10 noviembre 2008

"Children are all foreigners." -r.w. emerson

thought one: on contemplating becoming an engineer after my first day of substituting

when your job requires more than your pay grade...
when the children sit only when you sit on them...
when disturbed boys spend more time with scissors than pencils...
(and find the one scantily clad mermaid in the class library...)
when Phil Keaggy works only until lunch...
when the kids have no "interruptor" engaged in their mouthing process...
when they hurt one another...
when they have no conception of "keeping no record of wrongs" until their memory fails...
when they cry waaay too easily....
when they can't/ won't concentrate...
when they're emotional...
when they're spoiled...
when they make your supposed "classroom management" a sham...
when they confess regret but won't say "i'm sorry" to the offended....
when they tattle...
when they won't HUSH!
when they are lazy...
when they are disrespectful...
when they say no...

...but they still misspeak and call you "Mommy"...
... and ask you to sit with them at lunch...

remember the concept of displacement. [watch your tone with the innocent.]
control your emotions.
be calm.
you forgive rapidly, with hugs.
don't give in to apathy.
don't feel sorry for yourself.
tell them to have a good evening.
pray for them like they were your kin.
smile.
...and still call them "sweetheart."

[faith is the evidence of things not seen...]