What's new with me

I feel like all I've been doing is getting out my thoughts on here, but I really haven't updated anyone one my current life. So here ya go:

I've started my groups in the elementary schools! YAYAYA! I've waited too long to get out of my office and now I'm actually doing what my job description states. I currently have 14 groups of students ranging from K-5th grade. Most days I go into the schools and teach a curriculum that is all about making healthy choices, making friends, dealing with feelings, and playing lots of games and coloring! Each group is usually about 6 kids each (give or take). I have about 80 kids that are all mine! It's a lot to keep up with but I love each one of them, maybe a little too much because I want to adopt each one of them.

Here's my schedule so far:

Mondays:
9 Am staff meeting
11-1 pm Blackland Prairie Elementary
4 pm- Texas Baptist Children's Home
6pm- Strengthening Families Program (I'm also working in another program)

Tuesdays:
10-2 Blackland Prairie Elementary
2:30-3:30- Cooper Elementary

Wednesdays:
10-2 Blackland Prairie Elementary

Thursdays:
This is my paperwork day where I am in my office all day

Fridays:
Union Hill Elementary:
9:45-11:15

Double File Trail Elementary:
11:30-1:00

I find that I am so exhausted at the end of the day and its because I have to have the same amount of energy for each group. Most of my groups are Kinders and First graders, so I'm doing a lot of "dont hit her!" "MISTER HUGHES, we do not touch things that aren't ours." "Carolyn, snorting milk up your nose won't mean that it will come out of your eyes." So I feel like a babysitter/camp counselor/probation officer/mother/drill seargent/lunch lady all the days of the week. Oh and I didn't mention that most of my groups are at lunch so I'm having to gather them from their individual rooms, take them down to the cafeteria and get their lunch, get back to our assigned room and eat lunch (and really i just open things and clean them up during this time), teach them my lesson, and take them back to their rooms all within 30 minutes. It's madness!!

But I really do love it. I love being able to see each child really digesting the attention that I give them. If they want a hug I freely give it, if they want discipline (which many of them are crying out for) I freely give it, if they want encouragement or attention I give it to them, because I know for most of them they do not get this opportunity at home.

Last week I taught that each one of them is special and unique. We are alike in that we have eyes, and noses and mouths, we each come from a family. But all of these things might not look alike. Next week we are talking about feelings and how to handle anger, so I'm anxious to see what will come out of it.