Thursday, January 8, 2009

I Am Loving the Barbie Sticker Girl

Last night, I dreamed about little Talia, a sweet, 6 year old who unexpectedly died in her sleep from complications of Sickle Cell Anemia about a year ago. She was quite a storm when she first came to my school. Once the PE teacher had to carry her to the office because she refused to walk. And another time, I had to pull her out of the car because she wanted to stay with her mother.

But now I miss her. I miss her smile. And her cries. And most especially her hugs. She made me feel like I was making a difference in the world.

And that brings us to Barbie girl - one of my newest students. The one who needs stickers to get out of the car. Yep! She is rather challenging. And I'm up for the adventure!

You could say we are bonding. When she refuses to do her work, I've helped her do it - hand over hand. When she growls, I'm ignoring her. Until she stops. Then I praise her.

And I hug her. And soon, she'll hug me, too.

Read more about kids here. If your not moved, then you are a rock.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I gotta fess up. I was a brat as a kid in school. I used to say I was going to the bathroom and then walk home ( a block away in 1969)in KINDERGARTEN! I did book reports on books that I wanted to read rather than the assignment. I was a handful and the inspiration for child safe caps.

Sooo...I can totally relate.

Gotta tell ya, I have a harder time with their parents!!

Peace - Rene

cheatymoon said...

:-) Good stuff, Beth. Gotta love those difficult kids - a little bit more even. (Although, since all of my students are the difficult sort - I'm a bit biased.)

HeatherPride said...

You found your calling! She needs you, and I'm glad you're there for her!

Unknown said...

You sound like a patient and wonderful person!

♥ Braja said...

Oh come on that's too nice :))

Beth said...

Rene - I was a student who got in trouble, too. Having a mother who was a teacher made this a torturous childhood at times. :)

only a movie - Before administration, I used to be a Special Ed teacher. The most difficult ones were always my favorite.

Heather - I love the challenges! I don't love being growled at...

Tova Darling - I'm glad that I could fool you. :) At times, I laugh at the most inappropriate of things.

Braja - You know me too well. I'm really not that nice. It was just the guilt talking.

Anonymous said...

I wish you were my teacher, or at least one of my son's.

nikkicrumpet said...

It's so very nice to know that there are still educator like you out there....who really care about the kids. I was lucky enough to have some amazing teachers enrich the lives of my children. I admire so much the work you all do. From the principal to the janitor all of you deserve a medal!!!

Aracely said...

.. goodness it just occurred to me... my son is sticker boy! His principal is probably out there blogging about how she had to wave a sticker in his face just to get him to breathe. At least I had the presence of mind to buy his stickers. so the principal didn't have to foot the bill. You do enough.