Eye Opening

One of the most informative workshops I participated while in Washington, DC with the Massachusetts State PTA was called, "21st Century Voices: Using Social Media to Persuade and Inform."  I thought I already had a good grasp of how influential online/social communications could be.   I had no idea.

I  have copied my notes here as well as the video we saw as part of the presentation.  As the video indicates, it is no longer a question of if we use social media, instead, it comes down to how well we use it.

Workshop 1:  21^st Century Voices:  Using Social Media to Persuade and Inform: Notes

-71% of America is on Facebook

-If Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest.

-Facebook is the 2^nd most visited site on the internet-Google is first.

-In terms of time spent on each site, Facebook dwarfs Google.

-The number of Facebook users is larger than the population of China (actual users not just people who sign up).

-It took three years, two months and one day to get to the billionth tweet. Now there are a billion tweets a week.

- A year ago, people sent 50 million tweets a day. On March 11, 2011, the tally was 177 million.

-There were 456 tweets per second after Michael Jackson died in 2009. That record was broken on New Year’s Day this year with 6,939 tweets after midnight in Japan on New Year’s morning there.

- There were 572,000 new Twitter accounts created on March 12, 2011; there were 460,000 new accounts created daily, on average, in the past month.

-Mobile users increased 182% in the past year.

 

DC Update

What follows is the letter I sent to the PTA membership shortly after I got back from DC.

The PTA's mission is to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.  This mission has never been more clear to me than it was at the National PTA Federal Legislative Conference held in Washington, DC last week.  As a representative of the Massachusetts PTA Delegation (which also included President Mary Ann Stewart and President-Elect, Erik Champy) I had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with PTA leaders from all over the country and Europe.  This experience gave me an inspired and new perspective on how far reaching and influential the PTA can truly be.  The PTA is not just about fundraising.  It's about parents taking action, creating community partnerships, and empowering parents to become engaged and involved.

While in DC, I was able to participate in various trainings which were informative and interesting. I learned an incredible amount of information that I look forward to applying to my "job" as President of the Middleborough Elementary PTA.

Perhaps the most exciting and empowering part of my experience took place when the PTA "stormed" Capitol Hill.  On Thursday, March 10th conference attendees from all over the country met with their states Congressmen and Senators, sharing the PTA message, "Every Child, One Voice."  The Massachusetts PTA met directly with Congressman Barney Frank and with the offices of Congressman Ed Markey, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, and Senators Kerry and Brown.  Though he did not meet directly with us, Senator Brown stopped by to say hello.  During our meetings we discussed the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act-No Child Left Behind, the importance of family engagement in education and the current budget crisis.  We were well received and could tell that our representatives and senators truly appreciate hearing from their constituents.  Below is a picture of the Massachusetts PTA with Congressman Barney Frank.  

I have always been passionate about the PTA and advocating on behalf of children.  This experience allowed me the opportunity to develop that passion even further.  It truly was an inspiring and exciting event.

How Much Is Too Much/Too Little?

How much help do you provide your child when it comes to completing a homework assignment?  How do you handle it when, even after explaining the scenario, your child is so frustrated by the process that she is in hysterics saying she can't do it? These questions are not rhetorical so by all means, feel free to answer.

There really is no way to put this gently.  Katherine has more trouble putting a sentence together, forming a paragraph and summarizing a book/passage than I have ever seen.  It doesn't seem right to me that it is still so difficult more than halfway through her fifth grade year. This only comes out in her writing; her speaking and language is fine (though generally it is very simplistic). 

These problems are not new to Katherine.  In both first and second grade she received Title I services for reading/ ELA.  She made some decent gains and was dropped for third and fourth grade.  I still thought at that point that she needed extra reinforcement particularly with writing.  Toward the end of fourth grade, after many discussions with her teacher (who saw some of the same problems but attributed Katherine's struggles to more of an attention/motivation concern), I decided to request an evaluation.  The results indicated that she had pretty much average capabilities across the board.  I would have to look back, but I don't specifically remember her being given any kind of writing assignment as part of the testing.  There is no question in my mind that this would have indicated a marked weakness for her had such a test been administered.

