I will survive

With only one class this week and one next week I feel as if I have a bit of a reprieve from academic commitments.  I have done NO study/assignment preparation for the last two days and while I have to admit I am enjoying the break, I think it's produced writer's block.  I have a short essay due next week on any topic and I can't for the life of me think of one!

So, how have I spent my free time?  On Tuesday night I went to a concert with a girlfriend and didn't get to bed until 1.00am after much talking and giggling (something I haven't done in a loooooong time); on Wednesday, we had breakfast at a cosy little cafe, followed by a spot of shopping; Wednesday night I had to catch up on Survivor which I missed the night before (man, I can't wait to see Russell voted off!  Go Sandra!) and today was the day I intended to get the short essay out of the way but now I have visions of chocolate cake swimming around in my head.

On the home/children front, it appears my TD No. 2 has grown out of the "boys are gross" stage and wants to start dating - not on my watch!!!!  My, how the years fly by.  Now I have TWO teenage daughters whose interests have gone from slumber parties to members of the opposite sex!  Yes, a natural stage in life but did it have to happen so quickly?  At the moment I feel as if I'll wake up one morning and be a grey-haired old lady (with a degree).

...Might be a good time to make that chocolate cake and drown my sorrows!

Half baked ideas

Since handing in my assignment last week, I've managed to convince myself that I've either 1) inadvertantly plagiarized by reading and re-reading the required text too often; 2) not referenced properly or 3) haven't provided enough depth of argument.  I'm both looking forward to getting it back and dreading it at the same time.  In the meantime, I have another essay due in two weeks and my rollercoaster ride of preparation starts all over again!  At some stage I'll become a little more relaxed about it all - probably 3rd year!

On a non-academic note - TD No. 1 has secured herself a part-time job in a bakery and will now learn the value of working for her money, responsibility and work ethic.  I guess we're both going through a learning curve.

Ahhh...

Ahhh, the relief I feel when I've finally finished an assignment.  There's usually a process I go through when I have an assignment due.  First I think - there's no way I'm going to be able to do this; then, two weeks before it's due, I procrastinate and think of all the reasons why I can't start it; this is followed by two or three days (and nights) of intense writing; then it's time to cull all those great words, sentences or paragraphs over the word limit; finally, it is with great relief that I submit the completed assignment, with a little skip to celebrate that yes, you can do it - you've done it!  This relief usually lasts for a whole day before the fear starts to seep in.  Fear that it's not quite up to scratch.  And then the whole process starts all over again with each new assignment, until the end of Semester!!!

Parallel Lines

This is me in my first year at school.  Now, I'm in my first year at Uni.  I was prompted to ponder my early years at school by a great article posted by The Non-Traditional Student.  I found this article extremely motivating as I sit locked up in my study, quietly contemplating my first assignment of the Semester.

I used to cry every Sunday night at the prospect of having to go to school for a whole week.  This continued till about year 2 or 3, I think!  In primary school I was extremely shy and because I was mathematically challenged, I believed that I couldn't really do anything.  In high school I was a real dreamer and although I was conscientious, I was just an average student, more interested in Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet than Maths, Business Principles or Geography (although English, languages and History did hold my attention for more than a few minutes)!

Now I'm finally at uni and though I'm still mathematically challenged, I don't cry every night before uni; I find it more emotionally and physically challenging rather than academically due to my added responsibilities; I still wear a big hat to school but I'm not quite so small and finally, I know that it all comes down to hard work, not whether I understand algebra, equations or fractions!  Oh and now I know who Homer is and have read Iliad for fun not because I had to - and I loved it!!!!

How about you - how did you handle school the first time round?  If you get a chance, read the article.

Conscientious objector

TD No 2 is still at that age where boys are just gross and the best company a girl could have are her five "bff's"!  So it is that I allowed her to host a "dinner/games party".  I know it's not often I write about the good qualities of my children but they really are beginning to blossom and mature.  She spent all day yesterday in the kitchen preparing her entree of hummus; main of spinach and ricotta quiche and cup cakes decorated with hearts for dessert.    Her abilities in the kitchen and general organisation of the whole event have just melted my heart.  They've spent the day happily playing boardgames - cluedo, toggle etc. with the occasional crazy outburst of laughter and screaming, but all in all, they've been extremely well-behaved. They all dressed up for dinner; drank fizzy grape juice in wine glasses and cleaned up afterwards.

Now it's 8.15pm and I've just settled in to do some serious homework/study and unfortunately, the girls have all decided it's time to put on the "scary" movies.  The screaming has become more often than occasional and I'm beginning to think I've chosen the wrong night to begin my conscientious student routine!

Self-Esteem and how to get it!

Self-Esteem and how to get it!

Tick tock

Easter holidays - yeah!  I had my last writing class yesterday and have a week off.  The kids have two weeks off and I have a film report due in two weeks!  I've resigned myself to the fact that I can't possibly work on it during the day - I'd really like to spend some quality time with them all.  Looks like I'll be putting in a few late nights.

I have to admit, I don't feel as focused this semester - nothing seems to be sinking in.  I seem to have so many other things to deal with and can't seem to let all the other stuff go.  I'm still in a quandry about whether I'm doing the right degree and whether I should be doing something more practical - it always comes back to teaching.  I'm also very conscious of the sound of the ticking clock - I can't keep changing my mind, time waits for no woman!