A reflection of the year past...and my passion.... Family and Consumer Sciences.

As I look back on the year it brings smiles filled with joy and change.  I love life and I am so lucky to have people around me that bring stability, laughter, and chaos on a daily basis.  I hope that each of you can look back at the many changes, in your

Did I mention chaos?  Christmas Eve with family that I am grateful for!

life, during the past year, and find something to reflect that brings you happiness.

I started this blog to focus on Family and Consumer Sciences and the many aspects of that field.  When I started it I was a teacher filled with hope to be a part time advocate for the profession because it is one of my passions.  I am dedicated to the good that it does for families, children and the future of both of those groups. 

During the 80's and 90's Home Economics was a reflection of being domestic.  During that time it seemed that being domestic was an insult to women and their freedom to stand strong in field of men at work.  I have never felt that Home Economics was purely domestic.  I think that I have always looked at it as a profession because my love for it started in textiles and design.  What I wanted, in the worst way, was to be "somebody" with my design and creations.  Being brave was not one of strong points, stepping into design required braveness.  So I decided to teach others.  I am very happy with this path.

Because of the strong push away from Home Economics during the 80's I lost my first job in one year and did not think that I would ever go back.  I did return, with a fluke.  I was subbing for someone that chose to stay home when she had children.  I have always appreciated that wonderful opportunity and chance to get back in the classroom.  The beginning was a struggle but after I found my footing and returned to my passion of textiles, creating new courses and implementing them I was happy.  There were some rocky roads but I had great co-workers that understood my craziness (most of the time) and passion.  Together we built a great department that highlighted each others talents and passions.  (Note:  Still have guilt for the mess that came with my creativeness that they cleaned up when I left.)

When I decided to retire from education I knew that I was losing something, but I can not explain what it was. I did not want to be the person standing in front of the room that students remembered as a crabby lady waiting for her pension to kick in.  I am lucky enough to have a support system that allowed me to do so.  I know that something new will come along to keep me happy but while doing so I will always keep working at my passion for Family and Consumer Sciences.

As you reflect on your year, I hope that you keep what makes you happy in your life, and change the things that sometimes take your smile away. 

Love your life and live in the moment because before your know it a lifetime will have passed you by.

Thank you to all of my friends, followers and family for a wonderful year!  (Still smile when I think of that great, unexpected, retirement party.  Such good people at North High School!)

Happy New Year.

With love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane

P.S. If you are looking for a new course in your FACS department please check out the slide show for North High Schools Healthy living course.

A quick look at a Healthy Living Course in Minnesota: FACS and Phy Ed partnership

Over the years with the emphasis of obesity prevention I was encouraged to create a course that was in fact promoting healthy living.

In our school we created a course that alternates with FACS and physical education.  I have retired but the course is in it's third year and continues to evolve and develop.

There are some draw backs to the this course.  Having a class everyday makes it feel very slow and occasionally students are somewhat disconnected.  Cooking a two day lab with the every other day schedule does not enable us to make all foods as some tend to spoil more than others.

Over all the program has been successful and we are proud of the partnership and collaboration.

Please look at the video which is a quick over view of the course content from the FACS point of view.

With Love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane

Christmas cards, letters and pictures

Everyone has a favorite thing for their favorite holiday.  Although I find Christmas a bit stressful because of the location logistics, with 2 grown children, and two sides of the family quite a distance apart; I love the Christmas card sending portion of this season.

 

I was listening to a local radio station with 2 female hosts the other day.  One of them stated that she thought it was not good to send letters with your Christmas photos.  She did not like the bragging in them. She also said she sent pictures with just her children.  The other host did not seem to agree coming from a family whose father spent many hours on the "Christmas Letter and photo."  To avoid a great debate they asked for opinions from listeners.  To be honest I thought they were going to get a ton of people making fun of folks sending the "holiday newsletter."  I was wrong.  Every listener that called in said they looked forward to the letters and they loved the pictures.  They all thought family pictures should be included in the card and that if you were not in the picture you may be trying to hide something.  Yeah for them and yeah for me.

 

I think that letters and pictures at Christmas are fun.  I have been doing pictures and letters since my children where little tiny babes.  I even started doing a picture of pictures before you could do them on computers.  I would paste pictures on a piece of paper and my local photo studio would take pictures of the pictures and then I had them printed.  It was a great deal of work but it was fun.  I put so much work into my Christmas card because I love getting them.  I do not judge others and what they do.  I just smile when I get them.  I had a friend in Washington that let it slip once that they ranked the letters every year.  He said I was always in the top three.  I took it as a complement.  I do not just brag in my letters, sometimes I talk about things that are not happy because it is a part of life.

 

I know over the years I have been made fun of by many.  I also know that many think that with social media the Holiday Christmas card is unnecessary.  I don't know, maybe it is, but one thing that I know for sure:  I have saved each of our letters over the years for my boys and it is a wonderful quick history for my family.    It is a documentation of what we did and what was important to us.  I am so happy that I have this history for my boys and hopefully they will have fun with these letters looking back and someday talking about their past lives with their children. 

 

I know not everyone is Christian but I do hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season. I hope that you are able to do whatever it is that makes you and your family happy during this very special time of the year.

 

With love from your favorite FACS teacher.

 

Jane

 

 

This is not a simple task.  It is a couple of days worth of addressing and note writing.  This year I ordered cards with our picture on them.  Sometimes I purchase cards from a store and add a picture and a letter.