Day 12 Grade:B

Today started with Prof Zoe waking up early and sad. I have never-the-less, not nursed her at all today, OR last night!!! that is a really big accomplishment! it begins to get us a bit closer to whole nights of sleep, not interrupted by a crying child, who can't figure out how to go back to sleep! we'll get there yet!!!
The rest of the day was up and down, as usual.  Getting ready for school went well, until the moment when it was time to put on shoes, when Prof Cirdan decided that it was too hard to tie his own shoes, and he was very angry about it! It works for him in class at school, he even brought home a tying award (it's really cute, a little square of paper with a string stapled on and tied in a bow) the trouble is though that he learns to tie on a little practice shoe, not his own foot, and his own foot is a lot harder. So he started crying, and then Prof Thea did too, but for her it was because her shoes were dirty on the inside, and she was convinced that they would be uncomfortable (they were fine, just discolored) anyway, we got Cirdan calmed down and helped him with his shoes, but then Thea just couldn't get herself in shape, and I hade to resort to threats of confiscation of her comfort blanket to get her moving. It was NOT the way I like to get out the door. We got to school just on time, and I forgot in the rush, to run in and tell the Secretary that my other TA (my sister Tykah) was sick and would not be there for class that day. Soooo, it was a rushed morning. But I pulled it together, and got a walk in before picking Cirdan up at lunchtime. The afternoon was OK, I had a little trouble with Thea and the homework for the day, but overall it was not too bad. the last bit of trouble came at dinner and bedtime (big surprise) I have really just come to be at peace (mostly) with the fact that I cannot prepare dinner and supervise cleanup at the same time, and if I try everybody suffers. So tonight I focused on making supper. When my main TA arrived I asked him to help with clearing and sitting the table. He dove in headfirst, and did a fabulous job! Even remembering that I hate it when the kids pile their various papers of scribbles and art on my desk and declare the table cleared. He instead made them sort the papers and claim their own pages. This however took a long time, because the kids didn't think his idea was a good one at all! None of this is new, the kids never like cleanup, but I think I am beginning to get a handle on dealing with that. mostly by simply observing what I do in response, and becoming more conscious about it. I still handle it poorly and I'm sure I'll keep handling it badly for some time, but I will notice! And that's what counts for the time being.