It rarely happens, so this weekend was a treat. My world as a mother and my world as a teacher generally spend most of their time in conflict, competing for my attention. I have never heard either of my daughters say “my mom has the coolest job- she is an English teacher!” They readily admit that they do not understand why ANYONE would want to teach reading and writing. In fact, both of them think I am rather “nerdy,” especially when I get excited about grammar homework or choosing book titles with them.
This was all true, until Grace Olding was assigned her first research paper. She actually asked me for help! We spent the better part of Saturday morning researching information about the Spanish conquistador, Hernando De Soto. I was showing her how to cite information and she was, at first reluctantly taking an interest…but then it happened. A switch flipped. She couldn’t stop researching. “Mom, did you know he wasn’t a very nice man – he made all of his money by enslaving Indians.” “Mom, guess what, he ended up marrying the daughter of the first guy he worked for.” Before she knew it, she was almost finished with the research portion and beginning her writing. Her last sentences are my favorite; she wrote “Hernando De Soto was looking for gold, but he found something even better. He found the Mississippi River. That is a good thing.”
Now, as if a 5th grade research paper wasn’t enough for me to goon out over, it just so happens to be “Right to Read Week” and the girls had to write a family poem. WHAT FUN! I gave them a template that I use with my seniors in a folklore unit. We sat at the table and gathered ideas. Then I showed them how to piece words together. They went through a series of drafts. Their final product is adorable. I am so proud of them… and I suspect that even thought they are not ready to admit it publically… the English teaching mom was a bonus this weekend.
Here is their poem:
The Olding Girls
We are from Herb and Nettie, Richard and Vera, Bob and Helen, Bill and Grandma Jean, Papaw Ken and Grandma Brenda.
From Maria Stein, Russia, Houston, and Sidney – Williams Street and Hoewisher Road.
We are from families too big for one kitchen table.
We are from “Hail Mary full of Grace” and “close your eyes, shut your mouth,
or my fist will knock you out.”
We are from “The Hamptons” at Christmas and summers at Indian Lake.
From “pamcakes” on Sundays, Grandma Weigandt’s apple pie,
and cheeseballs at Papaw’s house.
We are from Sidney Yellow Jackets, Houston Wildcats, Holy Angels Wings,
and Lehman Cavaliers.
From dirt bikes and dirt roads to poetry and prayers; from hillbillies to highly educated.
We are from bike rides to the cul-de-sac and backyard dance parties.
From soccer tournaments on the weekends to weekday Catholic school uniforms.
We are from church on Sunday mornings and soccer games on Sunday afternoons.
We are from loving the Disney princesses to loving four wheelers.
From First Confessions, First Communions, and first cousins we love to see!
We are from an English teacher, a chiropractor, and a pesky little brother we call “Fudge.”
We are from watching Mulan and the Lion King to
watching “Wheel of Fortune” and “The Cupcake Wars.”
We are from trips to Chilly Jilly’s after school and before school alarm clocks that we ignore.
We are from playing outside until it is dark and putting on Taylor Swift concerts in our living room,
We are from goofy, busy, silly, prayerful, strict, funny, weird, and loving parents.
We are the Olding Girls.
LOVE IT! What a great poem and even better GIRLS. My Olding girls who I adore.
ReplyDelete