Hide-and-Seek for Dummies

Last night my husband and I decided to play Hide-and-Seek with Gryffin. As is usually the case, Gryffin was very enthusiastic about the game. Problem was, he had no idea how to play it correctly.

The game started with me slowly counting to ten while my husband helped Gryffin to hide. When I reached ten, I loudly sang out "Ready or not, here I come!" I then went in search of my husband and son.

It didn't take me very long to find them. Mainly because Gryffin was frantically waving his arms, jumping up and down, and shouting, "Here I am!"

(Note to self: scratch "Covert Stealth Spy" off Gryffin's future job list.)

After that rather interesting version, we decided to help our son by hiding with him. Justin covered his eyes and slowly started to count, while I grabbed Gryffin's hand and headed for a primo hiding spot.

Gryffin and I ducked behind a bedroom door and waited for Justin to finish counting. The entire time, Gryffin is so excited he simply can't stop giggling or dancing in place. And sure enough, no sooner does Justin announce "Here I come!" than Gryffin launches himself from his hiding place shouting, "Here I am, Dada!"

So we tried version 3. This time I hid, while Justin and Gryffin counted. I ran to the hallway closet and stepped inside, leaving the door hallfway open. I figured it was an easy place for Gryffin to find me, since I would be very visible the minute someone walked past.

They reached ten, warned me they were coming, and then set out to search for me. I could hear Gryffin giggling and laughing while he hunted, and Justin encouraging him to find me. As they drew nearer to the hallway closet, I found myself smiling in anticipation. Surely Gryffin would find me immediately!

Wrong.

For the next five minutes, Gryffin proceeds to run through the house calling, "Mama! Where are ooo?" He must have streaked past the closet door at least four times and never once noticed me!

(Note to self, scratch "Search and Rescue" off Gryffin's future job list).

An Unusual Experience

As many of you know, I love a good ghost story. Whenever I travel, I automatically look for local lore about haunted places and events. Although I am interested in the paranormal,I actually consider myself to be rather skeptical of the various stories I've heard. I know that surprises many folks who are familiar with my penchant for the unexplained, but its true.

Anyway, I have had a few "different" experiences so far in my life. I am not saying these experiences are paranormal in nature; in fact, in the case I'd like to discuss now, I'd love to find a rational explanation. So if you have any ideas, let me know!

It was a LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG time ago when I was in college (no, I won't tell you just how long ago). I was home for a holiday, and both my parents were at work. In true college student fashion, I chose to sleep in late on the morning in question.

At some point that morning I woke up and went to the restroom. It was probably around 8:30 a.m., and sunlight was streaming through my two windows. My room was well-lit by the sun, and although I was still somewhat sleepy, I was definitely awake. I used the restroom, got a drink of water, and decided, quite lazily, to return to bed. Ahhhh, college days.

Anyway, I laid down and, as I waited for sleep to find me, began to toss and turn in an effort to find a comfortable spot. About five minutes or so after I laid down, I rolled over and found myself facing the bedroom door, and a strange man standing in the hallway.

Now, to fully grasp the scene, let me describe our house to you. It is an older ranch-style house, with my bedroom at the end of the hallway. I never considered this house to be "haunted," despite a couple of random events (I'll share those later).

The man stood just outside my room, in the dark hallway. Even today, many, many, many years later, I can still see him. He was of medium height, broad-chested and stocky. He wore dark pants,a red flannel shirt, and a toboggan-style knit cap. He had a scruffy beard darkening the lower half of his face, and his over-all complexion is best described as "swarthy."

But the most upsetting aspect of my visitor was the expression on his face. It was extremely hostile. He stood in the doorway, head lowered, glowering at me from underneath his heavy eyebrows. He did not move, did not say anything, merely stood there and stared. It was absolutely terrifying, and I was paralyzed

I stared at him for what seemed like forever, before I managed to break eye contact and look away. When I gathered my courage enough to look back, he was gone.

This event scared me so badly that I jumped up and immeditely called my father, who was at work approximately an hour away. While on the phone with him, I searched the entire house, but found nothing.

So what happened? Did I dream the entire event? Was it a case of sleep paralysis, or night terrors? Or did I really have an unknown visitor that morning?

Gryffin Googles

Today I had a meeting with my colleagues. Due to lack of babysitters, Gryffin went with me to the school for my appointment. I gave him various toys and things to distract him, but in true toddler fashion he wanted to be right in the middle of the discussions.

At last, exasperated with his interruptions, I pulled up hulu on the computer and found a cartoon show for him to watch. Then my husband arrived to take the little munchkin off my hands, and I left Gryffin in the classroom with the other teachers while I went to let Justin in.

When we returned to the room, we found Gryffin sitting at the computer with my friend, Julie; Julie was looking rather surprised. After he left, she confided to me that the cartoon had finished on the computer and she went to find him another one. Unable to find the correct url, she apologized to Gryffin and explained the problem.

He had a solution, however. He told her, "Just Google it!"

Conscious Discipline Memories....Wednesday

Whenever I attend a workshop, I take copious notes and then shelve them. When I review those notes (sometimes years later), I have absolutely no idea what I have written, what it means, or what I wanted to remember! So I decided to take some time during the breaks this week to write down the highlights so hopefully I can remember what happened later on!

Things to remember: reflective speaking helps mirror students, engage their interest, and shift focus. "So you wanted...."

What you focus on, you get more of."

