I'm exhausted....

I don't remember ever being this tired from the first week of school. My brain is a pile of mush right now. Could be the vino, Nah!!

Well I dodged a huge bullet for the moment. The girl I was supposed to get did not show up on the first day. So after MANY phone calls to establish her whereabouts... I found her. She is living in a residential treatment center in another state, for the time being. She had a rough summer and was admitted there during the last week of August. So for now it will remain Me & My Boys!!

So.... My Boys. There is still (R) and (K) and runner. Then there are four, yes I said four, not the two I thought, new guys.

I'll start with (M). M is 14 and has been in a residential facility for a very long time. This is his first try back in a public setting. He was there for some VERY violent, impulsive tendencies. M is now taking a cocktail of meds that in my opinion, should be enough to kill a large elephant. He is very low functioning and quite bazaar (can we say, too many meds). I was told to never turn my back.
Fun stuff.

Then there is (P). P is 15, and in middle school for the fourth year. Supposedly due to absences and suspensions. He already has an attitude as big as the China wait is long.

Meet (D). My biggest challenge. I never met a kid with such a knack for instigation. He has the least amount of social skills I have ever seen in a 12yr old boy. He has no ability to make or keep a friend. He is the kid that will show up at your doorstep everyday to play with your child, whom he calls his best friend, even though your child beats him up for fun. The rest of the kids would like to pound him so far into the earth he may get to China before most of us. And he doesn't see it. Lots of work to be done on this one.

And (N). I LOVE THIS KID. I had his brother 7 years ago for 6, 7 and 8th grade. My fondest memory of him was on 9/ 11. (J) was a sixth grader and he had only just began in my class. That day as I sat at my desk in tears, frantically trying to call my loved ones to no avail (we were in lockdown, due to the amount of kids with parents in the city), he sat next to me, handed me tissues, and held my hand. It was the most touching moment I ever had with a student. We bonded in a way that I never had at that point, and he stills remembers it and recalls it when you ask him about that fateful day. I think it had a lot to do with shaping his potential personality. He was my "hero" in his eyes, and went on to be one of my best ever students. He still visits. When his brother began having some trouble with the law, he was the one to suggest to his mother that she try to get him into my program. He told me that a couple of days ago when he stopped by to see me. It's heartwarming to know that he feels that I have the ability to help his brother. So (N) is off to a great start. He is respectful, kind, and generally happy to be with me. I look forward to time spent with him.

So far, things have been pretty okay. Although there was one altercation with (R) & (D), it was squashed quickly. I hope. Other than that I'm just trying to get all the state paperwork done on the kids, get my schedule in order and figure out what levels the new 4 are on. It will take some time, but we will get into a groove soon.

And Heather, the A**Hat has not come back. I think he got my hint, I hope!! Anyway, I will be cordial but that is it. I can be the queen of nice when I want to, but I know he will get the difference. Nuf Said.

So for week one, not too bad. I will keep you updated on the musings of the emotionally disturbed (that's me.. HA) and my BD classroom. I'm really kind of glad I started this, as it will make great memories of my classroom follies. My Aide and I always joke that we should write a book, because as you know, or will get too, I couldn't make this stuff up!!!

~Have a great weekend