New Year, New Mantras

 2012-2013

One mark of a new school year are the bad tans your co-workers show up with in the last week of August. The other indicator is the brand new inspirational shirt. In the Hicks household, it suddenly becomes very very clear how important it is to be cute at the elementary level and the delicate balance a high school teacher must strike between wearing something fun that won’t get you made fun of by a bunch of teens. Hence the simplicity on the left, and the mindbender on the right.

 

iWonder:

• Why after letting some people merge on a busy highway,they choose to look entitled and refrain from offering up the standard courtesy wave? I realize it isn’t required, but their resistance to follow the “code of the road” and show a little gratitude disappoints me.
• Why don’t we take time to listen to each other? I’m guilty of it too...

(a.)
Ticket checker at the airport: “here ya go, and have a great flight!”
Me: “thanks, you too!”

(b.)
Person scanning me in at LA Fitness: “have a great workout.”
Me: “you too!”

(c.)
Me: “Hey, how are you?”
Person: *Insert any line other than good*
Me: “Great! Have a good one”
****In my defense the response “good” is mindlessly used 99% of the

• How can I make paying inside for gas not awkward? If I’m grabbing water or a snack my heart is already starting to race. I’m anticipating that pivotal moment when asked, “anything else?” What options do I have: “I’ve got gas.” or “I have gas.” Being my mother’s daughter and not wanting someone to think I’m capable of that I usually make matters worse by trying a follow up joke or explaining that I mean for my car. Over Explaining just makes you look guilty.

ONE THING I DON’T WONDER:
WHATEVER CARDS I’M DEALT THIS YEAR, MY 4TH GRADERS ARE GONNA GET A MS. HICKS WHO'S ALL IN.....

And my kids are going to see a lot of this move if they give me lip or refuse to do a super sweet ice breaker that makes everyone uncomfortable but makes the teacher feel like she just won the Nobel Prize for creativity.