"Connections on the outside build connections on the inside."

"The teacher sets the tone of the classroom. If there is someothing amiss with the classroom climate, you as the teacher need to change."


Ideas to implement: "Nancy in the News" possible to make school-wide brain smart start using activboards? Maybe record the day before everyday? Explore possibilities to unite school family.

Doodle's Doodle

Last night, Gryffin sat on my lap and regaled me with various drawings on his MagnaDoodle (a slate-type device that lets you draw and erase with magnetized fillings and a magnetic pencil). First he drew me a duck (which closely resembled a blob). Next he drew me a dinosaur (which closely resembled a larger blob). Then he drew me a tiger (which closely resembled an even larger blob....sensing a pattern?). Finally, he decided to take requests and asked what I would like for him to draw.

"How about drawing me a smiley face?" I asked. As most of you know, I have a serious addiction to smiley faces. Although I am seeking treatment, my addiction remains perilous.

"Okay," he replied. He erased his previous pictures, stuck out his tongue, and carefully placed two dots in the middle of the MagnaDoodle.

"The eyes!" he told me gleefully.

Then he drew a squiggly line underneath them. "The mouth!" He was now wiggling with delight.

"Very good," I agreed. "But where's his nose?"

He concentrated for a second, then added another dot. "His nose!"

"Nice." I complimented. "But where are his ears?"

Gryffin gave me an exasperated look. Then he carefully added to blobs to the side of the 'face.' "Ears," he announced.

I noticed his enthusiasm seemed to be waning.

"I like those ears," I told him. "But where is his hair?"

By now Gryffin was obviously frustrated with my art critique. He shook his head stubbornly and growled, "No hair."

"No hair? Of course he needs hair! Where is his hair?"

Gryffin again shook his head. "No hair, Momma! No hair!"

I studied my exasperated son closely. "Why doesn't he have hair, Gryffin?"

With a triumphant gleam in his eye, Gryffin announced, "It's Daddy!"

Of course I shared it with my husband.

Strange Happenings

Anyone who knows me is aware that I love a good ghost story. I can also tell a good ghost story; simply ask some of my former students who heard one of my stories and suffered nightmares afterwards (I once told a story five years ago...those same students still come up to me today and ask if it was true). I suppose I inherited that trait from my Dad, who can also spin a good yarn. But I digress.

Usually, I'm not much for television. I find the typical shows vapid and meaningless, and I would much rather read a book. But occasionally I do enjoy relaxing in front of the tube, and invariably the shows that capture my interest involve the paranormal. My favorite show in this genre has to be Ghost Hunters, simply because they take a very skeptical approach to their investigations. I personally believe far to many "paranormal" events are simply misunderstood natural occurrences. So whenever something happens that is out of the ordinary, I don't automatically jump to the conclusion that it is the work of the dearly departed. However, last night something occurred that I cannot explain. Perhaps someone who reads this can help.

I am the first one up in the morning. After I woke up, I headed to the kitchen to start a load of laundry. But when I entered the kitchen, something very strange awaited me.

Every, and I mean every, cabinet door was open. On the floor in front of the bottom cabinets, a pyramid had been formed from various can goods. There were four on the bottom, three on the next level, and so on. They were neatly stacked with the labels all turned in the same direction.
But that's not all.

On the counter tops, three glasses had been placed in perfect alignment, side by side, with the patterns on the glasses also turned the same direction.

My first thought upon viewing this rather remarkable display was that my son, Gryffin, had been playing in the kitchen during the night (he has stacked things before). However, I quickly realized this could not be the case since Gryffin was still sound asleep....and while he could reach the bottom counters, he can not reach the top cabinets where the glasses are kept.

I also briefly suspected the cats, who can open the cabinets. But how would they stack the items so neatly?

My husband swears he did not do it, and I believe him. He simply doesn't have that much imagination (sorry hon, but its true).

So that is my strange happening. Perhaps we will be featured on Ghost Hunters someday in the future!

A Side Order of Narcotics, Please

Yesterday I took Gryffin out to eat at the local Pizza Hut. Apparently the restaurant had recently hired new staff; we had a regular waitress and a young "trainee" just learning the ropes. This young man hesitantly took our order while the waitress watched. I could tell he was nervous; he kept swallowing, fidgeting, and blushing.

Now, Gryffin was in a very good mood and obviously feeling boisterous. The hostess chose to sit us directly in front of the large screen television playing reruns of the Smurfs, and that didn't help matters. Pretty soon, Gryffin was doing his best to dismantle the newly built restaurant; I was doing my best to calm him down without causing a scene (in other words, without spanking him in public and getting my butt hauled to jail).

Our nervous young waiter returned with our order. While he served us, Gryffin decided it would be an excellent idea to climb the curtains....literally. I was pulling him back down, he was screeching "up, Mommy!" and general mayhem ensued (as is usually the case).

The waiter watched all this commotion, wide-eyed. After setting down our meal, he cleared his throat and shyly asked if we needed anything else.

Now, most people I know are familiar with my sarcastic wit, and my response would not shock those folks at all. However, this young man was not someone I knew.

Exasperated with Gryffin, who was once again shimmying up the curtains, I quipped, "Can you bring us some Valium, please?"

The young man swallowed, studied his menu pad, and then glanced at the other waitress. Leaning towards her, he whispered, "I don't see that on the menu. Is it a special?"

Needless to say, we left a nice tip.