School Paperwork Overwhelm April 20, 2009

I was recently asked if I have a 504 Plan in place for my child with food allergies.

No I don’t.  And in doing a little internet research, I’m not even sure where to start.

But that’s not the hardest hurdle.  The toughest thing to overcome is the fact that my daughter qualifies for protection under the American’s with Disabilities Act.

The severity of her allergy puts her under the “disability” umbrella, and I don’t like it.  For the 8 years since she has been diagnosed, we have done our best to treat her just like everybody else, and do our best to help her feel included when there are forbidden foods involved.  And the act of putting a 504 plan together is overwhelming to say the least.  The 504 Plan Outline that link above points to is pages…PAGES long.

Also being called out by another allergy mom makes me feel as though I’ve been slacking in my duties as a mother.  The sad thing is, while doing some late night Googling, the information about how to go about setting up a 504 Plan is almost non-existent.  There are many sites that tell you that you have to set up this plan for your food allergic child, yet no guidelines about where to start.  The link I gave you was the most comprehensive (and only) source available that had any detail whatsoever.  It’s bad enough that I am practically buried in paper daily from the school and have vague instructions about how to make sure all the paperwork is in place for registration for middle school, but it appears that the standard forms that the grade school used to great effect are sub-standard when it comes to middle school and the cafeteria.  I am aware that I need to provide something more, but there seems to be absolutely no guidance as to how the hell I go about it.

All that and I feel like a shit asking the other mother to feed me the information that she uncovered using her own hard work, like I’m somehow copying off of my classmate’s test paper.

Oh, and I have to fill out a dental form for my youngest daughter for an oral exam she had a few months ago, but apparently the school needs PROOF that she saw a dentist.  I’m not entirely sure why(other that state regulations – something about public health I’m sure), but this bugs the hell out of me.  I guess it feels like an invasion of privacy.  Sort of like if the state made it mandatory that I not only provide proof to my employer that I saw the gynecologist recently, but need to provide the medical files regarding that exam as well.

Moving to the Next Round April 8, 2009

You know what happens when every family member has finally suffered through the stomach flu?

Round 2!

I was woken up at 1:30 am by my 8 yo daughter nearly puking on my head.  After cleaning up for 1/2 hour (she nailed the mattress, ugh), and my husband getting her in the shower, I made my way downstairs to sleep on the couch.  My husband stayed with her.  Had I stayed, I would have wound up with my head in the toilet in no time.  It’s one of the few areas of motherhood where I’m totally deficient.

Not sure if it was something she ate (unlikely as I had all the same stuff and feel fine), or a new bug, but my husband decided he’s blaming the winter.  I can get on board with that.

Cockiness Gets You Nowhere March 31, 2009

No, I’m not going to give you a whole life lesson on how being cocky is wrong or bad, blah blah blah.  I’m going to give you an example of the universe making sure  I know my place.

Last week my husband and younger daughter contracted a stomach bug (hereafter to be known as “the plague”).  I kept my distance, and let my husband, now recovered, take care of the little one to close the loop so to speak.

Yesterday I distinctly remember looking in the mirror while doing my hair and thinking that I was lucky and smart to have avoided the plague.

You can see what’s coming can’t you?

Last night I couldn’t sleep, I was uncomfortable with what I thought was menstrual cramps (which was part of it, thank you universe for the cosmic smack down), but I got up and went to the bathroom to be sick.  And pass out.

Already, less than 12 hours later I’m feeling better, thanks to some dry toast, water, and advil, but I have learned my lesson.  Until I forget and get cocky again.

Hot Stuff March 30, 2009

Yesterday I did what I swore I would never do.

Bikram Yoga.

90 minutes, 26 postures, and profuse sweating.

I hate heat.  Hate.  It.  Saunas are not my friend, and I feel overheated if I stay in a hot tub for longer than 5 minutes.  Yet somehow, I found myself twisting myself into a pretzel in a 100 degree room.  I must be insane.  Want to know how it was?

It was torture, and afterward I felt better than I had in a long, long time.

Being a first timer, I was told my goal was to stay in the room.  I was instructed to sit or lie down if I felt dizzy or nauseated.  I made it through about 60 of the 90 minutes before I needed to take a break and lie down.  Then I just took things at a little slower pace and tried to finish up strong.  When class ended, I made it to the locker room and had to sit for a minute with my head hanging down between my knees to get the buzzing in my ears to stop.  After taking a shower and donning fresh clothes, I have to say I felt as though I had a really good massage. Relaxed and loose, I felt like I was rubbery and I felt like eating a bowl full of fresh melon and taking a nap.

This morning I woke up and felt every single muscle in my body from my head to my toes.  I think I discovered a few I never knew I had.  It’s a pleasant sore, one that tells me I had a good workout.  And it’s just enough to maybe get me back in the hot room to loosen myself back up.  I’ve been looking for something that would be a good supplement to Tae Kwon Do and I may have found it.  I can work on my balance, posture, focus, discipline, and relaxation in each 90 minute session.  Everything that I need to help me perform at my peak.  During the floor postures, I initially had a hard time sitting on my knees because it made my ankle hurt to put pressure on it in that position.  However, after the third attempt, I could do it with no discomfort whatsoever, and that effect seems to have carried into today.  Bonus!

