The Ford Crier; Christmas Edition 1998

Greetings to you all. I admit that what follows is a typical Christmas update ... 
I spent 1998 becoming a teacher. After finding out that Jim received a grant last November, I thought it might be a good time to finish the Art Education credential program. Amazingly, I was re-accepted as a student and added to the student teaching roster in time to begin in January. My first placement was at a Primary School (K-2). My mentoring teacher was a woman I truly enjoyed seeing everyday and she quickly passed on a love for teaching younger children that I did not think I could possess. In March I transferred to Middle School and knew I had found the vocation of my life. I have always enjoyed working with early adolescents, perhaps because I trace the formative years in my life to my Jr. High days. I became involved in service and grew in my relationship with God during that time in profound ways. I spent my summer taking a ceramics course and interviewing for jobs. Incredibly, I was hired as a Middle School Art Teacher at a school within walking distance from our apartment. And so, at 33 I am finally a teacher.

Erika finished 2nd grade last year. It was a struggle for her, primarily because of the age differences in her class (she is the youngest in her grade). As parents we occasionally second guessed our decision to keep her as the youngest. (Obviously the other option is for her to be the eldest in her class.) During the Summer a transformation began to occur. I had signed Erika up for the local swim team. Practice every morning from nine to noon was not as fun as she had hoped and it was a bit of a struggle to keep her on the team. Again she was one of the youngest participants but she experienced great success. She never really won any heats but she was a real team player. In July she swam in Madison's All City Swim Meet and had a great experience. In August Erika rode the Revolution at Six Flags California for the first time with my cousin's kids. I saw her fearlessness and knew she was a conqueror. (I was 11 when I first rode that roller coaster.) Erika began 3rd grade and has had no more trouble than what I believe is normal for an 8 year old. Still, she is wonderfully thoughtful and so helpful to me as a working mother!

Jessika survived a year of more transitions and changes than a 3-year-old should bare. She has become a more beautiful and intelligent girl in part because of it. But she is still so difficult to manage. My new routine as a teacher has mostly affected Jessi. She cried for me every morning the first month I was student teaching. I believe the stability of Jim in her life made the change easier the more the two spent time together. She is very much her father's daughter. Going to preschool was a big first for Jessi. Although she only went two mornings a week this year, she experienced some socialization that was much needed. Summer brought more freedom for her to play and she made friends with a Korean neighbor, Jieun. The two most headstrong 3½-year-old friends possible. In California last August, Jessika overcame a great fear of swimming. She finally took a plunge! She has also become quite a computer addict this past year. She can sit for hours playing those Disney programs. Jessika also discovered her very feminine side this year. A day isn't complete without having tried on a lacy dress with tights.

Monika missed another birthday this year, though she did begin her second year of life sometime between February 28 and March 1. Having two older sisters and being more independent than is healthy for a 2 year old, she is often mistaken for a miniature adult. She is fearless, which makes life at times very easy and at other times very scary. Monika enjoyed having Jim home during the day and hardly seemed to miss me at times. I insisted that Jim potty-train her, as I believe it is as much a growing experience for the parent as it is for the child. I thought it would be good for Jim. By May, Monika grew tired of waiting and potty-trained herself in less than a week. In September, Moni started pre-school two mornings a week and after a few transitional weeks became rather popular. She is actually one of the eldest in her class. She has survived a year as Jessi's younger sister! The two of them can really slug it out. While Jessi usually receives her fair share of bruises, scrapes, and stitches, Monika has been the recipient of stitches this year courtesy of Jessi.

Jim set out this year to reinvent the wheel and, fancying himself an "intellectual midget", again believed everything he read. Insightfully, he likes to remind the girls that in the best of all possible worlds, all those bad guys who commit heinous crimes will receive the death penalty. Unfortunately he has become gravely ill this winter, as he assumed that all yellow snow was a kind of lemonade slush. In terms of scholarship, Jim has certainly not remained idle. Proudly, he has memorized every third word in reverse order of Thomas Mann's Budenbrooks in both German and English translation. Currently he enjoys watching TV and has become inspired by the teachings of David Koresh. Though not given to boastfulness, Jim likes to make it known that he pulls in a five-figure annual salary. Since he also has no proclivity toward sesquipedality, he will easily accomplish his New Year's resolution to limit his daily conversations to a cornucopia of infelicitous and invidious tetragrams.