Vacation

This week I've been on vacation.  I was recently asked what I do when I have some free time - which is very rare.  I used to spend vacations traveling, but I haven't been able to do that in years.  So, in case you're also curious how I spend a week off, here's what I've done so far: sleep in until 9 or 10am, go to the mall, go to the doctor for a routine checkup, schedule another dr appt, call Albany and try to figure out how to apply for a time extension on my literacy certificate, watch movies, clean, babysit, tutor, apply for jobs starting in September, attempt to catch up with friends, and read.  Just to clarify the cleaning bit - I do clean on a regular basis, but the cleaning I do on vacation involves dusting, mopping, vacuuming up cobwebs, and putting snowmen decorations away; a process that also invloves organizing the crawl space housing all things seasonal :(.  It's not highly exciting, but it has been very nice to go at a more leisurely pace instead of the constant running around I normally do :)

Announcement

In case you haven't been on facebook, or didn't see the update I have posted pictures of the kitchen project I've alluded to in previous posts :).  Just go to my page and look for the album titled "The Kitchen Project".

Regaining Peace

My mind spins endlessly

The what-ifs of life tumbling around
cluttering my mind,
leaving little room for peace.
Exhaustion envelops me
a familiar shawl weighing me down
yet sleep eludes me.

Anxious habits are hard to break

I need to let go; let God.
Scriptual phrases break into jumbled thoughts
like lightning illuminating the night.
“Do not worry...”
“Do not be anxious...”
“I am with you...”
“I will not forsake you...”
A calming mantra pushing out the worry.

I take a breath

release my fears
drift into sleep.

Restraining at Recess

I realize that many of my classroom stories seem a little unreal, possibly even cruel.  Yet this is the reality of my day and I wouldn't restrain a "typical" child because chances are they aren't going to start kicking, biting, or spitting at me.  Sometimes, like today, I'm not even sure why I'm restraining the child.  I just happen to be helping another assistant sit her student out at recess.  Turns out he had punched her.  He was being uncooperative to say the least.

Restraining can be hard work, but today it seemed much harder than usual because it was recess.  This meant that there were kids everywhere.  And so, while I was navigating the child's upper body into a less threatening pose (hands behind back so he could stop hitting/scratching - while forcing him into a sitting position) and the other assistant held his legs (to keep from kicking) we had the added element of another austic child getting in between us and on top of the child we were restraining because he wanted to know what was going on.  As we're telling the curiosity seeker to back off, another 5 year old jumps on my back because he figures we must be playing tackle football or something.  Sheesh. 

Once we got child #1 seated, child #2 off my back, and the curisosity seeker elsewhere engaged I was then tapped on the back by a student wanting to play tag with me.  I told him I was a little busy.  Followed by another student telling me that one of our mainstreamed kids had done a great job in art.

All I'm saying is that it was a busy 20 min :D