Opinions for Nothing

Do I Take on Too Much?

Honestly, my assessment of myself is that I am kind of lazy and that I could be more productive in most aspects of my life. My house could be cleaner and more organized. I could be more proactive at work. I could be more proactive with my schoolwork. I could fit working out back into my routine. I could cook more meals at home. I could pluck my own eyebrows. (No I couldn't! I did it this morning because I had to cancel my wax last weekend and plucking hurts way more than waxing.) I could read more books instead of watching TV. I could keep on going with this list.

I feel like I could always do more but, even before getting pregnant with Kenna, I made a conscious effort not to overschedule myself, especially on weekends. I need alone time and I need relaxation time. If I don't have it, I get overstressed and then I start to get depressed. Because of all that, I never had an image of myself as a person who takes on too much but, recently, I have started to wonder if I am wrong about that.

Last year, I began an MBA program. I started out easy with one class that I'd already taken as an undergrad. Then I took off the next term because it was during the first trimester of my pregnancy and I knew I would be too tired. This term, I took only one class again because it would be ending when I would be only weeks away from giving birth and I didn't want to work myself too hard. Still, I feel like I could have handled two classes at a time.

On Facebook a few weeks ago, an old high school friend commented on one of my status updates about how amazed she was that I was taking a class while pregnant. Last week, a coworker who works from her home was in the office for a training. We talked about my MBA program because her employee wants to get his MBA. She, too, was amazed that I started an MBA program with a toddler and another baby on the way. Then, when she found out I also have a 100-mile commute, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. My response was typical. I said that you get used to it (the commute) and that the MBA program was only temporary; eventually I'll be done, plus it is only one night a week for class and I do most of my schoolwork at lunch time (or instead of watching American Idol).

I registered for two classes for the Fall, which actually start a week or so before my maternity leave ends. Today, I registered for one class for the Summer - it crams a full course into 2.5 weekends. My husband is ok with the Summer course even though it means he will be on his own with a newborn and a toddler every weekend in July because the weekend after the class ends, I am attending the BlogHer conference in Chicago.

I think maybe it is too much but the only reason I think that is because I have done nothing but gain weight for the past seven years - the same amount of time I have been married and the same amount of time that I have had a long commute. Clearly, my health is the one area that is getting the shaft. Also, I don't do anything with friends. And I tend to pay my bills late.

I work, go to school, blog, tweet, watch TV, spend time with family, and... well, that's about it.

I have made it my goal to fit working out back into my routine after I have this baby next month, but I am not sure yet how I am going to do it because I haven't identified any other areas where I expect to slow down. I could stop watching so much TV, I guess.

Obviously this is something I have been struggling with for awhile, so if you have some answers for me, I would appreciate them.

Teachers Judging Parents

You will probably not be surprised to read that sometimes I do not back down from an argument simply because I enjoy the debate and I enjoy exposing fallacies in logic. If I am ever doing that to you, your best bet is to get pissed at me and storm off.

I was being a bad message board member and engaging in such an argument this evening with a mother who has a baby the same age as mine.

Please, read through the discussion and let me know your thoughts on the matter. Feel free to disagree with my position.

Other Mother:

OT: for those of you who have read Wicked...
Ok i have a question, I am a teacher. I teach 7th grade science. Everyday after lunch we have a 15 minute period called DEAr. It stands for drop everything and read. Well today I noticed one of my sweet 12 year old girls (A student) was reading Wicked. I noticed she was at the very beginning of the book, only a few pages read. Here is my question, having read the book myself, I am well aware of the strange sexual content in the book. Do I ask her mom if she is aware that her daughter is reading the book? Do I ignore it? What would you do? I wouldn't let my 12 year old read the book personally. Just curious. TIA!

Peeved Michelle:

I think you are making a judgment call that is not for you to make.

Other Mother:

I am aloud to make a judgment call that can affect the students in my classroom. For example I am aloud to call the parents and ask for a note of permission to allow her to read the book in my class. As a teacher I make judgment calls all the time on what is or is not appropriate for my students. I also have to cover my own butt. The question really wasn't as to whether I have the right to ask her not to read it. My question was whether or not you would call the parents and ask if they knew about it. If they say yes and they are fine with it, then end of story. I was also curious if I was the only one who felt the book was a bit inappropriate for a 12 year old.

Peeved Michelle:

If you have already judged the book to be inappropriate then obviously you should call because if you don't, you are going against what you think is the right thing to do.

My point is that I don't think it matters if YOU think a fiction book available for sale to minors without parental permission is appropriate for a 12 y.o. or not.

I disagree with you on both counts. I don't think the book is inappropriate and I wouldn't call the parents because I wouldn't consider it any of my business. I would tell the student that I have read the book and would love to discuss it with her when she is done or if she has any questions while she is reading it.

You are allowed to do whatever you want, but you asked for opinions and I gave you mine.

Other Mother:

First of all this wasn't a debate on whether or not the book should be sold to minors. I could care less what goes on outside of my classroom.
it is my business in my classroom. If a child was reading penthouse in my classroom guess who gets in trouble? Me. I think you are forgetting this is not a friend's child at my house or somewhere else, this is in school in my classroom. I am 100% responsible for what goes on. So it isn't a question of whether or not it is my business, it is a question of how I handle it.

Peeved Michelle:

>>Do I ask her mom if she is aware that her daughter is reading the book? Do I ignore it? What would you do?<<

To answer the questions you specifically asked:
No
Yes
Ignore it

I am telling you that I would ignore it and I am explaining to you why I would do so. I wasn't debating whether or not the book should be sold to minors. I was pointing out that it is sold to minors and that is one of the reasons supporting my opinion. Bringing Penthouse into the discussion is irrelevant. That is material that is illegal for minors to buy or possess and is likely against a specific school policy. I assume you would confiscate it immediately and the child would receive disciplinary action from the dean or principal with a call to the parents.

The fact that you are arguing every point makes it clear that you have made up your mind. If you think it is appropriate for you to call the parents, then do it. You obviously feel that it is your business to do so. I am not even arguing that you don't have a right to do what you feel is right.

I am just saying that I think you are imposing your morals on a situation that isn't your business. You disagree with my opinion, which is fine with me. I am really only responding because I want to be sure that I am clear and that your response is not due to a misunderstanding of my position.

This teacher doesn't see that she is either (A) accusing the mom of not paying attention to what her child does, or (B) letting the mom know that she thinks the mom should not be letting her child read the book even though the mother has already allowed it. THAT is the judgment call I don't think it is her place to make. She quit responding after my last post so she either went to bed or she got pissed at me and stormed off.