Want to make a kid feel dumb?

Send them to school.

***This is a rant-ish post of my own personal experience as a parent within the public school system with very sensitive (and smart kids)***

I am sure it also clearly exposes some of my own insecurities and issues with school as well.

Princess is in 3rd grade.  Everyday after school there are tears.  Math is confusing her- I'll try and explain it a different way- a way that makes sense in my head, because, ya know maybe we think similarly and all--- but then she flips because her teacher said for her to do it differently and she.must.do.as.the.teacher.says. <<>>>

Somehow we make it through the the math, science, and on to English- grammar specifically.  As a product of Catholic schools I can diagram a sentence and parse a noun like no one's business.  But there are more tears. 

Finally, in the morning she comes down the stairs and tells me she wishes she were like some other kid in school who is the smartest.  It is hard to explain to an 8 year old that the other kid may appear to be really good at something, s/he may have difficulty but hiding it, maybe s/he has struggles in other parts of his or her life. 

More importantly- she is great just the way she is.  Just how she is.  So math is hard- that is only this specific math- arithmetic for me sucks- but I can do differential equations and higher order math without a problem.  She is one of the most caring and sweet girls I know.  She is amazing, smart, and wonderful.

It makes me so sad to have to build her up every morning for her to come home so sad.  It makes me so sad for her to compare herself to other kids- they are not the same- they are individuals. 

Honestly, I did the same- and I still do it-- compare myself to others- myself always coming up short.  I do not want her to repeat that pattern. 

My office supply obsession

I may have a slight problem with my somewhat minor office supply addiction.

It started when I was a kid and was focused more on school supplies. School supply shopping excited me thoroughly. Markers! Crayons! Paints! Pens! Yay! There were so many colors and varieties! I could hardly contain myself.

Now- I do not have the excuse of a new semester to shop for supplies- and my need for folders and Trapper Keepers (remember those? Do they still make them?) is severely limited, my obsession is more focused towards pens and post-its. You never know when something will need to be posted! This could be extended to stationary of all sorts, writing a note on loose-leaf paper is not nearly the same as writing it on pretty paper with a fancy pen.

Recently, I saw a commercial for "Ink Joy" pens, which is write up my alley. It is like Papermate's marketing department was sitting in my head thinking about what I look for in my favorite pens. I had to have one. CVS did not have them, I was distraught. I had to go to Walgreens anyway- and they had them! When I found them, I clapped and was so excited. What would I write first? Would they live up to the hype? I was giddy.

Stay tuned for how Ink Joy pens actually work.