I can hardly believe it’s November! Time is just flying! We have settled back into our school year schedule.
MY WEEK: for the nosy(sarcasm) and the curious
Sunday afternoons I’m in an online BOTM or Book of the Month reading discussion. This has been a blast and I love all the input. In December I will be the host with a fellow member which will be a new experience for me! We have chosen American Fire . I am really looking forward to reading this story. The premise reminds me a little of what Truman Capote was after In Cold Blood; reporter, researcher and book writer. The book promises to be a grand reading adventure. One Sunday every other month I have an in person book club where we eat and sit around and talk books all afternoon: ZEN.
Mondays I keep free. This is of course hilarious because they tend to get filled more than not. I’m working on the NOT and keeping the day for my sanity.
Tuesdays I am cooking and volunteering and mentoring at the youth building called The Anchor where kids in 6th through 12th grade come to hang out, eat, participate in “family chat” do homework and interact with us and their fellow peeps. It has been a good year so far and as the weather turns colder our numbers increase and this will be true until May. I’ve had some really good conversations with kids about books they like, books they are required to read and their thoughts and opinions. Two things have been said over and over in the past few year: that the kids hate reading a chapter and stopping, not being able to continue when they have the momentum to read and that when they are talking or trying to convey their opinion of a book to the teacher, the teacher interrupts or is not really listening to them, in their opinion. This causes them to not want to read the book and or give up. I’m not really sure about the last statement but I know the first one about having to stop is not a favorite of mine either. These are things I try to work through with them to see if we can create change, at least on their part so that reading is still enjoyable for them. Reading is such an essential part of all learning that to create a dislike of it is disheartening to me.
Wednesdays I leave free to fill in differing volunteer opportunities such as Book Fairs, weeding and sorting libraries of all kinds, book sorting of books donated to me so that I can re-donate, Field Trips, One on One mentoring and the like.
Thursdays I do Baggy Books for a Lower Montessori and help tutor refugee kids from Pakistan.
Fridays I do Baggy Books for a second grade class at an elementary school that is 90 some percent ESL English as a Second Language, and is almost 100 percent free breakfast and lunch for the kids. One Friday night a month I do a night event at the youth building for 7th and 8th graders only that takes in about 600-700 kids. Whew. NEW to me is a Friday night opportunity to cook for (and bring books of course) to Grace’s Table a nonprofit that mentors and walks along side young moms age 13-24. “Grace’s Table is a community where girls are welcomed as they are, invited to connect with others, and become a part of the family.In a time of uncertainty and turmoil, Grace’s Table is a resting place, an anchor, and a firm foundation for teen mothers and their children, from mothers-to-be, to newborns and toddlers.Grace’s Table represents safety and stability in the midst of uncertainty. When day-to-day living is filled with insecurity and doubt, our girls know they can rely on our volunteers for comfort, support, knowledge, and assurance.There is always room for one more at Grace’s Table.” I went two weeks ago and FELL IN LOVE. They were so very excited to get books for themselves and their kids that I am making a new stack and bagging up books for the next time I go!
All the hours not listed above….I’m being Wife, Mom, Nana, Friend, Family member. I am always available for any child I’ve ever mentored in the past decades and from time to time a crisis will pop up in their lives and I will end up spending a chunk of time with them until it is resolved. I also can get fun text messages “How did you say to cook a potato in the microwave?” “What preschool do I send my child to?” “How do I get this stain out” “Do you have this book?” All answered easily. I liken it to a candle in the dark or at times it’s just making sure I’m still there.
Also I’m reading at every given chance!
I’m very blessed to be able to be a full-time volunteering at this stage of my life.
Peace.
