Playing Hooky

I took the day off today.  It's not something I do on a whim, as I know it's better for my students if I am at school.  And honestly, writing sub plans is a drag.  I'm lucky that my teaching assistant subs for me whenever I am out, so I don't have to write as detailed a plan as I would if a stranger were subbing.  I knew my class was in good hands.

I decided to take the day because I wanted to spend some time with my guy.  Dan was off this week since he's starting a new job on Monday, and I thought it would be nice to do something just the two of us.  We don't get to do this often, since we are, after all, parents.

We are nerds, so we decided to go to the Chicago History Museum.  Neither of us had ever been before, and it is a great little museum (if you ignore the swarms of kids there on field trips).  My favorite exhibit took me through Chicago's history from Fort Dearborn to modern day - though they have yet to update the section on the Chicago Cubs to reflect the World Series win.  The exhibits don't gloss over the grittier parts of Chicago's history, either, such as the Haymarket bombing or the race riot of 1919.  It was thought-provoking, and I learned so much.

This is Chicago's very first L car!  The real thing!

We wandered the museum, talking about the things that we found interesting or intriguing, and then strolled leisurely to a nearby restaurant for lunch.  We talked about stuff.  We ate.  We just enjoyed being together without rushing to drive a kid somewhere.

I'm so glad I decided to take today off.  Between being a mom and being a teacher, my emotions and energy are often completely tapped out.  Days like today remind me that I need to slow down, take a break, and just spend time with my husband, since one day in the not-too-distant future, we'll be on our own again.  We need to still like each other when that day comes.  We need to still feel connected, to remember who we are.  As we were walking back to our car after lunch, Dan mentioned that he thinks he should schedule a week of vacation where he can just do a bunch of nothing too taxing every year.  I think he's right.  I also think when he takes that week, I'll take a personal day so we can do a bunch of nothing together.

Because sometimes, a bunch of nothing is really something.

Reflections on a baby sister (well.. she's not really a baby anymore)

Today my younger sister arrived to spend a few days with us.  When I say younger, I mean much younger.  I was 21 when she was born, so when we are out together, people often think I am her mom instead of her sister.  When she was little, it used to bother me, but now I'm ok with it. 

Lindsey is the youngest of my dad's second set of kids.  I must admit, there are times when I have moments of jealousy.  She's had experiences and opportunities with our dad that I didn't get to have because after my parents divorced, I saw my dad only a couple of times a month.  Mostly, though, I feel lucky to have such a great sister.  She's a junior in college, majoring in music education, and as I watch her having those college experiences that I can barely remember, I'm impressed by her maturity and sense of self.  She's worked hard to get where she is, and I know she's going to make a fabulous music teacher. 

So if you read this, Lindz, know that you've got a big sister who loves you lots and who will always be in your corner, no matter what.