I can do anything I want

I heard the words above spoken back to me this morning by a four year old determined to assert her own will after being reminded of the rules. Later after being asked to stop touching something she wasn't supposed to, she looked at me did it again and stuck her tongue out. On the way home, I started praying to God to love this child as He loves me and asking what would He do... then stopped. What did He do for me in my early 20's determined to assert my own will? He loved me, in the face of my equally rude rejection of my Lord, He still loves me.

So much of this job makes me think about what kind of parent I want to be. It's such a nice thought to tell a child they can be anything they want to be. True from the angle of potential. None of us gets to do anything we want to do without consequences catching up with us at some point or another. We all have rules to follow.

This afternoon's infant class contained one screamer. Sweet babies are so empathetic to the emotional climate room in the room that he sent every other child off eventually. It was three hours of screaming babies. It hasn't happened in the month I've been there that both classes have just had a bad day. I drove home from work with complete quiet in the car, no radio, no phone. I sit here in a totally quiet apartment relishing just a bit of sanctuary until Billy gets home from the gym. (After being all my feet all day and having my mental, emotional and physical states all working all day, I just don't have it in me to go right now)

Working with children doesn't get much respect I know. To some out there from the outside, it may not sound very important. I choose this position to make a difference in children's lives. The age they are out, they will probably not remember me as adults. I don't remember every teacher but I know every one of them contributed to the person I am today. It may be little recognition and not too much appreciation at times but I love the children and I'm using my gifts and helping.

While pushing the infants on the buggy in the afternoon ( we needed to get out of the class for a distraction), I passed by my morning 4 year old class and several children asked me why I was still there or why I wasn't with them. I received a couple of hugs as well. I really really needed that.