Teaching Again

Awhile ago, I wrote about going through training to be an adjunct professor for Ashford University's online program. I made it through the training and was thrown into the hiring pool. Last week, I received an email from the scheduler, asking me if I'd like to take an Introduction to Literature course that would start April 28th. I said yes. So, back to teaching I go!

It's a larger class and one that actually comes with a TA of sorts. There is another person assigned to grade the essays in this course. I'm thrilled for two reasons: 1. I will teach English without grading essays, and 2. I will not have to SIT down to read all the essays and comment on the computer, something I was afraid of when I took on the teaching assignment. But, while it will be nice to not have to be grading essays all the time, it will likely make instructional duties a little more difficult since I will not be seeing all the work of my students'. I imagine I will have access to the essays or at least be able to discuss common issues with the person assigned to grade them. If not, how will I know how to better my instruction? As time consuming as grading essays can be, it is a chance to see how my students are progressing and also see where they could use more thorough instruction. I just want to get through this first class so I know a little more what I'm doing. Going through a class the first time is always going to be the most difficult because everything is so new.

I'm really pretty excited about being back in the classroom again, albeit a non-traditional one. The course itself seems pretty challenging with a good amount of reading every week. Fortunately, I am familiar with a lot of the stories, poems, and plays. Some I do not know, though, so I am looking forward to the anthology arriving. I pulled out some old college anthologies today, as well as my Seagull Reader from a class I taught, which have some of the stories and poems I need to read. I read three short stories and some poems just now during Ethan's nap. I want to get a handle on the reading so that I can focus on my "lectures" next week.

As an update to my physical therapy situation, I am looking into going to the therapist my orthopedic surgeon originally recommended. This therapist, of course, is not in network for our insurance, but with a discount, it shouldn't be too much out of pocket. I called yesterday, got her contact information, and actually emailed her with my history. I didn't want to have to make an appointment only to find out she was not really going to be able to help. I am awaiting her reply anxiously. I also put a call in to a friend, Waqas, who is an orthopedic resident. It's my way of getting a second opinion from another surgeon. We'll see what he has to say. My recent surge of activity on the PT front comes mostly from my frustration at still being in pain a lot and my terror at the thought of having to sit at the computer a lot more when my class starts. I really need to get on the road to recovery!

Happy Easter

I'll post Easter pictures later, but here's the great picture we had taken of Ethan and his cousins Ben, Drew, and Matthew. We think it turned out pretty cute!

Andrew, Matthew, Ethan, and Ben

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good

All in all, I am a very lucky mother of one. Ethan is so good in many ways. He is a terrific sleeper and napper. He goes to bed with no argument every night and takes about a two hour (often longer) nap daily. (If you're reading this, please, please knock on wood.) It took us some time to get to this point, but he's been a great sleeper for a long time.

Ethan is also a very good eater. If I put chicken nuggets, strawberries, and green beans on his plate, he will eat the fruits and veggies first. Then he'll ask for more of those. Maybe then he'll eat the nuggets. Last night, he ate brocolli, aspargus, and Asian rice noodles for dinner. Today, he ate a swiss chard and cheddar quesadilla for lunch. Not many kids I know eat greens willingly. I hope his habits could change as he gets older, but I have a feeling he will not be a very picky eater.

Along with being a great sleeper and eater, Ethan is also pretty dang smart. At least I think so. He LOVES to read books, and, in fact, it's the only thing he'll focus on for longer than a few minutes. I often catch him in his room reading. He knows most of the letters of the alphabet and can count up to 10, though not always in the right order. He has more and more words every day. This morning he said, "Oh man," which I think he may have picked up from me.

In general, Ethan is a pretty happy kid, too. He can have his tantrums, of course, but he is content most of the day, it seems, and he is usually pretty distractable. He gives great hugs and kisses, when he's so inclined, too! I love when he's in the mood to snuggle.

The Bad

***Grandparents: You may wish to skip this section since you may take issue with the idea of your precious grandson being anything but perfect.***

To be honest, Ethan is a bit of a bully. Just this morning, his friend Derek came over while his mother went to an appointment. Within seconds of Derek entering the house, Ethan shoved him. And I'm not talking a one handed how's-it-going-pat-gone-wrong-kind-of-shove. I'm talking a two-handed-full-force-knock-him-to-the-ground-shove. Okay, maybe it was just the excitement. Well, a few minutes later, Ethan shoved him down again, causing Derek to start crying for his mother. Ethan's reaction: laughter. Things escalated when Ethan started throwing matchbox cars at Derek's head. (Derek has a red spot now.) When I reprimanded Ethan, he gave his typical, diabolical little laugh. Eventually, I locked Ethan in my room to keep him away from Derek. He doesn't always act this way, but it is getting worse. And it's completely unprompted. Poor Derek was just sitting there being attacked.

To make matters worse, he really does not in any way respond to my discipline. While he's a little young for time outs, I do try it (often) and end up having to literally hold him in the time out place. When he's out of time out, he does whatever got him into time out again. And then he laughs. He also laughs when he pulls my hair and I tell him sternly to stop. He really seems to like being reprimanded. I have really been tested in moments like these. While I completely believe that hitting a child while telling them not to hit is ridiculous (or pulling their hair), I will not say I haven't tried it. The other day, I tugged on Ethan's hair and said, "You see how this hurts?" When he laughed - again - I knew it was silly of me to even do that, but you just get so fed up.

Another really annoying habit of Ethan's right now is his need to shut doors. When we leave the house, he has to shut the door. Not allowing him to do so creates a big scene sometimes. But if I let him, he shuts it only to open it again and keep opening/shutting over and over. Yesterday, we had lunch at an old friend's house, and when we got there, he insisted on shutting the door. It's cute at first because he says, "I shut" very clearly, but his idea of shutting the door is standing inside the door as if he's going out. I had to pry him away kicking and screaming. It seems like a small thing, but it's really a very trying thing for us right now.

The Ugly

Okay, so I don't have anything to put in this category. While some of the "bad" behaviors may seem "ugly," I can't, as Ethan's mommy, bring myself to categorize them in this way. I know that all of these behaviors are likely age appropriate and that he will, hopefully, grow out of them. That doesn't make them any less bad or frustrating as his parent. I am grateful, though, that most of his behaviors do not seem purposefully aggressive. This may be the naive parent speaking, but I really don't think he is trying to hurt Derek when he shoves him but is just expressing himself in a naughty way. And he never gets angry and then hits me or pulls my hair. He only does it when he's in a good mood. That's got to count for something, right?

And, really, he's just so darn cute. When he gives me a great big smile, it makes all those bad moments easier to handle. Thank goodness he's not an ugly kid, right? :)

We're getting some good smiles for pictures now that he has started saying "CHEESE" every time he sees a camera. Add that to the good list.

Posing with Uncle Brian.

This is our new computer background. Cracks us up.

Will (and Ethan, sort of) made two snowmen Sunday.

Sunday was March 30th, Will's last day of SPRING break. Go figure.