New Mantra: Two More Days

Here's something I've never done before. I got to meet Young Adult Fiction author Deborah Ellis. She came to the school to do a book talk. I haven't read her books beyond what the kids have, but I may pick up a few. She was a very interesting, intelligent, amazing speaker. Also incredibly down to earth. My AT randomly told me to sit beside her in the gym (somehow not having recognized her as Deborah Ellis) and Deborah Ellis simply turned to me, stuck out her hand and said "Hi, I'm Deb". My hands were really sweaty and gross so naturally, I shook hands with her and replied "I'm Lauren".

I would have loved to be able to speak to her more but... it was not to be. I had work to do and I didn't want to go up and talk to her while the kids were there. She was there for them, not me. Plus, I was suddenly stricken with shyness and couldn't think of a single thing to say to her anyway. The kids spent the rest of the day nagging me and goading me, trying to get me to talk to her about getting published. Truth of the matter is, I don't have anything ready for publishing. Everything that is "ready" is technically submitted to another publishing company. They're sweet though. The kids I mean.

Apart from that, I have to say, kind of a shitty day. The kids were tired, it was hot, no one really felt like working, it was beautiful outside. And I'm pretty sure a couple of the kids were just dead set on pissing me off today. I had one kid being an idiot and playing with the paper slicer thingy. You know, the ones that look like machetes attached to a big metal plate?

He was joking about chopping off his fingers. I told him to stop playing with it. He didn't. I told him to stop acting like a moron, pretty much in those words, got up and shooed him away. He came back and I told him to sit down because he was making me mad. Oddly enough, he did.

After that, I did a lesson and spent a good ten-ish minutes explaining what the kids were to do. Once I finished with my explanation, I asked if everyone understood. Three times. In different ways. Each time I was assured that my instructions were clear. Less than five minutes into their work time, the same kid as always raises his hand and tells me that he doesn't understand "everything". I really hate that answer.

Over the last six weeks, I've come to realize that he's too lazy to read the sheet and think for himself. So he calls me over, tells me he doesn't understand and waits for me to give him answers. Because I'm really that stupid. I usually explain the activity again, but today, I guess I just wasn't in the mood. I told him that I wasn't explaining it again and that if he didn't understand, that he should read the instructions again. Bitchy? Yes. Did he get to work for himself afterward and actually do something. Yes. I know Friday's my last day, but finally, enough of that bullshit.

Two more incidents occurred after that. Due to how angry I still am over what was said and done (in both cases) I'm not going to go into detail. Suffice it to say, I'm not in the wrong.

Two more days. Two more days. Two more days.

Lauren.