There are many downsides to curly hair: humidity makes curls a tangled, frizzy mess. I survive on conditioner. My hair can get caught on EVERYTHING. Freshman year of high school I was walking down the hallway and my hair caught the zipper on a senior guy's backpack. I tugged, but it didn't come free! The guy and the three friends with him were laughing at me, I desperately yanked until the hair let go, then I hurried down the hall red-faced. Another time I was sitting next to a friend who was brushing her hair and looking the other way--her brush caught my curls and couldn't get free. Then there was the time I was leaning over and the same friend was putting her plastic choir chair down right next to me. I got the CHAIR LEG caught in my hair! As a bridesmaid I once wore an updo. It took 60 bobby pins (I counted as I took them out) to keep my hair in place, and it was HEAVY. I can't straighten or blow-dry it without majorly damaging it. I have to use product every day.
There are benefits to curly hair too. Lots of volume. When a restroom doesn't have towels or a hand dryer I can dry my hands on my hair. When I want to hide from someone I just pull my hair back (because people look for the big hair), haha. I don't have to blow-dry my hair when it's long. I can do my hair in 5 minutes when it's long. I can go anywhere without a brush (I don't even own one). Wind my hair into a bun and I have a pillow. Dry hair on my neck keeps me a few degrees warmer in the winter.
Loads of women have told me they wish they had my hair. As a little girl I wished I had long, straight, dark brown hair and brown eyes and that I was named Crystal (though I also wanted to work at White Castle and drive a station wagon because of the backward-facing seats in the rear). We tend to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but the rest of that sentence should be 'it's just as hard to mow'. We look at other people and wish we had the things we like about them. Many reading this understand that--the slender woman we envy may battle anorexia or be a chain smoker; the man with the successful career may barely know his kids; the student who does it all may be so addicted to caffeine and sleeping pills that she suffers withdrawal without copious amounts of both every day.
We envy other people because it's easier to look at what someone else has/is and be envious than it is to work on/accept ourselves. It's like wishing on a star for stuff to happen. We don't workout at the gym only to be shocked that we are sore the next day. Work equals results. When I want to get better at something or make a new habit, I have to struggle to keep doing that thing (going to the gym, going to bed at the same time each night...). Likewise, if I want to get good at avoiding things, I have to practice that too (no more than one portion of dessert).
So many fitness commercials say they guarantee results in two weeks with just 5 minutes a day. If I spent 5 minutes a day on every last little thing I want to improve upon, and I keep it up for two weeks, it will likely become a habit. Spend 5 minutes cleaning each room in the house and you will see results. Work your abs for 5 minutes a day and you will see results. Read your Bible for 5 minutes a day and you will grow in knowledge. Pray for 5 minutes a day. Sit in silence for 5 minutes a day. It sounds so easy. For some habits it is, but for others this is HARD. I blame our own weaknesses and our cultural ADHD. I find the struggle is worthwhile once I see results, but during the struggle it can be hard to stay positive.
UPDATE: regarding my plan to help with hurricane Sandy relief, I am sketching out a 3 day trip for the youth to go somewhere in the area.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Substitute Teaching
So I've gotten a job as a substitute teacher. It's always been a fact that teaching means you learn a lot, and this job is certainly schooling me. So here are some observations/things I've learned/things I've done as a sub.
Observed: not all schools or classes have textbooks and it's awful for a sub when the subject is math and I have no way of looking up and refreshing my brain on how to do what they're doing. The last time I did calculus was 1999 and most other stuff was before that, so I need a reminder.
I've learned: Always get a schedule of the day for the teacher I'm in for, or else the third graders will wonder why I think they have computer day when it's gym day and the 7th graders will hate me for thinking they eat lunch 15 minutes later.
I've done this: a kindergartner told me a boy had called her a crybaby. She said this as though she were reporting the weather outside, not a hit of whine in her voice. I asked her if she's a crybaby. She calmly answered me, "no." I told her, "Then that boy is wrong. Ignore him."
Observed: Two little girls (sitting next to each other) lost a tooth within minutes of each other. They are third graders, so this was normal. I wondered if the nurse thought I was daring the class to pull their loose teeth.
I've learned: Always get a map of the school. Faculty lunchroom and faculty bathrooms locations are very important things to know.
I've done this: One third grade boy raised his hand throughout the day and told me jokes from a book he had. Toward the end of the day his hand was up, and I asked him, "Does this have anything to do with the Amish?" (we were discussing them). He said yes. I said okay. He then asked another joke question.
Observed: Sometimes a parent is supposed to pick up his/her child and never shows. The child is anxious for hours as a result.
I've learned: Always preface answers to the teachers with "Mrs._______ told me this..." because otherwise they will think you took some kid's word for it!
I've done this: Told a multiracial class I wear the same foundation shade as Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Observed: The kids think it's great when their sub goes to gym and plays with the parachute too, including laying on the floor.
I've learned: Tell the kids to make a sign with their name on their desks. It's hard to corral "you there, in the red pants!" since they answer to their name better.
I've done this: Played Just Dance 2 on the Wii to Walk Like an Egyptian in front of a gym full of 5th graders and beaten the other teacher.
Observed: not all schools or classes have textbooks and it's awful for a sub when the subject is math and I have no way of looking up and refreshing my brain on how to do what they're doing. The last time I did calculus was 1999 and most other stuff was before that, so I need a reminder.
I've learned: Always get a schedule of the day for the teacher I'm in for, or else the third graders will wonder why I think they have computer day when it's gym day and the 7th graders will hate me for thinking they eat lunch 15 minutes later.
I've done this: a kindergartner told me a boy had called her a crybaby. She said this as though she were reporting the weather outside, not a hit of whine in her voice. I asked her if she's a crybaby. She calmly answered me, "no." I told her, "Then that boy is wrong. Ignore him."
Observed: Two little girls (sitting next to each other) lost a tooth within minutes of each other. They are third graders, so this was normal. I wondered if the nurse thought I was daring the class to pull their loose teeth.
I've learned: Always get a map of the school. Faculty lunchroom and faculty bathrooms locations are very important things to know.
I've done this: One third grade boy raised his hand throughout the day and told me jokes from a book he had. Toward the end of the day his hand was up, and I asked him, "Does this have anything to do with the Amish?" (we were discussing them). He said yes. I said okay. He then asked another joke question.
Observed: Sometimes a parent is supposed to pick up his/her child and never shows. The child is anxious for hours as a result.
I've learned: Always preface answers to the teachers with "Mrs._______ told me this..." because otherwise they will think you took some kid's word for it!
I've done this: Told a multiracial class I wear the same foundation shade as Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Observed: The kids think it's great when their sub goes to gym and plays with the parachute too, including laying on the floor.
I've learned: Tell the kids to make a sign with their name on their desks. It's hard to corral "you there, in the red pants!" since they answer to their name better.
I've done this: Played Just Dance 2 on the Wii to Walk Like an Egyptian in front of a gym full of 5th graders and beaten the other teacher.
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