Nothing worth having comes easy...

Start positive. 

The student I wrote about previously here got a lovely Christmas gift from my friend John. The student and John took a part an older Dell computer of John's and put it back together. It was really pretty awesome to watch the two work together in my room on a couple Friday afternoons. I dropped the computer off at the student's house yesterday afternoon. He was SO excited. Made me my spirit smile to do this for him. I realized the students excitement even more as I had a conversation with the 7th grade math teacher last night. Apparently the student has been talking a lot about the experience to him. 

Yesterday at school the students were pretty wound up. Some were truly looking forward to some time off from school. Others were certainly anxious and not so much looking forward to the time off. I can relate to both sides of these feelings. Students not looking forward may be worried about what/when they will eat. Our school provides them with breakfast and lunch. They could be anxious about what there days spent at home will look like for a variety of reasons. I will not pretend to know what some experience, but I can be empathetic. I'm not sure I'll ever be 'normal' around the holidays but I do try every year to keep my chin up. I too am not 100% excited about spending time away from school. 

We had our staff holiday party last night at a pretty good winery just up the road from our school. I enjoyed the Syrah for sure! As I sat there amongst people I hardly know, I could feel my impish social skills lurking around. I felt awkward. I felt out of place. I listened as groups talked about their awesome teammates and how well the year is going because they have each other to lean on. I really don't like that I keep coming back to the feelings of loneliness and aloneness I've felt in my position at school but there they were again. I know I have the power to work on this challenge in my life but for right now my spirit is so broken I think the best thing to do would be to spend some time in these next couple weeks mending my spirit with some much needed Giatime. This week has left me... well... I'm not sure of the word for it.

End positive.

Today we have some teachery things to do and won't have students in the building. Since students won't be there  I can wear my Wonder Woman Converse shoes to school. This makes me happy.