Monday, August 23, 2010

Open House


(My weekend project: covering this lampshade with fab Kaffe Fassett fabric. Even the members of the Testosterone Club--i.e. everyone in my house except me, the lone female--like it.)

If there were ever a reason to home school, Back-to-School Open House would be it. I've done two today. The first one nearly did me in, and the second one about killed me.

First Open House: Our Fine Middle School. Jack went to his advisory, picked up his schedule, and then we hiked back and forth across campus to find all of his classes. Jack, being Jack, had to go to each class in order, so that we couldn't go to French, then Language Arts, even though they were right next to each other. No, we had to go to French, then Movement (what is Movement? Who knows?), which is twenty miles that way, then come back to Language Arts, twenty miles this way. Will and I finally gave up and told Jack to meet us in the library when he was done.

As we hiked and panted, many cheerful greetings were exchanged with the other families of Our Fine Middle School. Lots of oh yes, oh my, summer was wonderful, but it went by so fast! No one ever mentions those days in July you would have gladly traded your children for a pound of dried beans. No! We are happy happy good good!

(Would I prefer everyone walk around and tell the truth about their lives? Hmmm ... knowing how awful some people's truths are, I'm not sure I actually would. Food for thought.)

Aside from hiking forty miles in 96-degree heat, I enjoyed Our Fine Middle School's open house. We've known a lot of these families for six years now, and I only feel halfway awkward and shy around them. By graduation, I'll be a comfortable as an old hat. Sock. Shoe. Whatever.

Our Fine Lower School's open house is a piece of cake--the kids stay in the same classroom most of the day, so no twenty-mile hikes--except that I'd talked to so many people this morning (happy happy good good!) that I believe I was rather incoherent by this afternoon. I just sort of wandered like a cloud around the second grade pod and waved vaguely in one direction, then another. Will and his buddies all gathered together and started playing a game which involved stomping on each other's feet. Nobody stopped them. All the moms just shrugged, like, whatcha gonna do?

So school starts tomorrow. My children, those perverse creatures, have continued to be sweet and pleasant. They are mocking me, I believe. We can behave this way, they seem to be saying. We just choose not to.

Actually, I think they're just happy to be going back to school. And want to make sure I'll miss them. And I'm sure I will. Won't that be nice?

14 comments:

Ali said...

Missing your children can be such a relief!

Danielle said...

I get to experience my first PIN for middle school tomorrow. What's a PIN? Why, it's Parent Information Night. I am curious what information is going to be given to us now that our 6th graders have 5 weeks of middle school under their belts. Is it a pep talk to survive the mood swings? I will be introverted and uncomfortable and surrounded by lots of new faces, just like when I started middle school years ago.

Also, #2 has pneumonia! Can you believe it?? She's on drugs and rest for awhile. Poor thing.

Danielle said...

I get to experience my first PIN for middle school tomorrow. What's a PIN? Why, it's Parent Information Night. I am curious what information is going to be given to us now that our 6th graders have 5 weeks of middle school under their belts. Is it a pep talk to survive the mood swings? I will be introverted and uncomfortable and surrounded by lots of new faces, just like when I started middle school years ago.

Also, #2 has pneumonia! Can you believe it?? She's on drugs and rest for awhile. Poor thing.

Danielle said...

Frances -- When I try to get back to original post, it seems to be posted my comments a second time. Sorry! Does anyone know what am I doing wrong?

magsmcc said...

I do love it when you talk about schools!

Tracy said...

What an ordeal! I'm thinking there's a lot to be said for our little itsy bisty school and a sedate Orientation Afternoon before the end of the school year.

Gumbo Lily said...

Love the lamp. How did you do it? I adore the fabric.

Enjoy missing the kids tomorrow.

Jody

Sara Padrusch said...

The best part of homeschooling is not having to have that conversation of lies again and again and again.

Chit chat makes me very tired. I end up being snarky to someone is the back of the room and nearly embarrass myself.

The lamp is awesome! I love it! Are those the colors which you are finding yourself drawn too? Gorgeous!

Enjoy your quiet while the kids are at school- Silence really is golden.

xoxo
Sara

GretchenJoanna said...

The lampshade is fantastic. I don't suppose you took photos as you went along so we could all have a tutorial? I need to know how to do that.
I see you are being glad for small talk, since at least it doesn't pull you in where you don't want to go. Good, good and happy, happy are nice-sized, so you can get home sooner!

Pom Pom said...

Dried beans. You say what everyone else is thinking, I think. We have Back to School Night next week. It's in the evening. Yikes. I'll be so pooped by then and I'll have run out of words. Maybe I should take that day off - just show up for the event all fresh as a daisy. If only.

Leslie said...

You crack me up! I went with my daughter to buy books at our jr. college yesterday. A hike through heat (not knowing where we were going) and then a lovely 45 minute stand in a very long twisty line! Crowds are not my thing at all...but it was fun to catch up with dd and people watch. The most interesting people are at the jr. college. :)

I would love instructions on recovering a lamp shade. I have one that I have been eye balling but I do not have a clue where to start. Great fabric you chose!

Angela said...

LOVE that lamp [even if I find KF a slightly weird person, he produces great fabrics]
The school where I do supply [substitute] teaching has random 'Open Days' when parents come in and wander around. If it is on a day when I am there, some mothers say "where's Mrs Krabapple? why are YOU here? I wanted to ask about Jeremiah's bookbag!" and I smile and refer them to the Headteacher.
But the pleasant parents [like your good self] say "Is Mrs Krabapple sick? How good of you to come and take her class. Has Evadne been behaving herself for you?" and I smile and say "Oh yes, she's been lovely!" Actually, I have no idea which one Evadne is, as I have only been in class 10 minutes, and have barely identified the GENDER of some of the pupils. But don't let the parents [or the Head] know that!!!

Gumbo Lily said...

I came back to this post to look at your lamp shade again. You did not add the ribbon trim on the edge so I am assuming that you just cut a little extra fabric and tucked it under. Did you hem the bottom or leave the raw edge?

I adore the fabric you chose. I think I said that already, but I do!

I saw a lamp in a furniture store today. They wanted $150 for it all because it had a really nifty shade. One that you and I could make!!!!

Jody

Left-Handed Housewife said...

Jody,

Yep, I just cut a little extra fabic for top and bottom and folded it over the edges.

I got the fabric from fabric.com. The designer is Kaffe Fasset. He does lots of really cool stuff. A half yard of fabric would do it for a small to medium sized shade.

Danielle,

I keep meaning to post and say I don't know why that happens sometimes with comments, but it does. I think Blogger just burps every once in a while!

frances