Four plus one.

That's bear watch talk.

I had five sightings... but one bear twice. AND, just so you know... the biggest and fattest bear of them all was the scaredi-catest out of all of them! I just love that!

The world of no homeworkland for the PIP has finally ended. This girl has continuous homework. So much that she gets overwhelmed with the mere mention of HOMEWORK. Yesterday was no exception. On Friday they were assigned something to do with an advertisement. She missed Friday. BUT she did spend the weekend colouring and writing other assignments that were due on Monday & Tuesday. THEN Monday evening she spent time working on the math that was given out on the Friday that she missed. Last night she spent the afternoon /evening preparing a summer advertisement poster thingy (8 1/2 x 11) that she couldn't do on Monday night. The expectations were laid out on paper, but it was the actual assignment that was a tad bit confusing. So guess what... I did whatever a parent should not do.. and that was get involved in the project, and throw out ideas, and give suggestions, and basically help her put it together. I can't just tell her do it... because she will start to cry, and just feel overwhelmed.. which is not what I want, and what kind of message does this send out.... or, I could just sit next to her... and throw out ideas... all while really wanting to read my book... but I DID NOT!!! In any case, I was met with much more enthusiasm, involvement and energy towards the assignment. (OK... so this is how the real story goes... she actually forgot the piece of paper at school with the assignment on it, and it was due today... (but in reality tomorrow in yesterday land)... so I find her, in a crumpled mess in her messy bedroom... devastated that she has forgotten her assignment. LUCKILY.... I just happened to have her friends phone number, which I dialed, ... because the girl couldn't do it... and I talked to her friend... and asked her for the piece of paper... which THANK THE GOOD GUY ABOVE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDING US WITH BLUE SKIES FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS that she actually did have! The Pip and I walked over to the friends house and retrieved the paper.... which is when I actually started flipping out ideas... because I noticed her sitting for a great deal of time getting frustrated with all the words and expectations.... OK people... this is a brochure... and advertisement for a summer spot that the child went to in the summertime.... this isn't making electricity or anything. BUT... the girl did not know how to make a BROCHURE, because the teacher had requested it as an advertisement, BUT, it had to have a letter attached to the back of it telling him (the teacher) all about personal experiences, BUT ALSO... to be creative, and add in extra options as far as special deals & rates they could have gotten at this vacation experience place. The request didn't quite fit what he wanted in actuality... which is why I came up with a brochure... and do 11 year olds know how to do a brochure... or an advertisement?? I don't know.. how do they learn this stuff.. and then they are asked to be creative... JESUS... she was just trying to absorb the basic expectations. Luckily... the antibiotics have been working nicely on her throat infection/Strep situation... so the PIP was ready and willing to take on this little assignment with the help of her assistant. It almost seems an evil plan of attach from a mother... but I just want the girl to feel success at diving into assignments, and getting them accomplished... she has a creative mind... but just isn't sure what she's supposed to do with it.. other than to make the stuffed dog Cicely AKA Prance talk, and move about the home.

OK... all nattered out... must run.