What a lovely weekend it was--not that I saw it from a fetal position in bed, but it must have been okay, since we're all still alive...
What shot me down? Food poisoning.
Saturday morning we needed groceries, so went up the street to the University district where there is a diverse shopping area which includes clothing, discount groceries, bakeries, cosmetics, chocolate shops, etc...but as we approached we noticed the bus turning around and people approaching us with helium balloons, so we figured something must be up (sorry for the weak pun). At the traffic circle there was a stage set up with a children's dance troupe doing hula moves, lots of tents selling artisinal crafts, crowds galore, and much to do and see for the entire family. D called it a Brussels "fun fair" as there were bouncy castles, ten-foot clowns, loud music, games of chance and lots of stalls selling BBQ and beverages. We investigated this for a couple of hours as the boys seemed to have a good time, but were getting hungry.
We checked out many of the displays and stalls, then around lunch decided to stop for something to eat. The BBQ right at the stage smelled delicious, so we stopped for chicken brochettes for me and D, mergueze sausages for M. All was fine until I got home, and noticed that the tummy wasn't quite right. I thought it might have been the glass of wine on an almost empty tummy (had before the brochette) and ignored it. By that night, I wasn't ignoring the cramps, multiple trips to the washroom or the body aches. I had something, alright! I stayed in bed all day sunday until dinner when the ibuprofen seemed to finally kick in enough for me to shiver my way downstairs to feed my children.
I wondered if it was a flu until that evening when D started coming down with it too...it must have been the chicken brochettes, since M was just fine. Now its Monday morning and I'm mostly recovered (tenderly drinking tea, eating dry toast and yes, mom, staying away from milk products) but D this morning had a fever, the shivers, didn't eat and has to stay very close to the washroom or laundry will happen. He's a trouper, so I know he'll be fine by evening and ready for school tomorrow. M went to school on his own on his bike, and since I didn't get a report from the local constabulary, he must have made it there safely...this year its not like I can walk to the corner and see him wave from the school yard gate, as we're about 1 km further away.
As for my school today, I was not popular when I called the office administrator and let her know I'd be staying home with a sick kid today...finding a supply teacher isn't easy in the international system, as if someone is qualified or has the proper work permits, they're likely unavailable since they're working already. I hear through email that the kiddies are being taught by someone, but that they'll be happy I'm back tomorrow. So will I--D's lapping up all this one-on-one attention and definitely faster at recovering than I was: "mom, can I have juice? Mom, want to read to me? Mom can I watch t.v. ipod? Mom, what'cha doin'? Can I get on the computer next?...."
(sorry for no photos, but hubby has the camera in Cork...for a look at his blog, click here.)
Monday, 8 September 2008
Monday, 1 September 2008
First Day of School Over! 174 more to go....
Well, its official: the first day of school is over and generally for the boys and me it was a success.
First about the boys:
Anyone who knows our firstborn will recall that when he is uncertain, stressed, under-slept or anxious he can have a very negative attitude (phew--that's an understatement!) and this weekend was no exception. He bickered, argued, criticized, whined, picked fights...you name it--right up until he was in the playground this morning when upon seeing the first familiar face, HIS lit up and he was okay. There were only a few fearful questions about where he was to line up and particulars about pickup time and I was released ("you may go now, mom")--or was that dismissed?
Whenever I had a moment to reflect on the day, I had a mini panic attack: will he be okay? will he let others make up games but still play? Will he find someone to eat lunch with? Will he get off to a fresh start with his teacher? Thankfully, my fears were for naught since in the afternoon, I couldn't find him in the playground because he was in the middle of a hide-and-seek game with another boy and having a great time. The smile on his face made my heart relax for the first time all day.
And as for our social butterfly youngest son, he couldn't wait to get to school this morning. The only trouble with him was the weight of the backpack (his behaviour and whining reminded me of a certain 550 m Algonquin Portage where he sat down in the path and refused to budge--inspite of a canoe'd camper heading right for his crumpled corpse...but that's another story). According to him, the pack was too heavy and he thought I should carry it along with my own schoolbag, a purse, the overspill of each boys bags in Carrefour sacs and the bike I was trekking up 2 long steep hills...yeah, right--nice try!
So he went into the Garderie (day care) and hung up his coat with the backpack of pain and proceeded to greet everyone with hugs, high-fives and bizous. He didn't even run over (a wave only) when I called, "Goodbye, dear!"...I had been summerarily dismissed for the second time in as many minutes...Woe is the heart of a mom...but I knew he'd be alright, right from the core of my being, I knew it.
His end of the day took 10 times longer than his beginning, since he didn't want to leave without finishing his snack, disposing of his trash, kissing the attendants and checking in with a teacher (not his own) leaving the building--he needed to ensure his community would be okay without him, and that they wouldn't forget him until the next day when it would happen all again...wonder where this boy gets this trait? Hm......
As for me, this was my first day of grade five at the beginning of the school year. I lined up wrong, I forgot to dismiss the children for recess, I made a gaff in front of the new director, I didn't get the kids to P.E. on time, but other than that it was a great day...really!
Here's why.
