Hmmm...

Strange isn't it? To think about where we were when we were starting out our "grown-up" lives. Say right after high school or during university.

Even stranger to think how we thought our life would turn out back then.

Sitting on the couch this evening, looking at my gr 12 scrapbook. On the couch with me was my bff from way back then. On the floor playing were her two beautiful little ones.

There we were, remembering where we've been, what we wanted, what we thought we were going to get out of life.

I'm married and a teacher, she's getting divorced, has two great little boys, she's even gone back to school recently.

Neither one of us are anywhere near where we thought we would be. But that's okay. Some of it's better, some not so great. Just had me reflecting. We thought we had it all together, all figured out, all planned out.

Hmmmm...

Interesting, isn't it?

What's Your Name Again?

One of my students has a baby sister named Isabelle. She always comes along when he gets picked up/dropped off at school.
She, of course, was there this morning when the kids were getting picked up and we all said , "Hi Isabelle!"
One little guy who just loves her, says to his little friend, "Look, it's Isabelle!"
Well his little friend got VERY upset and started raising his voice and getting quite angry. He even hit him!
So I got down and asked him what was wrong, why was he upset.
"She's a baby! She's a baby!" He yelled.
"You're right, she is a baby. Her name is Isabelle."
"NO! She's not a bell! She's a BABY!"

He thought we were saying she is-a-bell.
Love it!

I'm With You, Man!

You all know how I feel about Christmas. AKA my obsession!! :)

Last weekend I set up my classroom for Christmas. Tree (which the kids decorated and it's AWESOME!), lights around my bulletin board, lit up Santa, I even made stockings for each child and staff member & hung them! Needless to say, my room rocks!

So the kids walked in on Monday and had varying reactions to my Christmas wonderland. Some didn't even notice, some were very upset I had a tree up cuz (according to them) it wasn't Christmas yet.

One of my fav little guys with autism has had the same reaction every day all week. I love it so much I now join him in his little daily ritual.

He comes in, takes his outerwear off, puts it away, walks over to my lit up bulletin board, grabs my hands and chants "Chrimas! Chrimas! Chrimas, Mrs. R! Chrimas! Chrimas!"

We now cling to each other's hands as we do a strange little dance/hop together chanting "Chrimas! Chrimas! I so cited! Chrimas!"

Pretty much the fav part of my day now.

Wish me well!

So my kids were sitting at snack with my EA's and I really had to go to the bathroom. I discretely (so I thought) told my EA I was sneaking off to the washroom quick. I was across the room when one of my fav little guys hollers to me,

"Have a good pee Mrs. R!"

I thought I was going to pee right there!

I love my job.

Decision

So I've made a decision. Not sure how well I'll manage to carry it out, but by the grace of God I'll be able to do it!

I've decided all those adults (that act like hormonal teenagers) can jump in a lake for all I care. THEY aren't my job. THEY aren't my problem even.

My job, my calling, my passion and my responsibility (on paper and off) are my kids. That's what I need to worry about. That's what I need to spend my emotional and physical energy on, all of it!

As long as I can honestly say that I am doing EVERYTHING in my capabilities to be the best teacher, model and nurturer to those little lambs God has placed in my care, then that's IT! Everyone else can just, well....I'm sure you get the point. ;)

THIS is who God made me to be!

THIS is what teaching is??

So is THIS what teaching is all about?

Getting criticized by anyone who has vocal chords and an opinion?

Being told almost every day what you're doing wrong (never anything that's right)?

People trashing the plans, schedules and programs you spent hours of time( you should have been eating, sleeping and seeing your loved ones) on?

I'm serious. I can take being bitten. I can take being sneezed on. I can take being peed on. I can take having my flesh ripped off by tiny little finger nails.

It's amazing how all that stuff can be fixed by a 4 yr old golden-haired angel leaping into my arms wanting a big squeeze. A 2 yr old running full speed into my room yelling my name.

I don't mind the physically taxing part of my job. I expected that.

What I do mind is the emotionally draining, spiritually testing interactions with the ADULTS!!!!

Do all teachers feel this way?

I KNOW this isn't what teaching is supposed to be about.

Stop or Go?

One of my little guys actually slapped another boy right across the face this afternoon.  I took him aside and told him, "Hitting is a stop!"

"No!" he replied as he pulled away.  "Hitting is go!"