What I find amazing is that my MIL has been doing Bikram Yoga for months.  She took up a 30 day challenge recently and she’s currently on her 23rd day in a row I think.  Her body shape has totally changed for the better.  She looks amazing and she said that she hasn’t looked this good in….well, ever.

I was able to score an 8 day unlimited trial for $25, but I’m not sure I foresee myself signing up for anything more, for financial reasons.  Yet, like the instructorship program, this might be something I enjoy enough to figure out a way to make it work.

RIP Starbucks? March 23, 2009

As my training is progressing, Grandmaster has routinely put me in more and more situations where I am helping teach or train newer students.  I always suspected he was grooming me to be an instructor, but now I know for sure.  I have been officially invited to join their instructorship program.

While this is a huge honor, and 8 months after that original post, I finally feel as though I want to be an instructor, and I think I would be a good one, I’m not sure we can swing it.   It costs money and that is in increasingly short supply lately.   It’s not a huge amount in the scheme of things, but still a possible hardship.  Quitting my daily Starbucks would probably free up 1/3 of the cost for the year.  My husband and I are going to go through our finances and see if there is anything we can give up to make it work.  I’m thinking subscriptions, both print and online, and I’m sure there are a few other things we could find as well.

The timing couldn’t be worse as we just had to buy another car because my husbands 15 year old car finally decided it had enough.  Even though we bought used, we still financed.  After the down payment on that and signing up for the local pool (for my kids, especially my 10 yo, the swimmer), our tax return has already been spent.  TKD seems to have a detrimental effect on the credit limit on our credit cards.  It seems like there is always something to pay for (tests, seminars, equipment the kids have outgrown, uniforms they have outgrown).  When talking to Grandmaster about the cost and what the time committment would be, my husband was ready (as always) with the automatic “Thanks, but no thanks”.  Whereas it is something I am interested enough in to think “Wait a minute, I can make some sacrifices”.  Hell, I already gave up the acrylic nails and my pedicures, I can give up some of my other non-essentials for this opportunity.

We need to give an answer in about a week, so I better get crackin’ on those finances.

Does This Mean I Kicked My Own Ass? March 12, 2009

After class on Tuesday we did more hip flexor exercises.  EXTREMELY slow bicycles this time.  I couldn’t get through them all without resting, and we are only allowed to rest for a count of two.  Yesterday I could barely walk I was so damn sore.  Not only are my hips sore, but my ass hurts as well.  That’s fun.

More troubling is the weird pinchy/ouchy feeling in my left shoulder.  We did one exercise where we lower our upper body when extending the legs (can’t remember the name of those), and I think all the reverse “pushing” didn’t agree with my whiny joints.  I’m trying to tell it to shut up, but I don’t think it’s listening.

I Think My Instructor is Trying to Break Us March 4, 2009

The soreness in my back and shoulders had nearly subsided by Monday night.  I no longer felt as if someone had punched me between the shoulder blades.  When, nearing the end of class, our instructor decided that speed drills were in order.  30 front kicks, both left and right, and 30 side kicks, both left and right.  That’s 30 on each side, no resting.  Basically kick, bring your leg back and let your foot touch the floor and kick again.  By around #23 or so it was getting difficult to even lift my leg to kick.  We thought we were going to finish off our class with the usual situps and pushups, but no, she had a surprise for us.  We did slow (S….L….O…W) scissor kicks lying on our backs, then bicycles, then some other weird ab thing, then hip lifts with our feet straight in the air.  After my abs nearly started spasming, and my clicky hip protesting, we flip over for push ups.  Good, good, I can do those no problem.  Except they weren’t the usual pushups, oh no.  We were to go down for a slow 4 count, then push up for a slow 4 count, four times (harder than it sounds), then do a quick four.  After a quick rest, we do it again.   And once again after that.

Suffice it to say  not only did I sleep fantastic that night, but I was sore as hell the next morning.

I May Have Just Achieved Furniture Breaking Rank March 1, 2009

Was practicing my next nomination sequence and kick requirements in the small amount of floor space I have in the dining room/living room area.  Was doing a front kick/360 kick combo and solidly landed the kick on the top frame of my couch, which is at about hip height.

Good to know I can defend myself if my furniture decides to go rogue.

How to Render Your Arms Useless February 28, 2009

1.  Demonstrate push up progress in front of entire TKD academy.  Crank out 47 of those bad boys, beating your previous record of 40 set mere days ago.

2.  Follow with a punching drill.  Punch standing bag for 1 minute, rest 15 seconds, punch bag for 2 minutes, rest 30 seconds, punch bag for 3 minutes.

