A good day at work

I've written about some of the challenges at work and I had a pretty good day on Friday and all week really, so I thought I'd write about that.  I do love my job and the people I work with.  I love that its challenging every day.

I almost didn't go to work Friday since I have this rotten summer cold and I didn't have much scheduled for Friday but I went and I decided I'd just do some paperwork and only handle what came in the door rather than calling kids down to see me.  I started the day doing a dress code intervention with a gal who had a temper tantrum earlier in the week over dress code.  It went ok but no one told me that she unzipped the jacket as soon as I left.  Then at lunch, whew, lots showing.  She ended up in Marvin's office having another tantrum.  I thought he did great, he had tried to be positive and supportive and she'd disrespected him so he called me then got very firm with her and said his patience was running thin.  She got up and huffed out but came with me and complied in changing.  She cried a little but responded to my calm offers of support then went back to class.  The cool thing was, I got a hold of mom and had a very positive conversation with her when it had Not gone that way with the elementary school.

I spent much of the rest of the morning doing Medicaid logging and completed the whole month of August!  Then I received a referral for one of our kids on the autism spectrum, that he had been asking a young lady out and sending her notes and she was uncomfortable.  This can be fairly sticky with kids who lack social recognition because they can be sexually harassing someone completely innocently.  My talk with him went pretty well and then I gave the autism teacher a heads up so the paras can keep an eye on it.

I did some observations of students at both lunches and second lunch with the 7 th graders, Marvin was giving announcements over the microphone and he said," see that lady over there?  That's Mrs. Clark, wave Mrs. clark.  She has worked hard and accomplished something I think you all will really appreciate.  She has convinced the district to give everyone Monday off school!"  Of course the cafeteria erupted in cheers and applause with everyone looking at me and thanking me.  I think some of them actually believed him!  It was awesome.

After lunch Angela and I went to elective team to problem solve with them about challenging kids.  When we walked in the door, they cheered and said, "Here come the girls!"  It made me feel good.

The new referrals flew after that and I could pretty much only write them down for Monday then I did clinical supervision with Tanya.  As I mentioned, I feel like my purpose this late in my career is to pass along the experience and wisdom I've gained over the years.  I may not be equipped to do different kinds of social work and I'm not real motivated to learn tons more and I realized that this is what I'm supposed to be doing for the next six years or so until I retire.  And after that, who knows?  I can continue to do clinical supervision.  I could do private practice with adolescents, or I could learn something else.  I didn't think I was qualified to do the small group at Homestead but God is working through me there.  

Anyway, it was a good day.

Tidbits

I was so exhausted after my first full week of work that I slept 12 hours Friday night, took a nap on Saturday and slept good again last night.

First full week with kids:  orienting the intern is going well; new staff are green but coming along; did a suicide assessment for a kiddo with autism, working hard to help an anxious student with zero confidence and a huge tendency to refuse (and his mama rescues him) to work through some issues; making behavior plans for angry students; collaborating with staff and outside therapists on a kiddo with reactive attachment disorder; started teaching in the autism room ( we have 14 kids in the program this year!); planning for the bully kick off day; started FCA; met with all but 2 of the 49 kids on my caseload; visited five of the six teams I'm on; had our first faculty and admin meetings; and started planning for emergency preparedness week.  Whew!  No wonder I'm tired!  

I've been feeling really forgetful at work lately and it really bothers me then God has shown me that my goal is to love others and encourage them, not to gain their favor.  I want people to see Christ and be drawn to Him, not to me.  Maybe they can even see Him clearer when I am weak.  God is so good.

Rex misses me during the week.  He is still taking the new "baby" which is a toy rabbit everywhere he goes.  I had another proof that he understands English.  Yesterday morning I got up super early to make coffee for our house guests and told Rex when we got up that we were just getting  up briefly then going back to bed.  I got up, let him out and back in, made the coffee then couldn't find him.  He was already back in bed waiting for me!  And I never go back to bed!

Jackie and TJ stayed with us two nights.  We met them at Harry's Friday night along with the Sherows for dinner then last night I cooked for them and then we went to the movie to see Elysium.  They bought us some mums for the pots in front and some green plants for the front, too. 

