Bible Camp

After the swim season finished with a fun banquet filled with yummy food, certificate, and trophies, my big kids participated in this year's Vacation Bible School at our church. This was Boogie's 4th year at camp, but it was his first year to participate in Big Camp.  This was Buggy's first year at camp and she loved it.

I was asked to be volunteer coordinator again.  I waited a few days to type a nice email saying "No, not this year, but I'll be happy to lead one of the groups" because my first reaction was "Hell no!" And I didn't think that was an appropriate response.  I really didn't enjoy being the volunteer coordinator last year. A lot of it had to do with having a nursing infant who had reflux and screamed all the time, lack of much needed sleep, and becoming frustrated with volunteers who didn't understand that they needed to go through the archdiocesan's mandatory class on protecting our children and required fingerprinting.  If you want to work with children within our parish, you absolutely have to take the class and be fingerprinted as part of the background check. As a parent, I realize it's not an easy thing to find time to take the class and journey about an hour's train ride for a 5 minute fingerprinting if you missed the oh-so-convenient (NOT!) one day a month on a random Tuesday fingerprinting at a nearby parish.  However, as a parent, I really don't want someone working with my child(ren) who has not gone through the class or through a background check, and I'm pretty sure the other parents felt the same way.  Anyhoo...I said, "no, thank you" to being the volunteer coordinator.

However, I was very much looking forward to leading one of the camp groups. Each of the big kids wanted me to lead their group and that would have been impossible. So I signed up to be a volunteer and told the kids that I allowed the director to place me wherever she needed the most help and that I did ask to be placed in one of their classes. Both kids were okay with that and it alleviated any guilt on my part for not being in both classes at once.

Buggy and Cha Cha enjoying a break outside

It was totally the right decision to be a group leader this year. I was placed in Buggy's class as a preschool teacher for 3 year olds.  We had the added bonus of having Buggy's friend Cha-Cha in the same group. The girls loved being at camp together.  I lucked out and had a very reliable teen be my teacher's helper. I had several teens, but I hand-picked S. because I knew she would be awesome. I rarely had to direct her to do anything, she went with instinct and made my life easier while working with 13(!) preschoolers.  I had other teens, but they needed more direction. It was nice to have S. just get things done when I was busy teaching the class.

I had a great group of preschoolers and loved having them in my class. I LOVED teaching them and I LOVED that it was only a week.  Hats off to full-time preschool teachers. It takes a very special person to lovingly teach and handle preschool children.  

Buggy loved her time at camp. We visited Peru 1600AD and learned about St. Rose and St. Martin de Porres. We made crafts, watched a mini-drama on the saints acted out by some of the teen helpers, learned new songs, and tried making different things in the market place.

Boogie loved his time as well and came home full of stories of his day around the market place.  He brought home a ton of crafts and learned so much about the saints.

Mr. Bananas was able to be in the nursery while I taught. He was able to go on daily walks around the camp with the nursery helpers and see what everyone was doing.

All in all it was a good time had by all.  

Cha Cha

This year I realized that I am much better suited as a group leader for campers than I am organizing and planning camp.  I am definitely capable of being on the leadership team, but I don't enjoy it. I want to have a happy heart when I volunteer and my heart was swelling with happiness when I taught and interacted with my preschoolers.  That's where I belong and hope to be next year. Yes, next year. We'll be participating in camp again next year and my kids can't wait!

Buggy

Buggy making bread in the market place

ACK!

Last week I taught preschoolers at our Church's Bible Camp. It was a great experience. Unfortunately because of a terrible storm the night before, we couldn't begin on Monday because the church didn't have any electricity.  We started on Tuesday and nobody was expecting that we'd get our power back so quickly.

Let me start by saying that last week was a wonderful experience. I absolutely loved it and so did my kids. Boogs loved being in camp and Buggy was a hit in the nursery.

But, ACK!  I was so late the first day of camp. It was so bad. I just couldn't get moving in the morning and it was awful. I finally got us fed and dressed and still had time to barely make it to camp in time to realize that I could not find my keys. I looked everywhere and called my husband in a panic.  I didn't have anyone's number so it wasn't like I could call and tell them that I would still be there, but was running late. I think I had a panic attack as I ran around the house like a chicken with it's head cut off.  After saying a prayer to St. Anthony, the finder of lost things, I found my keys. (St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around. What has been lost cannot be found.) Let me say that St. Anthony has saved me many a time!

