Saturday, April 16, 2016

TToT: Escape


It hasn't been a good week to be a middle school boy in Topeka.  To say some of my school kids have made poor decisions would  be like saying wasabi doesn't make a subtle sandwich spread.  Illegal, dangerous, life-altering--these words describe the actions of several of my students lately.  

This weekend I am burying my head in the sand, escaping reality, and hoping that next week brings better days.  There are things in my hiding place that I am feeling grateful for:

Books, Netflix, Music, Cell phones and computers that let me connect with my kids instantly.  My KitchenAid mixer, the smell of something delicious baking in the oven.  Bunnies, a supportive husband, and the belief that change can happen.



16 comments:

  1. Wow....sounds like heavy week...yes things can turn on a dime thank goodness! Heres hoping next week has better decision making jou jou in the air!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Better decision making jou jou when you are 13 can be hard to come by!

    ReplyDelete
  3. And because you are a dedicated teacher and loving parent, you are upset by this. I'm sorry May, you can't impart the maturity that is necessary to see consequences of bad decisions. Hope next week you see some progress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If only I had a magic wand, I would wave away middle schoolers poor decision making skills!

      Delete
  4. Sounds like it was also not a great week to be a middle school teacher in Topeka... :-(

    It's so hard when kids we care about do things to hurt themselves. Hoping the weekend is giving you everything you need to come back strong on Monday. (And so glad you stopped by my blog. I hadn't realized that you'd changed your address. I saw you and thought: Oh, May! I haven't seen her in forever! Hey, how come she hasn't been in my feed....? Too busy these days. Nice to catch up with you here.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Feel like I need to come back and do some more reading at your place to get completely caught up. Glad you found me!

      Delete
  5. hope the week a head is better - perhaps something should come your way to help you make sense of what happened. I wish that we can let these kids know how easily it is for things to change in a split second whether it is a bad choice or good one... with every action is a result


    escape is good...

    hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! A weekend of respite is really good for the perspective. Tomorrow is another day!

      Delete
  6. Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young is the book title that comes to mind right now. Better to escape than get out the grill. Adolescent boys and common sense, clear thinking, considering the consequences of anything more than five inches beyond their face are often very disparate entities.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol....I promise, no grill! But just the image made me laugh.

      Delete
  7. the 'connectivity' offered and provide by the internet is surely the sharpest of double-edged swords. Physical (and, to an extent, temporal distances) are so much less than in any time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember once I left home I talked to my parents once a week---Sunday evening aka cheapest long distance rates of the week. Between texts, emails, and FaceTime, I hear from my kids all the time.

      Delete
  8. Sometimes we need to just hide our heads in the sand, and love that all those things you listed are there in the sand to comfort you.
    Some stuff happening in Canada I want to hide from, news of suicide pacts happening amongst groups of young First Nation youth. Sad to hear this.
    Love the smell of something baking in the oven. Takes all other worries away. Just as long as you don't forget, so relaxed, and the baking burns.
    :-)
    Hoping for a beter week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's hard to watch people we care about make decisions that can be harmful. I hope your head-in-the-sand weekend of all the lovely things you love helped your heart.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Working with kids can be so hard, I wish you the best and hope this week is going (and goes) better for you. Glad you found some time to recover over the weekend <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh good grief that sounds like a really gnarly week to deal with. So glad you had things which were able to take your mind a little off the realities, while you got busy burying your head in the sand. I do think a little personal 'time-out' is vital, sometimes.

    ReplyDelete

Penny for your thoughts.