I got Adelle yesterday and did our usual errands then over here for frozen pizza and iPad time.  I taught her how to take pizza out of the oven.  Still working on paying attention while driving the grocery cart and in the parking lot.  Gigi called me this week just to tell me how worried she is about Adelle and her future and what a life saver I am to her.  She got in trouble this week for ramming her shoulder into a girl in the hallway.  No telling what that was about but she did tell me her favorite show wasn't on all last week and that made her very sad and mad.  She talked a lot about feelings yesterday which is unusual.  

Can't wait to talk to the family on the phone this week to see how Leah's student teaching went, when Hannah is coming, how Joel is doing especially financially and what the rents are up to.

Autism and Alzheimer's meet

So I did something crazy yesterday.  Scott had all day plans so as I faced the day, I decided I wanted to spend the whole day with Adelle.  I thought about all the things we could do like go to the pool or plant new plants in the pots, and it just all seemed frivolous.  I miss my Dad and felt like this is one of the last days I'd have a whole day with nothing to do.  I had tons of energy and it was a beautiful day.  I also had some dishes I wanted to give to my niece, Hannah, in Lawrence.  So crazy me, I thought, why not do it all?  So I did!  

On the way down, Adelle started getting antsy about Lawrence.  I couldn't find Hannah's address or current phone numbers, so we stopped at a quick stop to use the restroom, get gas, and a snack.  It had thrown Adelle a bit to be past where her radio stations came in but we found one she liked.

When we got to Aberdeen, the rents greeted Adelle with a hug that she accepted, whew!  Adelle isn't a real huffy person.  Jean made the comment, "This is where you end up at the end of your life" which Adelle brought up again later.  I can tell she wasn't sure what to think about that.  Interestingly, she addressed Dad as "Mr. Griffith" and I don't recall having told her his last name.  Smart girl, that one. She made conversation for awhile (of course askd if they watch "Around the Horn" then I let her get on her Facebook on their computer.  I sat with Dad and we watched Animal Planet about puppies which brought back the never ending hope of his getting a puppy.  

We took Adelle's hat off and fluff fed her hair then went to the dining room for dinner.  The dining room is probably the nicest place Adelle has ever eaten.  She did very well, used her manners with only a few reminders from me.  She ordered her two cheeseburgers with mustard by herself and for dessert ordered vanilla ice cream for here and brownies to go.  Cracked me up.  The meal took an hour to come to us and she ate toast while waiting and waited patiently.  She smiled and participated some in the conversation fairly appropriately.  They asked her several times about college which was complicated because in the car, Adelle had informed me that I am "dictating her future" when I reminded her that the plan is for her to spend an additional year in high school before looking into college.  She wants to go to k state when her friends do.  Yikes.  Dad. And Jean did a great job with Adelle.  They seemed to understand that she is special but they didn't talk down to her.  

After dinner at the apartment, Adelle asked if she could spend the night there.  The ride home was uneventful, she sang most of the way and was happy when we got back in range of her stations.  

Orientation

We orient the new students, mostly 7th graders on two days before school starts, this year yesterday and tomorrow.  We call it Camp Dewy since our school is Eisenhower.

We welcome the kids and parents, play an autograph get to know you game, then split them up for sessions about crime stoppers, sexual harassment, behavior expectations, and all the unwritten rules.  They go on a scavenger hunt, get their schedules and locker combos and practice getting their lockers open.  We feed them lunch and two snacks.  The kids always come in nervous and leave excited.

This year we have a new Principal, Tracy Newell.  Pictured above is one of my my favorite people, Marvin Rupe who is assistant Principal, our counselor who took Nancy's place last year, Angela Bunger, Tracy, and me!  I didn't realize I was that short!  

Camp Dewy always gets me more excited and ready for the school year.  I was so exhausted yesterday I couldn't even think straight!  

Also starting yesterday was my intern for this year, Alexis Hernandez.

