G wet through his overnight diaper. Again. I strip the bed and gather all the laundry from his room. I walk to McK’s room and grab hers along with all visible yellows. Those things need to be cleaned. It all gets tossed into our giant front loader washing machine. It’s 9:30 AM.
It’s the end of the day. One child is in bed and the other is stalling with requests for the bathroom, her song, and just one more hug. I am emotionally exhausted. This last push before spring break has taken its toll on me. My house looks like a tornado went through it. G-man has discovered the joys of the Tupperware drawer and McK has every doll she’s ever played with on the floor.
I teach students with multiple disabilities. Some are more complex than others. Today I was working with a 6th grader I’ll call Jessie. He’s a cool kid who uses a wheelchair to move about the building. Jessie has a lot to say but has difficulty actually saying it. You see, even though he is very vocal, his actual voice doesn’t work the same as yours or mine.
Back in my younger days, I spent Parade Day…yes, capitalized like a holiday…running around the Southside wearing my Irish sweater and probably some sort of shamrock beads. I would be with a group of friends drinking…and throwing up…green beer. Using disgusting port-o-potties was a luxury because you usually copped-a-squat wherever you could. Meandering up and down Western Ave was a right of passage.
I did it. I…went to the dentist. It was easier than expected once I got there. Although I was nervous and I initially wished I could be anywhere but there, once it began, I settled in and became more comfortable with what was to come.
Did you ever just have a day? When everything that could test your limits just blew right past them?
That was today.
Little man has been waking up at 4:00 AM all week. My alarm goes off at 5:15 so I’m pretty much running on empty by the time I wander into the house at 9:00 PM or so. Classes have been extra stressful the last couple of weeks and I need to pass another certification test next month on top of it.
