Summer Kiddos and a Canine

This week is the first week we have the afterschoolers FULL TIME since school is on summer break. All I can say is that Friday can't come fast enough. At the end of my day on Monday, my body and brain checked out for the rest of the week. Sad, but true. It was a rough start. Monday was the first day of this whole summer program, and we have a new routine along with some new kiddos. It's exhausting to get everyone situated and teach them the new routine along with going over as much as we can with the parents. I have been run ragged. Every morning, I'm there with another teacher at about 7:30 a.m. and we will already have about 45 hyper kids between the both of us where you don't have the control like a teacher does in a contained classroom. At the same time all of this is going on, we deal with all of the madness that occurs when getting new parents and kids situated, making sure everyone is checking in, making sure the kids are staying out of trouble, talking with parents about their questions or complaints, paperwork....blah blah blah....I COULD GO ON FOREVER!!!! You DEFINITELY DEFINITELY DEFINITELY need to know how to multitask and think on your toes. That is where it gets pretty tiring.

The first week is always the hardest because there are a lot of new children along with getting the children used to the summer routine of field trips, or just the day overall. It is Wednesday, and I'm so tired that I drove home, parked, and just sat in my car to listen to music and stare off into space. I just needed some peace with myself. I have tomorrow and Friday and then it is the weekend where I can recuperate. I'm so ready for it. I hope next week will be a little less difficult. Actually, I know for a fact it will slowly get easier. I just have to get the kids adjusted and then it will hopefully just become second nature. But, I do love my kiddos this year!

About a couple of days ago, Tyson's dreams of starting up the K9 program sort of got shot down by some of his fellow officers. They believe that Tyson won't be able to start up the program with the current Chief. They think Chief won't budge on his opinions about a police dog. He was a little upset last night, but, he woke up at 6:30 this morning and still took Rosco to training on his day off, just like he does every Wednesday. He is determined. He tells me that he doesn't see a reason why his police department wouldn't start the K9 program up again. To everyone, I'm so proud that Tyson is so passionate about this. He takes time out of one of his days off to go to training and not get paid to do it. He works so hard and he wants this so bad! I sure do hope that when Tyson and Rosco are ready to prove to Chief that the program isn't such a bad idea and that they aren't a bad idea, the Chief will keep and open mind and see that Tyson will have spent over a year and a half on his own time and his own money to train this dog for the department. I hope he sees how professional and resposible Tyson is and how they can trust him to get the program up and running. Tyson knows that this is some serious stuff and is more than willing to put his whole heart into it if given the chance. That's all he really wants, and that is a chance to prove that he can handle being the K9 officer. Whew! I'll get off of my soap box. It's time I went and sat down to enjoy what's left of my night.