I watched Mr. R today until just a few minutes ago, when the afternoon caregiver arrived. But, I have the day off from the part time school job, in recognition of Columbus Day. I haven’t done anything to recognize the day, except staying home from school.
I have been connecting with many of the kids. A bunch actually know my name now (“Miss Sheddhead”) and I know a bunch of their names. The group changes day by day though, so there are always new kids to meet.
On Friday the district had half a day, and the emergency crews (fire, police) had arranged to use the school for an Active Shooter Practice. I learned that the school principal has to ok the gun, which is all blue and can’t shoot live bullets, I think they said. (We discussed this back when I got hired, so I don’t remember all they told me.)
SEVENTY TWO children were signed up to to go to Chuck E. Cheese during the the event. That was with 5 adults. After the kids ate, one woman was in charge of watching the bathrooms, I watched at the exit, and three wandered the games area, generally overseeing everything. We were there for a couple of hours, and really, the kids were pretty great. A couple of them figured out that they could tour the games and collect tickets that others left behind, and a couple of more figured out a couple of games to win 100 tickets. They had fun.
The thing that really helped me connect with
some kids was a fortune teller. Remember those? You start with a square of paper (like a lot of origami shapes), and basically fold it in triangles to create more squares. Then you write colors on the outside flaps, numbers on the inside flaps, and fortunes under those numbers. I made a couple of those, and the kids went nuts… it took awhile, but FINALLY 2 of the boys learned to fold the things by watching me and practicing, so now I don’t have to do all of the folding. (I am glad to fold, but I do not fill in the teller — that’s the responsibility of the owner. But my favorite fortune was created by Cameron, the world’s cutest kindergartner: “You will go to outer space.” The kid rocks.)
Besides the fortune teller, I’ve made the kids paper beaks (we called them quackers, of course) and origami penguins and whales. Another woman who works after school can make cranes that flap their wings if you tug their tail, and a ball filled with air. Now I spend a lot of time explaining that I don’t know how to make either of those. :) So now I get pictures colored by the kids, “Here. I made this for you.”
I’ve been spending more time watching Mr. R, of course, than at school. Today I gave him a late breakfast (he didn’t sleep much last night). When he finished it, he said, “I’m going to do something.” Oh, dear… try to get out of bed? take off your diaper because you have to go? Something else that’s going to upset your daughter?
“What are you going to do?”
”I don’t know.”
“Ok. You can surprise me.”
“Yes. I’ll surprise me, too.”
His 90th birthday was last Monday, and his daughter bought a pumpkin pie, so he’s been enjoying pie every couple of days. I went to dinner with my dad and his wife on Saturday, and the restaurant had a bunch of pastries available at the counter. I bought Mr. R a piece of Pumpkin Cheesecake.
Apparently that was even better than the pie. I talked to the nurse this morning, and she said, “Absolutely, he can have whatever he wants, within reason.” So, I’m going to stop at a grocery store on my way home from the school tomorrow and pick up something… maybe key lime, if I can find it. :)