Grace takes the reading portion of her TAKS test tomorrow. (That’s the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.) We’ve been preparing for this all year. It’s a pretty big deal. I do not even remember taking anything like this in elementary school, maybe because we didn’t have to, or maybe because it just wasn’t as big of a deal back then?? Grace is a little nervous, but not as stressed out as she says some of the kids in her class are. She’s pretty laid-back about stuff like this. Needless to say, we spent a significant amount of time this afternoon preparing for it. I have received a total of four notes from the school about how to prepare specifically for this day. Tomorrow she brings to the testing room: #2 pencils, a chapter book, bottle of water, healthy snack, and a jacket. Tonight she was in bed with lights out at 8:00 sharp. We’ve also been told again and again that she needs to eat a “hearty” breakfast before the test. (I’m cooking her eggs over medium with orange slices on the side, her favorite. I don’t really consider this “hearty”, but we’re not making a trip to IHOP for the T-Bone Steak and Eggs at 6:30 in the morning. She’s going to have to come hungry and leave happy from our breakfast table.) So, here’s the conversation we had as I was chopping up cheese cubes for her healthy snack tomorrow:
Grace: “Do I get to take this for snack every day?”
Me: “Hmm. I dunno. Do you want this for snack every day?” (She usually takes a granola bar.)
G: “Maybe. Are you going to cook me eggs for breakfast every day?” (She usually eats a granola bar.)
M: “Wow. Sometimes I will, not every day.”
G: “So this is just special for the test? You don’t want me to go to school healthy every day?”
M: …. (speechless)
When did she get so dad-gum incisive? Of course I want her to go to school well-fed and prepared for every day, not just the couple of days of the year that she has a big test. There is no way out of this one. I will be getting up early to cook eggs (or at least something more “hearty” than a granola bar and a glass of milk) from now on. She deserves it, and I feel pretty crummy for not giving her better before now. How amazing is she that she wasn’t even complaining, just making a sincere observation?! Very often my conversations with Grace are simultaneously conversations with God. Tonight He spoke loudly through her quiet voice. Get your act together, Mom. 10-4. Roger that.
6 comments:
well, you know i gotta comment when you are speaking my language :) i have some easy, healthy snacks for you. so what that they were in a list intended for breastfeeding women......
boiled eggs- i get 2 dozen at a time and boil one set
cottage cheese with canned fruit
smoothies with yogurt, milk, and frozen fruit
you are an awesome mom! love you!!
aw, thanks, heather! i think grace would love all of those snacks... especially the boiled eggs. i always forget about doing that, and she loves them... she calls them "gooey eggs." :) love you too!!
It was good talking with you Sunday! Nice to see you have a blog. Interesting how kids can sometimes be very insightful.
Well, if the tv commercials can be believed, it would seem that Frosted Mini-wheats can give Grace the healthy, prepared edge that she needs every day without you having to make the old school full breakfast every day.
I like 'em.
YES! so does she. :)
Scary how smart and to the point they are, huh?
Big Sis leaves me speechess regularly.
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