I found my keys headed down the road and realized I left my lesson plan at home. I had to sacrifice an extra 5 minutes going back to the house to pick it up. I truly needed it, otherwise I would have ditched it. But it had my class list and the story lesson for the day. ARGHHHHHH!  Driving down the road I thought we might make it, then the closer we got to church realized that multiple lights were out and we had to do a 4-way stop at each intersection.  I might it to camp 5 minutes after the day was supposed to start. Not only that I still had to put Buggy in the nursery with all of her stuff and check her in and put her in a new environment without any prep. Thank God she's the second baby and goes with the flow!  I also had to walk Boogie to his class and get him settled. Of course as I pull into the lot, the director calls and because I'm fumbling with everything I accidentally hang up on her. I quickly call her back and she is very annoyed and rightfully so!  I'm late and she doesn't know where I am.  And I'm not a little bit late, I'm probably 20 minutes late, because of course I should be there at least 15 minutes before the campers arrive.  That's BAD!  Fortunately, when I ran into her in the hall on the way to my class she was pleasant and nice. I think she was just relieved that I showed up!  I walk into my room and my fabulous teenage helpers (which include the director's daughter!) have already started circle time and getting to know the kids and their names. They're singing and the kids have no idea that I'm way behind. There is a parent there and I'm mortified. I apologize and she's so cool and doesn't give me a hard time.

My teenage helpers tell me to relax and they truly do have it under control. I put away my stuff, take a deep breath, look over the plan one more time and ease into their circle time. The rest of the day went well and the rest of the week even better!  It was a great camp experience, minus the getting there on time part on the first day.

The worst part is that when I spoke to Hubby later in the day he told me he's pretty sure he got a call from the director looking for me. His phone rang, he didn't recognize the number, but answered anyway.  He heard someone say to someone else in a panicked voice, "I can't talk to you right now! I have a teacher who hasn't shown up and we don't know where she is!" He said, "hello" a few times, but the director was so busy that she didn't realize he had picked up and ended up hanging up without speaking to him. Probably about the same time I called to say I was there in the parking lot.

I.am.absolutely.mortified!  I was debating about volunteering next year, but at this rate, I'm too embarrassed to offer my services because I think they think I'm a huge flake!  As you can see this blog is aptly named. I am truly the epitome of the discombobulated mommy. *sigh*

Preschool Camp

Today is supposed to be the first day of our Church's Summer Camp. I'm really looking forward to it, but it's possible it will be delayed a day because there are power outages all over the county. Currently our church is without power and with the weather being crazy hot recently, we can't ask the volunteers and campers to participate in a fun, but hot day.

I think I'm ready. I set up my classroom and finished most of the props ready for this week. I should probably look over today's lesson plan. But I feel pretty good. Last night I was a little nervous because I haven't taught preschoolers before, but I'm sure that my experience with middle schoolers will come in handy ;)  This morning I woke up feeling pretty confident. I met one of my teenage helpers and she is on the ball. I'm really excited to be working with her and I think she'll be great with the kids.

Now we just wait to see if we're on today. Wish us luck!

Is Teaching in My Blood?

Last night I had a dream that I was back in a classroom teaching fourth graders. I was making mistakes in some of my routines, but was already making mental notes how to make things go more smoothly the next day.

Don't get me wrong. I don't have any intention of going back to the classroom anytime soon. I love staying home with my kids. I recently told Hubby that any day that I get to wake up and stay home with the kids and not have to leave for work is a good day.  It doesn't mean I'll never work again, but it does mean that I've decided to make my kids my priority. When the time comes, I'll go back to work...but I still don't think it will be the classroom. I have another idea that I'll share in another 10 years ;)

I think I had this dream because I'm preparing for my son's preschool summer camp with our church.  This year I have been recruited as a preschool teacher and I'll be teaching 3 & 4 year olds about religious life in Ireland in year 600 AD or is 400AD?  I'm really excited for the opportunity, but a little nervous. My expertise is upper elementary and middle school. While I have young children, teaching a group of them will be a completely different experience.

