Overall: feeling good. I had a few frustrating situations at work, but all of that has been resolved. The administration supported me and determined that hard work is to be on behalf of the student and is for student’s long-term benefit.

Reading: a new book called “Tapping In” by L. Parnell. In essence, you use visualizations and memories while doing bilateral tapping on your knees, the sides of your legs, or your shoulders. I have done EFT tapping before, for anxiety, and this kind of bilateral tapping is similar. In a very simplified way, say you have an unpleasant situation (example: a difficult conversation), you bring to mind someone who is NOT a people pleaser and who does not have problems saying no, then you sit with that visual for a while then start tapping/softly drumming on your knees or shoulders. Apparently, it is related to the EMDR technique that is sometimes used to treat PTSD.

Eating: Polish kielbasa, sour kraut, and broccoli. Washing it all down with hot tea.

Celebrating: My son R on his first year of pre-school!! His pre-school had their moving up ceremony today, and it was so sweet! They performed three songs, then we could go into their class, take pictures and spend some time with the kids. They even had a marine theme: “we all are separate fishes, but we swim together, in one school.” I’m paraphrasing, of course. Ah, so good. To be clear, while it’s called a moving up ceremony, it’s more of a moving along ceremony. R is not going to kindergarten next year – too young. All kids are to be 5 by October 1st of a school year but he is a January baby. So another year of pre-school it is. I don’t mind. His teachers at this pre-school were amazing, he is learning, and it’s completely free.

Enjoying: the patio set [again]. Today, I came back from the moving up ceremony, I sat outside for a long time, reading, having tea, eating, texting. I even took a nap. Then the city showed up to trim the tree down the road, and they woke me up. Wahhhh lol. I seriously needed a down day, where I did very little but spent time reading and just…being.

Looking forward to:

~ tomorrow! It’s my last day of work. I will wear my doctoral gown, heels, and see some of my students graduate high school! I will not cry, I promise, but I will feel emotional. After tomorrow, summer officially starts for me. The kids still have almost two weeks of school.

~ Saturday! My sister friend H birthday celebration at a restaurant.

~ Sunday! Father’s Day! We have a surprise for T but, mainly, he will spend time working on his models and playing video games. The kids and I will probably go to the beach after breakfast.


15 responses to “A beautiful day: 13 June 2024”

  1. rachelinwales Avatar

    Aww the moving up ceremony is so cute! So T will be one of the oldest in his class when he starts kindergarten? The cutoff for starting school in 1st September here, so my early September daughter is going to be the oldest in her class. However we start school when children are 4, so they have to be 4 on September 1st to start Reception year.

    It’s so nice that you get free pre-school. My daughter gets free pre-school in September (Because she will be 3 on September 1st) but it is only 2.5 hours a day and we have to pay for the rest.

    Your weekend sounds so nice. Congratulations on the end of school! I hope you get some much needed rest. I am looking forward to your summer adventure posts.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      Hi Rachel! yes, in our town the full day re-school is free. And I think Biden made it free for everyone last year? Yes, R will be older than some of his mates but I’m fine with it. September to January is four months, and I don’t want hims to be too little in the kindergarten. My oldest, L, is a November birthday, so she, too, is older than some of her mates. She did well, she is now going to 1st grade next September – ahhh I can’t take it lol

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  2. Elisabeth Avatar

    Those pictures of the kids are TOO CUTE! And how wonderful they are still in school a few weeks after you finish to offer a bit of an exhale from all the tensions of the year while also prepping for a busy summer ahead.

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  3. Melissa Avatar

    I’m so glad the administration had your back with the difficult parents. Some parents these days are ridiculous, and not doing their kids any favours. My daughter works for a school photography company and has to deal with a lot of phone calls from difficult parents—they’re school photos people!

    Your kids are just too cute! Yay to the start of summer for you. Enjoy, I know you’ll have plenty of fun things planned for you all. Enjoy your weekend.

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  4. Lisa’s Yarns Avatar

    I’m envious of your free all day preschool! That is not a thing here unless you qualify for it financially. I am glad that program exists for those who qualify though. And I am glad there is a pay-based PK program at Paul’s school. Taco will attend that in the fall of 2025 hopefully! I can’t wait for one drop off.

    Your outdoor nap sounds delightful! I am glad you got some time for yourself to recharge your battery!

    Paul’s last day of school is today! He is pretty sad because he loved school but he will see lots of friends in the summer program he attends at the school. That starts next Thursday so we just have a 3 day gap in care and one of those days is Juneteenth which Phil and I have off.

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    1. Daria Avatar

      Ohhh I see, I thought it was for everyone. How naive of me. Our town has it, not sure how/why. There are families in our town that are VERY well-off and their kids go to free pre-school. Just looked it up. It’s New Jersey State funded, that’s why. I thought it was federal. Silly me.

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  5. Lindsay Avatar

    Congrats on your last day! That must feel so good. And, yay for the kids, too – getting through the school/pre-K year is such a win all around! Happy summer! We still have a half day of school on Monday, but my daughter is taking on the attitude of “it’s 2 hours and then it’s OVER” HAHA!

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    1. Daria Avatar

      I love her attitude!!!!! 🙂

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  6. Michelle G. Avatar
    Michelle G.

    The pictures of your children are so cute! Your nap sounds amazing! Hooray for summer vacation!

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  7. Sophie Avatar

    Oh no I just tried to comment and lost it, so here’s take two. Those pre-k moving up photos are so cute! O goes into his final pre-k year Jan next year, and it will be heavily subsided by the federal and state governments so that will be nice, (currently it’s a few hundred dollars per week). Hooray that school is finished, and you can enjoy a slower pace. That reading on the patio and nap etc sounds divine!

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  8. Maya Avatar

    A therapist friend introduced me to tapping… and it feels a bit like magic, you know?

    Those PreK moving up photos are precious! I like the one with the teachers and with you best.

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  9. jennystancampiano Avatar
    jennystancampiano

    Ooh!!!! Happy Summer! That’s a great feeling. And congrats to your son (so, so cute.) That book sounds interesting- I’ve definitely heard of EFT tapping. Did you feel like the techniques in this book helped you?

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  10. San Avatar

    Congrats to both your son and daughter, what a way to wrap up the year.

    And happy porch-sitting, it’s so niece to have a peaceful space to sit and relax.

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  11. Tobia | craftaliciousme Avatar

    It sounds like a lovely day. Congrats on starting your summer. Enjoy your porch – it sounds like a lovely place to be.

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  12. Stephany Avatar

    Ugh, I cannot handle those photos of the kids. They are just too cute!

    My brother was a mid-September baby and I was a November baby so we were always the oldest in our classes, but it was never a big deal. It’ll probably mean R is super ready for kindergarten when he’s eligible!

    Happy summer, friend! I hope it is a lovely one!

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