A number of weeks after Katherine's most recent report card, I checked in with her teacher, explaining some of my serious concerns with her writing and asked her if she had made any progress since the report card came out.  She said she had some of the same concerns and suggested we meet.  At the meeting we both agreed that the problem was real and her teacher suggested that since her testing came back okay,  perhaps we should go the medical route and see if there was another possibility (read: ADHD).  After filling out parent and teacher surveys, we met with the doctor, who said, yes, based on our discussion and surveys it seems like she may have the ADHD: inattentive type.   She thought medication would be the best route and though I didn't jump right on that bandwagon with Emily,  by this time with Katherine, it just seemed like the right thing to do.  So here we are three or four weeks in to the medicine (which is supposed to be fast acting as in immediate) and nothing has changed.  She isn't on a high dose (10 mgs which could go as high as 30-40 mgs but the doctor said that is usually what they would prescribe a teen) and of course, the first medicine tried might not work.  Katherine was so frustrated and worked up about this specific writing assignment that she was hysterically crying and having serious stomach pains.  Seriously, I was half jokingly wondering in my own thoughts if the child needed an anti-anxiety medication as well.

I can't be their frontal lobe....my own has a problem functioning correctly for me never mind trying to do the work for someone else. So, in the instance of this assignment, I made her do half of it.  I could not see forcing her to finish it in the condition she was in.  The quality of her work would have suffered above and beyond the struggles she already has with it and besides that, I felt really bad for her.  Should fifth grade really be this stressful?  It's freaking fifth grade.  Admittedly, we should have started this assignment earlier on in the weekend.  Instead, we enjoyed a stress free, fun family weekend and I refuse to feel guilty about that.  I am going to send in a note to her teacher with the part of the assignment that is complete and let her know that the rest will be in on Tuesday.  Maybe this is a cop out.  I don't know and really, I don't care.

What I do know is that for Katherine's sanity and mine, we need to figure something out, and quickly.

All advice, constructive criticism, and thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

Capitol Hill: Here I Come!

 I leave tomorrow with the Massachusetts State PTA Delegation for Washington, DC.  While in DC, I will have the opportunity to take part in many trainings including,  21st Century Voices: Using Social Media to Persuade and Inform, Education and the Federal Budget, and Taking It To The Hill: PTA's 2011 Public Policy Agenda.  Representing the State of Massachusetts  will be President of the Massachusetts PTA, Mary Ann Stewart, President-Elect, Erik Champy and myself (State Advocacy Chair/Federal Legislative Chair).  On Thursday, March 10th, we have confirmed meetings with Massachusetts State Senators Kerry and Brown,  Congressmen Barney Frank and Ed Markey and Congresswoman, Niki Tsongas.  We will be discussing the Re-Authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act-No Child Left Behind (ESEA-NCLB), the soon to be introduced Family Engagement In Education Bill, as well as the Federal Education Budget.  I am very excited to have this opportunity and look forward to sharing my experiences when I return.  In the meantime, I plan to provide regular updates from the Hill via a new Twitter handle I just set up.  I will use this new account after I return as well, to promote my interest in education, advocacy, and political and social activism.  You can follow me at @sharonmellis1.

*Cross posted at http://mepta.blogspot.com*

Hands On Learning

Katherine is having quite the day at school today.  First up is Read Across America Day (Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!).  The guest readers in Katherine's classroom will be a teacher from the middle school and Senator Pacheco.  She was pretty excited that a "real" Senator was coming to her classroom to read!

This afternoon I will be volunteering to help with the  "Voyage."  The events will take place in the pool area at the Burkland School.  The kids were asked to dress as much like a pilgrim as possible. They will be imagining themselves in their shoes and recreating some of the hazards they encountered on their journey, including rough seas.  Katherine told me this will be depicted by throwing buckets of water at the kids!  They will also be sitting in chairs that are extremely close together to depict the close quarters the Pilgrims had to share. They will also be enjoying foods that were typical of the voyagers such as Beef Stew, bread, apple and grape juice (wine), Beef Jerky or Slim Jims, Lemons, Cream Soda or Root Beer (ale) cheese cubes, and crackers. 

Maybe it is because I personally am much more of a visual, hands on type learner (as are my children) but I find this interactive type learning to be so much more engaging.  Over the years my children have been fortunate to have some teachers that really work in a hands on type environment.  I have always been impressed with the creativity and enthusiasm shown by these teachers and I know that my children have benefited in great ways because of them.

