Can I still do it?

I went three or four years and posted something on my blog every day.
Most of the time, it wasn't a short post, either.
Seems I always have something to say, but haven't been taking the time to do so.

Since it's November and all the cool kids are doing it, I thought I'd try a post a day. But of course I have to break the rules a little, so backdated my anniversary post and will backdate this one, too. You'll have to be smart to catch them. Ha.

I've gotten out of the habit of daily posting. I have so many things going on that are worth (to me anyway, and my blog is supposed to BE for me. A chronicle of what I'm up to, why I'm doing whatever it is that I'm doing and what my life looks like on a daily basis as the years go by omg this sentence is a grammatical crime and I sure hope none of you are the grammar police) writing about.

For example, tons of stuff happening with the kids at work.

My 'itendical' twins mixed with Will are a handful every day. Kid A and B against C. Or A and C against B. Or B and C against A. They can't just hang out together and have fun. It's annoying but it's funny, too. It's just kid shenanigans mixed in with sibling rivalry, but it's a pain in the ass.

I spend more time than I'd like dealing with the arguments, but I'm glad it's me instead of some of the people I've worked with in the past... I am trying to help them figure out how to work out their own disagreements rather than being punitive. There's no deadline. If there were, we'd never make it. Ha. Their relationships/interactions just need constant work.

I admit being frustrated on occasion, I am actually a human being and all that, but I just keep working at it. And sighing with relief every day when either James and Hayden or Will are picked up by their respective parents.

On Friday, Will was wrestling one of the boys to the ground underneath the play structure. I wasn't far away, and when I said sharply, "Will! Please come here!" he looked at me, got up and ran away. Hid. I walked around the other side of the play structure where he was huddled under the slide, saw his feet and one arm, said again, "Will." Added, "You need to come talk to me."

He slithered out the other side and ran off again. Grr. I wanted to grab him by his skinny little arms and MAKE him stand still, but I didn't. I followed him again and told him that avoiding me wasn't going to fix the problem. I asked him if he'd like to spend the rest of his outdoor time trying to run away or maybe we could just talk about the issue so he could go play and have fun.

He reluctantly stopped trying to scoot away.

We walked over to the edge of the playground, away from the other kids, "Let's go over here, Will. Everyone doesn't need to hear your business."

I brought up the physical contact and the reasons we don't do that. He knew the reasons, of course, but being Will, tried to deflect blame. "Well HE.."

I cut him off. "Dude. I am not asking what he did. If I need to talk with him after we're done, I will. But right now, we're talking about you, grabbing someone by the neck and then running away from me when I tried to discuss it with you."

Of course he tried again. "But he..."

So I asked him, "Is what you were doing safe?"

"Well he tried..."

"Will. This is a yes or no question. It only needs a one word answer. Were you following our safety rules?"

So he turned on the tears. Worked himself into a sobbing mess, wiping his nose with his sleeve and looking pitiful.

I said, "Buddy, you're having to spend an awful lot of time talking with me instead of playing lately. And standing here crying while I try to get a one word answer from you is a waste of your time. Wouldn't you rather be playing?"

I got a sheepish, "Yes," as I handed him a tissue.

And a shadow fell across him. It was his dad, coming up behind me.

We briefly discussed what was going on, I told him that we were only going to be out for another 3 minutes because we'd been out for an hour already and he told Will to go play.

He told me that he really appreciates my patience with his son and that I take the time to talk with him instead of yelling at him and disciplining him. And that I never seem to give up.

I confessed that there were days I considered taping all the kids to the wall for awhile, but that I try really hard not to give up on any child. That it's worth working to try to help them learn to solve their own problems. To work myself out of a job, basically. Or at least to make my job easier on a regular basis.

The kid has a huge personality. He's smart, engaging, handsome and funny. He has a big imagination. Dad is a stand up guy, wants his son to have the same integrity and grit that he has, but expects it to happen sooner rather than later.

I have said more than once that Will just needs to grow into his personality and spirit. And that it will take time.

Apparently I'm willing to spend quite a bit of time trying to help with that.