Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Parent Teacher Conference 2 and 7 Things

This parent teacher conference for Riley was much less frustrating than the last.

Riley seems to have mastered the craft of standardized tests. Woo hoo! Now, I'm not a fan of these tests by any means, but I also know that they're still a brutal fact, and all my ranting in the world won't change that my children will continue to be subjected to them, and thereby judged by them. So if Riley can kick some standardized-testing butt, you go, girl!

This time, Riley came to the conference and saw me "ooh" and "aah" over her great test scores (all 90% or better). On her progress report card, she received some of her sought-after 4s (what used to be an A back in the day), which made her very happy.

Mrs. R also complimented Riley on being more responsible and not losing track of things as much as before, so that's also great news. Let's hope it can translate more at home as well!

The only area still of concern is her writing. She can do it when she really focuses on writing neater, but - as most people I know - she tends to get frantic and write quickly. I do that, too. We talked about her practicing more to get better at it, and make it come easier to her, but I have to confess...I don't much care about that. By the time she's in high school and beyond, anything of educational or career value will be on the computer anyway. Again, we can lament the loss of good handwriting skills all we want - it's still not going to change the reality of our technological world (she typed).

I decided to try and make a big deal of this as possible (and also give myself a break - close to the end of the day, I got a call that there's a very viable buyer for the condo) and we went to Weinerschnitzel's (Riley's favorite) for dinner. Riley was thrilled, Sylvia was thrilled, everybody had a happy night. I think I'm done with parent teacher conferences for Riley for the year. Phew!

And now for something completely different (is that copyrighted?):

I love it when the cool kids tag me! Tara at If Mom Says OK, who serves as inspiration to many of us through her wisdom of having "been there, done that" has tagged me for the 7 Things Meme.

Here are the rules

Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I admit, I'm biased against the well-off. I very rarely feel comfortable in their company. Every now and then, I get the opportunity to rub elbows (through my "show biz" past and my "living in L.A." present), and it's always surreal for me. Sometimes, stuff happens that reinforces my feeling of not belonging there, but sometimes I have a really good time. But I always suffer for the first few minutes feeling like I should've gone in the servants' entrance instead. I'm acknowledging the prejudice exists at least. Maybe if I had more opportunity - LOL - I'd get over it!

2. IMing scares me (CableGirl knows this one :). I always feel under pressure to be witty and instantly! I prefer the slower pace of blogs and emails...and being able to backspace, backspace, delete!

3. I talk to myself way too much...and not always when I'm alone, either. Sometimes (usually at work), I wish I were alone so that I could talk to myself in private, thank you very much!

4. I really, really want to be the "perfect parent." I don't want to accept the reality that I already have not been, nor ever will be.

5. I am fully aware that I use quotations "way" too much. Whatever!

6. I love being in the middle of a really good book, but inevitably, I ruin it for myself by staying up way too late to finish it and then regret it in the morning.

7. I started this 7 things post 4 days ago, and still can't come up with a 7th thing. I give up.

If you would like, consider yourself tagged.

12 comments:

KG said...

Good for her on her kickass test scores! My handwriting? Also totally illegible.

Anonymous said...

Awesome, Riley. Kick ass on those standardized tests. It's just one of the many hoops you have to jump through. :)

And just for that comment about IM, I"m going to IM you. ;)

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear the parent teacher conference went well.

So sorry to hear about the potential buyer. No need to stress about it though until they sign anything.

Glad you and the ladies had fun at dinner!!

Anonymous said...

That's awesome about the parent teacher conference! I have horrible handwriting and it can be attributed to the computer. But you know what? I DON'T CARE.

As far as your number one thing: I am the same way, except one time I got myself involved in a "mommy group" in my area. My very expensive area. The difference between me and the other women were that I lived in a small apartment and they owned million dollar homes.

They are some of the NICEST people I have ever met. They made me feel so at ease, so much more so than the other mom's group (of less priveleged women) did. Now I get just a teensy bit less tense in front of the well-off.

Kori said...

Thank you God, thank you! I have something to write about now! I will be the ONE person who says yay, I am going to just go on ahead and pretend April tagges me specifically so that I have something in my little brain....

Tara R. said...

Congrats to Riley! Way to go. Thanks for playing along. I have to agree with #3 (got a Bluetooth for my phone just for this reason)and #6 (can't tell you how many all-nighters I pulled just to finish a book).

Anonymous said...

I don't talk to myself much - I tend to talk to inanimate objects and the radio a whole lot though.

No we will see if it lets me post this as it hasn't let me the past few times I have tried to post.

Single Working Mommy said...

Yeah for Riley! I am starting to fear the standarized test, and I still have years before Son will even be close to needing to take one.

I have horrible handwriting. So much so, some people at work have asked for "translators".

And I don't stay up late to read the book--I just look at the back page or read the last chapter. Hush!

Kori said...

I am totally anal about my handwriting-it is perfect. I DON'T do cursive, though. And tlaking to myself? Yep; only interesting person in the office with whom I can converse....

OHmommy said...

i am scared of parent teacher conferences. just had my first one last week. ugh!

why was i so nervous?

and i used to be a teacher. go figure.

BusyDad said...

haha! The IM thing is so true. It's almost like you need a list of fallback jokes when you are IMing. Just in case your mind goes blank. I hate real time. I am not at all entertaining in real time.

Julie@My5monkeys said...

glad to hear that the parent teacher conference went well.