46 Dreads
Yeah I counted them…what it’s cool.
They are so versatile, today I have them pulled back on the sides, with a headband and ponytail. Chris says it looks like business in the front and a party in the back! I love them! Okay that’s enough.
They make me feel mysterious. Okay I’m done.
Let me vent a little about my week, STRESSFUL. If you are a parent and someone has said something negative against your children, then you may be able to relate here. Tuesday William’s teacher approached me about where he is compared to the rest of his class. She is concerned because he seems to be behind on his reading comprehension and math. His teacher was in no way attacking me or my parenting style, she was just inquiring on his past classes and learning styles. She has been working with him one on one and accessing how well he is picking up the work. I am a bit concerned that she is over reacting, but this sort of stuff comes with the package of public school. As apart of this choice, William is expected to keep up with the standards and I believe it is my job to help him keep up. So to help him get “caught up” we are spending about 2 hours a day Monday thru Thursday studying. William and I have also been discussing extensively how he should take school seriously and how important an education is, especially if he wants to be a paleontologist. He is starting to understand and he is also beginning to understand how much more comfortable homeschooling is.
You can probably imagine how upset I was after this conversation, I mean in no way was she accusing me of neglecting my child, but I always feel responsible for these kids. Needless to say, I spent the rest of the day in tears, my roommates couldn’t even cheer me up. This parenting gig is pretty much a struggle all the time, you know? A funny little thing happens to me when I get upset, I retreat, I don’t feel like facing or participating in the world. I like to think of this retreating as a sort of prayer/meditation time. This is when I beg God to make me better than I am, oh it’s true. My conversation with God has gone something like this, “God you created a beautiful planet, universe, God everything you have created is awesome. God you are so good at what you do, I want to be good at what I do too. I am a mother and I want to be a good mom, God make me a good MOM!” I think that’s pretty reasonable right? Well toward the end of this prayer/meditation time, it hit me, William doesn’t have any learning disabilities. He is the smartest kids I know. He would blow the socks off of anyone, from the vast knowledge he holds especially about dinosaurs.
The thing about William, he has kind of been catered to because of his size. Babied if you will. He can play this, I can’t do it thing, add a little frown and bam he has people eating out of his hands. All this brings us back to having some pretty intense conversations, omitting video games and cartoons, and adding a couple hours of studying and already I can see some improvement on William’s attitude for schoolwork.
I just finished Eat Pray Love, and I enjoyed it. It has inspired me to persue a meditative and prayerful lifestyle. I don’t totally agree with everything she wrote about, spirit brothers and such. I did like it and I plan to follow it up with the next book Committed.
Commentary
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On January 30, 2010 Vivian said...
Wow- I didn’t see you’ve been blogging! I haven’t dared to post my dread pictures but I will soon! I think the fit week was the worst! But I wash every other day with Dr.Bronners and then blow dry and palm roll. I read up a lot about dread hair care on dreadlocktruth.com. I also got really inspired by some dread flickr sets! They are so beautiful when they finally lock up and so versatile as you said! Even though I was hesitant, I’m really glad to have them. Aren’t they so effortless? I also got some wool fabric beads and a hand blown glass bead off of Etsy, which I think helps me feel feminine with all these fuzzy locks. Are yours falling apart a bit? Mine are, but I hear that is part of the process - they fall apart and then lock up again on their own. Also, I brushed out the ends and leave them undreaded- I like the way it looks and I feel more normal when I reach up I can still toy with the end of my tresses, lol.
OK, enough with the dread talk.
I am sorry to hear about this with William- but I know you are such an amazing mom with a big heart for your kids and will do what you think is best for him. He is lucky!
Please hurry back from Florida so we can hang out before I leave for Arkansas… I can hardly believe how soon this is all ending! *tear*
Drive safe…