 I got to choose my undergrad intern last year and she was a big help.  I only take grad students now if I know that will be good since they are there all year, three days per week.  Alexis came highly recommended and has experience in the schools with an elementary TLC program.  Alexis was a big help yesterday and I think it will go well having her with us.  This will be the first time Angela has also had an intern so we shall see how that goes!  

Ready or not this school year is off and running!  

Last Days of Summer

Well, as of tomorrow, summer is officially over for me.  Camp Dewy, the new student orientation is tomorrow and Thursday.  I've gone into work to plan, to prepare, to get ready and now it begins.  These last few days have been busy.  Joel went home last Saturday.  Monday I picked up Adelle to take her to the fair but it rained out so we went to the movie Thursday night with my friend Tanya and her daughter Mikaila.  Mikaila has Aspergers.  She and Adelle made friends.  Which means they sat by each other and offered each other snacks.  

Last Tuesday we had the new Principal, Tracy, and his wife, Angela and Chad, and Marvin and Jolene over for dinner.  Then Saturday Marvin had the whole staff over for a potluck bbq.  

This week we have our nephew, Sam, here.  He has been keeping Scott company as my busyness is picking up.  

I am wrapping up water run and Wednesday is the last day.  It's been fun.

Yesterday I drove to Newton for a quick visit with Leah and to pick up our new dishes, fiesta ware knock offs.  I love them!  

It's been a busy summer but a good one.  

Goals met?

Summer is wrapping up very quickly.  Tonight we had the new Principal, Tracy, and his wife, Marvin and Jolene, and Angela and Chad over for dinner.  We meet Friday to plan Camp Dewy, have a staff party on Saturday, and then Camp Dewy is Tuesday!  Only four more water run classes, five if I sneak out the 9th.  

So how have I done on my summer goals?

1.  I didn't talk to a family member every single day but I did a couple times a week.

2.  I met this goal!  

3.  I met this goal!  I lost the same three pounds about 5 times this summer, total 15 pounds lost.  but gained. Tee hee.  

4.  Met.  This house is clean.

5.  I had Jesi over once and Tanya but didn't do as well at this goal as I would have liked to.

6.  Improved at this, still want to improve this.  Lets call this an ongoing goal.

7.  Done.  A lot more, crises, but other extras.

8.  No idea what is going on with TRU or what our role is.

9.  Hum.  Did go see Eric and Vicky in Topeka.  Once!  Did invite Ryan and Sarah over but couldn't get a date locked in.  Had George and Sheree over!  

10.  Done!  Much better than we had hoped!

11.  Met this!  

12. Yep.

13. Didn't do this.

14. Didn't get this one done but shooting for September.

Additional stuff not planned on:  dad being in the hospital, driving to LA, Scott's stroke, going to Moore twice.

Summary?  A successful summer.  Always good to let God make and change my plans.

Family Time

It was so great to have Joel home for ten whole days!  And we got an extra added bonus with Leah home for 3 days and Mom came too!  

Last week we sat around quite a bit and Joel disappeared frequently to get his friend time in and then we went to the Lake on Friday.   On Saturday, Julie drove up and spent the day with us. Julie and I hit a few thrift stores and we all ate at aJ's pizza.  Sunday Scott had the health issue and Joel stuck pretty close Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesday, Leah came!  Wednesday night we had our friends Goerge and Sheree over with their three boys.  It was fun to see them.  Joel ended up entertaining the boys, ages five and seven, by playing on the iPad, kicking around the soccer ball, and catching fire flies.  We sat out on the deck and chatted.

On Thursday I drove up to pick up my Mom.  We all mostly sat around together but that was fun.  Thursday night we went to Chipotle for dinner and then later made a blizzard run.  

On Friday the girls made our Target run and got some new duds.  Then Friday night we went to Olive Garden for dinner.  We drank wine and giggled and now have some pretty good family jokes to hang onto.  

Today we sat on the deck all morning in the rain and then II drove Mom home and Leah took Joel to Newton and then will take him to the airport.  Before she left, Leah gave Professor an entire haircut on the kitchen island.  

We are always sad to say goodbye to the kids.  We go from a full house to a quiet house again where we bumble around in here.