I am turning into a Lizard Woman
Jul. 11th, 2011 09:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
apple_pathwaysEither that, or I'm developing a new patch of psoriasis on my ankle. I'm leaning toward the former, though, 'cause the skin's all dry and ridged and just weird. You might think I'm being kind by sparing you all the photos, but no: I just couldn't get a good picture of it.
Today was one of those Mondays where I started out fine, completely impervious to the conclusion of my weekend and the start of a new work week, but then the collective Monday-ness of everyone around me managed to drag me down into the mire.
Two of my students (brothers) were sick, so I had just Justin in the first hour slot, and he was in rare form: apparently he stayed up late playing chess (?) with his dad the night before and then had a long swim practice right before his lesson. Just is 9 and not the best at focusing on a good day--today he was full of whining and slumping. One of the biggest downfalls of working with children? When they choose to spend their time whining and bitching and complaining that they're tired and don't want to be there, you cannot shout, "Yeah, well how do you think I feel?" and then storm off in a huff. (I like to fantasize that I would be able to do this at a job with grown-ups. It is not necessary to disabuse me of this notion!)
Other than Justin, most of other kids were just tired and mildly cranky. People often remark to me, "Oh, it must be easier to tutor kids in the summer, because they're not all tired from school!" You would think that, but no: later bedtimes + no consistent schedule + a heap of summer sports and activities = worn-out, cranky children.
I have two new students with asperger's, and at first I was worried because my boss had scheduled them for the same block. (He has a way of putting the absolute worst combinations of children together. Oh, if only I could have at the schedule and arrange everyone by personality!) It's actually working out fine, though. I've managed to coach AJ to raise his hand when he's done instead of chanting "finished a page finished a page finished a page!" and Matt is taking my redirection when he gets frustrated very well.
Still no luck in finding a part-time job! I really do not want to go back to working slave wages at a retail job, but damn it, I could really use some extra income at the moment...
On the plus side, it rained today! Yay rain! (Boo people who still cannot drive it. The sky ain't falling, Chicken Little, you can take your foot off the brake!)
Today was one of those Mondays where I started out fine, completely impervious to the conclusion of my weekend and the start of a new work week, but then the collective Monday-ness of everyone around me managed to drag me down into the mire.
Two of my students (brothers) were sick, so I had just Justin in the first hour slot, and he was in rare form: apparently he stayed up late playing chess (?) with his dad the night before and then had a long swim practice right before his lesson. Just is 9 and not the best at focusing on a good day--today he was full of whining and slumping. One of the biggest downfalls of working with children? When they choose to spend their time whining and bitching and complaining that they're tired and don't want to be there, you cannot shout, "Yeah, well how do you think I feel?" and then storm off in a huff. (I like to fantasize that I would be able to do this at a job with grown-ups. It is not necessary to disabuse me of this notion!)
Other than Justin, most of other kids were just tired and mildly cranky. People often remark to me, "Oh, it must be easier to tutor kids in the summer, because they're not all tired from school!" You would think that, but no: later bedtimes + no consistent schedule + a heap of summer sports and activities = worn-out, cranky children.
I have two new students with asperger's, and at first I was worried because my boss had scheduled them for the same block. (He has a way of putting the absolute worst combinations of children together. Oh, if only I could have at the schedule and arrange everyone by personality!) It's actually working out fine, though. I've managed to coach AJ to raise his hand when he's done instead of chanting "finished a page finished a page finished a page!" and Matt is taking my redirection when he gets frustrated very well.
Still no luck in finding a part-time job! I really do not want to go back to working slave wages at a retail job, but damn it, I could really use some extra income at the moment...
On the plus side, it rained today! Yay rain! (Boo people who still cannot drive it. The sky ain't falling, Chicken Little, you can take your foot off the brake!)
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no subject
Date: 2011-07-12 01:37 am (UTC)It's been raining every other day where I'm at and it's absolutely lovely. Except where I almost died on Saturday from all the hydroplaning but that was a rare case of hurricanish rain. ; )
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Date: 2011-07-12 05:05 pm (UTC)Hurricanish rain tends to come out of nowhere here in the summer--I've been caught in many a surprise!downpour. Hydroplaning is NOT FUN, oh dear God, my heart leaps into my chest everytime...
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Date: 2011-07-12 02:37 am (UTC):( [Translated: no me gusta.] You're dead on about that phenomenon. Happens to often. Sorry it struck you today.
What I seem to be seeing is that overscheduled-summer kids
look forward tofind school a relief because it's a chance for a break. All the other kidslook forward tofind school a relief because it's literally the only structured, planned thing in their lives. And there doesn't seem to be a whole lot between those extremes. Apparently kids once enjoyed themselves over summer and dreaded the start of school, but sometimes it feels like that is only rumor and myth from bygone ages. :/Er, stop dying? The skin is a weird combination considering last time you asked the doctor if you were turning into a mutant it seemed as though there was something growing out of your head. Sure, medicine will rationalize it, but are you sure you're not at the superhero origin story?
no subject
Date: 2011-07-12 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-12 05:15 pm (UTC)Some of the kids are most definitely over-scheduled with camps, activities, and sports. Some of them are just plain worn out from not having a regular bedtime and then sleeping in too late. Most of the kids will have a summer bedtime of maybe 10:00 pm, which is fine, but then some of them stay up most of the night playing video games and then sleep in past noon, which...is rough on a 10 year-old.
A transformation into a mutant superhero actually makes a lot of sense, now that you mention. It's about time I stopped looking to medical science for answers, and made that long overdue trip to the comic books store...
Are you turning into Madame Vastra? Because she is pretty awesome.
Date: 2011-07-12 04:55 am (UTC)Ugh, part time job search. I am so right there with you. I'm trying to find something that I can do only on weekends, and so far ... :( But good luck to you! I hope we both find something soon!
Re: Are you turning into Madame Vastra? Because she is pretty awesome.
Date: 2011-07-12 05:27 pm (UTC)Thank you, thank you for your sweet words! Gosh, everytime someone says something like that, it makes me feel so guilty for the times when I get annoyed with them. :P
Ugh, you too? I hate looking for part-time jobs, because you can never find one that doesn't expect to suck out your soul for $7.00 an hour. For the kind of loyalty the retail industry expects, I'd expect them to offer "protection" and smite my enemies for me, rather than conning me out of my days off. :(
Good luck to you, too!