Friday, September 10, 2021

Interesting that 9-11 spurred you to make a lifestyle change. It was such a shock to everyone but I don't know anyone else *****ally changed their life as a result. Good for you and DH taking stock and taking action on it.

Liz, I feel your recoil about the weight gain all too well. I do like Peps thought to remember it wasn't stress eating, but happy celebrations! I might apply that thought process to myself.

Some of my regain is attributable to stress eating or poor planning, but there were also a number of delightful charcuterie boards and delectable wines involved. I don't regret those moments, but I have no warm feelings about the times I ate something less desirable because I was tired, sad, stressed, or simply because it was there. Hmmm...

Cecily your trip sounds so amazing. I do think sometimes that other places do social life better than we do. When we were in Dublin, we found out you couldn't get dinner at any pub after 9pm, sometimes 8pm. Because the kitchen staff was done working, and had gone home. Maybe when everyone isn't in a frenzy with long work hours it's easier to be more spontaneous about socializing. It feels that in the U.S. we want to (or need to), schedule everything all the time. I love visiting my friends in Mexico and Brazil, the social life there is just so warm.

So the longest 4 day week has ended. There were many very rewarding moments, but whew, I am tired. Kids with so many big needs. I poured the Mom energy on them when I could. I looked at the crazy kids and tried to find something I could sincerely compliment them on. (I saw how fast you were to help Sally when she couldn't get her iPad to load the program). I asked about their shoes, their siblings, their dogs, their video games, if they slept well, their plans for the weekend... hopefully it leads to them knowing I think they matter, and if they know I think they matter, we can do some great stuff both academically and emotionally. But as I said, there is a lot of need this year.

I don't have any real plans for the weekend. I met a coworker/friend at a brewery after work for a quick check in. (She moved to another building this fall). I know some sleep will be one of my leisure activities. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I am surprised about the pub food hours! Can you imagine that in the US? Ha! Most bar kitchens are open until at least 10. Many in the urban areas stay open till midnight or later.

The first week of school is always LOOOOOONG. Ours was a three day week, but it was still long. LOL! I hear you on trying to make those connections. My little guy with the IEP and child services file and court orders prohibiting paternal visitation had one of his defiant episodes today. My poor student teacher said his palms were sweating. He asked how I managed without so much as flinching. I explained that I offered the student 12 ways from Sunday to get out of the corner he was backing himself into and when he would not bite I finally asked if he really wanted to do this with me and when he answered yes, I said okay and dropped it. I returned to the lesson and then quietly, when it was time to do so, followed through with my consequence without any fanfare and without involving the student in any drama and without his classmates' knowledge. Total win win, IMO. The student and I never raised swords to go to battle, but, I still "won" by securing the outcome I wanted. It's too bad you are not able to quite do the same with high school aged students. 8 year olds are much more malleable.

I think high school aged kids with severe needs are much more difficult to reach than the elementary school aged student. High Schoolers have had much more time to build walls and perfect barriers. Somehow I know you'll reach the ones *****ally need you this year.

It sounds like your approach to reaching the kids in your classroom makes a lot of sense. Children need to have adults in their life who they know care for them and therefore have a chance to earn their trust.