Well, my husband thinks that I have found the perfect job for me. Actually, I suspect that any job that keeps me out of the house and has a paycheck would be a "perfect job for me" to him. That's another story though.
I was telling him about some of the kids there and how they are getting under my skin and I want to do something to relate to them and try to be an adult friend to them. You do get a bird's eye view of home life on some of these kids. They are getting to be the age that some start trying to go back home after the parents leave because they are upset. They don't realize that school may be their salvation during some of these hard family times. There are so many broken families and the kids are caught in the middle of adults who can't get along. We have one family where the only son has stayed in the family home and the parents take turns living there with him one week at a time. Sounds like a good plan, but the parents fight like cats and dogs. Last year it was so bad that a judge said that he was taking the son away from both of them. One of our counselors stepped in and let him live with her for a time to try to give him a chance at normal. This year they are back to the old plan, but trying to get along or at least being quiet about it. They are both nuts. The boy....he just wants to get away and he is begging for a boarding school.
You have to laugh at some of these kids though. Another girl that tugs at my heart really needs some special services but has not been identified yet by the school district. She has an outside diagnosis as oppositional defiant disorder. Isn't that just another work for teenager? Anyway, she has a habit of being tardy to class. I probably issue her a tardy at least 3-4 times every single day. She has all kinds of detentions, but they haven't seem to get her attention until this week. I finally saw a little reaction in her about it this week. I'm trying to understand her. She was going out the door after getting one more tardy and earning a Saturday detention. She says "This is stupid." I jumped on the chance to communicate with her and told her to come back and asked her why she thought that. She said that Saturday just wasn't good for her. That SHE had a life besides school! I just had to put my head down. There's no arguing with that. She is much too busy to deal with this. Maybe she could pencil us in on another day!
Anyway, hub came up with an interesting concept. When they first said that I would be working with 7th and 8th graders, I thought what have I got myself into. Give me the sweet little elementary types. Not raging hormones. But he said that I am at the perfect school. He reminded me that our son was in middle school when he started going off track. I can relate to some of the parents that come in telling me about their struggles. I see kids that have to be called out of class for a visit with their probation officer. I see kids that are embarrassed about having to go to the nurse every day for the medications. These are the same kids who soon will make the decision that they don't need that med and refuse to come get it. They don't want to be singled out. So the bottom line is, I hope that I am in a spot that maybe I can stop another child for going down that path.
The weather has been gorgeous around here. For all of you Canadian geese type people.....sorry. It is just gorgeous. The sun is shining. It's not too hot. I would love for it to stay this way although we probably wouldn't appreciate it to much. With football games on Saturdays and two practices during the week, I'm getting to be out and enjoy it.
We had dinner last night with three other couples that we have been close friends with for several years. It is really hard to find a night with all eight of us can get together, so this was special. The four women always get together for birthday lunches, etc. It was so fun to be with everyone. We all have a friend that is going through a terrible time and we are afraid that we are going to lose her so it tends to make us all a little more thankful for each other. This gal is very sick with not a lot of hope of getting better. Two years ago, she was a vibrant active mom. I saw her a couple of weeks ago and she looks like a skeleton. My heart breaks for her, her husband and daughter. You never know what tomorrow can bring.
Tell someone you care today.
Later.
2 comments:
Volunteering in schools has made me well aware of the fact that I could never WORK in one. I'd be smacking someone and getting canned.
Good for you for finding the silver lining!
I Googled ODD and Good Lord, the labels they like to put on people...!
I taught at middle school for five years and subbed for four more. (What was I thinking?!) Anyone who can connect with this age group without burning out has a gift. It is where you can make a difference. They're old enough to learn and like it and young enough not to be jaded yet; the perfect age to teach in any capacity. Your hubby's right. Stay if you can, but be aware of potential burnout from overextending yourself.
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