3.  Test for your next level belt.

Oof I’m going to be sore tomorrow.  I passed easily and even broke my board with a jump spin kick (ddwieu dwit dollyeo chagi) on the first try.  Also received NO negative critique about my performance.  Every one else was told something they needed to work on and improve, I was told my performance was excellent.  Being in that zone where everything goes right is such an awesome feeling.  I had two totally different experiences this past week with my performance and wasn’t sure how today was going to go.  In Tuesday’s class, I got the normal level of hot and sweaty, but right before sparring it changed into that clammy icky feeling.  I sat out the rest of class so I wouldn’t have to be peeled off the mat that evening.  Thursday’s class went better, and today before the test when Grandmaster was checking my kick, I nailed every single one with ease.  Even a few black belts said that it looked really good.  I have to admit, it felt damn good as well!  Even better, my sparring has improved.  I still have a long way to go, but for the first time I didn’t dread it, and I didn’t feel as though I did poorly.

I wish my kids had my same enthusiasm, but alas, it is not to be.  My 10 year old has decided, with Grandmaster, to take a month off from TKD.  She is currently a purple belt, and apparently it is common at this level for the kids to suffer a bit of burnout.  She has been throwing tantrums about going to class that puts her 8 year old sister to shame.  She still is coming with me, but will not be participating for a while.  Hopefully it will help.  I think she got a bit overwhelmed with the overlap her swim schedule had on class.  Her swim season ended last week, and with it our horrific schedule of not being home every day Monday through Friday.  She did end her swim season well, she had 4 time drops and she won one of her heats.

My 8 year old has surprised me this week by actually practicing her guitar and making excellent progress there, and I got to see her ice skate for the first time since she started lessons at the beginning of the year.  I never imagined that watching her skate in circles around the rink could be so captivating.  She seems to be a natural, and I can’t wait to see how she progresses.  It’s so rewarding as a parent to see the kids choose activities they love and then see them do so well at them.  Now that swimming is over, we need to keep the 10 year old active, lest she become a couch potato.  Unfortunately, that was one tendency she inherited from me that I would like to eliminate.

I also submitted my next project for TKD.  I’m going to start a meditation/visualization routine.  I’m planning on setting my alarm about 15 minutes earlier so I can find a quiet space where I won’t be disturbed, and I will focus on my breathing and getting a good start to the day.  Every evening before bed, I will visualize for a minimum of 5 minutes.  I will work on going through all my TKD requirements in my head, as well as reviewing and reflecting on the day and focusing on my goals.  Other students who have done this in the past have seen amazing improvements in their attitude and focus.

For my last project I’m picking a photography project.   In a flash of inspiration today I knew exactly what to do for it.  I decided that I will document all facets of my life.  As a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a martial artist, etc.  I will take pictures of what I do, where I go, people I interact with.  Not only should it be a lot of fun, but there are a lot of opportunities for creativity.  I’m already itching to figure out how to light and capture the awesomeness that is Grandmaster’s hands.  He has these gnarly looking hands that are endlessly fascinating to look at.  Ideally, I would like to have the pictures bound in a hardbound book.  The more I think about the project, the more excited I get about it.

Grandmaster=Dumbledore February 10, 2009

Grandmaster went all Dumbledore on me again today.  He really is an insightful person, and am grateful that someone like that is in my life.  Midway through my lesson today he sat me down and asked me what is going on in my head.  I’ve been very distracted the past few weeks and he picked up on that.  Part of it is that my old habits are doing their damndest to get in my way.  I’ve been having the opposite of a Stuart Smalley moment.  Lately I’ve been thinking that I’m not good enough, I’m not strong enough to see this through.  Granted, a huge part of that is the awful evening schedule we’ve been dealing with ever since my 10 yo joined the swim team.  Thankfully that ends in a few weeks.  All of us are sick of not being home M-F.  And if it’s tough on me, I can’t imagine how the kids are managing to deal with school being a large portion of their day.

My second leadership project, starting in March, is going to be a meditation project.  I’m going to set my alarm early and actually get up when it goes off.  I want to give myself a minimum of 10 alert minutes where I can center myself and reflect on the day in front of me.  On top of being distracted lately, I’ve been a bit keyed up, and I think that putting myself in the right frame of mind first thing in the morning can only improve that situation.  If Grandmaster accepts it, I’m also going to add on to that by giving myself 15 minutes every night for visualization.  I used to visualize every night as I was laying in bed, going through poomsaes, applications & kick combos.  I’ve gotten out of the habit and while I wouldn’t say that my performance has suffered because of it, I feel as though I’m not progressing as smoothly as I could.  Plus my confidence in my abilities has taken a dip.

Now for some good news.  Remember how I started that pushup program?  Well, I was supposed to do it 3 times a week, but I’ve only managed about twice a week since I started.  Still, I did pushups (on my knees) until exhaustion today (or until I couldn’t do them properly.  Ok, same thing) and I managed to pump out 31!  I nearly doubled how many I could do in a few short weeks.  Part of my reasoning for not going full tilt into the program is that I just didn’t want to deal with being sore all the time.  While Tae Kwon Do is heavy on the kicks, there is a lot of arm work when you factor in punching and blocking.  Plus, we usually end class by doing situps and pushups, so I guess that counts as well.  I did notice that last class I didn’t struggle at all with the pushups, even at the impossible speed that particular instructor likes to perform them.