Friday, October 30, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
Focus on RESILIENCE
This month we are talking about being resilient.
Never giving up.
(And I've had the chorus to Aaliyah's song "Try Again" stuck in my head. Does anyone else remember that song?)
.............
Several years ago I became a runner. It started out as something I did because my then-boyfriend was a runner, and I used to be that girl that pretended to have the same interests as the guys I dated. Ridiculous. But, somehow, running stuck.
Because I'm usually surrounded by people, I like being alone on a run. I don't want to talk. I turn my music on and escape.
And I like racing, knowing that my finishing time is mine. Mine to take full credit or full blame. I put the training time in and I can see the fruits of my labor.
In 2008, I decided to run a marathon. A lot of my friends were less than supportive.
"You have no time to train with 2 kids." "Why would you want to do that?" "That doesn't even sound like fun." And every time I woke up so sore I could hardly move pushed me harder to prove that I could finish a marathon.
"You can't do that" is one of the most motivating lines I've ever heard.
I committed to the race and signed up for the Rock -N- Roll Marathon in San Antonio.
About 6 weeks before the race, we were SHOCKED to find out that we were expecting surprise baby #3.
Now, I don't know whether you've trained for a marathon before, but the number of hours and 100+ miles of training you put in to be able to run 26 miles on race day is CRAZY. I was invested in this race... and Iam stubborn have an unwavering commitment to my plans!
So I checked with my doctor and decided to run the race, pregnant.
Here's the other part to running, non-runners: Running (like most sports) is even more of a mental game than it is a physical game. Mind over matter. Your body says "Stop!", and you tell it to keep going. You ignore every pain, every cramp, and put one foot in front of the other because eventually you WILL make it to the finish line.
Never give up.
Throwing a pregnancy into the mix destroyed my mental game. It makes it impossible to ignore every pain and every cramp.
Not to mention that I had done my training in Plano, not in the Hill Country. Wow! I learned quickly that "scenic, flat, and fast" is the way race promoters sell all race venues, whether it's accurate or not.
There's a point in a marathon where the half-marathoners turn and the full-marathoners run straight ahead. I can not tell you how desperately I wanted to turn. But I didn't want to give up.
There were times I walked, times I sat, times I wanted to cry... what have I done?...
I finished the marathon that day. It took me 6 hrs and 24 minutes. I finished with runners who were injured. Ha! Far from my best day.
But there's something great about coming to the end of your strength and pushing a little bit further! I learned that day that I'm tenacious. That I can cheer myself on, pick myself up, and keep moving.
Being resilient is incredibly important because things are not always going to go your way. Life will throw curveballs. And you're not always going to have a team of people surrounding you to motivate you to take the next step.
When you see your kids persevering, celebrate that!! And until they have that drive within them, foster it by cheering them on! Encourage them and remind them that nothing is out of reach.
Never giving up.
(And I've had the chorus to Aaliyah's song "Try Again" stuck in my head. Does anyone else remember that song?)
.............
Several years ago I became a runner. It started out as something I did because my then-boyfriend was a runner, and I used to be that girl that pretended to have the same interests as the guys I dated. Ridiculous. But, somehow, running stuck.
Because I'm usually surrounded by people, I like being alone on a run. I don't want to talk. I turn my music on and escape.
And I like racing, knowing that my finishing time is mine. Mine to take full credit or full blame. I put the training time in and I can see the fruits of my labor.
In 2008, I decided to run a marathon. A lot of my friends were less than supportive.
"You have no time to train with 2 kids." "Why would you want to do that?" "That doesn't even sound like fun." And every time I woke up so sore I could hardly move pushed me harder to prove that I could finish a marathon.
"You can't do that" is one of the most motivating lines I've ever heard.
I committed to the race and signed up for the Rock -N- Roll Marathon in San Antonio.
About 6 weeks before the race, we were SHOCKED to find out that we were expecting surprise baby #3.
Now, I don't know whether you've trained for a marathon before, but the number of hours and 100+ miles of training you put in to be able to run 26 miles on race day is CRAZY. I was invested in this race... and I
So I checked with my doctor and decided to run the race, pregnant.
Here's the other part to running, non-runners: Running (like most sports) is even more of a mental game than it is a physical game. Mind over matter. Your body says "Stop!", and you tell it to keep going. You ignore every pain, every cramp, and put one foot in front of the other because eventually you WILL make it to the finish line.
Never give up.
Throwing a pregnancy into the mix destroyed my mental game. It makes it impossible to ignore every pain and every cramp.
Not to mention that I had done my training in Plano, not in the Hill Country. Wow! I learned quickly that "scenic, flat, and fast" is the way race promoters sell all race venues, whether it's accurate or not.
There's a point in a marathon where the half-marathoners turn and the full-marathoners run straight ahead. I can not tell you how desperately I wanted to turn. But I didn't want to give up.
There were times I walked, times I sat, times I wanted to cry... what have I done?...
I finished the marathon that day. It took me 6 hrs and 24 minutes. I finished with runners who were injured. Ha! Far from my best day.
