Elizabeth's Presentation

Part of Classical Conversations is having presentation time each week. For the 4 year olds I tutor, this is basically just show and tell.

The last 3 weeks I have been a bad homeschool mom and we have not had a prepared presentation. The first week of class I could have had Elizabeth prepared, ready to be the example for the other students.

I did not.


The second week, we were walking out the door at 8:15am and I remembered that presentations were due. Elizabeth grabbed a pull along dog toy. She modeled her expert skill in dog pulling, all on a moment's notice.

I had to give her props for ingenuity.


The next week, we were (no lie) unloading the van to go into the church for Classical when I remembered her presentation.

"Elizabeth! Quick! Come choose something from the van for your presentation."

Once more, I am a rock star homeschool mom. Try to hold your applause.

She chose a blue elephant from the circus we attended last year. Yes, it was a monumental presentation. Complete with a story about her favorite blue elephant.

This week, we finally hit the target. Since we went to court this morning, I took the time to help her prepare an actual presentation for today. I mean, I had to save face for the sub!

Here is our practice run last night. If you can look past the fact she's in her undies, Lucas' boy outburst and Ashlee's fit, you might see an actual presentation somewhere in there.


Wanna know what she was reading? Her notes of course! Yes, those are my artistic skills. Do not judge me.

Oh yeah! Who gets the blue ribbon for Mom of the week? You're lookin' at her...er, reading her. The moments where I actually FEEL successful as a mother are few and far between. This one, I'm savoring.

Oh yeah, pass it over, pass it over and watch me pin it on...

Court Update

Today wasn't so bad. We were done by lunchtime, which I'm told is rare. Basically, the judge gave the birth parents 3 more months to get their act together. We go back to court on December 15th. Guess we'll see what unfolds between now and then. Right now, I have peace.

I must say, though, I really liked the judge today. The last time we went to court, the judge hardly paid attention. Today's judge, The Honorable Carlton Terry (if you live near here and vote) was great! He was into each case being heard and even ruled for termination of parental rights in two of the cases we saw. Both were warranted cases where the birth parents had been given plenty of time to get their acts together and had failed, miserably. At one point, he told a birth mom that they were moving toward termination. He told her it was not set in stone yet, but in the next three months she needed to

"Put up or shut up." If she wanted her child back.

Luke and I both were impressed with his genuine concern and demeanor. The last judge we saw hardly made eye contact with anyone and often, didn't even respond to the questions/statements of the attorneys.

Thanks for your prayers today. I appreciate them more than you could ever know.