What Waits

    The previous post spoke to that which I will miss as summer vacation's door softly closes.  Melancholy reigns. And, indeed, life goes on.  What is waiting as the 2012/2013 school year comes creeping in?

     For one thing, over 500 hundred children are waiting.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I get a kick out of the kids at my school.  There is some powerful connection between children and me.  The little kids (say, grades K though 5) are easy for me.  I'm not their teacher, I'm not their parent.  Mostly, for little kids, I am the good cop.  I am a friendly adult who smiles a lot and is uber enthusiastic about their accomplishments.  I also really hammer my role as safe keeper.  That is a powerful position to hold in the world of children.  I take that responsibility seriously and am very public about it.  I will follow up with any concern from any child, no matter how ludicrous it might seem.  I like making the world feel safe for little kids.

     I also look forward to interacting with the older kids (grades 6-8).  Here I am not always the good cop but I am for sure the keeper of safety and they know that.  I can be trusted with secrets.  I can be reassuring.  I solve problems.  I also greet them by name and ask, "How was your weekend?" I ask it and they know I am not just asking to be asking.  I am interested in them.  I like them.  I enjoy walking around the campus at lunchtime.  Yes, I am the yard duty supervisor for that hour but, more than that, I am an observer and a friendly adult (who does sometimes have to pull out the cop voice.  Oh well). I solve scheduling problems, I deal with truancy issues, I advocate for students with  parents or teachers when necessary.  I also tell kids the truth, including, "You, kiddo, need to get your act together".  I repeat, I like making the world feel safe for kids.

    One of my favorite responsibilities is as the staff advisor to the GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance).  We have an active group of kids who want to make our campus comfortable for all students, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, athletic or scholastic abilities, "coolness", whatever.  It is a blast to work with them.  I mostly use my role to educate the group and to facilitate projects on which the kids want to focus.  They have three goals:  to educate themselves and others around issues of tolerance, to support all students but especially those who might feel disenfranchised, and to have fun.  We meet at least weekly at lunchtime and I look forward to the new year with them.

   These things with kids make sense but what else waits?  There are political issues on the horizon (including a parcel tax on the November ballot).  There are more funding issues and tricky concerns like the declining student population. There are committees that deal with drug and alcohol use among kids in our town or who address truancy issues for kids in this county.  Clearly, there are lots of meetings ahead.  These meetings can be interesting and they can feed my need for involvement and creating change.  I get frustrated and discouraged with the world today but often meeting with like minded adults to work towards change can be uplifting.  I look forward to that.

  What else?  There is something pleasing about having a scheduled work week.  Each day has its own pluses and minuses (though not so many minuses come with Fridays).  I have a cadre of pals among the office staff and the teaching staff is generally a friendly bunch.  There is humor on the campus and support in times of stress.  The give and take among the adults offers intelligent comment, laugher, warmth, and  cheerfulness.  It's not always like that but, overall, the balance always seems to come back to those places .  I keep this  reminder on the wall near my computer for the times when all hell is breaking lose: Amused Detachment.  I do look forward to the banter and the discussions.

    As tough as Monday mornings are, there is a big sigh at the end of that day.  The balance to getting up and getting going, is walking out of the office and home to a glass of wine, some downtime, and the realization that you've knocked one more Monday down.  If Monday afternoons are good, imagine how that works through the week, each afternoon feeling more and more rich with accomplishment.  Friday afternoons cannot be beat.  Everyone (kids, teachers, office staff, parents)  on campus feels it and celebrates its arrival.  Friday afternoons are lovely - so much more cherished than Fridays in the summertime!

   So goodbye, summer vacation, hello productive new school year.  I am grateful that I have a job that satisfies me, that presents me with a monthly paycheck, one that allows me to indulge a few interests as well as pay the bills.  I am grateful to have a job that also allows me some breaks, some opportunities to refresh and renew.  Stepping off the solid ground of summer and onto the treadmill of productivity and responsibility, I remain
ALIVE.