SPRING BREAK CAMP, DAY 1

Monday, March 31, 2008

Click to see it big if you can't read it. THIS coulda been way worse.

LONGEST MINUTE OF YOUR DAY

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Certainly the longest of mine! You would think with Sarah slowing down the clock all the time, I wouldn't feel like life was passing by so quickly. But alas...

Music: Minute Waltz by Chopin, played by Anthony Zanghi

PROACTIVE PANIC

Friday, March 28, 2008

So this week Sarah got her Bat Mitzvah date - August 14, 2010. Oh lordy lordy my head is spinning.

• I am old. (I knew it before, but now I have a daughter who will technically become a woman, and everyone else will know I'm old)
• I have to give a party for 150 people. Or 100. Or whoever shows up. (what if nobody shows up?!)
• I have to plan said party. And other related events. We have to pay for this party. Blar.

What if my alarm breaks and we forget to wake up for the Bat Mitzvah? What if I cry through the whole thing and miss it? What if the videographer hits the wrong button and erases the whole tape?

Of course, partly this panic is being brought on because we just got back from my friend Melissa's daughter's Bat Mitzvah last week in Boston and I got to see birds-eye style what this all entails. Melissa had it all under complete control and the events were not only fun, but flawless, and she didn't miss a trick. She made chocolate and peppermint bark. She made individual bookmarks for people to take home. Her family and her in-laws all participated in the service and the party hosting. She successfully avoided family political disasters. She survived teenage angst and some -ahem- teenage physical changes. She had a bathroom leak and just let it roll right off.

I'll have what she's having. (seriously)

YOU ARE THE BEST (AND YOU, AND YOU...)

Monday, March 24, 2008

Today Becca was a "student standout" in her class. She got an award at an assembly for being loving, always coming to the rescue of people who are hurt or sad, and saying thank you.

Of course, this is 2 days after she spent some quality time in the principal's office for inflicting bodily harm of various sorts on her fellow classmates.

I shouldn't be so crass. I should be happy. Becca was beaming and she clung to her little certificate as if it was a gold bar. Still, it doesn't compute to me. When I was growing up, being a winner meant that there were losers. Winning meant you were the best at something! Nowadays, EVERYONE is a winner. EVERYONE is celebrated.

Is this good? I don't know. How are we going to compete in the global economy if we convince all the kids that they are the best when the very definition of "the best" means that this can't be true?

Well, I suppose it was all fine. At least she wasn't the kid who got the award for "doing nice artwork" or "having a pretty smile." If she's going to get an award for being fake-best, at least it's for things like love, compassion, and gratitude - virtues that can at some point help her transcend that mean left hook of hers...