This is apparently my 21st post (Word Press says so), and I thought I’d share a little bit more about myself. At the beginning of the year, for a get to know you activity, I usually have my students do a three truths/one lie for the class to get to know each other better. Sometimes the “lies” are obvious, sometimes funny, and sometimes serious. With a few readers who are new to the blog and even for people I know, I just thought I’d share a bit more about myself…and all of them are truths.
Truth: I was a cute kid 😉 I wanted to get my ears pierced forever and ever, but I had to wait until I was 12. I was trying to fool everyone in the pic below with my stick on earrings.
I had a very short dancing career, I have a younger brother named Connor, and I loved my Madeline doll (and sitting on shag carpet!)
Let’s skip all the way to college (not sure where all my middle and high school pics are?!) I loved my time at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I graduated with a degree in Secondary Education with a focus in English/Language Arts. I even earned my first Master’s degree from MU too. I will forever be a tiger fan.
Another blessing of my time at MIZZOU was meeting Travis. We got married in 2005.
Hayden and Hadley were born in November 2009 and bring us great joy (and headaches, and heartaches, and stress…but we love them and can’t believe how quickly they are growing up!)
And, of course, we can’t leave out Homer. I’ve always been a dog person. I grew up with dogs in our home and being a part of our family where Travis did not. I had to convince him to get our dogs Shiloh and Scout, but I’d (and he would) say he’s a dog person now too. We lost Scout in April 2018 and Shiloh this past March. We didn’t know how long we’d wait to get another one, but the beginning of summer and second I saw Homer, we I knew it was time 🙂
Random Facts/Truths About Me
- The first fact was actually what made me think to do this post since yesterday was Friday the 13th. I am superstitious about the number 13. For example, if someone turns the radio or tv volume to 13, I turn it to 12 or 14. Or, if I read chapter 13 of a book, I always read chapter 14 as to not leave off on chapter 13. I also don’t cross days off my calendar until the next day or turn the page of a calendar to a new month until it’s actually that month. I don’t want to jinx anything. (because—you know—life works like that. haha)
- I’m left handed. In my family, the left handed gene (does it work like that?) is strong. My grandma, my mom, my aunt and myself are all lefties. Then, along came Hayden and Hadley who are left handed too. Hayden bats right handed (I did too) but is a leftie otherwise and Hadley is dominant left in everything.
- Along with being a leftie, I make my check marks backwards. (There are people reading this right now who have known me forever and probably don’t even know that—hello, Travis…?!) My students are always like, “Mrs. Whhhhiiitttee! Your check marks are backwards!” I say it’s because I’m left handed, but I obviously know many (all?!) lefties where that’s not the case. It just feels natural for me to do it that way.
- After I cook pasta, I always eat some of the freshly cooked pasta plain. Like a cup or so of plain cooked pasta. #Ilovecarbs
- I play Bejeweled Blitz almost daily on my phone. If my Bejeweled Blitz bank account has less than $1M, I’m stressed. (#kiddingnotkidding) I only play a couple of rounds a day, so only a couple of minutes, but it’s my favorite game.
- I’m a homebody…like for real. The end goal is always how quickly I can get back home (and most likely back into my pjs), but I also have FOMO. I like to be with people I know and love and don’t want to miss any major events.
- I sleep with a weighted blanket and a sound machine. I’m still a horrible sleeper, but they help me relax at night.
- I don’t play when it comes to birthdays. I always say my birthday is my favorite holiday..but people (Travis and my mom) are quick to point out it’s not actually a holiday. I go big on my kids’ birthday as well–with them, I always figure it’s one day–not two kids with two different days— I have to go all out on…at least that’s how I justify it.
- I don’t like peas or yogurt…and basically pat myself on the back most days when my kids devour both. At least they love those things.
- Lastly, and this is deep — I finally took the Enneagram test and I’m a 5. (are you still reading?) 😉 A few years ago, my principal had the teachers take the Strength Finder Assessment and my strengths were: consistency, discipline, and connector. I wasn’t really shocked, because those are definitely my strengths but “connector” made me stop and think. It was free therapy 😉 I am a connector and I think it stems back from when I moved to a new school in middle school. That was very difficult for me, and it’s hard feeling left out and new. Ever since, I do try to include as many people as possible and always worry I will forget to invite someone; I’d never want someone to feel left out. Real talk: being a connector can also being exhausting 😉
I had another principal once say that he’s an introvert who thrives on routine and dislikes conflict…That. Is. Me. and his point (and mine too) if you are in education, you can’t be those things….No wonder I’m exhausted at the end of the day.
Back to the Enneagram Test. I had heard a few people talk about it , and it’s one of those things where if you (and others) know your number, it helps in relationships. When I took the test, it said I was a 5w6. Type 5, wing 6. A five is an “investigator” which took me by surprise. I wouldn’t really label myself that, but when I read the description, many things hit home for me. (By the way, a 6 is a “loyalist”—which I am…I may be hard to get to know, but I’m very loyal to those who are loyal to me and the description did have quite a few points in which I could relate). “Investigator–Thinker who tends to withdraw and observe,” A few tidbits about a 5: Fives tend to withdraw and retreat to mentally prepare for their day, they are generally well read and thoughtful, fives aren’t good at dealing with their emotions, they tend to be shy, independent, reluctant to ask for help, sensitive, have a need for privacy, and sometimes have a minimalistic lifestyle (Trav wishes. haha).
Here’s the link to the test I took. It was pretty lengthy, but I found it interesting.
So those are just a few random facts about me. All truths, no lies.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Jen
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