8 simple rules for dating my teenage daughter.

This family:

Is actually very similar to my family (in terms of personality):

And we love them almost as much as we love each other. I can't even describe how much I love sitting with my family, watching the Hennessys. The best similarity is my dad and Paul Hennessy. Oh boy.

Paul's final article: "Okay readers, today we're having a little pop quiz, it's multiple choice, so sharpen your number 2 pencils and put your thinking caps on. Ready? Here's a quote: "Dad, you're an idiot." Now, contestants, this was said to me because of which of the following transgressions? A: Coming to the breakfast table wearing pajamas and black socks? B: Asking my oldest daughter if that guy I saw her talking to yesterday at school was her boyfriend? C: Referring to rapper Fiddy Cent as "Fifty Cents"? or D: Entering the room? Okay, pencils down. Actually it was a trick question. The answer is all of the above. Now do you know how many times I called my father an idiot? Zero. Why? Because I feared him. Back then we didn't share our deep personal feelings, our deepest conversations usually revolved around the tigers bull pen. But my kids, I can't get them to shut up! There's not a feeling that my kids are afraid to express over and over and over. And my wife reassures me this is a good thing over and over and over, and she's always right. So do I wish that my kids feared me? Well my house would be quieter, and I'd spend a lot less time in the bathroom, but no. Because I know that whenever they insult me whether it's a "You're an idiot," "You're a geek," or an "I hate you," an "I love you" isn't far behind. And it's the knowledge that my wife and kids love me that makes it safe for me to wear pajamas and black socks to the breakfast table."

A funny story about a caterpillar

I don't know why the sound gets off. It bugs me. But you should still watch the video.

OH my day.

So, due to personal reasons that would probably be TMI for most of you faithful fifteen, yesterday I had a killer headache. No, seriously....it was bad. I get headaches a lot, but every once in a while I get this awful migraine that varies in intensity but is always super bad. Yesterday wasn't one of the worst migraines, but it was bad enough that I felt like throwing up all day and by the time I got home from work at 8pm, my eyes couldn't focus anymore.

SO doesn't it sound lovely? Like I said before, I got home at 8. I still had to do a lot of reading for my class and write a paper, but I could barely stand I was in so much pain. I decided to go straight to bed, and told myself I'd get up at 4 to finish (but first start) my homework.

I went to bed at 8:30...woke up at 2am, tried to go back to sleep but couldn't. I finally got up at 3, did my readings, and wrote a 3 pg. paper (it took my like 30 minutes, which was fantastic. Inspiration about classroom rules apparently just flows at 3am!). Then at 4 I was miraculously finished with my homework, so I took an hour nap, got up at 5, showered, and did last minute preparations for my 8 o'clock class.

Then after work today I took my math test. Not even kidding...today has felt like a very long day.

Happy birthday, Jarom!

He's the best. Seriously.

Belated Special Guest Vlog!

Don't you wish you'd go on forever?

And you'd never stop? Oh...Curly!

In the words of Plato

So here's the honest truth (or rather, the truth as I see it): being an El Ed major means getting a lot of flack. Please know that no, I did not pick this major as a "fall back" just so I can breeze through college, get married, and have kids (honestly, the El Ed major it NOT a breeze. No, it isn't ChemE but it's not easy. Have you ever thought about learning all subjects so well you could teach the intricate basics to children who can't even write their own name?). I picked this major because I'm passionate about helping kids, about seeing the connections that are fostered in school. Not only academic connections but social and emotional connections. Is that wrong? Does that mean I'm a flighty, silly girl? "What I do-what I choose to do-may be dumb to you, but it's not to me. Is it dumb that they need me there? Is it dumb to care? Because I do, you see."

So before we move on to Plato, here are two quotes from the Readers' Digest that I liked, on the subject of education.

"If we teach small children, don't tell us that our jobs are "so cute" and that you wish you could glue and color all day long."

"We take on the role of Mother, Father, psychologist, friend, and adviser every day. Plus, we're watching for learning disabilities, issues at home, peer pressure, drug abuse, and bullying."

And NOW for the wise words of Plato.

"Power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already...the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being...and must there not be some art which will effect conversion in the easiest and quickest manner?"

And that, my faithful fifteen, is what I'm doing. I'm perfecting an art to help those around. Those dear, sweet, souls who haven't quite gained the ability to change their lives on their own. First they need scaffolding and love and support. It's an art. Changing people's lives is an art, and I'm going to be a Van Gogh.

So...there!

Update

So, more than a year ago I posted this. Now time has passed and I have some additional information. That summer was a pretty good one...

...but this summer has been the best of my life. Yeah. Take that, 2007.

PS: I could have used a different picture of us at the rodeo, but for some reason I really like my dad in the background sticking his finger in my ear.