So, um. I would like to take this time out to vent about the one aspect of my job that I can't stand. It's normal, right? To hate at least one thing about your job is typical. SO. This is what I hate about work.I work with 9 year olds. No problem. They seem cool. James has a crush on me. Jackie, Josh - The little Asian kid that could, Ciara - who left our group today, Greg and Steven are all good kids. They give me no trouble. Michelle is pushing it but, thankfully, Casie is my favorite. She actually remembers my name. However, Stephanie is a problem.
She never sits down at lunch when I ask her to. And believe me, I've asked her to.
I don't see the point in sitting down the whole time at lunch. But it makes me look bad if my kids don't do it. So, Stephanie stands up. I ask her to sit down. Stephanie stands up again. I ask her to sit down. Stephanie complains that the picnic table seats are too hard. I *tell* her to sit down. She doesn't listen. She's all like "What?" all mockingly, "I didn't hear what you said." She smiles. I smile back and tell her that she didn't have to, "I've been saying the same thing for the past twenty minutes and all during lunch yesterday." Luckily, I just muttered that part and she sits down. I look back and she's up again. I tell her again and she asks me why. Then I say the words I've been putting off saying until I have my own kids. You know, like, 12 years from now or something (sidenote: fuck. That's not that much of a long time). I felt another part of my childhood die when I said the following words, "Because I said so. That's why."
She still didn't listen. So I got up and walked over to the other side of the bench where she stood and said very calmly. "Stephanie. You're a good kid. I like having you in my group. I am in charge of you while you're here." She says yes. I continue. "Okay. So when I ask you to do something, please do it. Sitting down isn't that hard. You'll be going home soon where you can stand all you want, I promise. Please. Sit. (in my head: *the fuck*) Down."
I never realized how hard it was to restrain oneself from profanity around kids this age.
But at least now I get to call Mr. Janove by his first name, Steve.
That's a perk :)
