Mr. Zartman Continued

After I wrote about Mr. Zartman and my binders earlier this month I had the urge to find him. Easy enough with Google - especially, because there are few Wendall Zartmans in Houston, TX. He is now teaching across the street from my old high school, Lamar. He spent 21 years at my high school before he went to St. John's where he is in his 10th year.

I emailed him wondering if he would remember me. He responded back quickly saying "of course I remember you!". He went on to tell me that he had just attended a lecture on how the adolescent brain works. The lecturer talked about how teachers do not realize how powerful their words are and that the impressions they make have a huge impact. A couple of days after he attended this lecture, he received my email. I guess his lecturer was right. Mr. Zartman did make an impact on my life (the fact that I am writing about him for the third time proves this point).

Today I received another email from him. He used my essay in class to motivate his students. I am truly touched. Funny how life works given the time. I started in his class being a terrible student (not listening, not doing the work, talking to friends and having a messy binder - I am sure), but I turned that around with a challenge and reward from my mother (see Mr. Zartman and the Gucci Purse). Now Mr. Zartman has used me to motivate his students. My mother will be proud. I wonder if there is another purse in it for me? Only joking.

I want Kelan and Lauren to have amazing teachers in their lives. In fact, Dan and I are already working to make sure this happens. We are actively supporting school board candidates (i.e. money and volunteer time). Additionally, we belong to the organization - Communities and Parents for Public Schools - Dan serves on the board as well. This is an organization whose mission is to ensure quality public schools for all Seattle children. It is so important because teachers have such an impact on our children's lives. They are not just there to teach the material - they are mentors, coaches and friends.

Thank you Mr. Zartman.

Is it Me?

I am the common denominator. But aren't we all in our own lives? I keep wondering if it is me that is doing something wrong or do people just not care anymore. I am constantly stunned with common courtesy/customer service I receive.

My doctor's office is no exception - let me be more specific - my doctor's office staff (my doctor is great) is no exception. I went yesterday to get a tetanus shot and blood drawn (no food or beverage beforehand - read: no caffeine in the morning after a long night with sick kids and husband out of town). Sounds simple. Clearly too hard for the staff. I had made my appointment for 10am. On purpose. Kelan is in school and Lauren is in good form. The day before I received a recorded reminder call about my 10:30am appointment. Not right. I have to call them back and confirm that I have a 10am appointment. They concur.

Friday morning, I arrive at my scheduled appointment. Blood is drawn quickly and am directed back to the reception area to wait for them to call me for my shot. It is 10:15am. It is 10:30am. It is 10:35am. I ask the receptionist about the delay. Meanwhile Lauren is now running around the reception area dropping food all over the floor. They tell me that I have a 10:30am appointment. Ugh. I try to explain - again. No use. It is 10:45am. I am paying for downtown parking. Can they validate ($2 off parking)? No. Validation is only for doctor's appointments, not lab work. What seems to be the hold up? I ask again. There is another man there who is having the exact same problem I am. He's been here 5 minutes longer that me. It is 10:50am. Lauren has pooped but I am concerned that I will miss my call if I go and change her diaper. I ask again if they can validate my parking since my appointment is way delayed. They say they are out of validation stickers, but the next time I'm here they will pay for the whole parking (like they are going to remember this months from now). I am staring at the sign that reads, if you have been waiting longer than 15 minutes for your appointment please notify the receptionist. And what will she do? I have had it. I have low blood sugar level (no food) and a caffeine headache (no coffee). Not to mention that I have to go and pick up Kelan at school.

It is 11am. I open the door that leads back to the exam rooms and nurses station and let Lauren run free. Seriously. I start chasing her down the hall and everyone is looking at me. I run into my doctor's nurse. I ask what seems to be the hold up with my shot appointment. She looks at me like I am a stranger - lovely (I do learn that I was not on her schedule for my shot, but another nurse). She asks who my doctor is. Are you kidding me (I saw her 2-3 weeks ago)? I'm done. I pick Lauren up, announce that this is ridiculous and I am out of here. As I walk by the reception desk I tell them to let whoever know, I have left.

My doctor is great, so I will have to explain what happened. Thank goodness I did not yell and scream at anyone, but still I am not proud. Although I do believe I was justified in leaving. God help me if I get a serious cut in the near future.

Is it me?

Lauren's Sense of Style

It is happening. Lauren is starting to choose things to wear. It started with her selecting a pair of shoes (she has two pair: one is a practical - but cute - pair of Mary Jane Stride Rites and one is a fancy hot pink pair of Mary Janes with gold designs from my mother). Which pair do you think she gravitates towards?

Kelan never cared what I put on him (he only now seems to care about one particular fleece - but I believe he thinks it is too small, so he does not like it). Kelan is like his dad - could care less about what he wears as long as it is comfortable and practical (also sounds like Kelan and Lauren's Aunt Queta...).

This morning while I was getting the kids dressed, Lauren went to the toy box and grabbed her pink and orange tutu (made by her Aunt Caroline) and my Danskin Triathlon Finishers medal (now a dress up toy for the kids). She was insistent upon it. Additionally, she chose her shoes (yes, the hot pink ones) and her hat. Who am I to say no? Let me explain.

