I Love Pumpkins!

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins....I love pumpkins. I'll admit...I'm greedy. We can never have too many pumpkins this time of year. Right now on the front porch, there are 10. There are at least 3 in the house as decoration. And I'm planning on taking some to school for my students.

Ah, my students. Today was my first day back after 3 days of illness. They greeted me warmly. They challenged me, but our morning hummed along successfully. I was patting myself on the back right and left....all they needed was ME, back in command, to guide them down the path of knowledge. I had a purpose, I was the one true queen of educating these children.

And then the afternoon unraveled like a sweater, only much more painfully and a lot faster. They brought me back to reality and oh, so, humbly. I only have 5 students and the reason for that is they all have emotional and behavior disabilities. And they trotted every single emotional and/or behavior problem in their little arsenals. I was in not one, not two, not three, but four assists from lunch until dismissal. The need for assist is defined, in part, by the student exhibiting behaviors which may cause him to harm himself or others. Like throwing a shoe at another student. Like banging his head in frustration so hard on the desk that you are surprised it isn't cracked (the desk or the head). Like kicking a desk. Like climbing on a desk.

Don't get me wrong. I'm used to this kind of behavior. But all of it? On my first day back? Lordy, lordy, there must be an easier way to make money! (laugh) But at least tomorrow is Friday....thank you, God!!!!

For all of you weekday-only bloggers, say a prayer for Daniel's football team on Sunday at 3. It's the 2nd playoff game and if they win, they play in the Toy Bowl (the big enchilada)! But the game is against the best team in the league....the team that beat them 47 to 12. But they say they're ready, they're hungry for revenge, they're tough....they're animals out for a kill!!!! (sorry, got a little caught up there, in all that tough, he-man football spirit)

I am feeling better, but still tired. I didn't even take a nap after school, although I sorely needed one. I seem to be firmly on the road to recovery. Truth be told, I'm a little down tonight. But that's another story. Thanks to Redneck Nerdboy for the tip, coupled with KittyKat's suggestions, on how to fix my sidebar problem. What do you know? It worked! Imagine ol'Nerdboy knowing somethin' like that!