But there's something great about coming to the end of your strength and pushing a little bit further! I learned that day that I'm tenacious. That I can cheer myself on, pick myself up, and keep moving.
Being resilient is incredibly important because things are not always going to go your way. Life will throw curveballs. And you're not always going to have a team of people surrounding you to motivate you to take the next step.
When you see your kids persevering, celebrate that!! And until they have that drive within them, foster it by cheering them on! Encourage them and remind them that nothing is out of reach.
Friday, October 9, 2015
PTA October Newsletter
The PTA Newsletter has gone digital! Click on the links below to read about all of the upcoming events and volunteering opportunities at Christie.
Don't forget to subscribe!
October Newsletter- English
October Newsletter- Spanish
Don't forget to subscribe!
October Newsletter- English
October Newsletter- Spanish
Monday, October 5, 2015
SHOUT OUT
Ms. Lagos' Second Grade Class has been talking about "paying it forward" with kindness! One kind act may trigger another... and another... and another. It's a domino effect!
I decided to build off that momentum and do a guidance lesson on the importance of kindness. Then some of the kids in her class wrote some acts of kindness they've experienced and some they've shown.
This is the first SHOUT OUT on the board. But my goal is to feature every class in K-2 this year.... because our youngest Christie Cubs are some of our strongest leaders!! :)
And I'm not biased at all.... ;)
Way to go, Ms. Lagos' class!!
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Because it's tradition
I called my grandpa "PawPaw".
He was a doctor. A World War 2 vet. An open heart surgery survivor. And one of the greatest men I've ever known.
In my family, we're constantly quoting PawPaw.
"Now is when it starts to count."
"The common things are common, and the rare things are rare."
"Everybody works at our house."
"Julie, babe, I don't think you'll get a job with a degree from Texas A&M. Is that even a real school?" (He was an avid Longhorn supporter!)
One of the things I remember most is how my grandma and he would call me before school on my birthday every year and sing to me. When I turned 5. And when I turned 25. I knew I could count on the call.
My parents are carrying on the tradition.... :)
Love this! And love my sweet family!
He was a doctor. A World War 2 vet. An open heart surgery survivor. And one of the greatest men I've ever known.
In my family, we're constantly quoting PawPaw.
"Now is when it starts to count."
"The common things are common, and the rare things are rare."
"Everybody works at our house."
"Julie, babe, I don't think you'll get a job with a degree from Texas A&M. Is that even a real school?" (He was an avid Longhorn supporter!)
One of the things I remember most is how my grandma and he would call me before school on my birthday every year and sing to me. When I turned 5. And when I turned 25. I knew I could count on the call.
My parents are carrying on the tradition.... :)
Love this! And love my sweet family!
Friday, October 2, 2015
Solving small problems
In guidance, we are talking about conflict resolution. It is so important that kids learn that they can solve problems on their own.
Enter: A frog named Kelso.
Kelso teaches kids that they are smart enough to solve small problems by themselves.
If you're scared, hurt, or in a dangerous situation, then you have a BIG problem. When we have big problems, we always tell an adult.
The ball that rolled into the street is a BIG problem because it would be dangerous to get it.
But most of the problems we have everyday are small problems.
When someone takes your things without asking, that is a small problem.
We use Kelso's choices.
Enter: A frog named Kelso.
Kelso teaches kids that they are smart enough to solve small problems by themselves.
What's the difference between a big problem and a small problem??
If you're scared, hurt, or in a dangerous situation, then you have a BIG problem. When we have big problems, we always tell an adult.
The ball that rolled into the street is a BIG problem because it would be dangerous to get it.
But most of the problems we have everyday are small problems.
When someone takes your things without asking, that is a small problem.
How do we solve small problems??
We use Kelso's choices.
Kelso teaches us that, when we have a small problem, we can:
~ Go to another game
~ Talk it out
~Share and take turns
~Ignore it
~Walk away
~Tell them to stop
~Apologize
~Make a deal
~Wait and cool off
We talk about what each of these choices would look like, and then we watch a video of students solving conflict using Kelso's choices.
"But what if it doesn't work?"
That has been the question from most kids!
Here's the rule: Try at least 2 of Kelso's choices. If the problem still isn't solved, then your small problem has become a big problem.
An example--
If someone takes your pencil without asking, you can choose to say, "Please stop taking my pencil without asking." If that person takes it again, you may choose to talk it out. "I don't like when you take my things. It makes me feel upset." And if it happens again, then you have a big problem, and you should tell a teacher.
How to reinforce this at home:
Parents, trust me when I tell you that Kelso's choices can be a magical thing in your home. It doesn't really even matter if you fully understand what all of the choices mean.
The next time one of your kids runs into the kitchen to tattle on a brother or sister, just ask, "Well, what have you done to try to solve the problem? Which Kelso's choices have you used?" They won't be expecting that from you, I promise. And, if they're anything like my kids, it will stop them in their tracks.
Let your kids know that you expect them to try to solve small problems on their own. It will free you from having to constantly play the part of a referee, and it will empower them to handle conflict themselves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)