For the teachers in my reading circle, I am being very particular about implementing TRIBES (collaborative learning) strategies in my classroom, since it neatly fits into our first project of inquiry all about being part of a TEAM. This started the kids off really well, and set the atmosphere very positively within the first 30 minutes of the class. The promise I've made to myself and to the students (because they'll always remind me) is to start and end each day with a community circle...to come together as a class and check in, to review our ability to work collaboratively, our emotional state, our classroom agreements, and to make statements of appreciation for each other (...those not tribes trained in my reading circle may be gagging right now, but let me tell you: when you hear only put-downs the entire day, you begin to wish someone had trained us as kids to give and accept compliments more concretely)! The process also demands adult modelling: making sure I treat each child with respect and recognize the effort they bring to class each day. It must have worked, since at the end of the day one child came up to me and made a special effort to say, "thank you for making me feel like I can make friends in this class, Ms. Rose!". I had to hug her, she was so sweet to say that.
So you can see we all survived...now we have set the stage well for the next 174 academic days...Not to be at all negative but the first week-long holiday begins October 24th...I can't wait...hm....will it be Spain this time? Italy? Morocco? Ah--the joys of international teaching!
First about the boys:
Anyone who knows our firstborn will recall that when he is uncertain, stressed, under-slept or anxious he can have a very negative attitude (phew--that's an understatement!) and this weekend was no exception. He bickered, argued, criticized, whined, picked fights...you name it--right up until he was in the playground this morning when upon seeing the first familiar face, HIS lit up and he was okay. There were only a few fearful questions about where he was to line up and particulars about pickup time and I was released ("you may go now, mom")--or was that dismissed?
Whenever I had a moment to reflect on the day, I had a mini panic attack: will he be okay? will he let others make up games but still play? Will he find someone to eat lunch with? Will he get off to a fresh start with his teacher? Thankfully, my fears were for naught since in the afternoon, I couldn't find him in the playground because he was in the middle of a hide-and-seek game with another boy and having a great time. The smile on his face made my heart relax for the first time all day.
And as for our social butterfly youngest son, he couldn't wait to get to school this morning. The only trouble with him was the weight of the backpack (his behaviour and whining reminded me of a certain 550 m Algonquin Portage where he sat down in the path and refused to budge--inspite of a canoe'd camper heading right for his crumpled corpse...but that's another story). According to him, the pack was too heavy and he thought I should carry it along with my own schoolbag, a purse, the overspill of each boys bags in Carrefour sacs and the bike I was trekking up 2 long steep hills...yeah, right--nice try!
So he went into the Garderie (day care) and hung up his coat with the backpack of pain and proceeded to greet everyone with hugs, high-fives and bizous. He didn't even run over (a wave only) when I called, "Goodbye, dear!"...I had been summerarily dismissed for the second time in as many minutes...Woe is the heart of a mom...but I knew he'd be alright, right from the core of my being, I knew it.
His end of the day took 10 times longer than his beginning, since he didn't want to leave without finishing his snack, disposing of his trash, kissing the attendants and checking in with a teacher (not his own) leaving the building--he needed to ensure his community would be okay without him, and that they wouldn't forget him until the next day when it would happen all again...wonder where this boy gets this trait? Hm......
As for me, this was my first day of grade five at the beginning of the school year. I lined up wrong, I forgot to dismiss the children for recess, I made a gaff in front of the new director, I didn't get the kids to P.E. on time, but other than that it was a great day...really!
Here's why.
For the teachers in my reading circle, I am being very particular about implementing TRIBES (collaborative learning) strategies in my classroom, since it neatly fits into our first project of inquiry all about being part of a TEAM. This started the kids off really well, and set the atmosphere very positively within the first 30 minutes of the class. The promise I've made to myself and to the students (because they'll always remind me) is to start and end each day with a community circle...to come together as a class and check in, to review our ability to work collaboratively, our emotional state, our classroom agreements, and to make statements of appreciation for each other (...those not tribes trained in my reading circle may be gagging right now, but let me tell you: when you hear only put-downs the entire day, you begin to wish someone had trained us as kids to give and accept compliments more concretely)! The process also demands adult modelling: making sure I treat each child with respect and recognize the effort they bring to class each day. It must have worked, since at the end of the day one child came up to me and made a special effort to say, "thank you for making me feel like I can make friends in this class, Ms. Rose!". I had to hug her, she was so sweet to say that.
So you can see we all survived...now we have set the stage well for the next 174 academic days...Not to be at all negative but the first week-long holiday begins October 24th...I can't wait...hm....will it be Spain this time? Italy? Morocco? Ah--the joys of international teaching!
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
I’m finally blogging, though it is in the airport on my way back to Brussels...If you’ve been keeping up with Matthew’s blog, you’ll know we’ve been “home” for seven weeks and have been going at full tilt. Our activity level reminds me of Christmas as then too, one is way too social, too busy and traveling more than normal. If I were to remake the "12 Days of Christmas" my first draft would look something like this (subsequent drafts will rhyme and have the right meter--that’s what music-wordsmiths like Johnathan and Matthew are for):
12 two-hour trips along the “401”
11 days of sunshine without rain (Belgian weather followed us here)
10 different beds I’ve slept in
9 dentist doctor and orthotic appointments between the four of us
8 suitcases grew from five that we brought
7 blissful nights in our very own Toronto house
6 kids under 6 plus twenty other Zadows at the golf & pool weekend (where a significant birthday was prematurely celebrated-my 40th)
5 regretful hangovers (okay only one, but it was a “doozie”)
4 days of canoeing, swatting, and showing our children Algonquin moose
3 appliances to repair for the new Swiss family renting our home (plus a toilet replacement--see second photo)
2 cottages we nested in, celebrating friendship, fireworks, fishing and swimming
1 long weekend visit with Nicholas and Henry
maximizing our last Canadian hours
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