I've been substituting all this week in Special Ed., definitely not my cup of tea if it includes the sixth graders. Lunch time is rich. In telling your strange/funny experiences of the day it's a way of laughing at how absurd life is.
On Thursday Megan, the other special ed. teacher, was telling about a group of students coming in her class ridiculing their teacher. I guess they were trying to tell their classroom teacher that if she ever needed to take a day off they wanted a particular substitute. Megan said she couldn't understand the name the kids were trying to come up with and said, "I don't think I know who that person is." The group turned on her and dripping with scorn told her, "She's a major sub here and you don't know who she is?!" We all laughed and Megan went on to say that the kids were telling her that this sub was "way cool" and did this "peace out" thing. I immediately had to bury my face in my hands. Yeah, one day in the fourth grade a kid did a double fist bump on his chest to me and, without thinking, I did it back and followed it by kissing two fingers and flashing the peace sign (I'm so urban). I guess that makes me "major" cool and "hip." At least I can impress fourth graders.
CHANGING GEARS AND MOTHER MOMENT WARNING... I didn't want to publish a separate post because often I'm errant in reviewing previous posts to see if I've read everything. I just had to include I LOVE my daughters and their prowess on the basketball court. They are so fun to watch!
Yesterday was a continuation of our Stake Basketball tournament, and let me tell you this is serious "Church Ball, starts with a prayer and ends with a brawl" kind of stuff. Which it really shouldn't be but some people push it. My little girls are the two of the three oldest girls on the team (we lost some girls because they are on their school teams). The Faria Girls are average height, just an inch taller than Helen and the other girl is not much taller. Boy, what punch in those small packages! If Em and Al are on the floor together EVERYONE marvels at the intuitive way they can pass and work together. They were up against a dirty team yesterday, and I'm not just saying that because they lost (rare). Last week this other ward played so nasty there were injuries suffered by players on the opposite team, one girl is on crutches! The Stake YW's presidency had to send out a blanket e-mail reminding the wards that this isn't competitive ball and that sportsmanship is key... don't injure each other (I support this because we have no insurance!). I saw my daughter's faces and knew just when they switched gears and that they meant serious business. Emily launched herself into the air and I was thinking, "Basketball, not Football!" but she was merely swatting the ball away from a girl who had just, blatantly, fouled one of her teammates and hadn't been caught doing it. Allison? Girlie Allison? She was tripped and knocked to the ground and as she fell, yeah baby, she scored.
We've never been a competitive team sports family, mostly due to funding issues, but I'm proud that my girls are using their talents and are working hard AND are good sports in spite of all that swirls around them. Well, I have to add that after the game yesterday Emily said she wanted to leave quickly so she wouldn't have to cheer for the other team. Sadly I accommodated her (but so did the rest of the team, and the other ward didn't cheer either. so there). I attended the stake Girl's Camp mtg. this week I was approached several times by women I didn't know who all commented to me that their daughters knew who my daughters were and they loved them. One woman even told me her beehive daughter pointed them out to her and said she wanted to be like them (all this just from seeing them in basketball games). Yeah, I'm bragging but I like knowing that working hard and playing well WHILE turning the other cheek is noticed and appreciated.
(gasp) The Prince is Giving a Ball!
Who will win the tug of war and try on the slipper first?
It took 38 bobby pins and 8 ponytail holders to take two braids from the base of their necks and secure it around their heads... too much hair to hold up in all that dancing!
The cast all get a mini poster and sign it for each other, ala yearbooks. I couldn't afford to buy each girl a bouquet so I bought some silk daisies and wired pictures of them in the play to the stems. I must admit I have a few good ideas now and then.