Back To Life

It was back to "real life" today for the Ellis Family and I think the kids were actually excited to get back in to a schedule.  Other than having company for the latter half of the week, we didn't really do anything all that exciting.  I think the kids wish we had, but for me, a nice relaxing week of nothing was needed and well deserved.  Only Julia was slightly hesitant about heading back to school but this is normal for her.  It has always been a bit of an adjustment for her to get back in to the swing of things after a break.

Reality for me means that I am very busy.  As luck would have it, this week is fairly low key with meetings (only two which must be some sort of record).  I was planning on going to the BOS meeting tonight but I think I am going to watch this one from home.  I have a lot to do before my trip to DC next week and since I will be gone for three days, I want to be home with the family as much as possible before then.  Tomorrow night I have the third of four planned Strategic Planning meetings for the School Department and Wednesday I will be at PTSA at the middle school.  The kids have a few things going on (a basketball practice, playoff basketball game and a doctor's appointment for Katherine and Scouts, PTSA and a cookie sale for Emily).  My lack of meetings will make this week easier, but certainly no less busy when you throw in the kids schedules.

My plans for the remainder of the afternoon are trip related.  I need to figure out and arrange for transportation to and from the airport and the hotel as well as figure out exactly what I will need to bring for money (most expenses are paid for by the National PTA but there are a few things I will need to take care of). I need to make phone calls to confirm meetings with Senators Kerry and Brown as well as Congressman Frank.   I am also going to finish putting together my binder with all of the information I need to have with me so that will be all set.  After that, the OCD part of me will be making a complete listing of everything Ryun  needs to know while I am gone.  I wouldn't consider my self to be controlling or a control freak but when it comes to the kids, their schedules and routines, yes, I am slightly obsessed.  That aside, there are certain things that I just always do...things like go through their school materials when they get home, make sure homework gets done etc.  It has always just been my job and while I have every confidence that Ryun knows what to do and is more than capable of doing it, it will make me feel better to have it in writing.  Even re-reading this I realize how crazy this sounds but, um, it won't stop me from doing it.  I am just going to embrace the crazy...it is what it is, right?

Anyway, off to it.  There are only a couple of hours left before the kids get home!

Do you ever...

...just want to apologize to your kids for their poor fortune in inheriting your worst qualities and traits?  Or for their genetic makeup that was not of their choosing(obviously)?  I don't know...maybe I am the only one. 

I was thinking about this after a recent discussion with Katherine's teacher.  You all know (well anybody that has been following this blog for a while knows) that my oldest daughter Emily has ADD.  I don't think I or my parents necessarily realized it at the time but reflecting back, and looking at myself now as an adult, there isn't a doubt in my mind that I am the picture perfect painting of someone with attentional issues.  It manifests in different ways as an adult.  I am the world's worst procrastinator(though I do find that under pressure is the only way I work to my capacity).  I jump from one thing to another before I have finished the first thing.  My follow through skills leave a lot to be desired.  I would literally forget my entire life if I didn't have it staring me down in multiple locations...calendars, post it notes, electronic devices etc.  I can't even tell you what I am doing tomorrow without consulting my calendar.  I don't plan anything that I am not forced to (for example scheduled appointments).

For Emily, her concerns are a direct result of her confirmed medical issues.  After she was diagnosed with Epilepsy, as part of a normal barrage of testing to find out if her seizures had a definable cause, her MRI came back showing a "never before seen" abnormality in the frontal lobes of her brain.  Since the frontal lobes control all things like attention and other executive functions, Emily's concerns in this area make sense.  Though I have never had an MRI of my brain, I have no reason to believe that I have this same condition, nor do I for Katherine who is progressively displaying some of the same symptoms her sister and I have displayed, and some different ones as well.

It becomes clearer to me as we move through this life that these types of things obviously "run" in families.  Whether there is an identifiable medical concern that could cause such attention deficits as in Emily's case, or if it is some intricate part of our genetic make up, I do not know.  It is possible that simply the way we live our everyday lives has some influence on this as well.  Are we making the right decisions about certain things?  Could situations be handled in different ways achieving different outcomes in regard to the level of attention that is given?

I don't know the answers and I suspect I never will, at least not in a concrete sort of way.  What I do know is this: I need to get rid of the guilt. I also need to remind myself that they may have gotten the worst but they also got the best of me.  And if the best of me is some of what I see in them everyday?  The best of me is pretty damn good.

