For instance: every time I walk in and out of my kitchen...
Let's take closer look:
Contents of this pile include
trombone
saxophone
4 back packs
1 gym bag--buried under the purple back pack, just to the left of the saxophone-- (Drew's basketball jersey and shoes)
1 lunch bag (an escapee of a back pack)
a bag of bags--far left-- (that needs to be taken back to the van for the next grocery trip)
a sweatshirt (that needs to be put in the laundry)
But, I guess the good news is that a) I have 2 musical sons, b) these middle-school aged sons brought work home with them (hence the stuffed back packs), c) we know where to find everything at 6:45am, d) this, too, shall pass.
When we move this spring, I have big plans for our new "mud room" of sorts (thanks, Pinterest!):
Head on over to one of my favorite DIY blogs: www.shanty-2-chic.com
In the mean time, any suggestions on what to do with this mess? When we have company over, it goes in the laundry room on top of the deep freeze...
If that isn't a blog post buzz kill, I don't know what is... (Also-- I don't know how to best organize my thoughts, so here goes nothing...)
Part I: Seriously, though. My students (the girls, primarily) are ALWAYS taking selfies. Just yesterday at the end of a class period, I watched a student take a selfie of herself and I thought to myself, "She looks so stupid doing that. I wonder if she realizes it. What a narcissist! I bet she doesn't even know what narcissism is... I hope this trend ends soon because it is SO DUMB!". And then, thank God, the bell rang.
Part II: Remember a few weeks ago, at Nelson Mandela's funeral, President Obama and what's-her-name? posted a selfie on Twitter and it was a viral sensation?
I was APPALLED by our president. I found it to be the most tacky, disrespectful thing EVER.
Part III: I am reading a book right now, WONDER, by P.J. Palacio.
The story is told by a 5th grade boy who has severe facial deformities and starts school for the first time (having been home schooled up until this point). Parts of the story are also told by the children in his class and family. It is so fascinating. The main theme is bullying, but what speaks to me is how we look at other people once we get to know them. In our hearts, we don't see their faces, we see their souls.
Part IV: I came across this video on another blogger's website:
It's longish, but SO worth the 8 minutes. I got tears in my eyes as I listened to the BEAUTIFUL girl with braces, glasses, and the slouchy beanie describe herself. And the girl with long dark hair that said, "...When they talked about their insecurities- when the said they were insecure about things- those were the things that made them different. But the things that made them different made them unique. And...that made them beautiful." HOW PROFOUND!
Part V: I realize now, that I am thinking about selfies all wrong. It really hit a nerve when the same girl (in the video) said that in taking a selfie, you are showing the world that your own beauty, that you are "....strong, brave, and happy with yourself." Oh. Wow. I guess I was wrong. So here you go, my first selfie:
