Bee On Time!!! Show some consideration for yourself and others!!!

As the second official week of school is underway, one of the most important things to be mindful of is staying on target with timeframes.  What does this mean?  No dawdling!!!    If you only have ten minutes to eat breakfast before the bus arrives, don't just sit there leisurely taking the time to browse through the comics or the coolest catalog you have just received because here is what could happen....

You are going to get so enthralled with "the latest" that you are going to lose track of what you should be doing and start the whole day off kilter.  Not to mention, your mom will more than likely be crabbing at you the entire time to hurry up and get going!  No thanks!!!  Who needs it!?!

On top of all that:

1. You are going to make the bus driver wait because you weren't paying attention to the clock.   
2. You are going to make everyone else late that is waiting for the bus, because now the bus is behind schedule because of you and that could potentially get the driver in trouble with his bosses.   
3. You are going to gyp yourself out of the energy you need to focus on your schoolwork because you didn't eat all your breakfast.

The point is:  BEE responsible for your SELF!

This applies to homework, obligations and all aspects of your life.  If you've got something to do, do it!   Don't sit around and wait for someone else to tell you what you need to be doing.  It gets very tiresome, not just for you, but for the person who constantly has to say the same things over and over again.  You are growing up for crying out loud and have got to learn how to become self sufficient.  When you get in the real world--out of high school and on to full blown adulthood-- you are going to have to rely on your capabilities as much as possible to take care of yourself.  No matter what your life calls you to do after you graduate twelvth grade, you will eventually have your own habitat.   You will have to grocery shop and pay bills, cook and clean.   And this is on top of all the other stuff that comes with being a grown up.  Maybe even working a job and going to school!   And we're not even talking about having a family of your own to raise.  This is plain old, Jane old, taking care of yourself and keeping up with what you have to do to exist as a living person on this planet.  Keeping in mind the world does not revolve around you, but WITH you and you've got to do your part to keep it moving!

All this being said, another thing you've got to consider: not everyone is as lucky as you.  Some people will never have the chance to live as independent adults because of a disability or other circumstance.  This does not mean they don't want to, so count your blessings and be thankful for the things you CAN do for yourself on the road to being an independent adult.  It is an awesome liberty that not everyone has the pleasure of experiencing for whatever reason. 

So, as a student, now is the time to start gettting your self maintenance routine down because time goes really quickly and you will be out on your own before you know it.  Once you get into a schedule and stick with it you will be amazed at how smoothly your days go and how much better you feel about yourself for being so organized. 

BEE honest with yourself!  Wouldn't you much rather go to school with a smile on your face because you were thinking about how much fun you and your mom had in the morning rather than a scowl because the old lady drives you crazy sometimes?

Your consideration about what you need to be doing, where and when with whom, will take you anywhere you want or need to go.  

Of this you can BEE assured!!!

Back to School! A Must Have...Awareness!

Well- it's that time of year again! 

No time for boo-hooing about growing up too fast here! Lots of good things on the horizon as we connect with old friends and new faces. Opportunities to stand out from the crowd and shine like a star wait at every turn.

It's very exciting but one of the most important things to remember is to be aware.  BEE aware of the world around you. It's always moving and constantly changing, so stay alert!

Here are some handy dandy tips for being a "Do":

When you get out of bed in the morning make sure you put your best face and body forward! Demonstrate respect for yourself and those around you by taking pride in the way you look--and smell!

Before you walk out the door:

Make sure your teeth are brushed and flossed!  No one wants to smell stinky breath or look at last night's dinner.  Or worse yet, a mouthful of scummy buildup. Ga-ross!! Taking proper care of your mouth will keep your smile nice and bright! Let it shine!

Did you put deodorant on after you showered? If you showered the night before, put it on again in the morning because your body sweats a lot when you sleep and you need to reapply. When in doubt think about how you react to body odor on someone else; keeping in mind it is never acceptable to make fun of someone who does have an unpleasant odor about them. Often times people have medical issues that cause them much embarrasment but can't be helped. Talk to the school nurse about someone else's body odor, not your friends!    

What about your nails? How do they look? Dirty? Jagged? Teeth marks? Fix em! Don't walk out the door with hands you wouldn't want to shake yourself! Besides, your hands are tools for creating a masterpiece and they need to be kept in mint condition!

Hair? Keep it clean! Your head sweats like crazy so make sure you really scrub your scalp when you wash it.  Bedhead be gone! Run through it with a brush, comb or even your fingers depending on your hair type. Also, keep it out of your eyes.  Hiding behind a curtain of hair makes eye contact extremely difficult! And we all know how important that is!!! Eye contact! Eye contact! Eye contact!

When you get dressed do so with pride and make sure your clothes are clean and not wrinkled, otherwise it will look like you just pulled them out of the dirty laundry. One of the most important things to remember is: it's not what you wear, but how you wear it that counts. So what if you don't have the hottest trends or the same brands your friends do! Whoever bought the clothes on your back worked hard for the money to buy them so wear them proudly! There is no fun in looking like everyone else anyway! There IS fun to be had shopping thrift stores and vintage boutiques! After all, it's a form of recycling and you can find one of a kind pieces that few are likely to have -- plus it's a great way to develop your own style.

When you get to school be aware of the people around you. If you have mobility equipment you use to get around, make sure you follow the rules of the road. Pretend you are driving a car and do your best to stay to the right when traveling down the hallways or aisles. Don't stop abruptly if you are leading a line because you might get rear ended and cause an accident! And watch out for toes! Don't run over anybody!

If you don't have mobility equipment then watch out for those who do! Help them with doors or get something out of the way for them if they need it moved. BUT please remember to ask if a person needs help before you do this though because they may or may not want to try and do it themselves first.

See someone sitting alone or who looks like they need a friend? Pretend it's you and think how you might feel if you were that person, then be a leader and go strike up conversation with them.  It could lead to a lifelong friendship and you will never know till you try.

Planning a celebration and want to invite the kids in your class? First and foremost: take into consideration who is in your class and what they can or can't do. Make your plans around the abilities of EVERYONE so they all can participate in the good time to be had at your star party!

The most important thing to remember when you walk out the door in the morning is to BEE a star by being who you are!  There is only one you!

Dare to BEE square Daddy-O!

See ya!