What kind of a visitor are you?

Before you are allowed to come to my home, I ask that you take this simple survey. Please answer true of false for each statement:

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

I want to see floors that shine like the top of the Chrysler building.

I will let my child eat pizza without a plate while sitting on the carpet even though plates are available, as well as a table and chairs.

A Place for Everything and Everything in it's Place.

I wear a lot of black, and cannot tolerate cat hair on my clothing.

Children should be seen and not heard.

I don't think it's at all rude to answer my cell phone while in your home, and then have a twenty minute conversation with someone else.

I will know what kind of person you are by peering into your medicine cabinet, or under your kitchen sink.

My children only have toys in their bedrooms, and they follow the rule "put it away before you get out something else to play with."

All tastefully decorated homes come in shades of beige.

I expect a hostess to wait on me.

My child does not understand that stickers and crayons are only used on paper, but I feel no need to supervise them while they are doing arts and crafts.

I have a habit of leaving exterior doors wide open.

Because my child is the guest, they should get to do whatever they want.

If you have answered TRUE to any of the above questions, I'm sorry, but the Maypole is closed for business. Maybe we'll see you at the park.

*****
This has been another edition of Monday Mission. This weeks mission was to write a post in the form a personality test (idea thanks to Emily, inspired by Alpha Dogma). Write you own test and leave me a link in the comments (I STILL haven't resolved the Mr. Linky issue. Sorry.) and I'll get them into the post.


Melissa has a Mother of a Quiz
Alpha Dogma is clearly at the top of the heap of the most recent Team Oprah applications after her expounded personality test

upcoming missions, should you choose to accept them, are to write posts in the style of:
5/19: a list of rules
5/26: a warning label

Me and My Girl

For my very first mother's day I decided to get myself a present: a professional photo of myself and my daughter. All the pictures of us together until that point consisted of me with bad hair, no makeup, making a funny face to get her to laugh, enormous bags under my eyes, bad lighting, poor angles, or any combination of the above. I scheduled an appointment, first thing in the morning, when we would both be fresh. I did my hair. I put on makeup. I wore a cute little sweater instead of a raggedy old T-shirt. And I got the best present I've ever given myself. I took it to my mom's group and encouraged other moms to have it done. Many did.

I've kept the tradition up ever since, although I must admit that some years the pictures get taken a few weeks or even months after mother's day. Some are better than others (like the year I woke up with pink eye the day of our appointment, hence the sepia photos!). But I will never regret having them done.


Which reminds me, I better set our appointment for this year.

Happy Mother's Day

(don't forget Monday's Mission: to write a post in the style of a personality test)

my first friday haiku

sunlight through the trees
memories of my childhood
laughter in the wind


dinner will be late
tree climbing takes precedence
savor each moment



(thanks to Melissa for reminding me that I said I would try a haiku)

My child is "superior"

Part of the admissions process when we applied for The May Queen's new school was an IQ test. I have my misgivings about standardized testing, having tutored for the SATs (one of the most miserable jobs I've had!). I wonder about how someone (even a professional someone) can make a judgement on intelligence in the course an hour, and I worry about what labeling students might do to how they are treated in the classroom. All that being said...

(warning: bragging commencing...)
The May Queen was ranked as "superior" (the second highest ranking out of 7. They did not give us a firm number, although we can call the psychologist to get it. We do know she was between 120 and 129). The admissions director told us they see a few "superiors" at their school, but most kids are average or "high average." The written assessments are very in line with what we, her parents, have noted. She "demonstrated significantly advanced skills in vocabulary, in verbal abstract reasoning, in non-verbal abstract reasoning, and in spatial reasoning." She has always had an astounding vocabulary, speaking early, and always far beyond the number of words she was supposed to be speaking at a young age. She has always loved patterns, sequences, sorting and counting, which of course are pre-math skills. She tested highest in the math areas. The area she wasn't as strong in (not WEAK, just not superior strength) was reading, and she did struggle with reading at the beginning of this school year, although her skills are rapidly catching up now that they are reading stories and not lists of words.

We are obviously pleased to hear the professional opinion that our child is as bright as we, her proud parents, think she is. It also confirms that we made the right choice in putting her in kindergarten this year and advancing her into first grade next year. She clearly would have been bored if she had to repeat kindergarten. We feel confident that her new school will work with her and continue to challenge her.

I don't remember ever taking an IQ test, but my husband says his three tests as a child ranged from 123-131. I decided to take one online. While I can't vouch for its authenticity, I feel it must be pretty on target since it has my score as 142. Clearly, I am a genius. (and that score was WITH my husband coming in, discovering what I was doing, and openly mocking me)

How about you? Have you been tested? Have your children? What do you think about the validity and usefulness of an IQ score?

