Re-entry to the Real World

Greetings!

Well, this week has been good, just rather tiring. I REALLY enjoyed the break and sleeping in and doing nothing. I don't think I was prepared for getting up early, going to bed early, eating back on teacher time, or working from 7:30 to 5 everyday. Yeah, so re-entry has been tiring. Not bad at all, just tiring. This was the first break I can recall where I really wasn't ready to go back. However, it was neat to see the kids again.

It helped that the first rattle out of the box Monday included Dustin running up to me, yelling my name, and giving me a hug. Dustin is autistic, so it was a really cool way for me to start the week. It helped. I was still tired all week, but it really helped.

The kids were better this week. I imagine it was a combination of the fact I had a good, long, break so my patience was in-tact, and the fact the kids had a break so they were rested and ready to go. Regardless, it was a good week for me. Throughout the building all the teachers seemed to have a bit of an adjustment issue, but overall it was good.

The overall highlight for me this week didn't come from a kid though, it came from staff member. I work in a building that is so big that you can go days, weeks, months, and not talk to someone if you don't work directly with them. I know everyone by name, but if you ask me details about everyone's life I'd do a poor job of that. It's sad to say, but it's true. You spend all day in a room with kids with about a 40 minute lunch break with those you work directly with, then your world isn't very big in comparison to a staff of 80.

So, I see our PE teachers for about 30 seconds a day, if that. They work in the other end of my building, so I rarely see them. I know their names and have joked back and forth with them about KU versus MU, but that's the extent of my interaction with them.

So yesterday I saw coach, and we were able to chat for a couple minutes. I wanted to talk to her because I'm always joking with her how she gets to wear the outfits I would love to wear to work everyday. She wears all those cute jogging pants and shirts that I wear every chance I can at home. So yesterday I was a rebel and wore one of my jogging outfits. I told everyone who asked that we were "Jogging into reading" in my class. It made several smile and chuckle as they knew I was stretching things, but I never did get into trouble. :-) So I saw coach and told her what I was doing. She smiled.

Then she went on to tell me how I've positively impacted her life. How she is amazed at how positive I am and bring happiness to those around me. Now, while this touched my heart in a deep way, I don't share this to sound prideful. Really, I don't. I am just me being me. Nothing more, nothing less. But God taught me something in that moment.

I have barely spent time with Coach. Literally. I've joked with her and the other coach in our building off and on during KU/MU stuff, but I've never spent any real length of time with them. But, I have made a difference in her life and I didn't even realize she was watching.

Makes me wonder who else is watching and I don't even know it.

Kinda cool if you ask me.

Later!