Kevin's Watch

Standards are dropping everywhere...

--A

Nice to see you seem on road to recovery Menolly

Am being moved out of ICU. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a full night's sleep without being woken every hour.

Sounds like good news.

Sheesh, quite day on the forum huh?

--A

Discharge orders have been received! I'll be highly dependent on SD and Dam-sel for the next four weeks, at least, unless I do some rapid healing. But, I get to have uninterrupted sleep in my own bed.

Reconstructive surgeon stopped by. Follow up surgery to repair issues not addressed this time will most likely be three months out. But, she says that's same day procedure and not nearly as an intense recuperation.

So thankful all went well. Home is the place to be when you feel like a truck parked on you all night, which is probably how you feel. Unless the drugs are really good....

Time for me to rant.

I've been teaching for a number of years. A two-digit number. I have never had a class in it with more kids who have zero empathy, zero self-control, zero filter on what to say and when to say it. I was seriously wondering this morning if one of them is actually a sociopath. He's the worst, followed by a set of twins whose behavior level is that of Kindergartners, followed by two kids who can't seem to make a good choice if their life depended on it, and then some kids who would probably be fine if there weren't a handful of psychos disturbing the peace all the time. The tears, the meltdowns, the fistfights, the drama. I have had more kids in the principal's office in a week than in entire years of teaching. And this, week after week after week.

Last week, I felt like I was going to lose my s***, and it might be best for all involved if I just quit before I do. I wonder if I am toxic.

That isn't the feedback I am getting though, so I am trying to distance myself emotionally from the disrespect and meanness. I am teaching Bible lessons on being a good Samaritan. I am trying to encourage the few really super sweet kids who don't misbehave and are actually interested in learning something other than how to make their classmates cry or fight.

For a number of years, I've been asking God why I am teaching in a school with mostly rich and privileged kids anyway. There are scads of orphans and vulnerable children whose needs are more obvious... This week when I was at my lowest, I was asked to talk to someone about working in their startup school for vulnerable children. They work with prostitutes and trafficked girls. They find homes for unwanted babies, and have adopted some themselves. I admire and believe in their work. But.

There are other factors at play here, so I will keep you posted. I'm going to have a sitdown with them this week, hopefully. It would be a big change for me to leave the school I have loved teaching at and been grateful for for 12 years. But it might just be time.

TL,DR: I'm too stressed and thinking about a job change.

I wouldn't last a day as a teacher. Probably wouldn't last an hour. Had the... pleasure of sharing a bus ride with a large number of middle school? high school? I don't even know - anyway, human younglings yesterday, and spent most of it trying to figure out if kids were getting more horrible, or if I'm just getting old. Part of me thinks I'm just getting old and that none of the language, littering, and general disrespect was anything new - but it seemed excessive. I don't know what the answer is.

That is tuff Deer.

I started my life as a teacher. I took secondary Ed thinking that would be great .. but couldnt deal with kids who were only a few years younger than me.

I moved to elementary school level which was sooo much better. Teachers werent paid much back in the day and I took some time out and went to New Zealand. When I came back I decided it was time for radical change abd went into policing. Better pay better work lol for me anyway.

But when I was a Mormon I taught early morning seminary for 3 years. I had some truly challenging kids .. I tried everything I could think of ... making everything super fun, I got quite creative, tried appealing to them, talking to them .. I eventually had the class split coz I just had enough. Everything was awesome after that ..

Maybe see if they can be moved.

Sending love, strength and endurance your way

Monday morning, and feeling a bit rough. Not sure why, just woke up feeling a little ill.

Oh well, I'm sure it will wear off. Good thoughts and commiserations for them as need it.

--A

Thats no good Av hope you shake it.

Feel well soon, Av.

Looks like a quiet day of further recuperation for my birthday. Hopefully I'll be up to celebrating joyously next year for my 60th. But, 59 will go down as a quiet day.

SD and I had picked out a keto red velvet cake recipe to try for my birthday cake tonight. I had hoped to be up to at least supervising the making of it, but I'm going to trust he'll come to me with any questions instead. I haven't been really eating since I've been home; my tummy has been continuously gassy, and I had a bout of vomiting last night. But I woke up feeling much better this morning, so here's hoping I'll be able to appreciate SD's efforts tonight.

Ah, I'm mostly over it already.

Happy birthday Menolly.

--A

Aww happy birthday Menolly

Happy birthday, Menolly!

Thanks y'all.

Happy birthday Menolly!

Hope you're feeling much better, Menolly!

Happy late birfday.
I'm sore today because the kids wanted to go roller skating, and I joined them. My wife did too, fell down once and turned in her skates. I fell as well, I think a couple of times, but my daughter needed some help. The kids are starting to get skating now, and that's cool.
I'm amazed at how sore I get over stuff that was nothing a few years ago. Even doing a couple jigsaw puzzles recently made my shoulder hurt badly. I hate getting old.

Cagliostro wrote:Happy late birfday.
I'm sore today because the kids wanted to go roller skating, and I joined them. My wife did too, fell down once and turned in her skates. I fell as well, I think a couple of times, but my daughter needed some help. The kids are starting to get skating now, and that's cool.
I'm amazed at how sore I get over stuff that was nothing a few years ago. Even doing a couple jigsaw puzzles recently made my shoulder hurt badly. I hate getting old.

Yeah, I know what you mean, Cagliostro. I get shoulder aches just playing volleyball now. I've given up skating already, roller or ice, after having a number of falls ice skating and being bruised for days. Thank goodness I can still hike without much problem.