You need what??

Luckily, I thought ahead this year and bought some of the standard school supplies when they were on sale a couple of weeks ago.  Thankfully, when Katie Jo picked up her list at Open House, there wasn't anything too out of the ordinary listed.  Yea!

However, I've heard some really bizarre stories lately of what schools are requiring their students/parents to supply. One school in Kentucky is requiring their Kindergartners to bring 4 pkgs of copy paper.  I even read about a school in New York asking parents to send teachers gift cards to Staples so they can go purchase whatever supplies they need.  Wow!  I know budgets are tight.......but really!?!?

I found several truly outrageous and unreasonable school supply lists.  Here are a couple (with the highlighted items seeming particularly excessive)....

• 5 boxes (12 count) #2 pencils 
• 1 pack pencil erasers 
• 36 glue sticks 
• Crayola Crayons - 6 boxes of 24 
• 1 pair of blunt tip scissors 
• 1 pack of index cards 
• 4 rolls paper towels
• 1 back pack, non rolling 
• Zip-loc bags (girls – quart size, 
boys – gallon size) 
• 1 plastic pencil box (8X5) 
• Headset 
• Washable markers – optional 
• Flash drive (at least 2 mg)
• 2 plastic pocket folders (1 blue/1 red)  


And here's another really llllloooonnnnnggg list I came across...

(3) 24 count boxes of Crayola Crayons
(2) packages of #2 Roseart 12 count pencils already sharpened
(2) large pink erasers
(1) pair of Fiskar pointed scissors
(1) bottle of white school glue
(2) large glue sticks
(1) small snap shut school box
(1) pack of Crayola washable markers
(1) package of wide ruled notebook paper
(1) package of white copy paper
(1) package of colored copy paper
(1) large package of Expo markers
(1) bottle of Expo board cleaner
(1) backpack
(2) plastic no prong folders

(1) box of Kleenex
(1) bottle of Antibacterial soap or refills
(1) bottle of Germ X
(3) boxes of baby wipes
(3) double rolls of paper towels
(3) packages of Clorox Wipes
(1) package of gallon sized Ziploc Bags
(2) boxes of kitchen drawstring garbage bags

 However, the grand prize for the most outrageous item found on a school supply list comes from Hawaii.  At that particular school, students will be seen carting in 4 double rolls of toilet paper among their other supplies. Toilet paper.......really!?!!?

Now that's just sad......

The Change........From Grossed Out to Superhero

The other day, one of our teachers became so very sick after arriving at school.  The "bug" had been running amok everywhere.....so it was no surprise when it began making it's way through our staff.  Bless her heart, she was so ill and weak that I insisted on driving her home.  She lives alone and her parents aren't in Lubbock, so I felt like I should care for her exactly as I'd want someone to care for Katie Jo and Addi once they're grown and on their own.  She was so sick!  However, I'm pretty sure I made her nervous by insisting on driving her home.  I mean....think about it.....how would you feel if you knew there was a very high possibility that you would throw up in your boss' vehicle?  But there was no way I was going to put her behind the wheel of her car.  So, I grabbed my purse, my keys, and my office trash can - just in case - and away we went!

As we drove to her house, she remained slumped over in her seat in agony.  I could tell that she was trying - with all her might - to suppress the urge the throw up.  I kept saying, "Don't hold it in!  If you need to get sick, do it!  That's what the trash can's for!  Plus, I'm a mom....I've seen it all!"  Then, I followed up those comments with my "nurse's orders" - sip on something, rest, try to nibble on crackers, etc.  I finally realized that I was only making matters worse, so I decided to withhold my comments and simply drive.

This brings me to my topic of "The Change...."  What is it when you become a mom?  Do you suddenly develop a stomach of steel?  Does your level of tolerance for all things gross dramatically increase? Don't get me wrong, I think we all still have an area of weakness.  For me, it's nasty noses.  I can handle anything but that.  As a matter of fact, I'm gagging just thinking about the subject.  So, I'll move on.

Whether it's collecting chewed gum in your bare hand or rinsing out soiled garments after an "almost made it" trip to the bathroom, we all go through "the change" at some point.  It's almost as if there is a dramatic transformation that takes place in the delivery room.  A woman goes from being a pregnant, pushing and screaming, new mom-to-be.....to a full fledged, cape wearing, gross defeating, super hero  - in all of a few seconds.  I think most of us would attest to the fact that prior to child birth, we would have never cleaned up anything expelled by another human being.  However, there's something about being a mom that makes the task more tolerable.  It's a mystery.

Maybe it's a stronger stomach.  Maybe it's maturity.  Or maybe it's just a mother's nurturing instinct.  Whatever it is, I'm sure glad it kicked in.

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. ~Jewish Proverb