6 words

Well, it was bound to happen. I've been tagged by Angela for the "describe yourself in 6 words" meme. Here goes:

Thespian mommy, wife: Child of God

I had a button in high school (I had a jean jacket covered with them) which I've kept, and think it also defines me pretty well, in 6 words it just so happens:
"I'm subject to bursts of enthusiasm"

******

6 words are more than the May Queen had in response to the fact that she'll be at a new school next year. When we told her at dinner she basically said, "Okay!" She later asked about who her teacher would be and where she would be going for second grade, but basically seems unconcerned. We'll see how things go tomorrow at school. Her two best friends in kindergarten are both moving on as well, so I don't think there will be a big missing friends issue.

The Young and the Uneducated

When we last left off, The May Queen's teacher had suggested that perhaps Painted Maypole and The Big Guy take MQ out of her private school and put her back into Kindergarten at a public school... not because she's not smart, but because she plays with the younger children. After much sighing, staring off into space, advice from the internets (you!!) and heated discussion with badly written dialogue, PM and The Big Guy decided to forge ahead with First Grade as planned. Ashley and Victor were remarried on a tropical island... wait... wrong soap opera....

In the most recent episode The Big Guy raised the question of would the small church school still be open next year. With dwindling enrollment, the decision not to open a 4th grade classroom as planned, and cuts all over the church staff, this was a legitimate question. The Big Guy put forth the theory that there was a hidden message in the teacher's suggestion: that the school may not be around next year. Public school is not an option because of The May Queen's status of being born THREE MEASLY DAYS AFTER THE CUTOFF, so The Big Guy and Painted Maypole set off on a quest to research other private schools in the area, sneaking behind the back of their current school, and their daughter. The first school they look into has no art or music classes, or recess. Painted Maypole is appalled, and goes into several rants about the importance of art in education, different learning styles, and creating well rounded individuals. It was love at first sight at the second school, however, her dance card was full, and PM and the Big Guy kept looking. At school number three they were entranced by the bright artwork in the hallway, the welcoming and encouraging staff, the friendliness and comfort level of the students, and many recommendations of friends and acquaintances. The school is closer to home, but more expensive. They decide it is worth it. A testing time is set up.

Painted Maypole and The Big Guy explain to The May Queen that she will be going to a different school for some "learning games" to figure out how best to teach her next year. Since The May Queen did a similar thing last year this does not strike her as odd. She happily goes. Meanwhile, The May Queen's current principal receives a request for The May Queen's records and confronts The Painted Maypole about her cheating ways. PM stammers something about checking out her other options, but please keep us enrolled.

The Big Guy and Painted Maypole wait anxiously for a week and a half for the phone call. Will their love be returned? Is this the start of a new educational partnership? There is much nail biting, reassuring of each other, and exclamations that elementary education should not be so stressful.

Finally, the phone call comes and The May Queen has been offered a spot in their first grade. Painted Maypole and the Big Guy celebrate by flying off for the weekend to an exotic island oops... wrong soap opera... PM and the Big Guy give each other a high five.

Join us next week as Painted Maypole and the Big Guy explain to The May Queen that she will be switching schools, and break the news to the current principal.

*****This has been another edition of Monday Mission. This week's mission is to write a post in the style of a soap opera update, starting with the words "When we last left off..." (idea thanks to No Mother Earth) Write your own post and leave a link in the comments, and I'll get it into the post as I am able (I still have not resolved the Mr. Linky problem)

other soap opera updates:
-Helen's Lawn Saga includes lying, sneaking around, broken property and an overgrown yard
-Melissa is on the verge of homeland warfare in The Lives of the Bold, Restless Children in the Hospital have the Light of the World
-Dragonfly emerges from the edge of death (or a really bad flu) to let us know that The World Still Turns
-De gives us a final update in When We Last Left Off.... (stop by her place and bid her a fond farewell, will you?)

upcoming missions, should you choose to accept them, are to write posts in the style of:
5/12: a personality test (idea thanks to Emily, inspired by Alpha Dogma)
5/19: a list of rules
5/26: a warning label

Crowning the May Queen

My May Queen

The May Day fete was a hit! The girls had a lovely time. There was dancing around the maypole, which actually lasted much longer than I expected as they did it over and over, until the pole would no longer stand upright (it's amazing what one can do with a broom handle, a tin pail and some ribbon, no?)

We enjoyed crafts and goodies.

The party continued with dancing in the backyard,

complete with a newly freed maypole.

And of course I had to get a picture of Painted Maypole and The May Queen for the blog....

If only The May Queen had cooperated.

And the virtual May Queen? I crown nomotherearthQueen o' the May! e-mail your address to pntdmaypole AT yahoo DOT com and I'll send you your floral crown! Congratulations!