Ruby got her MAP scores back and did really well. The best thing about MAP is that it was created as a predictor for passing the STAAR test. Ruby has been worried about starting taking the STAAR this year but since I explained that, she hasn't brought it up.
I had the stupidest thing happen. It was a Friday morning and I was exhausted. I dropped Maggie off at school and came home and took a nap at like 8 am. I emailed Laurie and was freaking out trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with. Then, light dawned and I realized I never drank my coffee. Ridiculous!
Me and my kids plus Laurie, Grayson, and their kids all went to see the new Beetlejuice movie. I didn't specify we were seeing the new one so they all thought we were seeing the original. Oops. Oh well we all really enjoyed it. I keep thinking of some parts and cracking up, which is always fun.
I got an email from Maggie's school that they are taking the PSAT soon. I was surprised but I guess it's that time. So, I had Maggie take an SAT practice test and from that I created a study plan. Now, we're doing 30 minutes a day of SAT practice. Well, not me, I just designed the study plan.
The other morning, I was getting dressed and Ruby came in my room. She said, oh I want to wear overalls today. I said, ok great go get changed. And she said, no I want to wear one of your overalls. I told her I don't have any overalls and she said, yeah that thing. She meant bra. What a funny little weirdo.
Maggie made a movie!!! She told me she had the assignment from A/V class. Basically a movie in 5 shots with music and credits. She came out of her room and said she had thought of something and she needed Ruby. Ruby was so excited. At first, I was just in the living room and I could hear Maggie kindly directing Ruby, no, don't look at the camera; no, don't smile; nope, you can't laugh. Unfortunately, Ruby couldn't stop the laughing part. We had so much fun. I got to film one shot because Maggie was in it. It's like 30 seconds but it's so cute and funny.
I was trying to get Maggie's parking sticker and the school wouldn't accept it. She told me Maggie needed a driver's license and I said that is her license and she said no, that's a learner's permit. Which is how I found out THERE IS ANOTHER STEP in this process!!!
We were able to get a last minute appointment the day after she passed her final driving test. It was bananas. It ended up taking forever but we finally got it. Then Maggie wrecked my car, so that sucked.
Laurie and Grayson also got Covid. It's everywhere. Anyway, Ella and Jillian were supposed to spend the day with their Mom because Jeff was going to a game (I think) but the girls didn't want to get Covid so they came to my house!!! We had so much fun. I (as per usual) bought way too much food. We watched Speed. They both liked it but Jillian was hilarious. During the tense parts, she would run around the room and say, are they going to die? What's going to happen? It reminds me of the first time I showed Maggie Jurassic Park. She was so nervous during the tense scenes, she would run back and forth across the couch.
I've come to the conclusion that my nieces are what grandparents say is so wonderful about grandkids. I care about their future and all that, but I have no responsibility for any of that. Thus, I can solely enjoy them. They are so fun and sweet and funny and it just feels like total joy to be with them.
Although, my kids have been so awesome lately. Maggie is so easy. I tell her to do her chores and she just does them. We had one incident with a failing grade (I think that was two years ago) and then never again. The biggest issue we have is how mean she is to her little sister. A couple of weeks ago, I sat her down and said basically it has to stop. She complained and I told her Ruby will be her sister forever and everyone has good and bad parts and all that and we figure it out for the people we love. And. . . she has been so much better! Ruby is thrilled. She keeps asking me if Maggie will do this or that with her and she wants to do things for her. It is making me incredibly happy.
Ruby struggled with going back to school but now that everything is consistent, she's doing much better too. She was very worried because this is the first year she'll be doing the STAAR test. I kept telling her she would do fine. Then her MAP scores came back and I explained to her that the MAP was literally created to predict who would and wouldn't pass the STAAR and she passed. I'm not sure if she understood but she hasn't brought it up since.
We did her 504 meeting and got rid of all the behavioral parts. When she first got her 504, she was a first grader and unmedicated. That teacher had a really hard time with her and wanted behavioral accommodations, in addition to focus/attention accommodations. When we did it last year, we added that she can have snacks in the afternoon when her meds wear off. That teacher said she never uses the behavioral ones but it was early in the year so we left them in place. This year the new teacher didn't need them and last year's teacher confirmed she never used them, so we just dropped them. Now, it basically says don't forget she struggles with attention and focus and will need to eat in the afternoon.
I'm feeling pressure to teach Maggie all the things. She's so close to being a full-fledged adult. I'm especially trying to teach her to do the hard thing, persist, etc.
She's such a joy! I feel like we almost exclusively just enjoy hanging out. She keeps up with school and does her chores without complaint. I rarely have to get on to her about anything (EXCEPT being mean to her little sister!!!) so we can just talk.
Ruby can do cartwheels! Her teacher came up to tell me how well she's doing. She seems to mostly just jump around so it's exciting to see some progress. She is so funny about the fact that she didn't gain weight. She keeps looking at nutrition facts and telling me, Mom this has one fat in it, will it make me less skinny?
She apparently has been drinking milk at school again which has made her asthma horrible. I contacted the school when she was in Kindergarten to tell them not to let her get milk and they told me they couldn't do that. I talked to her again so I guess here's hoping. She told me her friend Sadie told her there is no dairy in chocolate milk. Oh jeez!
She asked me to make her something and she told me, I love to eat. Even though I'm picky, I love to eat.
Another time, she said something rudely and I told her to ask nicely. She said, I can't ask nicely; I'm in a bad mood!
I decided to continue with the exercise I had been doing. I set up an intense program when I thought I was doomed to a neurodegenerative disorder. And while I'm not, I'm going to get something, so I might as well do what I can.
Maggie bought some key chains
