Keep your hands to yourself.

As a child, I was told repeatedly to "Keep your hands to yourself." Usually, the direction came from my mother and was in regards to me touching my little brother. As an adult, my mother's voice still rings in my head when I remind my high school students to refrain from touching their classmates. While I have often thought the need to remind seniors of a kindergarten adage is rather ridiculous, I was more shocked that the timeless phrase nearly fell out of my mouth this morning during an interaction with a colleague.

I was warned that being pregnant would essentially remove people's ability to determine appropriate personal space, but I never dreamed that the inappropriate comments/behavior would start as early as 15 weeks! While talking to another teacher (someone I consider a dear friend) in the hallway this morning. another colleague (not a teacher, but an aide) butted into joined our conversation. She immediately called me "Mama" (I am NOT your mama, so please, do not call me that. Betty will work just fine) and proceeded to rub my bump (which still looks more like an extra 10 pounds rather than a baby). I was astonished...livid...speechless.

Here's the thing, I get it. I like rubbing baby bumps just as much as the next lady, but I think it's time that we remember boundaries or at least good manners. So, please, ask before you rub or keep your hands to yourself.

Everyone is fighting a harder battle...

I was going to write this long post about how I have a love-hate relationship with the 2011-2012 school year. I was going to tell you that I love (most of) my kids and am actually pretty excited about my classes. I was going to tell you that colleagues are my biggest complaint so far. I was going to tell you that once again I need focus (shocking). 


All of those things are true, of course. And perhaps writing about them would be therapeutic, but the older I get, the more I try to observe the famous quote, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." And recently, I'm overwhelmed by the battles those I love are fighting. 


My brother and sister-in-law are new parents and are bravely navigating the treacherous waters of both of them working outside the home. Loving them as much as we do has made watching them go through these trials heartbreaking. Knowing that when we have children we will most likely endure the same circumstances makes it terrifying. I'm so proud of them both, but also feel so helpless when it comes to the whole situation because there's truly nothing I can do to fix it/make it better. 


So, I was going to tell you about how overwhelmed I was. I was going to write about how the beginning of the school year is exciting, but also sucks the life out of me. I was going to say that I feel like a failure because after six years, you'd think I'd have the answers. I was going to complain. But instead, I'll realize that people I love are truly overwhelmed. Instead, I will understand that my sister-in-law has the life sucked out of her every morning that she leaves my precious nephew at daycare. Instead, I will realize that what I told my brother is true. Often we are our toughest critics and are the only ones who see the failure. 


Becky and Randy are fighting the good fight, and the fact that they are makes it easier for me to do the same.