Random thoughts

I was going to blog about all kinds of great stuff today but really don't have anything great and wise to discuss. Instead, I have several random thoughts that have popped in my head today.

1. I hate it when people stand too close to me. Seriously, I have a space bubble and this older lady was all up in my bubble standing in line at T.J.Maxx. I was waiting in line to pay when she walked up behind me. She was very close to my bubble but not yet in it. Still, that is too close for a stranger so I took a little step forward. SHE DID TOO. I was getting a little irritated so I took another little step forward and SHE DID TOO. I looked around thinking that maybe I was on that show "what would you do". Nope, no camera's. I took another step this time turning to the side so she was beside me instead of behind me. HAHA, I outsmarted you, you close standing, bubble invading lady. I was a little smug a little too soon. She took another step acting like she was looking at something on the shelf then ended up behind me AGAIN in my space. My mind was racing as was my heart. What should I do? Should I tell her to step back? Should I take yet another step forward? Should I .... SCORE, my turn in the checkout lane. Whew, saved by the quick sales clerk.
2. I wish I was a singer. I was driving down Nicholasville Road today singing to a Katy Perry song when I thought, dang, with the radio up loud and the traffic all around, I sound pretty good. HA! I don't care if I totally stink and can't carry a tune in a tin can, I seriously love to sing. I am so blessed to have a job that allows me to sing whenever I want and I always have an audience. I'm so glad they are only 3 and 4 and don't really understand tone, pitch and being in tune. They just love to sing with me. I'm thinking about getting a Karaoke machine for the boys for Christmas but secretly it is really a gift for me! I can't wait!! I think Harrison will LOVE it. He loves singing as much as I do. I have a hysterical video of him singing that I will post IF I can figure out how.
   

Maybe I will have some wise, insightful or even witty things to say tomorrow or later in the week.

Krista

I just don't get it!

I don't usually post about my job or my classroom but I am so confused by a new little friend I just have to write it down. First, let me start off by saying I teach in a school where there are many children who are considered at risk just because of their socio-economic status. In the preschool program in our state, we take children based on low income and on identified disabilities. Throughout the years I thought I had experienced almost everything I could possibly experience in this particular school. I have had children with ADHD, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, oppositional defiant disorder, and even children who are medically fragile. I have had typical children who have so little structure in their home lives that they appear to have disabilities but are, in fact, very bright children who just needed someone to show/teach them to have boundaries.

Tourette's Syndrome is something I have only seen on television. I watched a movie about a man with Tourette's who went on to be a teacher. It was something like you would see on the Lifetime Channel but it was a great movie. Now, I'm not saying I have a child in my class with Tourette's because I am no diagnostician and have no qualifications to make such diagnosis. I am saying I have a child who has some very random behaviors. Very random and sometimes very violent. I pride myself on being able to just go with the flow in the classroom and if a child disrupts the classroom, I can usually go right on with what I'm doing. This child's first day I was so distracted I could barely get through our morning calendar group. The random shouting, the cursing not to anyone in particular. I have never been that surprised in my whole teaching career (well, maybe I have been that surprised during my first few years of teaching but you get my drift). When you look at this little child you just see this beautiful little face with these big beautiful eyes. It is so hard to accept that he has the mouth of a sailor and just acts/reacts in such a violent or random way. I definitely will be getting more info on Tourette's and ADHD in the very near future. I am hoping that once everything is checked out that there will be a different diagnosis for this little one. But in the mean time, I am just plugging away with him trying to do my very best to make him feel loved. He is truly becoming one of my favorite children despite the behavior. I always end up getting attached to the ones who take more time to get under control.

I always try to put a positive spin on things especially when I am in a very difficult situation. So, here is my "spin". At least I might loose a couple of pounds and get into shape with this little one in my class. Also, I might learn to be a more patient person and more accepting of other people's situations.

I have always been the kind of person who loves a challenge and this might just be one of the biggest challenges I have had in quite a while.