Confirmed

I am happy to report that I will be attending the National PTA Federal Legislative Conference in March.  I will have the opportunity to meet with Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown as well as Middleborough's Representative, Barney Frank and spread the PTA message (which can be found here).

In other related news, I am now officially serving a dual role on the MA PTA Board.  I am both the State Advocacy Chair and the Federal Legislative Chair.

Who knew that when I joined the PTA six years ago it would lead to all of this?

And This Is Just Today's Agenda.

-condensing PTA Committee Reports and the newsletter
-updating the funds available reports for the Principals
-paying a few PTA bills
-printing the PTA Public Policy Agenda for 2011
-gathering responses to see if we will have a rescheduled School Council meeting Wednesday and emailing Mrs. L to let her know
-updating the new PTA treasurer with the details of what is what
-responding to PTA emails, writing a summary of the Federal Legislative call from last month
-continuing the development of the PTA website
-deciding if I can be available tomorrow nights PTA federal Legislative call
-printing and updating calendars for the bulletin board
-looking in to scheduling the PTA SHARP program at Nichols this summer (instead of HBB due to reconfiguration)
-emailing the PTA about up and coming volunteer opportunities
-typing up the notes for last weeks MKG/HBB School Council meeting
-planning for a meeting with Kate's teacher tomorrow
-rescheduling an appointment for Emily

I have a feeling all of this will go well in to the evening hours.  Had I not made the decision to limit my intake I might have been asking for caffeine on an IV drip. It's a good thing I love every minute of all of this otherwise this list might look a bit more...daunting. 

Break time is officially over.  Back to it I go!

PTA Update

During a MA PTA Board Meeting via conference call yesterday, I found out I may have the opportunity to attend the Federal Legislative Conference in DC this March.  To help put this in to perspective a bit regarding how excited I am about this possibility, last years guest speaker was Michelle Obama. I am not sure who it will be this year.

The first day of the conference is workshops.  I have already picked the workshops that I would like to participate in (Taking It To The Hill: PTA's 2011 Public Policy Agenda, 21st Century Voices: Using the Power Of Social Media to Persuade and Inform, Education and the Federal Budget, and Using Family Engagement to Drive Student Achievement).  The next day is visits to Capitol Hill to meet with our MA senators and representatives to bring forth our PTA message and the Public Policy Agenda. 

If this all works out, I couldn't even begin to tell you how excited I would be to do this. 

We also started planning our visit to Beacon Hill to discuss the budget with our local and state representatives.  We have a room reserved that hold 50 people (100 if we are standing).  It will be sent out to PTA members statewide to attend and we (or me being he advocacy chair) will present our thoughts and concerns regarding the state budget and how it relates to children.  I am pretty excited about this too (except for the part that involves driving or otherwise commuting to Boston).

Over the next few weeks I plan to do a lot of homework.  I am going to review all of my information about advocacy, how a bill becomes a law, when bills are brought forth, deadlines, the re-authorization of ESEA, and the just released 2011 Public Policy Agenda.  I want to make sure I am 100% confident and ready (even though at this point I have committed a lot of this to memory already).

If someone could please tell me...

...how it is even possible that next week I will be going to an informational meeting at Middleboro High School for parents of incoming first year students, that would be great.

And really how does this happen in what literally feels like the blink of an eye?

She was just two weeks old in that picture and I swear to God and all that is holy it was just like yesterday that I took that.

I was reminded yesterday...

...of a funny story from way back when Katherine was about five or so.

Yesterday, Emily was watching a show on Animal Planet (I think) about crocodiles, alligators and reptiles in general. She loves watching those kinds of shows. Very often I will find her watching Discovery, Animal Planet or the History Channel. She's fascinated by it all and similar to Ryun, absorbs the information like a sponge. Ask her how to survive stranded in the woods? She'll know. Stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere? if Emily is with you, have no fear...she'll either find a way to get you home or find a way to make the conditions livable. Chat with her about what has been found on archaeological digs and what it means historically and she'll know that too. Need to write a report on sharks...no need to go to the library...just ask Emily. When I say sponge...I am not kidding. Between her and Ryun, they know the most obscure and random things...things you would never think you need to know...until you do.

Anyway, Emily watching the show about reptiles reminded me of the time I called Ryun on the way home from somewhere and asked him to"stir the crock." Katherine, who was with me in the car said (and yes, she was dead serious), "Mom, are we really having a crocodile for dinner? That is so cool!"

