The end of week 4.  As much as I miss my free time today I had to admit that I am actually enjoying my studies.  I'm learning some new and interesting things and I do enjoy learning new and interesting things.  So, even though I missed out on the family picnic today, I was discovering something interesting.
Work has been ridiculous. As an educator I cannot even believe what is going on.  Two teachers were terminated because they forgot a three year old at the swimming pool.  This was their third time losing a child.  The parents of the child are upset that the teachers were fired.  They feel the actions of the teachers are not serious enough to lose their job.  They contacted the teachers and offered to pay their bills for the next six months.  The other parents in the room agree with them.
I'm confused. Is it not our responsibility to protect children and keep them safe????
It has been an absolute nightmare.  The parents have started a letter writing campaign, they don't trust the integrity of management (Really??), they have made my life miserable.
I truly hate going to work now.  We just want to get on with the business of caring for the children. The teachers didn't even have remorse for leaving the child. They didn't care.
As I read through our materials for this course I am so thankful to have the opportunity to continue learning and growing and reading about the passion of professionals who do care.
I need to start looking for a new job.

Well, I found a way to share some personal things with my class.  It was not an easy task, but remembering the way people who have been in and out of my life and had an influence on me stirred up good memories.
It was good talking about my father who had a way of always making me feel special.
Taking this online class has proven to be a bit more difficult than I counted on.  The work itself is fine, but my time is so limited.
I liked the idea of being able to "go to class" at my convenience-day, night, wee hours of the early morning.  Unfortunately, that's when I go to class--day, night, wee hours of the morning.
We have a lot going on at work and I have had to work at the center from 6:30-6:30.  When I get home I drop.  I would love to have the weekends to just veg out and watch mindless tv and nap as I try to recuperate from a hectic work week.  Instead, I am on my Mac from 10:00 Saturday morning until almost 11:00 Saturday night.  Then I drop again. Then I'm up by six on Sunday morning and back at it until Sunday late evening.  My down time is around 7:00 Sunday.  It's almost bed time and then it all starts over on Monday.
This is what wanting something and be willing to sacrifice for it is all about.

I'm nearing the end of my third week of my course.  This week has been a little difficult for me.  I am an extremely private person.  I don't like sharing details of my personal life and I am completely against uploading pictures of myself or my family onto the internet.  I don't like talking about myself or my family.  I feel those things are personal and private.
This week's assignment is asking for some very personal information and I have had to work that out and dig deep.
I am offering small pieces of myself, but it is definitely me stepping out of my safety zone.

Basic Needs

I'm starting to see the dark side of my neighbors.  We're all getting a bit cranky.  We are on day 7 of being without power.  Two nights ago the power trucks managed to find their way to the town house development ONE block up from our homes, turn on their power, and disappear.  Couldn't they drive down the street and take care of us?
My neighbors are in their 70s and 80s.  Two of the families left days ago to stay in a hotel.  We see them each morning as they come to gather newspapers, set out trash, etc.  They want to come home.
I'm home, but it doesn't feel like home.
All of this reminds me of the children in our care.  They have basic needs that must be met in order for them to be successful.
I ask myself and my staff to reflect: are we meeting the basic needs of the children before we place such high expectations on them to succeed?

Wading through

I am literally "wading through" my week as I wipe layers of sweat off of my everything.  My household temperature is registering 101 degrees and there is no sign of a power crew to turn our power back on.
Nevertheless, forward I trudge.  I went to the office today to use the internet, A/C, and printer.  I took time to read through all of the documents in doc sharing and all of the discussions of the students in my group.
What's great about grad school is that you are there because you really want to be.  We all seem to have this zealousness about us that will carry us through this program as we strive to become exemplary scholars.
I look forward to sharing in discussions and learning what others gain from the materials and resources.
I will spend most of today studying and reading and completing assignments, so that I may enjoy at least one day this week sleeping.
I am off from work until Monday.  Hopefully, I won't spend every waking moment studying, reading posts, sweating, and looking for power crews!
Oh yeah, I can't believe I'm a GRAD student. Say it again, I'm a GRAD student.
Feels good.

Well, here we are in week 2.
The pity party is over and I am feeling the weight of the world roll off of my shoulders and onto the ground.
I was talking to a staff member this morning and I mentioned how overwhelmed and stressed I was trying to complete my homework.  One of the boys overheard (he's 3) and he laughed.  I asked him what's funny and he said, "Miss Michelle, you're silly.  Teachers don't go to school, you already know everything!"
It was such a silly thought to him.  But, then I thought about that.  What if we could get to a point where we knew everything? My, what a sad world that would be, to never have anything more to learn.
"To teach is to learn twice."-Joseph Joubert