If you try hard enough, you can always find the silver lining

Sometimes people who work in education become very focused on the *bad* things that happen. Their reaction to the bad is to become more stressed. If only they'd learn to focus on the positives.

For instance, no need to get overwhelmed when a detective comes to the school to talk to a student about an incident that took place in the neighborhood. If you'd just look on the bright side, you'd realize the thug kid is smarter than you thought because he didn't get caught is innocent!

And when a parent comes to tour the school with their upcoming Kindergarten student, don't worry when the potential student freaks out is puzzled by the girth of the pregnant teacher walking down the hall. What a great opportunity for a little biology lesson because the child guessed closer than the mother's explanation by guessing that the baby would come out of the lady's butt.

And if a student is sent to your office BEFORE the big state test because his mother says he is faking being sick and you tell him that he has to show us the chunks before we will indeed send his butt home, it is a great opportunity to discuss the importance of being honest. That child will appreciate the valuable lesson he has learned especially when he proves his mother wrong by indeed blowing chunks all over the room, including good coverage of the test.

As for me, all the events of this week have been appreciated over a box glass of wine. Which will help me get the three or four sleep I so desperately need.