Tuesday, February 3, 2009

What I Learned This Week -- A Random Sampling


Once again, Musings of a Housewife is hosting the What I Learned This Week carnival. No big revelation for me this week -- randomness is the order of the day:

1. It's a lot harder to be a Kindergartner nowadays. Jilly (6) came home from school the other day, a proud member of the "100 Club." That means she can write to 100, can count to 100 by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s, and can read 100 site words. Add that to the fact that they were studying sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks last week. Huh? My education feels so inadequate. I'm pretty sure I was just working on telling left from right when I was in Kindergarten (something I still manage to mix up, btw). I can't wait to see the type of work she'll be bringing home in 3rd grade. I'm sure the math alone will make me break out in hives.

2. Gun laws just don't make sense. Did you know that if you want to apply for a Concealed Weapons Permit in Georgia all you have to do is fill out the paperwork and undergo a background check? No firearms safety class required. Put another way: You don't have to have fired a gun before to carry one on your person. If you're hunting deer, however, you are required to take a firearms safety course. Does anyone else find this deeply disturbing?

3. I'm an Internet addict. The computer is a huge distraction for me. Somehow, even when I'm just "checking my email" I manage to waste 30 minutes. :) I've discovered that I can accomplish quite a bit when I turn the computer off. So, I've made a decision to join Meredith in unplugging at least once a week.

4. And I've got another addiction. Despite all my efforts to start "going green," I can't give up the paper towels. I'm killing trees right and left around here. I'm not proud. I. Just. Can't. Stop.

5. Conquering kid boredom is as easy as making a list. A lot of times, when the kids are looking for something to do, I find myself suggesting the same things over and over. (Kind of like I seem to make the same recipes over and over.) But, while cleaning out the craft/activity closet the other day, I realized we have a ton of different activity options. I made a list of every single one. Now, when the kids are bored, I reference the list for something new and exciting to entertain them. Hmmm. Maybe I need to do that with the recipes, too.

That's pretty much it. Now, go find out what everyone else learned this week over at Musings of a Housewife.

8 comments:

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

You're absolutely right about kindergarten these days. And about that math? Let me just tell you that I break out in a sweat when my husband tells me his travel schedule because I can handle everything but the MATH homework.

I'm planning to unplug on Thursday this week if you wanna plan for that day!

jen@odbt said...

Great list. #3...I don't think I could unplug for a week but I bet I'd get so much done. I love paper towels too. I can't do the dish rags...ugh!

Jennifer said...

Great list! #2...I'm with you! How can you have a license to carry a concealed weapon but never take a safety class. My 14 year old had to take a Hunter's Ed class before doing any kind of hunting. Very disturbing!!!
#3...Guilty! It eats up so much of my time...I feel guilty when I'm on it and feel guilty when I'm not reading my bloggy friends post.
#4...I only wish I could unplug for the day except I work from home on one all day. Maybe I can just refuse to open my blog or check my emails for a day. Hmmmm! It's an idea!

Thanks!

Musings of a Housewife said...

I'm with you on 3 and 4. Yep! Addicted. And NOT committing to turning it off. Sorry! :-)

Jane said...

Some interesting observations and I love the activity list.

Windy said...

I am an internet addict, too! Great idea about unplugging - I need more than once a week, though:)

mah-meeee said...

oh my word! really? ash is going into kindergarten this upcoming school year... hope she's ready! there are so many kids we know that are getting held back... maybe that's the reason.

Christina Lee said...

great post!!! My pre-schooler is learning to count to 100 too (it was the 100th days of school this week). Being a former teacher, I know about the pressure and the state standards and it's a bit daunting being a parent (as it was being a teacher).
I also made a list of activites for us to do(but for in our community) and it really helps!!! As for #3, the computer: I recently decided not to post on the weekends and it is soooo freeing!!!!!