At the last meeting for the preschool camp, there was a request for volunteers to help keep the camp running next year.  The current director has decided to step down after 5 years. She has done an amazing job, but it is a lot of work!  We don't use a box VBS (Vacation Bible School) curriculum and it takes the effort of many volunteers to put the camp together for 60-90 campers a year.  Anyway, she suggested that the camp continue with no less than 25 volunteers and is asking for future volunteers to keep the camp going.

If you know me or have worked with me you know that I'll volunteer and then tend to take on too much. I did this with my former job and I completely burnt myself out. So for the last 2 years my mantra has been...let me think about it. I just know that if I say "yes" I'll put 110% into it.  Which is great, but then I get stressed and then stress out my family.  So I held back and didn't volunteer (yet) for next year's camp.    I intended this year to take my new teaching assignment and do what I was told and not take a leadership position, but do what was asked and do it to the best of my ability. But.....

I can't help it! We broke down in small groups to go over our lessons for the week. Since I was the only one in the preschool group that made it to the first meeting I had all the information for the other ladies.  So of course, I sat down and started going over class lists and schedule. I started going over lessons and provided suggestions. Hubby laughed when I told him that I couldn't help it but I'm really good at telling people what to do. Go ahead and laugh. I know you are!

We talked and collaborated and shared ideas...but if there was a leader I was probably it because I led the  discussion. Sorry! I don't mean to, I just can't help myself. I think it's the teacher in me. I also think it's the administrator in me that has always been buried inside. But despite all of this, I do not want to take a leadership position anywhere!!

So it brings me to what I've been thinking about for the last 3 days...should I add myself to next year's volunteer list? This kind of thing is definitely my strength. I have the organization for it, the training for it, and the experience.  I know that if I volunteer that I won't be the only one. The group is filled with other parents who are go-getters, self-motivated, and creative.  I would not be doing this by myself.  I would actually be in a league of others who are in the same mind-frame.  I think the camp is a great idea and I know that my son loves it.  He totally benefits from it and I love the structure.  I would hate if the camp couldn't continue because we didn't have enough volunteers.

So here I am...debating.

In My Element

Last night I did make it to the Summer Camp Volunteer meeting. I was very late, but was able to sit down and get some of the information needed and figured out what was expected of me.

As I sat down looking at schedules, themes, and ideas for the week, I felt like I was back in my element. You see, in my former life, I was a teacher. I taught 4th grade (all subjects) for 4 years, and then I became a Middle School Reading Specialist and I worked with students 6th-8th grade.  I dedicated 110% of my life to my job (before kids).  My husband and I were both in grad school and were fairly busy so I could devote a ton of time to my job.  I loved the routine of teaching. Set routines and lessons, with the flexibility to change it up to fit the needs of my kids.  I loved introducing them to something new and seeing it added to their schema and expanding their knowledge.  However, I did it for 8 years and burnt myself out.  I joined the leadership team at school and then attended meeting after meeting and didn't get to spend as much time doing what I loved and that was being with the kids.  Even though one perk to being on leadership was that I got to develop school-wide programs that benefitted the kids and that was pretty cool!

I realize that since I'm home with my kids that I could create neat thematic units to teach at home that incorporate all of the subject areas, I'm still pretty burnt out from teaching a full schedule.  So I haven't done it with my own kids yet. But at the same time, I feel like I'm always teaching because I teach them new vocabulary the every day (like last week I taught my 4 year old the word "parameters"), simple math (the kids are 4 and 20 mos), history, and science. I encourage questions and do my best to answer them. So I teach them, it's just not formally.

Anyway, as I sat with the outlines for preschool summer camp, my mind started racing with ideas for guided questions, visuals, hands-on activities, and text to accompany it.  I started to get excited and began writing down ideas to start working on this week.  Last year I helped the preschool kids with art activities that supported the lessons. This year I will be a preschool teacher.  I'm really excited but a little nervous. To be honest, I do better with older kids. But I'm looking forward to working with the little ones. It will take a different type of teaching style, but I think I can make it work.  This year the camp is "traveling" to Ireland! How cool!  I can't wait to share this pilgrimage with the little ones :)