In My Brain Today: No Time for Flashcards

At the beginning of summer break, I made a nice list of things I wanted to accomplish, not just for me personally, but for the whole family–places to go, things to do around the house, kid-related goals, large purchases.  I am happy to report that most of the things on that list have gotten marked off.  Clean garage–done.  Power-wash house–done.  Attend St. Louis baby shower–done.  But there remains one item on the list that has yet to be marked off: prepare for kindergarten. 

While this goal of sorts is more on-going than a one time deal, it’s just not happening.  At all.  In the spring I had purchased these workbooks, “Everything Your Kindgergartner Needs to Know about____” and had all of the best intentions of working through them, a couple of pages a day.  It didn’t need to be a long drawn out process,  but something more like 10-15 minutes a day.  It’s not happening.  The workbooks still smell brand-new, but they’re collecting dust.  Embarrassing. 

Last week, I took myself to the local teacher’s store.  Loved every minute of being there.  A bit overwhelming at times, but chock (ot is it “chalk?!”)  full of great products that awakened my inner teacher.  Fifty-plus dollars later I left with an arm-load of numeracy activities, rhyming games, literacy beach balls (?!) , cute pencils (to serve as rewards for completing a workbook page, of course!)and a box of photographic flashcards for high-frequency words.  I couldn’t wait.   I was as giddy as a school girl ready to tackle some pre-kindergarten readiness teaching. 

But it hasn’t happened.  I have no excuses.  I’m a loser parent.  Instead, the high-frequency words around our house of late have been, “use nice words,”  “Work it out, you two,” “You’re wearing me out,” “that’s a time out,” “I need you to focus.”…..Blah.  I can’t take it anymore.  I don’t want to sit down at the kitchen table and play teacher with them.  I don’t even want to play the rhyming game, which is sort of disguised as a fun board game.  No way.  I just want to hide.  I want to curl up in my leather chair, pop in some ear plugs, and read a juicy book.  I want Calgon to take me away.  Now. 

I know there will come a time when I am ready to break into the flashcards, but for now, I am just fried. 

And that’s what’s in my brain today, July 8 2010.