Beauty

My very good sister in law just sent me this wonderful link to a film about how women's perceptions of themselves get so distorted. Click Here to watch.

I love that she sent this to me. I feel like I am buying into this race of trying to look like a super model, or be a thin rail, because it seems so normal with all these beautiful city women all around me constantly. There are so many! It's also strange because as I am getting older, my body is changing. My once swimming and water polo pysique is changing becasue of my lack of 2 hour a day training and my body doing what it wants (and enjoying all the wonderful cheese that is available daily:)

Thanks, Kathleen, for reminding me that I am beautiful because of the person I am. I am healthy, though not a stick. My husband reminds me of that daily, but it's good to hear it from a woman. I am lucky enough to have 5 sisters in law, 3 strong moms and many wonderful friends who support each other and love each other. We all need strong women in our lives to remind us of what is important. Who started this rediculous mentality of models? Not any of the beautiful, smart women I know.

Maternal Instincts

I have lately a maternal instinct that is kicking in. I feel the need to care for things. Even though I already do have this feeling, it has tripled. I feel like I have to have a dog, maybe children, Steve is to old to take care of. My answer is to keep busy. I want to find a job, get into the culture a little more, get a perm home. Then, in a year or so, we can think about having children in the US.

First Last Day of School

Today was my first last day of school as a teacher. I can hardly believe that this day has come and yet it went by like a blur. I can say that this has been one major accomplishment. To handle a class that was a little over the edge to begin with, sending me there as well, and actually getting them in their seats to learn something daily and have them appreciate each other. Amazing. I can't believe it happened but am glad to have experienced it. That was the goal, after all: to teach kids and to make some kind of positive impact in their life. This year started out bumpy, almost went to the nut house, ready to leave, but it was a successful year and I am glad I stayed to see them grow into wonderful little fourth graders. www.mdusd.k12.ca.us.