Sunday, May 22, 2005

Feeling Blue....

I have changed my look yet again...A bit easier on the eyes, I think.  I have always liked blue.  Sky designs are my favorite, despite the fact that our dentist's entire office is designed this way.  I think because no one really enjoys going and the design has a calming effect on some.  I like it because when I feel all stressed and tight inside, it makes me feel quiet and peaceful.  Like I could just float away for awhile. 

There has been quite a bit going on.  My oldest dear A has recieved special recognition for a poem she wrote.  There is something called Anthology of Poetry and her school participated.  All fifth graders could submit a poem and the teacher's picked the best three to be published in a hardcover book of poems by fifth graders all over the country.  My daughter's poem, The Nothing, was one of the three chosen!  The book will go to print on July 1st.  We are very proud of this honor she has recieved.  Her school will recieve a copy of the book, and we can purchase a copy with her name gold plated on it.  Very cool...

M is also having a great experience in t-ball.  Karate has kind of taken a back seat for now.  I'm sure her Sensei will have something to say, but oh well.  I hope he will understand she has to try other things, too. 

M is dealing with another kind of tough issue.  Two things, actually.  The whole biracial thing is coming up more frequently, as well as her father's lousy working hours.  He is a cook, working 11-10 and the girls rarely see him.  I can explain this until I am blue in the face, but she has a right to her feelings.  It makes me sad to see her so sad.  She misses him so much, as does A, but it's different for her.  She deals with it differently, anyway.  As far as being biracial, she has this upsetting feeling about not looking like me.  I tell her that I don't look like her grandparents.  They have brown hair and eyes and I have blond hair and green eyes.  It doesn't cut it though.  She is getting a lot of guff from other kids at school about it.  Also this one girl is relentless about saying she doesn't believe that M is half chinese and that shehas a chinese father.  She says she doesn't think she even HAS a father because she has never seen him.  Errr.  Of course this hurts my baby.  She has a wonderful Daddy, who yes, works lousy hours, but when he is home he is 100% Daddy.  Wants to always do fun things and go on adventures.  I try to remind her of this, but she just cries harder.  I guess it's just something she has to go through.  I just want to say the right things.  I have always told them how lucky they are and special.  Their friends need to be reminded that we are all special and very rarely will they find americans who are all one nationality.  Hopefully they will learn this as the get older, but as I am finding with my ll yr old, the "mean girls" seem to get worse as they age....I will keep hoping.  :>)

 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

At 11, your daughter is just entering the real mean girls phase.  Good luck to all of you.

Anonymous said...

This may just be a phase, keep remindding her she has you and luckily you don't work Lousy hours!!

Anonymous said...

Lovely journal. I'll be back to visit again.
*Barb* http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK
          http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/THERESTOFTHESTORY

Anonymous said...

The blue looks nice. Thats wonderful about your poet!!! To be published at such a young age, make sure and let her know thousands of adults have never even had that honor :o) Your right, the mean girls keep getting meaner, so I just try to make sure our home is a nice safe haven for my daughters.
Rebecca

Anonymous said...

I never would have believed that kids could be so mean until my daughter. She gets along well with most kids and doesn't have the issue but she is fed up with all the nonsense from the ones that do dish it out.  Sometimes kids will just be mean because of what they don't know. Maybe M can share some really cool things about her heritage with the other kids. At this age too year by year can be totally different and another story.
Mary

Anonymous said...

Kids can be so mean... Michelle, hi, it's me, Bea... since you came by and visited my site, I just had to return the favor, and so glad I did... I like your journal, your thoughts and reflections. May i add you to my favorite journals list? You'd be a great addition. I do have a private reflection journal as well, but only my principal and co-teacher have access to that. However, I'd like to put your link in that  journal because you are a teacher, and it would be great for them to read the reflections of antoher teacher. I'm collecting teacher journals... I need all the connections I can get, especially regarding special ed. So glad to meet you. I will be back. Congratulations to your daughter's poetry success. I know this comment is late in relation to the entry date, however, just wanted you to know I've been surfing your journal. and loving it. Bea