30 things my 30's taught me

THIS IS 40!

As the sun sets and I blow out the candles to my 30s, I’ve come to the conclusion that something beautiful comes from this decade of life. 

An awakening. 

A birth of your true self seems to come. You come to an age where you realize other people’s opinions don’t matter and you bloom into the person you were meant to be.

So here’s my list of advice that my 30s taught me:

1. It’s okay to stand up for yourself. It doesn’t make you a bitch. It shows you respect yourself
2. 4 quarters > 100 pennies. A small group of friends is wayyyy better
3. Set boundaries. 
4. Love your body
5. Love yourself. Comparison is truly the thief of joy!
6. Laugh. Often. And until it hurts
7. Don’t take everything too seriously 
8. Travel
9. Find perspective 
10. Trust your gut
11. Compliment strangers- put smiles on faces
12. Call that person.
13. Enjoy the moment
14. The things that seem hard now… will be a blip later
15. Enjoy time with yourself. 
16. Shine. 
17. Take care of yourself. Inside and out. You only have this one body and life.
18. Wear sunscreen and moisturizer 
19. Be yourself
20. Put the credit card down.
21. Read
22. Take naps
23. Be a kind human
24. Don’t be selfish 
25. Mental health is important 
26. Take days off and remember it’s just a job
27. Growth comes from failure
28. Say no
29. Ditch the toxic people
30. Be true to your moral and ethical compass

Don’t be mistaken. 

This is a journey. Not a race. 

There is no finish line. 

It will be messy. You will cry. 

But you will also smile. 

You will laugh. 

You will love. 

You will bloom. 

You are embarking on a beautiful new beginning to your true self. 

Enjoy the ride. 

0

books/resources about black lives and anti-racism

I don’t know where to begin.

I know I don’t understand completely, and I never will because I have white privilege. 

I know that as a mother and a teacher (and a human being) that I will be your ally. 

I will listen to you. I will stand up for you.

I am reading and digesting everything I possibly can so I can be a better ally. I want to ensure that I am having the uncomfortable and difficult conversations with my boys as we watch the news unfold. As we watch the change for this nation unfold. 

I have realized this past week that not being racist and seeing others for who they are and not their skin color, isn’t anti-racist. And that isn't enough.

I am doing everything I can to make sure that I have the knowledge and tools needed so that these conversations spill into my classroom come fall.

I challenge you mothers and teachers, especially white mothers and teachers, to do the same. It is no longer enough to teach acceptance and empathy; we need to teach our youth to stand up for what’s wrong. Stand up and let their VOICES be heard, so they can be the change. 

Teach our youth to be ANTI-racist! 

Through my research I have found great sites with amazing resources to help you along the way. Fill your homes and classroom libraries with diversity that generate conversations. 

Books for younger students:

click here

Books for Middle Aged Kids:

click here

Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race:

click here

Books for kids and teens. This website, overall, is a great resource!

click here

Resources to discuss anti-racism

click here

I hope you find these resources as valuable as I have. I am by NO means an expert on any of this, but want to share the resources I have found so that they may help you as they did me. If you have found some amazing resource, please comment below and share. 

Create. Teach. LOVE life.

-Jenny

0

Tuesday’s Thoughts (or Ramblings)

1. It is freezing! Seriously, the high today was 51* and I seriously don’t think we hit that! It was VERY difficult to get out of that warm cozy bed (especially after 3 days off)

2. This weekend we tried out this Pioneer Woman recipe. Definitely not on the diet, but it was definitely delicious. And my photos definitely don't look like the Pioneer's. 

 

source

3. P has begun the love affair with Mickey and asks to watch it, on the couch, with a blanket, and a bottle, and mommy. I am loving every.single.second.

4. I ran to Target over the weekend to get diapers. Seriously. I had a list and everything. I was going to stick to the list.

Darn you, Target. Every.Single.Time

So all these goodies would be to start decorating for NEXT year’s classroom. I am ready for change and have the most amazing scheme in my head. Hopefully it will turn out the way I am envisioning.

5. I worked on this Main Idea Pack I started almost exactly one year ago. P got horribly sick with a stomach bug, that I then got….and well it was derailed from there. I am excited to cross it off the list finish it up and use it in the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed it will be posted tonight and I will be back tomorrow to give you a closer look at it.

6. Speaking of…. This week I will be teaching main idea ;) with MLK Jr. using some of these fun ideas/ craftivities.

This amazing Flip-Flap-Book from Simply Skilled in Second.
Seriously, they are creative and make students think!

We will be making this adorable freebie from
Teaching in High Heels to go with our writing piece. 

Then we are onto SNOW (and P.I.E)! And I CANNOT WAIT to engage my students in some exciting ways/things I have planned.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to the ramblings. Make sure you become a follower here and on Instagram (where posts are much more frequent).

Teach. Create. Love Life.

~Jenny~

1