One Handed Blogging

I have so much to write about and only one hand with which to type! Against my better judgment, I gave in to peer pressure and took my kids bowling with the other 2 preK classes. You guessed it. I was stupid. Tried to catch a kid who ran down a lane. Of course it was foolish, but it was instinctual to 'protect' the kid! It was me that fell like a fat elephant in the lane. The kid saw me, turned around and ran off the lane...never falling! Devil child, he is. I carefully crawled off.

My wrist strarted throbbing as I held kids' hands on our walk back to school. After school, I decided to drive to the walk-in clinic rather than go to the ER. Shorter wait time. Both places out of town. They took x-rays. Prelim report shows no broken bones, but my right wrist and hand are immobilized, swollen, bruised and painful. Oh, driving a stick shift was nearly impossible. Guess I'll be walking to work next week. I don't know how I'll get any work done on the 'puter. It's taken me an hour to type this! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!

News about WW: I received my contract to sign on Thursday. I was in WW Monday and visited classes all day. Two glaring problems: 1. classrrom is in basement w/no windows and only "cold air return' air flow. 2. There is an elevator to take kids up/down, but can't be used in an emergency. They have 2 large children in wheelchairs. No way am I willing to risk that....it's against the law! So I'm formulating a letter to them before I sign the contract and rethinking this whole moving thing.

Break Down

The break down came Wednesday. I felt tears rising and finally I couldn't hold them back. I simply said, "I can't do this today." And amidst astonished stares and concerned hugs, I picked up my purse and water bottle (forgot my lunch pail) and walked out the door. Unfortunately it was too late to get a sub for the morning class, but they had one for the afternoon class.

It was nice to take a break that day and I returned renewed and ready to finish the year, if not with flourish, then at least with a bit of enthusiasm.

What led to this break down? Several things, really. A friend's son critically injured in Iraq, difficulty getting along with an assistant at work, grief over leaving these newfound friends, one student screaming at ear-drum piercing, pain threshholds 88x/class period for two days straight, logistics of moving again, just more changes and a colleague's remark that made me 'Snap out of it!' -- but only after a retreat at home with tears.

Friday, another of the preschool teachers broke down in tears. Now, granted, she has the excuse of hormonal changes during pregnancy as a good excuse, but she, too, is going through a lot of changes.

So it's going around. Only 16 class days left and 26 more actual work days. Then I'm vacationing a bit before movin' on.

Don't forget to hug your mom today.

Burn Out

The weeks are getting harder, my pet peeves are becoming major and my patience is falling away. I can hardly wait for the school year to be over. I feel my work here is getting to the futile stage and needs to be wrapped up.

My mind is stressed with that and moving....again.

My new school district has invited me to a planning meeting for next year, and offered to pay my salary for that day, travel, and a motel. I won't need the motel, but can you believe how friendly that is? How 'wanted' it makes me feel?

The school district here is so narrow minded, they won't even pay for snacks for a parent night. I know budgets are tight, but we have 36 parents coming. That's a rare event with good turn-out.

As you can see I'm full of gripes. Burned out. I've put a lot of effort into doing my best in this one year available to me here. I question whether it has made a difference. I just remember Janet's "It makes a difference to this one," and hope that I have given the kids and some parents some hope along the way.

Next on the agenda: a soothing walk along the beach.