7th grade is a Killer!

I just survived my 4th 7th grade book publishing project. Shonee had to miss the bus while we finished, but she made it to school and turned the project in! (breathe a sigh of relief!) For anyone that doesn't know, our middle school English students publish a book in 7th grade. We are not just talking about writing a story and stapling the pages together. This is a full blown, hard back, full color, published book. (I should have Shonee read that sentence...she is also studying adjectives :) ) Jessi caught the vision years ago. She spent a lot of time on her story and convinced me to illustrate it. I thought how hard could it be...right? Hours and hours later and many color pencils later, I was done. And "Frozen Paradise" was turned in. (It was a little late. I begged Mrs. Lyon for more time.) She turned it in and we waited. When we got the book back, I was shocked at the quality! Wow! I was glad we had worked so hard.....Little did I know.

Note to parents....Remember how many kids you have. What you do for one, you must do for another. I had completely forgotten the ordeal when Tyson entered 7th grade. I guess it is a little like Child Birth, you don't remember so you try again. After a little labor, it all comes back to you. Well that's what happened with his book. After starting the first picture, it all came back. I did finish however, and "One Wild Day" made it to school. It was a few days late, but Mrs. Lyon forgave me...She knew me.

When Justin entered 6th grade I started to panic. I still remembered! As his 7th grade year got closer, I got the chills. Was I up to another project? I did change out of my college art degree for a reason, right! But kids get older and he did make it to 7th grade. We started his project. Hours and hours later, we finished. I am sure Mrs. Jenks talked to Mrs. Lyon about this mother that was late with her sons book. But she let us turn it in late as well. "Running with the Pack" got published.

Of course I have dreaded Shonee's 7th grade year as well. But I started asking about the project early. "Are you doing a book?" "When is it due?" "Ask your teacher". The problem is Shonee often has no clue what she is doing in school. I don't say that in a mean way, she is just usually in a blissful state of obliviousness. She finally brought her packet home, just before Christmas......but she didn't tell me. When school started again after Christmas break, I told her to ask her teacher. She got a sheepish look on her face and retrieved the packet from her room. Panic...."When is it due?"..."I don't know?"......"Where we supposed to work on it over the break?"......."I don't know?"......"Do you have to take it back today?"....."I don't know?". I fired off an email to her teacher. She sent me back an email saying it was due on the 14th but Shonee could get extra credit if turned in on the 12th. I usually push my kids to do extra credit, but I knew there was no way. I was hopeful that I could finish by the 14th. (Mrs. Peterson doesn't know me). I worked and worked. I worked all day on the 13th, my hands hurt. Shonee came home and I was still working. Three hours later I was still working. I didn't cook dinner 'cause I was still working. Eventually Shonee came up to me and showed me her hand. Written in black permanent marker it said "Book due January 18". I was initially relieved......but then "You have been watching me panic, and feverishly draw and you didn't tell me until now?"......"I forgot, I just saw my hand". Then she hugged me, thanked me for doing her project and told me I was the best mom ever. How can you get mad? Eventually I finished. Like I said earlier, she missed the bus, (thanks Grandpa for taking her) but "Christmas Memory" did make it to school on time!

One more kid left. Maybe I can get Brecken to start in 4th grade. But seriously, I know my self. I will still be begging for more time in the end. Just like sewing prom dresses.....But that is another story.