I remember second grade so very well. It was the year things changed for me. Until that year I’d been “normal.” A little odd and silly, perhaps, but a girl with a lot of friends and a happy little life. I was a lot like my little Lulu is now, sunny and funny and sweet. But in second grade my parents decided to move me to a private religious school in order for my brother, who had some learning issues, to get more attention than they thought he’d get at a public school.
From that year until well into junior high, I was considered a bit of a weirdo. Kids were mean and unwelcoming, and the teachers didn’t seem to notice, or care. My mom still recalls going to a parent teacher conference where the teacher informed them I never had a partner at computer time. “Why not?” my parents questioned. Well, it seemed that no one wanted to be my partner, but I told the teacher it was okay, and I didn’t mind working by myself, so there I sat all year. Alone.
Now, I should be clear that none of these kids were inherently mean, just scared of someone different and following the pack, as many kids (and adults) tend to do. I also should point out that so much good came out of this situation. I eventually found a wonderful tribe of misfits and those people were some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Still are. I also know that I wouldn’t have become who I am today without these experiences, and I think I’m pretty rad. I don’t know if that means I’m happy I was bullied, I just know that I was blessed that I found a path that didn’t crush me or send my self-esteem to a point of no return. Many aren’t so lucky.
So today when I sent Lu off to second grade, I looked at her happy skipping body and her smiling eyes and found myself praying to the universe or God or whatever is out there that she is held safe these long school days. I told her she is loved beyond compare and that will never change, regardless of the number of awards she wins or friends she has. I told her about my experience, in the hopes that if she sees someone suffering, she will reach out. Those people who reached out when I was in second grade? They saved me. I think of them often and silently thank them for every gesture of kindness they bestowed upon me.
I have big hopes for this girl. Not hopes for straight A’s or medals or trophies, but hope that her light can reach someone that needs it this year. I hope her smile or kind words from her lips will make a small difference to someone. I may not know much, but I know my hopes will be fulfilled.
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2013-08-12 21:05:012013-08-12 21:05:01Rumination's on Being a Second Grader
A few weeks ago we attended the Annual 4th of July Celebration in the small town of Wamego, Kansas. We try and go every year, but this was the first time we were blessed with good weather and it was actually cooler than 100 degrees! In fact, it was a crisp 75 degrees, which is unheard of for Kansas in the summer. We took full advantage, riding all the rides we could at the carnival, and then eating as much salty popcorn and sweet fried dough as we could fit in our mouths. We are a gluttonous bunch. Here are a few photos from the day. I think since it’s technically our last weekend of summer (school starts for Lucy on Monday, boo!), they are pretty appropriate. Summer 2013, you were super fun.
Random, but I had a total moment of deja vu while watching Tate on the flying elephant ride. When we got home I ended up finding a photo of Lu doing the exact same thing a few years ago…on the same elephant! Cue the theme from “It’s a Small World.”
P.S. Special thanks to my sister-in-law Ashley for snapping a few pics of Lulu and I on the rides.
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2013-08-09 08:00:102013-07-31 19:50:18Happy Weekend : A Summer Carnival
This July when I was on hiatus from blogging, I decided to take a few teeny steps back in to the workout game. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was telling the truth when I said earlier I didn’t set any lofty goals for myself over this blogging break. Instead of committing to eating salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner or losing 15 pounds, I decided to aim a little lower. I got the idea from Elise Joy’s blog to try and run one mile per day, every day. To help keep me motivated, I documented my runs on Instagram under the hashtag #mileadayjuly, looking for fun things to take photos of while out and about.
Here is the thing about running a mile a day, it’s totally doable! I mean, how long does it take to run a mile? 10 to 15 minutes for me, depending on the terrain (I’m no marathoner and my mile time is sort of sad…but it is what it is!), so I knew it wouldn’t take too much out of my day to complete. The whole time issue has been a huge roadblock for me as I figure out this new life and schedule. My child free hours for work are so limited, so I hate using the time when we have a sitter to complete a run. Taking the kids to the gym is an option, but packing them up, driving to the gym, dropping them off at the child care center (which can take from 2 to 20 minutes depending on Tate’s mood and clingy issues), then doing my workout, plus picking them up afterward and getting home, can end up taking over an hour or two! My solution was to get up a bit early and run before the kids woke up on the trails around my house. This was a great plan until Tate stopped sleeping at night and I was way too exhausted to go running first thing in the morning. Also, we went through a crazy heat wave for a few weeks, so my workouts were forced to the air conditioned gym. I know, I know, first world problems, right?
All in all, I ran almost every day of July, but certainly not every single day. There were the four days Tate and I had the summer flu, for example, when there was definitely no running going on. But I still feel like I jump started my workouts again. I had been living like a slug since around March, so just getting out there and doing anything at all was a huge triumph. This month I have been continuing my runs, but have also added on a bit of weight lifting and have been cutting some sugar from my diet. Next month, when we get back into our school/work routine and both kids are back on a normal schedule, I plan to start going to yoga again as well. Or not. It depends on if that darn two-year-old remembers how to sleep at night. But that’s for another post…
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2013-08-07 13:00:092013-08-07 13:00:36A Mile A Day
Rumination’s on Being a Second Grader
/0 Comments/in Happiness, history, Lucy, World /by MeganI remember second grade so very well. It was the year things changed for me. Until that year I’d been “normal.” A little odd and silly, perhaps, but a girl with a lot of friends and a happy little life. I was a lot like my little Lulu is now, sunny and funny and sweet. But in second grade my parents decided to move me to a private religious school in order for my brother, who had some learning issues, to get more attention than they thought he’d get at a public school.
