Petdad

There is a wonderful young adult book titled book titled A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray. The book is written by Newberry Honor author Ann M. Martin, whose reads are always winners. I have read this story to my students nearly every year. Written from the perspective of a dog who calls herself Squirrel, as she recounts events in her life that include her brother Bone, and a found friend Moon. The story has many applicable life lessons, complete with the highs and lows of daily life. Yes, you will experience a gamut of emotions as you read, but it will all culminate with a smile – I promise.

I was reminded of this story shortly after I awoke this morning, and saw the brightness of our post-Full Moon. It’s pretty incredible just how much an unencumbered view of the nighttime moon can produce so much reflected light. Especially on those super-clear nights when the air is kind of chilly, and the crispness of the stars and moon are spectacular.

I have always been mesmerized by the moon, and will often find it difficult to remove my gaze from it. To me, there is something powerful about the moon that draws me to it. I don’t know what it is but I can surely feel it.

We all know that the moon has actual effect on our planet that toys with Earth’s gravitational pull. We are most likely to see this effect at the ocean shore. I do not track the moon phases, but I am clearly affected by the moon during the height of it’s fullness. The added ‘energy’ is awesome, although it can also lower my patience cap thus increasing potential for personal crankiness.

We see it in our students. They don’t know when there is a Full Moon, or if the moon is Waning or Waxing, and at this stage in life they most likely don’t care. However, just as crime in society rises during those few days of the cycle, so does the frequency of schoolyard shenanigans. For the most part, we see a heightened level of excitement. While this is perfectly fine, the teacher must be ready to be a part of the frenzy. Fun, yes. Challenging, yessss!