We had a much-needed quiet weekend. Issa finished her driver's ed. The boys spent time at the dojo. We rested.
We were quiet, and I'm very much still in that place. I'm gutted by the Supreme Court decision on Friday. Very rarely do I feel helpless, but I did on Friday. I'm still searching for the words and the next right thing, but please don't take my silence for complacency. I've just learned in my 42 years that sometimes it's best to not say the first things that come to mind.
I'm headed to the ocean on Saturday, and I don't think I've ever needed it more than I do right now. Hearing the waves and feeling so very small always brings much-needed perspective and clarity. After the last two months, I'm looking forward to the space to process and be.
The past 24 hours have held some major milestones for our girl.
She is officially enrolled in her first Durham Tech class. She bought her first college textbook, and she logged on to the learning management system. I was ready to help, but the college counselor had done a great job with orientation and Issa flew through the process. It is so cool to watch her take that next step in her education, but it is bitter sweet to just be a spectator.
Brad dropped her off for her first set of driving hours this morning. We were all nervous! Issa was worried about driving on an actual road, and Brad and I were nervous to be sending her out in a car with someone we didn't know. When the instructor walked up, he was wearing a Northern High School shirt. Coach Spell and I worked together, and he is a great man and an even better driver's ed instructor. All of her hours will be with either Coach Spell or Coach Rodeo, another great man I used to to teach with. I'm a little worried about the stories they might tell, but I'm so, so glad that her time behind the wheel will be with those two men.
Yesterday, though, was the big day! The boys still went to the dojo in the morning since Brad is testing for his black belt in just a few weeks. That gave Issa and I time to run to Mom's house to grab the gifts we had stashed there:
We went straight from brunch to the high school parking lot:
When we got home Brad and Issa ran to the store to stock the mini fridge, and we spent the rest of the day just relaxing together. Brad did build his bonsai:
Last night, I finally got to go back to adult ballet! I missed it when I was teaching Monday nights this semester.
The really fun thing is Issa and two of her friends are joining the class this summer! They are using it to warm up before their pointe lessons. It is so fun to take a class with them.
In so many ways, the barre will always be home for me, and I love being there with my girl.
I taught the last content session of my three-week intensive this morning. They will be in the field for the next two days, and I will have plenty of grading coming in. But this morning was the last time we will all be together.
This course is brutal for all involved. By the last week I am willing people across the finish line. I loved teaching this group, but we will all be glad when this one is behind us.
After I wrapped the course and launched them on their way, two of them stayed behind. Both wanted me to know that my class was challenging--the hardest they had ever taken. That I made them think really intently about questions that don't have absolute answers. Both loved the class.
See. That's why I do what I do--why all good teachers do it. We make students do what they think they can't. We set the bar impossibly high and then cheer when they clear it. We make them hate us and love us at the same time. That moment at the end of the class...that moment makes everything else worth it.
