Getting Ready For The Holidays

As I'm writing this, I feel like I'm still in the warm glow of "turkey coma"...the sensation of eating turkey until feeling like you're going to pop, resulting in not wanting to eat again for a week.
After rolling ourselves away from the table on Thursday afternoon, us ladies began looking through the sale ads, looking to see if there really was anything we wanted to stay up all night and wait in line for - there wasn't. If you are like most people, you are sometimes at a lost as to what to give our children for Christmas that would interest them for more than a few hours.
Common Sense Media has compiled a list gift ideas...take a look and let me know if it was worth posting!

70+ Gift Ideas for Every Kid on Your List

11-11-11

Yesterday, I asked some of our students and teachers why is Friday a special day? Their response: It's 11-11-11! OK - what else? All I got were blank stares...
Yes, the calendar anomaly is cool, but it's Veteran's Day people! A time to reflect and give a heart-felt "Thank You" to all of our military personnel.
My boys and I have been watching the Vietnam in HD documentary on the History Channel for the past few nights and I asked them what they were doing in school to recognize Veteran's Day. Both boys told me that they had an assembly or breakfast where Veterans were invited to be their guests and do some special activities to thank them for their service to our country. Ian said this was one of his favorite days..."you get to do something that's real". Isn't that important? To connect our children to what is going on around them and teaching them how to be thankful and compassionate and what those words really mean?
Tyler mentioned that most of the people who came fought in Vietnam. He was really shocked after seeing some of the footage of how our soldiers were treated when they returned from the war. I count myself lucky to have sons who put the feelings of others in front of their own and are truly appreciative for all our service-men and women do for us...or, at least until Tyler is old enough to register! :-)
Happy Veteran's Day!

MSCA Fall Conference

Greetings from Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach!
I am lucky enough to be here with some of the best and most creative people in the state of Missouri - Professional School Counselors! Over the past 3 days, I have learned so much and gained a new insight into my role in the school as well as how students, parents and the school should interact in order to provide a wonderful educational, social and emotional background.
I have talked with psychologists, activists, PSC and LPC, as well as someone from the Missouri Attorney General's office - and in the next few weeks, I'll share some of the ideas and thoughts from these people.
I did spend last night listening to Dr. Phillip Vincent (former CEP Lifetime Achievement, or Sandy, Award Recipient). He was amazing. The one line that really stands out to me and that I'm going to start using: "Be the person your dog thinks you are". How much better would this world be if everyone lived by that model?

Until next time - enjoy! (and I'll be back to school soon - can't wait to see our kiddos!)