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Project Overload

School projects were never my thing. I dreaded the Science Fair. I hated the bug collection. I actually tolerated research projects and book reports but only because I liked reading and enjoyed digging for information. But attach a display or something that you had to build to the requirements and I was out. I'd put the thing off until the very last minute and then try to scramble the entire family into panic mode to bail me out. Now Hero Guy, on the other hand, adores projects and loves fiddling with all the details. He helps plan and construct to the point that I have to slap his hands lest our wee ones not get proper credit for doing enough work.

As luck would have it, our project days are not over. I now have 2 kids of school age and both get projects from their regular classes as well as the enrichment program they are in. I got the glad tidings today that Little Chic will have a longhouse project due on January 3. The teacher has kindly given 'ample' time to complete the project, which for me means before Christmas since we will be traveling out of state for the entire holiday week off.

Why is this a problem? Well, for #1- what is a longhouse? For #2, if I had all my Christmas shopping done, I might be in the mood for a little project supply hunting, but since it's not, I'm not. For #3, if I think a 4th grader can totally construct a detailed replica of an ancient Indian abode (accurate details inside and out) on her own, then my kid will be the only one in the class showing up with a 4th-grade project rather than a heavily-adult-assisted masterpiece. The #4 problem is that Hero Guy is not available to be the guilty party in taking-over-the-kid's-project duty, so it is left to me.

If you see me tomorrow, amid the gifts in the cart, I'll surely have some twig material, faux fur and fake leather and I can't even use it for package embellishments.

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Barb said…
Well I don't blame you for being a little irritated about this. I don't know why a teacher would assign something like this during the holidays. I know it's kind of a school break, but for pete's sake, everyone's so busy. It's too bad you have to get this done before Christmas because of the travel. And now you've got me curious. I was sure I knew what a longhouse is but now I'm not. I'm going to have to google that.
:-)
12/11/2006 9:50 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm not one who would grumble when it came to projects like this. However, I'm a little curious why a teacher would throw a project like this on students at this busy time of year. Doesn't make sense to me.
12/11/2006 10:57 PM
Anonymous said…
That's the pits. We're kind of in the same boat this week, but at least its not over the holiday break. I didn't know what a long house was until this post.......
12/12/2006 2:51 AM
PandaMom said…
I was one to wait until the last minute, too! In fourth grade I remember telling my mom right before I got on the bus that we had "picture day" that day. YIKES! She was less than pleased!
12/12/2006 4:37 PM
Anonymous said…
I think you should just stick some macaroni on a piece of cardboard and send it in.
Who doesn't like macaroni stuff, ha,ha..
12/12/2006 10:47 PM
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