Day 17: Happiest Year in Elementary School

Today's post for Blogember - the commitment to blog each day during the month of November is about choosing my happiest year in Elementary school and why.

Elementary school is much of a blur of school and teachers that largely run together, with the exception of a few moments that stand out with ringing clarity.

The year I was in second grade was marked with another change to Division Street School and blessed with Mrs. Barbara Chubb as my teacher. I'm not sure I'd call it idyllic, yet by all other signs it appeared to be a quite normal school year. Until my father 'got sick' in February and died in early June before the end of that school year.

And then the world changed. Immediately.

I recall an instant change in responsibility and how life as I knew it would never, ever be the same.

I would not call that my happiest year. I would call that my most life-changing. Would first grade be my happiest because it was the last school year I had my father as a part of my life? At the time I didn't know that … who would think THIS could be the last time? The last report card, school project, Christmas concert he'd ever see from me?

I'm not sure I had a happiest year in Elementary School. But I don't look back with dread. What I do is ensure that my second grader is having an awesome year and I am loving every project, concert, book report and teacher conference that is part of the school year!

So my happiest year in Elementary school is my daughter's - this year! I don't compare myself to her, as so many things are different - and she's very much enjoying this time in her life. I love her fully and completely - for everything she is - and all that she hopes to be one day! Those are my happiest days!

Comments

Never Quit!

Sometimes that's hard. Not to quit. Not to give up. On running, on eating right, on being a good friend, on keeping up with the dusting, on putting a smile on my face when I'm in tears on the inside. But somehow I manage. It may take me some time to get back on track, but I don't give up. I sustain. I believe my purpose is to do the best I'm able, and to take others along. Help bring others up - show them the way, give them a smile and my other motto, 'Do a good deed." That may require that I dig deep. Doesn't feel like that effort is within grasp. Today is not one of those days. Even after the Game 6 loss of the B's in the Stanley Cup Finals. I believe I can do this ... and that's the mental battle needed to win when striving to 'never quit'. Really nice things that have happened in the last week days - - Received an incredibly thoughtful thank you card from my roommate in college - She's going through a tough tim...

Get back to it!

We have quite a bit going on as a family these days. We're getting ready to move our lives from Illinois to Texas in a matter of two weeks. And these days are filled with preparation on both ends to ensure that we move in one piece and as unscathed as possible. There are things like jobs, school, household items, cars, houses on both ends, and all the coordination it takes to make it happen. Oh, then throw in that wonderful husband's travel schedule has imploded and he's been on the road for three weeks straight. Not to worry - I can do hard things! And I will continue to do them. So when he was back home for the weekend I was pleasantly surprised when he suggested that we all get outside on Saturday and walk the trails of the local park. We did four miles together. Our daughter on her scooter a safe distance ahead of us and us enjoying the scenery and talking on and off about the move. It was wonderful. The weather was perfect. ...

Goal Setting and Success!

Today was a winning day for me. I am closer to my goals than ever before. As you may recall I set three goals for myself involving weight loss, successful professional accreditation and promotion. I have officially lost 4.5 pounds since April 1st, and today passed another part of the designation making be exactly halfway complete! This is a huge accomplishment for me! I've sacrificed and put the time in to set myself up to succeed. Each step is not always forward, but I do keep moving. My husband said to me tonight after work (and finding out I passed another part). "I really admire your determination to keep going. I would have quit long ago. But not you. You didn't let it get you down." That truly means the world, not that he sees me as successfully passing, but that success has not come easily. And I refused to be defined by it. I am driven, determined and downright stubborn when it comes to going after ...

Run, Laugh, Eat, Repeat

Search This Blog