#5things I Like About Walking

Recently my family visited St. Louis.  We walked a lot, and it reminded me of when I lived in Chicago and I also walked a lot.  It made me miss walking a lot.  And then I came home and there was this big conversation on twitter about the #FitBoS and I was sad again that I didn't walk more.  So I just decided to walk more now, even though I don't have a fitbit and I'm using a less accurate phone app.

I have been realizing the past week how many things I like about walking.  I've been walking to and from school (which takes about 20 minutes) and other places that are closer than school.

1.  Slowing Down
Walking is slower than driving, and it gives me time to just take time.  Slowing down my life a bit is a good thing.  Having 20 minutes or so to just relax and walk is wonderful.  It is a time for me to just be.

2.  Seeing People
I've seen so many of my students just from the times when I'm walking.  Just this morning on my way to school two of my students were walking to football practice and I got to walk with them for about 10 minutes.  That's a great opportunity to work on building relationships.

3.  Feeling Healthier
I like that I have a goal and that when I reach it I really do feel as though I am taking control of getting myself healthier.  And my body feels healthier too, well, not quite yet, but I can feel my muscles throughout my body getting stronger from my walking.

4.  Being a One Car Family
We have been a one car family for a while, and I really like that we can do that.  I appreciate that we have lower insurance bills and no car payments.  I also feel that it is good for the environment because we do less driving than if we had two cars.

5.  I Don't Have to Stop When School Starts
Sometimes during the summer I start things, but I can't keep up with them during the school year.  I know that I can keep walking to and from school once school starts, and it probably won't take much more than that to meet my goal once I'm running around my classroom everyday!

-Kathryn

Talking Points with my Family

I've been thinking a lot about talking points since #TMC14 and our #gwwg14 morning session.  Somehow I started wondering about what it would look like it a family setting.  So, I decided to try it!  It was a little like pulling teeth to get my 12-year-old on board today, but with him, myself,  and my husband we made a good group of 3 to try it out.

We started by going through the instructions and then started with "talking about talking".  Here are some of my observations:

• My 12-year-old's "becauses" were generally restatements of the statement
• My husband and I tended to agree
• Rarely did anyone change his/her mind
• We made it through about as many as I did with my peers at TMC
• I really wanted to convince them to think like me
• The 10 minutes went fast and everyone seemed willing to try more in about a week...even wanting to work on the same page
• We only came to a full consensus on one talking point

I'm trying to not evaluate these observations at this time, but I am trying to get rid of my attitude about wanting to change other peoples minds/attitudes.  If they are willing to try again, then I guess we will just see where this takes us.

-Kathryn

Summer Joys

Here are some things I have enjoyed so far this summer:

• swimming at the pool
• singing in the shower
• going to the zoo
• sleeping in
• cooking supper
• reading books for fun
• reading teaching books
• playing catch outside
• riding bikes around town
• visiting the library
• catching and appreciating the moments that make me smile over and over again

I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones that immediately come to me this morning.

-Kathryn

#MTBoS30

23/30

Body Image

I blame Anne and her post here for this post.  A previous post of hers about being a role model for her students in regards to body image make me think.  I agree that as a young, female teacher that is a good role to play.  I thought about the the ways I am a role model for my students and called it good.  I liked the challenge.  And I tried the challenge, but when it got hard I decided to stop.  I didn't show that I valued it.

Today I decided I need to post.  I got to thinking about my body image.  I'm pretty much in the same place as Anne.  I don't have body image issues.  But I don't always love my body.  As I was thinking through it, I started to wonder about the "love your body" mantra that is supposed to help girls feel beautiful no matter what our bodies look like.  And I started to wonder if it helps promote a positive body image, or if rather it creates more negative body image for girls who don't love their bodies.

Isn't accepting what is better than trying to sugar-coat?  Is stating the truth better than saying everything is perfect no matter what?  I find the most rewarding conversations about weight to be ones that are based in honesty and fact rather than acting like things are great when they are not.

I had one of those conversations at lunch today.  I walked away feeling supported and connected to those who were involved.

What do you think?  Do you think promoting "love your body" is valuable for building body image?  What makes you feel the most positive about your body?  Or at least the most OK about your body?

-Kathryn

#MTBoS30
16/30

Things That Have Suffered Since I Started #MTBoS30

Just a quick list of things that I haven't given as much time to since starting #MTBoS30.  Consider these things I will enjoy even more once I complete the challenge.

• Sleep
• Grading
• Sleep
• Picking up Dirty Laundry
• Sleep
• Long Blog Posts that Have Value
• Sleep
• Lesson Planning
• Sleep
• Family Time
• Sleep

I'm sure most of this has more to do with the end of the year stress, but that and the challenge really compacts it.

-Kathryn

#MTBoS30

1/2

A Perfect Afternoon

Outside.
The sun is shining.
The lawn has been mowed.
The trees are flowering and producing leaves.
There is a breeze that means I need long sleeves in the shade.
My boys play baseball in the backyard, announcing each play as though it is a top 10 for Sports Center.
These are the moments that I cherish.  The moments I think of when I'm feeling down.  The moments that remind me that what I'm doing is worthwhile.

-Kathryn

#MTBoS30
9/30

Life Stages and Values

I've been feeling really isolated lately because of a conflict between my age, my values and beliefs, my job, my family structure, and my location compared to others that I would consider my friends.

I am young, only a few years out of college, and made some GREAT friends in college that really gave me a safe community to grow in. I married one of those people right out of college. We live in small town Iowa. Our closest college friends are 2 hours away, and that rarely happens because of ever-busy schedules and the lives we are all trying to create where we live. The isolation post-college hit us hard. 

We since moved and because of how much of a challenge we felt from the isolation, we specifically sought out a church in our new community that we felt could best provide fellowship for us.  I remember feeling isolated still at the beginning because all of the young couples had kids and we didn't. We were discussing expanding our family and did decide that the time was right, but our expanding is happening in a very non-traditional way. It often seems to isolate us even more.

The people who we might be friends with because of the look of our family do not have similar values and beliefs or are significantly older than my husband and I. And older people already have established friend groups that are not easily joined. (Another disadvantage with these couples is that often their children are my students...)

The people who we might be friends with because of our age and values and beliefs are not able to meet our family needs very well. I have seen evidence that some are trying to be supportive, but it's not the same as experiencing it and understanding for yourself. (That is something I might not have really understood until I crossed into this land myself.) I want them to be willing to try what we are doing. I want to be an example that demonstrates that they can do this too, but it is a difficult thing to do when we often feel so alone.

Now I don't want you to think I am friendless. I have plenty of friends, but what I lack is a cohesive group of friends that can relate to multiple aspects of each others' lives. And who have experienced enough of each others' lives to truly know how to be blessings to each other. I have been grieving for this lately.

-Kathryn

#MTBoS30

7/30