I'm allergic to other people's kids. I know that's bad grammar, but I don't care. I call em how I see em. Today, I had the honor of helping out with World Fest, a festival at my school for elementary school-age children. It counted as extra credit for my microeconomics class (go figure). We were to sign up for a block of time during the fest, and wait for further email instructions. I got the email from my instructor, and was assigned to hand out goodie bags to incoming stucents, then walk them across campus (after a presentation in the theatre) to their prospective activities. Just that, alone, was hell for me. When I got my Associate's degree in Education I thought, 'How hard could this be? Kids at preschool age aren't hard to scare (funny, as I type this --on campus, there's a busy buggy full of toddlers going by)' I thought, 'All I'll have to do is scare em a bit, and they'll mind me! ...a bunch of crayons and a few cookies, and they should be all set!!! (smiley face!)'. I've always been a kid magnet. I'm the one who can make an art project out of a piece of upholstery and a tire iron while sitting cross-legged on the carpet. When I graduated, I got a job as a preschool teacher. My job was HELL. I worked at a rehabilitation center for troubled teens, and their parents were out of control. I'm talking, wanting-to-fight-you-on-a-daily-basis-because-their-son's-Air-Force-One's-were-dirty out of control. Kids came to school in twenty degree weather without coats, played with penises during nap time and were quick to bite you. I had one incident where a three and a half year old was forced to sit all week during recess because his mom didn't want his sneakers dirty. First, I'd find myself coming to work wishing certain kids wouldn't be there when I walked in, then, I got to where I would yell all afternoon, finally, when I got to the point where I was snatching kids by their shirts, I decided it was time to look for another job. I had NO patience left. NONE. So, now I'm at the point where the sound of children laughing bothers me. Sad, really. I hope these kids had fun. At least I didn't have to do any activities. I commend all educators. You can NEVER get paid enough!
