Lessons from my daughter

Emily has to be the only kid with a Christening Anniversary 🙂

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When I was little I didn’t dream of big wedding, I didn’t dream of wedding at all.

I didn’t daydream about getting a new last name.

This was never an objective in my life.

I was going to have a career and by the time I was 25, I would figure out how to have a baby, most likely on my own as I doubted I would ever find someone I would want to spend the rest of my life with.

The rest of my life when I was a teenager seemed to be way too long to plan to spend it with one person.

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When I met Jonathan, I didn’t plan on spending the rest of my life with him.

We worked at the same place, him in the kitchen, me in the dining room.

My English was barely good enough to be a server, Jon had no French at all.

🙂

Conversation was not part of the original attraction.

We both had plans that didn’t include each other.

We both got caught off guard.

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Oct.5th 1998

Jon and I married and Emily was christened.

Today is our anniversary! All 3 of us are celebrating!

Emily has to be the only kid with a Christening Anniversary 🙂

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By the time we got married, we had Emily, we owned our house (well, we owned the mortgage) and had a dog!

I married because it felt right, not because I had to.

I married without questioning how long forever was going to be.

So far, as of 10am this morning, it’s been 15 years of us being married. Almost 17 years together. By June 2014, I will have spent as much time living with my husband as I did living with my mom. 🙂

I love my husband even tough he drives me nuts!

There are so many things he does or doesn’t do that are getting on my nerves…

Will I leave him because of these things? Maybe….

LOL! He reads my blog so might as well play with him a little.

All those things that are driving me nuts are the things that attracted me at first.

He does things without thinking first. He doesn’t care if the kitchen is a mess. He is a night bird. He spends money as if there is no tomorrow… and so much more!

I love him!

I think too much, I care too much about the little things that needs to be done, I make lists and stick them everywhere, I sleep at night and I save my money…. ok, that last one isn’t true. I budget and make sure we can live a happy life and treat ourselves when we want to.

If we were both like me, life would be boring. There is no way I would live with someone like me. I have no idea why he is still with me.

From day one, our friends tried to keep us apart but somehow we are still together.

Our life has been stressful. We have had all the reasons in the world to fall apart but we decided to pull it together.

The fact that we are so different has served us well over the years. We ask different questions, we hear different answers, I take notes while he keeps talking. He pushes issues and asks the difficult questions when I can’t.

He is my rock and I adore him although from time to time… 🙂

Happy Anniversary Honey! I love you!

October 4th 9:30am

A month and a day after the first day of high school…

We finally had our first school meeting to review Emily’s specialized education plan.

Jon came with me as I wanted him there in case it didn’t go the way I hoped. He is my rock.

So, yesterday morning we sat down and discuss:
1. Accommodation
2. Modification
3. Individualization

Yesterday I learned that there is a lunch club or best buddy program at the high school. On Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays, Emily is having lunch with grade 11 & 12 mentors and she’s talking with them. She apparently has quite an audience!

And a month later, I learn about it.

This was a 30 second item of discussion. I should have known about this already. Shouldn’t I?

We talked about some other things that are already happening and some that will be put in place.

Emily will help with the soup program and help with cleaning and straightening the cafeteria. She won’t mop the floor but will wipe the tables. I’m ok with that, I want her to learn some responsibilities.

She will take part of a social skills club which is a great opportunity for her and there was some talk about personal safety.

I mentioned that I was elected as part of the PSSC and that my main contribution would be on the exceptional students front. I briefly told her about the disappointments and struggle of Emily’s first day and she provided the explanation which I had figured out on my own.

She wasn’t at this school last year, wasn’t part of the transition plan meetings and so on.

Excuses…
Maybe I’m too harsh but…

In my work, I need to provide continuity if I am not there. When I transfer in or out, I care enough about the job I’m leaving to take upon myself to help my successor succeed.

I might be the exception but I believe that it is a reflection of who I am as a person and an employee.

I prepare for the person replacing me and a prepare for my new role.

I have moved within my company 3 times and could be moving again.

I expect the same of other people around me. I work with my team on building training manual and reference tools. I believe strongly in cross-training and documenting. I believe on making transitions as seamless as possible.

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You got a new position? Congratulations.
How will you be sure you are ready on your first day?
If your work is impacting others, how will you provide continuity through a seamless transition?

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My picture has nothing to do with my post except that the leaves are falling, it’s my favorite season of the year and regardless of everything that is or isn’t going on, I am happy because I decide to be. Look at Jake wanting to play soccer! That’s enough to make you smile too right?