Some lady 'BROKE MY SMOLDER' yesterday. :(

Still 'SMARTNG' from something that happened yesterday.

Feeling quite CRUSHED actually

I can't let this one go for some reason. Pity pot USA

I ran 6 miles yesterday.

During my run, I notice a car slowing down and a lady popping her head out the window.

She yelled, "GOOD FOR YOU!!"

I pulled out my ear buds and said, "Excuse Me?" "I couldn't hear you".

She said, "GOOD FOR YOU!"

I smiled and said, "Yeah, thanks!" and kept running.

But, what I felt was awash with shame and negativity.

My guess is that she doesn't pull over for the average runner and say, "GOOD FOR YOU!"

Just my particular SIZED runner gets her attention.

I mean, seriously? I'm sure she meant well, but what it sounded like was like someone talking to a child to try to convince them they are doing well while actually what they are thinking is, "Ooh, I hope you don't blow it."

I suppose I could have taken it that way.

Yet, I did not.

This happened in the Fall while I was riding my bike as well.

Some lady in a VW bug yelled out the same saccharin, "GOOD FOR YOU!"

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I'm going to make a shirt with my story screen printed on it and wear it when I go running.

This is what it would say:

I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY ILL FOR 5 YEARS

I AM ONLY ONE TEENY TINY STEP AHEAD OF A RAMPANT DISEASE

YET, I AM RUNNING ANYWAY

SO

SHUT UP

AND GET OUT OF YOUR CAR

AND

LETS RACE!

FIRST ONE TO THE FINISH LINE MAKES THE OTHER ONE

KISS THEIR "WELL WORN running shoes"

(I'll let you guess what I really want them to kiss )

People

Bug

Winter Green=Seattle's scene

You know that mint gum; Wintergreen?

Although we have had a spell of white.

I feel certain that they may in fact have named it thus, because of the emerald city.

Those of us who live, reside and love this place, earn every flower and every green leaf.

We are making layaway payments right now, on a beautiful spring on its way.

The temperate 50 ish degrees this week means we can visit the

beach

mountains

museums

Is it bragging too much to call it truly

Idyllic?

We love it here. 

Thought I would put a few photos on here for the blog book yet printed.

Winter Green = Seattle's Winter Scene

I'm going to teach you something about TEACHING SOMETHING

I've been privy to a couple conversations of late that make me

 'disagree in my head/and promise to do a post about it later'.

I am going to be NO FUN to talk to soon, for fear I will post your remarks.

 Eh, I'll risk it.

The topic at hand is teachers.  I feel completely confident in my absence of intent as I am no longer teaching professionally, or even in church at present.  So, watch out, TRUTH, here we come.

The 'rumor mill' was grinding on my teaching style as a preschool teacher a few years ago.  The rumor: "She loves the kids and is great with them but she is not academic enough." I want my child to be READING by kindergarten for that price!  Alas, 'rumor mill' phraseology makes for a dry and tasteless bread that must be choked down regardless of

the flaky croissant of REALITY sitting right in front of them.

The REALITY is this one simple concept:

IF THE CHILD TRULY FEELS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THEM

 (they can spot 'posers' a mile away!)

THEY WILL PRODUCE BETTER.

also

THEY WILL LISTEN BETTER.

THEY WILL TAKE STRIDES IN TRYING TO PLEASE YOU OTHERWISE NOT TAKEN

THEY WILL FUNCTION WILLFULLY AND WITH ENTHUSIASM

THEY WILL PROGRESS MUCH FASTER ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY

Notice how Heavenly Father helps things grow.  (above photo) 

The basic elements are proffered.  Yet, the LIGHT ENERGY (Sun) is what pulls the whole plant out of seed to its fruition as flower. 

 Any teacher can run flashcards/correct/drill/

choke with curriculum needs

then hit repeat 10 million times...

HOWEVER

Really good teachers infuse what they are teaching with THEIR ENERGY.  They give it away to your kids.  With this, the child can bloom and grow.  The minutia will manifest itself in their progress when they are ready and developmentally primed.  It will.  Yet, without a direct connection to a generously loving teacher it will take longer and flourish in 'people pleasing' instead of intellectual stimulation.

Long term the results are much better with a beautifully caring teacher

compared to a rigid facts focused one.

Facts are good. 

The fact is if you want to teach a child you have to learn to love them first.

If they KNOW you care about them as little people, they WILL thrive.

Start there, and then hit the flash cards :)