Don’t believe the hype

UGH….it’s a dreaded standardized testing morning. I’m singing very loudly, “Don’t believe the hype” in my best Flava Flav voice. It’s Day One of two days of testing for my boys. I hate that the school pushes all of that testing anxiety into my home! If left up to me, nothing would be different. My kids are on a schedule and get good sleep every school night. I make some semblance of a hot breakfast daily! So why all of the pressure pushed down to them to do so many extra things in preparation for two days?!

Last night, of course I gently nudged them into bed a little early. As I tried to dismiss the questions about the perfect breakfast I would prepare that would surely catapult them into the next stratosphere as a genius….allowing them to magically recall information they were never taught and reinforcing the idea that the NORMAL things you learn throughout the year are simply not good enough for you to pass this test. Threats and discussions of being “held back” are quickly dismissed in my house. I simply told them to have a great day, don’t be nervous and got one more dig in about how proud I am of them.

I must admit, although I don’t like it….Their hype did hype me a little bit, just because I wanted to give them “the magic” that they had been told they need in order to do well. So breakfast was made in short order cook style, omelette and pancakes for one, French toast and fruit for the other…the clueless five year old opted for her normal crustless cinnamon toast. I packed a bag for each of them full of healthy “brain” food, stuff that wasn’t too messy and wasn’t too crunchy….in an effort not to “disturb” the sanctity of the testing environment (seriously?! my son said there was a list of discouraged crunchy foods?!). I want them to feel at ease and well equipped, so yes we played the game. I’ll be glad when this week is over and we go back to their regular spoiled ass expectations. At least those are expectations I have created and allowed to thrive lol….not those shoved down my throat from our beloved school district and the great state of Texas.