I remember (and my mother tells me about it all the time) that I wore a particular ensemble for weeks at a time (not every week mind you, but every day for weeks). It was a dark green Poe Elementary School t-shirt (it had our mascot on it, a raven - what else), a brown flowered circle skirt (i.e. full skirt), white knee high socks and a pair of black Chinese shoes (black canvas Mary Jane type shoes). And with me doing my own hair (my mother cannot do hair, much less, she hates to touch other people's hair), I was a sight to see I am sure. But I was happy and I am sure my mom did not care as long as I dressed myself (or I just wore her down so she stopped caring). My mother used to secretly wash the threadbare outfit (which it became) at night so I was at least wearing clean clothes.

So today it came as no surprise that Lauren was choosing an ensemble herself. Granted I do keep an array of clothing options that when put together are quite funny, but even I would not have thought to include a tutu and a medal.

I Can't Think

It happened again today. I could not think this afternoon. I went shopping at Fred Meyer (like a Target with food) and Ballard Market (grocery store) and all I came away with was some jeans for Lauren, 3 pumpkins, bananas and some Swiffer Wet Jet floor cleaning solution refill. Huh? Two stores and only a limited number of items purchased? I blame the children.

Both kids are at an age where you cannot do ANYTHING but focus on them - so unless you have a list at the store, you will not be able to make a decision - about anything. This afternoon was NO exception. I thought I would first try to get some jeans for Lauren (the hardest task because I have to try them on her). Since my attention was on Lauren, Kelan took off running through the aisles grabbing all the clothes off the racks within reach and dumping them on the floor. I go to grab him and Lauren takes off running (clearly excited in the new jeans). Both children are running through the tightly packed aisles (read: hard to see) screaming with utter delight. I am screaming (well, speaking loudly), but I am NOT delighted. I wrangle the kids, buckle Kelan in the front part of the cart and put Lauren in the basket. I throw the jeans in the cart (Lauren throws them on the floor), I try to put on one of Lauren's shoes (she throws the other one on the floor), I start pushing the cart, Lauren starts throwing the contents of my diaper bag on the floor. I need to get the hell out of Fred Meyer - I can't think.

This week I was responsible for snack at Kelan's school and for our evening parent meeting. When shopping for the food, I made the mistake of bringing Kelan, Lauren and Dan with me. I was so crazed that I bought too much food and now I have tons of leftover snacks.

I have mom friend who feels like I do (don't we all?). Her guilty pleasure is to go to Fred Meyer on Friday nights after the kids go to sleep. Most times she does not buy anything. She walks the store and processes things. What a wonderful treat.

Today is done - kids are asleep. I get a do over each day so I hope tomorrow I will be able to think. It would be nice, because I could not think of what to have for dinner tonight, so I didn't.

Mr. Zartman and My Binders

This is the second time in my adult life I have written about my high school freshman year World History teacher, Mr. Zartman (you can read my first Mr. Zartman essay on Pursestories.com). I guess our teachers really do have an impact on our the rest of our lives.

I was reminded of Mr. Zartman the other day, because I made another binder (this is a very systematized folder with many tabs) . This particular one is for Kelan's cooperative preschool. I serve as the class treasurer in addition to working in the classroom, thus the need to be coordinated. There is a lot of paper associated with Co Op (and actually life now that I think about it), and I can be a little obsessive about organization.

Plain and simple: Mr. Zartman taught me how to make an organized folder (including all the tabs for separate sections). He even graded us on it. I remember thinking back then, what on earth does a binder have to do with World History and who the hell cares what my personal folder looks like. Now I get it. He was helping us help ourselves to be organized so we could learn the material (and of course probably helping himself by eliminating the I can't find it excuse). Additionally, he cared about us being organized - and now I care, because it helps me so much with keeping my kids/life coordinated.

One of my most memorable post school binders was for my volunteer work with the YWCA Leaders in Progress program in 2000 (the name has changed since I volunteered, it is now: GirlsFirst). I committed to one year of service as mentor to two "teen girls who face economic and social barriers to success". In addition, I attended a once a month full day leadership workshop with all the other girls and mentors. I remember receiving so much information that I couldn't even absorb it all so I made a binder. I did not really think anything of it until I went to my first meeting with the other mentors, and they all gasped at my binder! This was a volunteer gig - we already had jobs with tons of work. Since then, my binder became a joke - in a good humored sort of way. Everyone liked the organization of it - but in no way would anyone make one on their own. In fact they all joked that I would probably make binders for the girls that I was mentoring. What a good idea. I did. Everyone in the program was in on the joke. Uh oh, Jeanne's going to make a binder... (I ended up serving on the committee that oversaw this program for several years after my year of mentoring - yep, I made more binders!).

Through my years of working in office jobs (Paineful Webber and the City of Seattle) I have made countless binders - its my organizational system.

Fast forward to my children and the beginning of cooperative preschool. I made a binder as the Parent Coordinator/Board Member for Kelan's first Co Op last year (which I dutifully passed on to the next person in my position). I now have made another one for this year.

I went to the parent meeting the other night - binder in hand - expecting a similar response as I had received at my mentor meeting with the YWCA. What a wonderful surprise - LOTS of binders (with tabs)! Which just translates to me: a lot of organized people. So not only do I enjoy everyone's company (and their children) - it is an incredibly well run (and organized) preschool.

I am not sure where Mr. Zartman is today - it has been about 23 years since I sat in his class. However, to this day, I credit him for my binder. Thank you, Mr. Zartman.