Ahh.

Well, I made it through my first day back at work yesterday.

Things were hectic but fun. Since we had the three week break, the kids missed each other. And since we had that break, they also missed the toys and the art supplies and the gym games. Everyone seemed really glad to be back. I got some belated Christmas presents and a few hugs, too.

I tied seven shoes. Served snacks. Handed the broom to some boys to sweep up the mess they'd made with the play-doh.

Explained to Amelia* that saying dammit to her friend to get a toy was probably not the best way to handle it and that if they were unable to solve their disagreement without swearing or hitting, that they needed to talk to me or to Sunshine and we'd help them with it.

Little Mr. Bossy* said she was 'hotter than hell' while we were playing in the gym. When one of the other kids gasped, she turned white, then red, then burst into tears. I chatted with her a bit (she denied saying hell) and told her that if she had said it, all that would happen was that I'd ask her not to say that while she was with us. That it was just a little word, and not to be so worried over it. She hugged me tight and then ran off to play.

Besides, it was hotter than hell in the gym.

I teased Bill* a bit. On Friday the 12th of December, he told me that his teacher told him that if he wore his pajamas inside out when he went to bed, it would snow. By the end of that afternoon, he'd convinced several other kids to do the same. So today I mentioned to him that he must have worn his pajamas inside out a lot. :) He blushed, stammered, shuffled his feet and did an aw shucks sort of thing and I could tell he was tickled that I remembered what he said. A few of the kids who were gathered around thanked him and made a big deal of it.

They have plans to wear their pajamas inside out again next week, but not this week because all of them are having parties in their classrooms and don't want to miss them. If it snows again, perhaps I was a bit hasty in blaming the weather on the geographical location and season.

Bob* made some career plans during our three weeks off from school. He plans to move to Las Vegas (because "that's where the best are") to become a dealer. He will "work there for a few weeks." Then, he'll "take some time off to relax." After that, he plans to "try out for President."

I heard about what Santa had brought, tales of sledding and power outages.

Sunshine has decided not to take the five hours a week from me after all. She said it's just not worth it to take that time away from her son in the evenings, and she'd rather miss the hours than not have that time with him.

So really, I guess nothing much has changed.

I like that.