Applying to MS, what gives?

I am in the throes of applying to public middle schools for my daughter. Where I live, each school has their own set of criteria to evaluate candidates--some interview, some do assessment tests, some just look at grades and some are by lottery. I feel sorry for my 11 y.o. having to go through all of this. Colleges and universities got it right--grades, SAT or ACT scores and an essay for all of them. What are we doing to our kids?!

True Friendship

My daughter wore a yellow stripped shirt today and forgot to pack a blue one for her school dance performance and when I arrived for it, her best friend was wearing an orange shirt, which was purposeful (she had a blue shirt to change into) so my daughter wouldn't feel bad and I realized that I was witnessing an act of "true friendship" and the girls would be friends forever.

Wednesday's words from the beloved Dr. Seuss

"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed." — Dr. Seuss
Dr. Suess Biography

Tuesday's Tip on writing...

Back when I (and you) were in school we learned the outline method to mapping out a paper/essay, well use it for that memo, presentation or article (as I did for my upcoming newsletter article for March)

Wednesday's Words: Being Valued

"The child benefits more from being valued than evaluated." —Don Dinkemeyer

Tuesday's tip: Plan ahead mornings

This morning we woke up late, so I was glad I had packed my bag the night before and prepped lunches; this made getting out of the house on time for school more likely (and that I bought a cup of coffee rather than make one).

Back to school reality check...

Today my daughter entered 3rd grade and when I tried to talk to her about how proud I was that she was a 3rd grader she reminded me that I am 40 and in a gentle and joking way I told her it was mean to do this—I guess if our kids grew-up we grow older (Not Fair!).

The week's accomplishments

This week I made it to the gym four times, so I thought about my other accomplishments—strengthening the mother-daughter bond by playing hooky from work and school with my daughter, shoring up my marriage with an awesome date night and taking some me time sitting on my butt getting a manicure and what I haven't accomplished...Friday night dinner, so I better head to the kitchen.

A great idea from an 8 year old

Last night I called a family meeting to discuss the morning rush and the fact that my daughter whines the whole way to school when we are late and she came up with the rule, "No Ipad on school mornings" which impressed her father and I and made for a great walk to school this morning.