Slacker

I am a major slacker. I am fighting to keep my grades up and spend time with friends and family. I am now part of the Environmental Club, the Student Government Association, the Gay Straight Alliance, and the Feminist Activist Coalition. This has been fun and I have made some really great friends through it all. I am thinking of running for President or Vice President of the SGA for next year now, not sure which one yet.

My life is crazy and hectic, but tons of fun. My kids are growing up way to fast; my oldest is going to graduate from HS this year and my middle child is 15 and learning to drive, while my baby is enjoying preschool. I miss the baby stages sometimes. However is great watching them grow up and become the young adults they were ment to be. My husband is so wonderful to put up with me and my crazy need to be part of everything at school. He worries that I am spreading myself too thin, sometimes I think he is right but sometimes I just want to do the things I did not have the courage or self-confidence to do in HS. He is the one that gave me the ability to do everything I am doing now.

Ending and Beginging

Ok, I seriously slacked on writing this blog this semester. On my behalf, I was extremely busy trying to keep up with my classes. On the bright side I ended the semester with 3 A's and 2 B's. So my time was well spent. I am now getting ready for Christmas. 3 more days as my 4yr old keeps telling me. I think I have everything ready for Santa to come.

My spring semester is going to be even busier than the fall semester. I not only have 6 classes but also have joined the Student Government Association. I was made secretary in a matter of two meetings. I am having fun with it though, I am learning a lot and am meeting new and interesting people. I am thinking of running for Student Trustee for next year. Nothing like giving myself even more to do. LOL

My husband is not sure bout all this stuff I am getting involved in; but he wants me to be happy and make new friends. In this process I have put my youngest into daycare/preschool for the first time. I was more upset at leaving him there than he was, he loves school. He was mad because he could only go on MWF and he wanted to go everyday. Now he will get his wish, I have classes every day of the week now.

I hope to be graduated from LLCC by next spring; then I plan to move to UIS to get my Bachelors Degree. My goal is to be teaching in a H.S. as a Lit. teacher soon after graduation. Wish me luck and send lots of prayers.

Week Two

Well another week done and a holiday weekend, which for me means a 4 day weekend. Yea!! Not! I have to write three papers, all of which need to be 3-4 pages long. So much fun.(sarcasm) I am enjoying my classes over all just stress over papers. I usually do fairly well on them, but I always worry anyway. I think that is why I do ok on the papers. Had my first Geometry quiz on Fri. and think that I did good. It seemed easier than I thought it would be.
My children are going to drive me insane, I truly believe this. My oldest son is going on 18 and might not graduate this spring. He won't keep his homework done and turned in on time. My daughter is 15 and has the usual boy trouble, "I love him, I hate him" drama. Then there is my youngest son who is going on 4 and has decided that he loves preschool and throws a fit because he does not want to leave(ever). He says he wants to stay and play with his friends. When at home he wants my complete attention, he does not care if I am trying to do homework. Well that is my life this week. Hope you have a good week next week and a fun and safe Labor Day.

First Week

Well the first week of school is finally over. I am still trying to figure out if I bit off more than I could chew with 6 classes. I enjoyed my first Lit class, and I think that I will like Com 112. My online class worries me because I am not all that tech savy, pe is a breeze I go work out twice a week and get an A to help my GPA. :) Then there is Geometry...... what can I say it is math and I don't do well with math. This means LOTS of studying!!!! Well on a good note, I saw a lot of people that I knew, I even made a few new friends. I have found in college the confidence and acceptance that I never experienced in high school. I am sure that a big part of this is the support and love I receive from my husband and children. I will bore you by talking about them at a later date. Have fun this semester and I hope you all do well.

New Semester

Ok, I know this blog started as a class assignment. However, I think I might keep it going. I hope there is someone out there that might read it. I am a happily married mother of 3. I have gone back to school at the age of 35, and am working toward becoming a high school English teacher. I am currently taking 6 classes for a total of 16 credit hours. I will use this blog to write about how I keep up with this much work, complain about assignments, and just generally whine. If you are reading this just drop me a comment and let me know. Have a good week.

21st Century & The American Dream

The 21st Century American is living a fast-paced, hi-tech, ever expanding life. We continually learn and discover new and varied ways to fit more stuff into our lives. We tend to be materialistic and greedy. If a neighbor has something new and exciting we want to rush right out and get a better version of that item. We as a people have forgotten how to appreciate the simple things in life. There is so much going on, you have careers, social life, and family obligations that the small important things get left behind. Things like a quiet afternoon at the park with the kids or a beautiful summer day in the sun with nothing to do.
The American Dream varies form person to person but in a general sense it is still having a home, family, and a sense of security. Most people are looking for a home to call their own, somewhere that they can safely raise a family. People are looking for a family to love and care for, to have a connection with. We need the togetherness that comes with family. Everyone looks for security, weather in your career or home life. We want to feel like there is solid ground under us. This allows us to reach further in our lives.
My views on these subjects have not really changed just expanded I think. I feel that both of these themes are combined in life. We look for the American Dream by being a typical 21st Century American. I hope that everyone can achieve their own personal dream and expand the idea of the 21st century American.

Gender Roles

I think that gender roles are blurred more in today's society then ever before. Having said that, I believe that women are still looked down on for choosing to work outside the home. Women have the ability to be anything they want, a CEO, a judge, or the Secretary of State; however when a woman chooses a career like these they are expected to focus only on their work. If they try to split their time they are passed over for promotions, if they focus on work they are told they are neglecting their families. Even in today's world women are pressed to choose between work and family. When children are put into childcare the moms are told that is the reason their kids have problems in school. Women are told that the time they are at work is causing their children to have attachment issues and/or learning issues. This makes it hard for moms to do what they need to and still feel like good moms. I know this from experience, I spent most of my kid's lives as a working mom. I had to leave them in childcare and hope that they would get a portion of the attention that I would give them. When I would tell people that my kids were in daycare, I was asked why I didn't just stay home with them. I was called a bad mom for going to work right after my daughter was born, told that I should be home with my baby. I wanted to be home but had to keep bills paid, some people do not understand that.
I hope that gender roles can be blurred more in the future.