Comfort Zones

Occasionally, it's good to do something outside our comfort zones. That's what they say, anyway, whoever "they" is. I don't know if I agree, but I will admit that, generally, I don't stretch myself too far. The learning curve is so steep for me in so many areas of life. It's easier to stick with the few things I can actually do well.

Today was an exception. I spent most of the afternoon making bulletin boards in Shulamith's kindergarten classroom. For those of you who are laughing out loud at the mere thought of that, let me assure you that this is not a joke. I really did it. I made not one, not two, but three big bulletin boards! Why would I subject myself to such torture? Because I would do just about anything to help my daughter. Even make kindergarten bulletin boards.

Have I mentioned that there is a good reason why I teach college classes rather than elementary school? There are lots of reasons, actually, but certainly high on the list would be the fact that in college classrooms, I don't have to make bulletin boards. Nope. Never. In fact, I don't have to do a single thing to decorate the classrooms. Which is a very good thing, considering how utterly inept I am at making things look good. So you should have seen me today, scissors and stapler in hand, struggling to pull just the right amount of butcher paper off those big rolls on the cart. Then I had to get it to fit just right on each board. As I tried to trim off the edges and was defeated by the many rips, Shulamith reassured me with the comforting words, "Don't worry, Mom, we'll put a border around the edge." Whew, thank heaven for borders.

Comfort zones. It's good to step outside those occasionally, especially when in doing so, you can help your daughter prepare for a brand new group of 5-year-olds who will be showing up in about two weeks.. My next "outside comfort zone" experience? Figuring out new and different ways to prepare the 100 lbs. of fish Mathew just brought back from Alaska. Cooking? Yeah, also outside the comfort zone. Wish me luck.