Grades, Etc.

I am rejoicing, grabbing the good news and not thinking about tomorrow. The university that I attend allows students the ability to review grades on-line. Thus far I am getting a solid A in both intro to psychology and comp I. A bit of a disappointment though - my first paper came back 47/50. I made a couple of foolish mistakes and have, hopefully, learned lessons for the next one.

Special thanks to my cheering section here at home. They tiptoed about while I was agonizing over my first college paper.

This weekend I need to draft a contrast/comparison paper. Topics are still shuffling around in my mind - the instructor says it has to matter to you and you shouldn't know the outcome until you have done the "t" chart. Huh? Motherhood doesn't operate in a t-chart world (my previous careers didn't lend themselves to this process either). The majority of the decisions in my world happen either very quickly (stop hitting your sister/brother; yes, we need orange juice; the tank is 1/2 full, we are filling up) or the data is still being collected for the really big ones (I could have charted the college decision). Pending.

This afternoon the kids are enjoying the newly-repaired wood splitter. They are stocking a little shed with split wood to burn in the wood stove in the house. No t-chart needed here - heating costs are going up, wood is mostly free....you do the math.

The girls studied about South Africa this week at Wednesday school (the year's focus is Africa). Child #3 chattered for 50 miles on the way home about diamonds, apartheid, Nelson Mandela and more. I don't get to sit with them during the unit study time - I hang out with the five high school students who have younger siblings in attendance. The spread between a four year old and an 8th grader is broad enough for Mrs. Lund to teach without adding high schoolers to the mix. In addition, high school students need every moment to study (at least their parents think so). My "job" is to make sure that the high school students have a quiet place to study. I don't teach anyone except my child. This does give us time together to review tough concepts. I also have time to study without distractions like laundry, housecleaning, the telephone, etc.

I need to get the soup on (literally) for tonight. The french bread is rising and the soup needs to be bubbling.

Happy weekend to you!