in blue) welcoming the arrival of Miluakee colleagues

At 11:00, participants gathered on the Ellipse to hear speakers, sing, watch videos and stand united in their beliefs.  Cassie was interested in everything that was taking place.  The more she listened to the speakers, the more she began to understand the meaning of democracy in action.  At one point she exclaimed, "Mom, I'm marching where the suffragettes stood!"  She learned something that she would never have gotten from a textbook.

Participants marching to the Ellipse

 "Mom, I'm marching where the suffragettes stood!"

Cassie by the stage



Helping my kid learn first hand about democracy in action.  This is more fun than Disneyworld!



Arlington participants seated near the stage

A graveyard, memorializing the loss of creativity and critical thinking, had been set up.

Students and teachers had made a display depicting how standardized testing has led to an education that places them in boxes, eliminating original thinking.  Here are a few of the dolls that were created.

"How come the suffragettes got to walk right up to the gates of the White House?"

Standing strong, in spite of the heat!

The growing crowd

A highlight for me was hearing Jonathan Kozol speak.

A less than great shot of Jonathan Kozol on stage.  He's the one in the light shirt.

Jonathan Kozol



Cassie becoming a part of history.