Sometimes I think they channel him

Last week  was a doozer of a week.  I am feeling pretty confident about my teaching, but my administration continues to send mix messages.  Monday was one of those days when I got a talking to about my lesson and how it wasn't "rigorous" enough.  The lesson wasn't a regular lesson, but a tutoring lesson. 

Now here's my take on tutoring.  The students who are in tutoring are there because they're having trouble getting the concept.  So, I usually start with just the concept and then work up to the more difficult parts.  That wasn't good enough, ie rigorous enough.  It was just a frustrating experience and conversation I had with my administration. There were also some mixed messages that were being sent, so it was frustrating trying to figure out what exactly I was supposed to do.

So I'm feeling down about myself on that particular day and about 2 days that followed.  When I went to pick up the kids on Monday, Caroline is in top form.  She's mad because I'm sending her to her grandparents to rest instead of letting her run around (sometimes in the cold) during Jack's basketball practice.  I look at her and just break down, which shocks her into silence.  I told the kids I"d had a bad day and that it was worse because daddy wasn't there to vent to.  He could always find the bright side and even help me formulate a plan on how to solve it.  but now he's not here and I don't have that. 

As we're driving down the street, Jack is very quietly working on his iPod touch he got for his birthday.  We had just finished talking about the situation at work and how there are bullies even in the workforce and it's horrible (but a fact of life) that sometimes they're in authority positions.  Suddenly he turns to me and says, "Mom.  This is your trouble at work." He shows me some character in the game he's playing.  "And this is daddy." He points up to the clouds and tells me to watch.  He touches the top of the screen and lightening comes down and electrocutes the character.  Then Caroline says, "Mom.  it'll be okay."

Thanks Jason.  I felt much better.