Tired

It has been a busy week.

Monday night: BOS meeting.

Tuesday: PTA meeting.

Wednesday: back to school shopping.

Thursday: Jonas Brothers Camp Rock concert (free tickets my sister won on KISS 108).

Friday: Sean Kingston/Justin Bieber concert, overnight in Providence (Happy 13th Birthday Emily from Aunty Suz).

Saturday: friends birthday party.

Today: niece and nephew's birthday party.

So yeah...I have hardly been at home at all. Clearly this was training for the craziness that comes with the school year schedule which is, sadly, right around the corner.

I am really not looking forward to summer's coming demise. I am sure that I will eventually enjoy being on somewhat of a schedule but for the moment, I am just...sad.

This year...

...is Julia's last year at the MECC (she will have been there for 4 years including public preschool), Kate's last year in elementary school, and Emily's last year in middle school.

So next year? I will have one entering the 1st grade, one starting middle school and one starting high school.

If someone could please figure out how to stop time that would be ok with me.

Happy Birthday...

...to my youngest daughter Julia, who is six years old today!

In keeping with tradition, we started the morning with presents and cup cakes for breakfast. I have done this for everyone's birthday, since Emily was a year old. I could be wrong about this but I think the kids may be more excited about eating cupcakes for breakfast than anything else on the day of someone's birthday...maybe even there own. You have to admit, a cupcake sounds better than a boring old bowl of say, Cheerios.




We will celebrate with my family later today poolside. Pizza is on the menu for dinner, followed by the finishing off the cupcakes I made for this morning's festivities. My sisters are taking Julia for a couple of days as a special treat so she will be spending the first few days of being six with her aunts and cousin in North Andover.

As for the rest of the day, I am off to get ready to sit in as the parent representative for interviews being conducted at HBB for an adjustment counselor.

Parent and Community Involvement In Education

Here is an interesting article about how crucial parent involvement in education is, and how powerful the PTA can and should be in the movement to increase parent involvement and effectiveness in school.

I found this piece very interesting: "Parental effort is consistently associated with higher levels of achievement, and the magnitude of the effect of parental effort is substantial," University of New Hampshire economist Karen Conway recently reported. "We found that schools would need to increase per-pupil spending by more than $1,000 in order to achieve the same results that are gained with parental involvement." Could parent involvement be the key to reigning in the budget a bit requiring fewer layoffs and other budget cuts? It certainly is something to think about.

At a recent PTA training, I took part in a workshop that focused heavily on touting a PTA as a community rather than school based organization. This article touches on that a bit and I couldn't agree more. One of the reasons I signed on and was elected as my local unit President for an additional two year term was so that I could help reshape and rework the image of PTA on a local, state, and national level. It is becoming increasingly clear that our work needs to extend beyond the bake sale and in to the community. With parent involvement, community support and the continued work of our teachers and administrators, our students are sure to succeed!

Yup...I cried...

...when the kids got off the bus. It was really all Julia's fault...well Julia and her teacher's.

I think my Facebook status from yesterday sums it up nicely: "Yeah so I totally cried when I went through Julia's IEP progress reports/report card. This girl has made such a dramatic leap from where she was just a short time ago. What really did it though was the 8x10 framed photo of Julia with a note from the teacher on the back. Lets not even get to the thank you note her teacher wrote for the end of the year gift we gave her. I was literally a mess this afternoon!"

When I look way back to when Julia was first identified as having delays...when I remember the girl who didn't take her first step until she was 20 months old...the girl that I actually had to teach to eat...the girl who barely spoke a word until she was two...to the girl who has met every single benchmark and goal set for her in PT, OT, Speech and Language, ELA and Math, so much so that she will be going forth next year with no IEP or special ed services at all, I can't help but be overwhelmed with sheer joy and emotion. Along with the joy comes an immense sense of accomplishment (on her part and mine) and such an intense feeling of pride that words can't even begin to explain.

Here she is...on her last day of school for this year.

Your obligatory end of the school year post...

...just wouldn't be complete with out a quick reference to how quickly the school year flew by, how I wish I could stop time, and how it doesn't seem possible that next school year I will be the mother of an 8th and 5th grader, as well as a kindergartner (take 2)!

