Mack’s Gloves

So we are going to take a space that looks like this

And make into a living space for Auntie Datenut.

Yes.  We are going to move Auntie from southern Cali to an apartment located in our very own shop.  The goal is to have this finished and go grab her and move her up here over Spring Break.

We started on New Year’s Day and the temperature was a balmy 12 degrees.  And I learned something!

I learned empathy.  For David.

Poor David Maliblahblah works outside from dawn till dusk and he comes home and he wants the house to be like 87 degrees and I want it to be like 68 degrees and the poor guy is always freezing and I’m like, “I need the fan on.”

Well.  On Day One of our apartment work, I worked outside for an exteneded period of time.  I came inside and noticed my legs were frozen.  My torso was fine because I did a better job of layering, but my legs-frozen.  As they began to thaw, I felt cold unlike any other cold I have ever experienced.

Me:  David!  I get it!  Now, I see why you are so cold!

David:  Super.  Only took 21 years.

Rest assured, I will still need a fan, but he gets a heated blanket.

For his side of the bed.

Anyways.  Day one was relocate all junk that we don’t know what to do with to other places on our property and tear down some sheet rock.

On Day 2, we had to add width to the 2×4’s to make them 2×6’s and we took out old lighting and installed new lighting.

So. Stay tuned.

***

We need to talk about Mack and his gloves.  For they will be death of me.

Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday morning, I am about to start the day.  My para for reading interventions comes into touch base with me regarding Mack.  The two of us come up with a game plan on how to help him a bit better during interventions.

Me:  Sounds good, but he isn’t here today.

Para:  Oh.  He is.  He is upset and in the cafeteria because someone has stolen his glove.

Me:  You mean the glove right there that he left on his desk after school yesterday?

Here’s what I think is going on, Reader.

I think Mack’s mom is probably fit to be tied with this boy losing things.  So she gives him a pep talk about how he had better not come home with only one glove.

Mack cannot focus long enough in life to ever keep track of two gloves, bless his heart.  He will inevitably lose track of a glove and then he completely loses his mind and cries and everything in our classroom must come to a half because he cannot find his glove and his mom will be so mad.

So, he comes in, hiccuping from crying.  I show him the glove.  Glove freak out sesssions happened about five more times throughout the day, Reader.

Mack (wailing):  AHH!!  I CANNOT FIND MY GLOVE!

I look over in his direction and see the glove stuck inside his jacket sleeve.  Because he didn’t take the glove off before taking the jacket off.

Me:  Look at the jacket you are holding, bud.

This goes on and on and on.  He left for the bus and then he came running, and I mean RUNNING back and threw open his locker, started wailing, and shouted:

“I CANNOT FIND MY GLOVE!”

It was in his backpack.

Thursday Morning.

He comes in.  He has his gloves on and he starts to take off his winter gear to be ready for learning.  Gloves are falling on the floor and Mack is spinning circles.

Me:  Dude.  I cannot.  I canNOT.  You must keep track of those gloves today.

May the Lord bless me and keep me.

I noticed my kids were needing a “Come to Jesus” meeting about focusing and doing their best during learning times.  I was apparently very inspirational, because Mack came up to me every hour on the hour to hug me and say:

“Ms.  D!  I want to learn!”

Oh!  Fun fact!  He calls me the name of his kindergarten teacher.

Has done it all year.

Me:  Hi.  I am Mrs. M.  and yes!  I am so proud of you!  You are a good learner.

Mere seconds later, I am trying to teach and Mack is completely turned around facing the opposite direction, trying to take the strings from his winter boots and hook then around his knees.

Me:  Hey, buddy?  Remember how you wanted to learn?  Now’s your moment!

And . . . . I love him.

***

We had a calf born during our super cold spell.

Can you imagine the horror that poor baby felt?  Leaving that warm cow tummy and plopping onto the snow with an outside temp of 10?

Every day, I try to check on it to make sure it hasn’t turned into a Calfsickle.

So far, so good.