My 6th Grade Croissant

During the next four months, the blog will be devoted to developing and encouraging a conversation between and amongst community members. Teachers in the district will be participating in a course, parents will be reading Madeline Levine's, Price of Privilege, and I will be keeping the conversation going virtually!

The Middle School Guidance Department has been working with the book read committee to develop some interesting questions to get us started. I'll be posting questions along with some of my own thoughts, which will hopefully encourage your participation, comments, and responses. In the next few months, teachers will be participating in a continuing education course with posting requirements. I'm looking forward to having their opinions here!

Crumby on the Outside, Sweet on the Inside

There is nothing like a good pastry....crispy layers of buttery dough, interspersed with sweet fillings like raisins, almond paste, chocolate, or sweet cheese filling. I love one of those delicious, traditional French pastries. A breakfast treat with that thin layer of crisp pastry that gives way to a delightfully soft layered delicacy.

I think middle school kids are a bit like that. They are hard, crusty and sometimes crumby on the outside, but once you get past that first, thin layer inside you find a a sweet surprise.

There are some days when my middle schooler is hard and crusty....rolling her eyes, sighing, or yelling. She can be demanding and tedious and like croissant pastry she can require a lot of special handling. And then, there are the other days when she is sweet like the filling. Her laughter swells from within and her joy fills the house. I love those days and take full advantage of them, trying to find ways to savor the moment. With our family's busy schedule it isn't always easy to balance activities and family time. Maybe she and I should learn how to make croissants....

How do you balance your middle school child’s life to incorporate quality family time with activities?