As in years past, I am sure the kids will come off of the bus cheering summer's arrival and, in keeping with tradition, I will join in with them. There will be many "hooray's", "woo hoos" and screams of joy as we say goodbye to another school year and hello to a summer full of possibilities. New this year will be a an "Aloha To School, Aloha To Summer" party which will be celebrated poolside with my father. The party will include fun things like flower lei's, drinks with umbrella's in them, and a "summer fun" bag filled with all kinds of summer things like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, summer reading books, flip flops, and crayons and coloring books for those rainy days. I am also going to make (tonight because you all know how I love love love the last minute!) "Summer Fun Gift Cards" good for things like trips to the beach, an ice cream cone at the place of their choice (please kids, pick Peaceful Meadows or Erickson's), trips to the library, arts and crafts days at home, and trips to the zoo. I can't wait to see how excited and happy they will be when they see all this.

Oh summer, I have missed you. Welcome back...and please feel free to take an extended stay!

It's called parenting...

...and if you are not going to do it, then you shouldn't have kids. And that folks, is what this really boils down to for me.

As a parent, I assumed certain responsibilities including providing adequate health care, education around food and exercise, limited time with the computer and video games and other things related to being an overall healthy person. This is one of the many responsibilities I have as a parent. Am I perfect? No. Have I been a little slack here and there with this type of thing? of course (see the part that says I am not perfect). Am I myself overweight? Yes. Does this mean that I do not provide the tools necessary for my kids to make better choices than I have? No.

There is no denying that in many respects, in many instances and on many different levels, parents have slacked off (just because I am not one of them doesn't mean that I deny their existence). There is also no denying that schools have had to pick up the slack. Here's my question...how much money is the school spending on being parents rather than on providing a sound education for the students which is actually their job? I would be remiss if I did not point out the obvious contradictions of less gym time, less recess time and crap food served in the cafeteria (which admittedly has improved but is still not up to par with what I would consider healthy). If the state is going to tell the school to measure and report on BMI then the state should also provide the funding to keep gym in the curriculum more than once a week or less and completely overhaul what is being served in the cafeteria. Cut recess time to spend more time in Math class or leave recess alone so the kids can get the exercise they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle? I think it's time the schools and the state decide on their priorities and perhaps try and line them up with the realities of what their jobs entail...which is not to report on whether my kid is overweight or not. (By no means am I a proponent of cutting recess for any reason; I am just pointing out the conflict and mixed messages that are being sent).

The report that is sent home says that BMI may not offer a complete picture of your child. If this is true, and again, if the schools must be involved, why aren't they doing other things to measure and report on this? Perhaps it is because they can't. A complete picture can not be taken without all of the facts. How does the school know how much physical activity my child gets outside of school, whether they eat whole grains, or if they eat their vegetables? A complete picture is simply not possible when school officials only see the kids for 6 odd hours a day. So I ask, why bother reporting on only one piece of what could be a very complicated puzzle?

I also find it hard to believe the reporting is having any positive effect on the obesity problem. Any good pediatrician has been reporting to parents on this type of thing for years and what good has it done? The obesity problem has only increased. As my wise mother pointed out on my Facebook post, you don't need a measurement to determine if you are overweight, all you need is a mirror. Does anyone actually think that the very parents this new initiative is trying to target are going to be jolted in to action as a result of these reports? Clearly, the reporting is meant to target those slacker parents who aren't doing their job. I highly doubt a report from the school is going to change their entire way of life.

This is just one of many examples in which the school and state have had to assume the responsibilities that have been neglected by some parents. It's difficult not to wonder how much their academic education has suffered because of all the time, money and effort that has had to be spent on this. Hey slacker parents, it's time to step up!

Today is a new day...

...and thank God for that. It amazes me the difference a day can make.

So the insurance thing kind or worked it self out...not in the best way it could of but better than nothing. We will have the "good" insurance plan from Ryun's union for at least the next month and maybe beyond. So yesterday? I made five dentist appointments (one for each member of the family), two eye doctor appointments (one for Emily and one for me) one appointment with my counselor, and two well check visits with the pediatrician (one for Emily and one for Katherine). All taking place during the month of June. Hello busy month!

Today is already shaping up to be a better day...I feel better, I have lunch plans with my sister and nephew and then I have Julia's kindergarten concert. I can't wait to hear her and her classmates sing! Tonight I will be at the school committee meeting on behalf of the MECC School Council, presenting the school improvement plan to the School Committee.

Yay for a busy but fun day!