Evaluated

Happily, it looks as though all six of our wonderful students will be returning next year! We love this idea for SO many reasons... one of which is that we can't have done anything too horrible yet and that takes a load off. But just in case, and just to avoid any simmering problems under their polite skin, Jarod and I decided a year end evaluation of life at 703 Fort might be in order. Hence, this morning the children sleepily crawled into my lap as I continued typing the evaluation form. Jude asked what I was doing and then brightening to full alertness pleaded to take his own. So reading him the questions, this is how he answered - and I will record parts of it here because I never want to loose it. especially the part where our relationship is "GREAT".

One a scale of 1 -5 how would you rate:
Going to Bethesda? - a 5 which equals "I would like to do this more often!"
family meetings? - a 2 which equals "This activity is not so enjoyable"
We scored a 4 on both "homework help" and "transportation assistance", which I can only assume means we do a little too much homework and not quite enough transporting to his grandparents' and the Lowery's on his every whim.
Our household cleanliness was acceptable but surprisingly he finds his bed a tad lumpy.
The price is just right for him but he doesn't feel that he is learning and growing from this experience.
He feels wonderful about inviting people into our home and is completely comfortable with all of his relationships within the home. Except for Lucy. He gave this relationship a 2 rating which equals "I am adjusting - but would prefer things were done differently."
And finally, my favorite - and the litmus test of honesty by which all 6 year old evaluations of their parents should be judged was that he rated his satisfaction with his responsibilities at a 1 - noting that he, "should not have to do anything at all." And last but not least is that his number one priority for having a successful year next year was to have more ice cream socials like the one we held Friday night for over 150 people. With 9 flavors of homemade ice cream... I think he might be on to something... but next year he will have to do ALL the dishes - you win some and loose some kid.

My evaluation of life in photos:

On having a huge ice cream social on apparently the only beautiful spring evening of 2011 = 5 = GREAT. Having an "accidental" pond/swimming pool that will apprently accommodate a dozen grown women = 2 = I am adjusting but would prefer if things were done differently... say for example if we knew what we were doing!


On becoming a soccer mom = 3.25 = It is fine... I think. He says were doing it again next year.



On celebrating so many birthdays around our dining room table that by the time I get around to downloading the pictures from a month I forgot about at least two of them = 4.25 = next year it will be a 5 because I will have "halal" (think muslim Kosher) figured out and Bob is buying me a box of 500 birthday candles... (no less Bob if you want an accurate representation on each cake.)






On a life full of random activities thats varies from trench digging, to judging college speech competitions, to driving instructor and moving coordinator, to chef at the play-dough restaurant extravaganza (by the way this last one keeps the kids occupied for hours if you can convince them they need to make a bowl of real-to-life brown rice... but expect to throw the dried brown play-dough out afterward). 5.



On having friends so close that you think nothing of having "trade out sleepovers" for your two year olds just because "all the boys need to be together and all the girls need to be together." Lucy preparing for her first all alone overnighter at the Lowery's and Jonah settling in at 703 Fort. 5.



Having two Chinese Political Science Graduate students as friends as well as poetry, Economist, and Bible reading partners. A 5 - there is just nothing like it to stave off the long hours of mindless chores done by a midwestern housewife and to give a little weight to an afternoon otherwise filled with playdough rice. What a balance. Oh, and the pond in the background of the picture... just for good measure. Like i said, Kid, you win some and you lose some. Anyone want to venture a guess as to how MANY goldfish (or stumbling drunks) we lose to the giant mosquito pit in our side yard this summer?