From that year until well into junior high, I was considered a bit of a weirdo. Kids were mean and unwelcoming, and the teachers didn’t seem to notice, or care. My mom still recalls going to a parent teacher conference where the teacher informed them I never had a partner at computer time. “Why not?” my parents questioned. Well, it seemed that no one wanted to be my partner, but I told the teacher it was okay, and I didn’t mind working by myself, so there I sat all year. Alone.
Now, I should be clear that none of these kids were inherently mean, just scared of someone different and following the pack, as many kids (and adults) tend to do. I also should point out that so much good came out of this situation. I eventually found a wonderful tribe of misfits and those people were some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Still are. I also know that I wouldn’t have become who I am today without these experiences, and I think I’m pretty rad. I don’t know if that means I’m happy I was bullied, I just know that I was blessed that I found a path that didn’t crush me or send my self-esteem to a point of no return. Many aren’t so lucky.
So today when I sent Lu off to second grade, I looked at her happy skipping body and her smiling eyes and found myself praying to the universe or God or whatever is out there that she is held safe these long school days. I told her she is loved beyond compare and that will never change, regardless of the number of awards she wins or friends she has. I told her about my experience, in the hopes that if she sees someone suffering, she will reach out. Those people who reached out when I was in second grade? They saved me. I think of them often and silently thank them for every gesture of kindness they bestowed upon me.
I have big hopes for this girl. Not hopes for straight A’s or medals or trophies, but hope that her light can reach someone that needs it this year. I hope her smile or kind words from her lips will make a small difference to someone. I may not know much, but I know my hopes will be fulfilled.
Happy Weekend : A Summer Carnival
/0 Comments/in Fun, Happiness, Lucy, Photos, Tate /by MeganA few weeks ago we attended the Annual 4th of July Celebration in the small town of Wamego, Kansas. We try and go every year, but this was the first time we were blessed with good weather and it was actually cooler than 100 degrees! In fact, it was a crisp 75 degrees, which is unheard of for Kansas in the summer. We took full advantage, riding all the rides we could at the carnival, and then eating as much salty popcorn and sweet fried dough as we could fit in our mouths. We are a gluttonous bunch. Here are a few photos from the day. I think since it’s technically our last weekend of summer (school starts for Lucy on Monday, boo!), they are pretty appropriate. Summer 2013, you were super fun.
Random, but I had a total moment of deja vu while watching Tate on the flying elephant ride. When we got home I ended up finding a photo of Lu doing the exact same thing a few years ago…on the same elephant! Cue the theme from “It’s a Small World.”
P.S. Special thanks to my sister-in-law Ashley for snapping a few pics of Lulu and I on the rides.
A Mile A Day
/1 Comment/in Fun /by MeganThis July when I was on hiatus from blogging, I decided to take a few teeny steps back in to the workout game. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was telling the truth when I said earlier I didn’t set any lofty goals for myself over this blogging break. Instead of committing to eating salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner or losing 15 pounds, I decided to aim a little lower. I got the idea from Elise Joy’s blog to try and run one mile per day, every day. To help keep me motivated, I documented my runs on Instagram under the hashtag #mileadayjuly, looking for fun things to take photos of while out and about.
Here is the thing about running a mile a day, it’s totally doable! I mean, how long does it take to run a mile? 10 to 15 minutes for me, depending on the terrain (I’m no marathoner and my mile time is sort of sad…but it is what it is!), so I knew it wouldn’t take too much out of my day to complete. The whole time issue has been a huge roadblock for me as I figure out this new life and schedule. My child free hours for work are so limited, so I hate using the time when we have a sitter to complete a run. Taking the kids to the gym is an option, but packing them up, driving to the gym, dropping them off at the child care center (which can take from 2 to 20 minutes depending on Tate’s mood and clingy issues), then doing my workout, plus picking them up afterward and getting home, can end up taking over an hour or two! My solution was to get up a bit early and run before the kids woke up on the trails around my house. This was a great plan until Tate stopped sleeping at night and I was way too exhausted to go running first thing in the morning. Also, we went through a crazy heat wave for a few weeks, so my workouts were forced to the air conditioned gym. I know, I know, first world problems, right?
All in all, I ran almost every day of July, but certainly not every single day. There were the four days Tate and I had the summer flu, for example, when there was definitely no running going on. But I still feel like I jump started my workouts again. I had been living like a slug since around March, so just getting out there and doing anything at all was a huge triumph. This month I have been continuing my runs, but have also added on a bit of weight lifting and have been cutting some sugar from my diet. Next month, when we get back into our school/work routine and both kids are back on a normal schedule, I plan to start going to yoga again as well. Or not. It depends on if that darn two-year-old remembers how to sleep at night. But that’s for another post…