The next decade....what's in store?

Back to school: Mr T has to apologize...or else!

Tuesday 10th was my first day back with the kids after about 9 weeks. Yes, they missed me. I was nearly suffocated with hugs. Who doesn't love hugs?? We spent that lesson chatting about what they had done over the holidays and while I was away. One student said she revised. None had started on the project that I left for them. So part of that lesson was spent re-assigning groups and reminding them what they had to do.

Mr T is cool, so he doesn't show emotions which might confuse people as to his toughness or manliness. So no recognition from him that first day. However, when I went to drop some resource material for the class the next day, he was smiling. I've noticed that when the two grades come together, that's when he seems to act out. When he is in his own class, he is normal.

Acting out caused me to have to sit him down after the second lesson last Tuesday.....

We did a quiz and so I put them into two groups. They like being in teams I've discovered, even though they accused me of giving the other team easier words to spell! Mr T was in the same group with Mr K (another special attention kid). Of course, Mr T was wreaking havoc in the back. A few times, I had to say "Mr T" and give him "THE LOOK". That would quieten him down for a bit.

Then one of the girls sitting beside him, complained to me. "Miss, Mr T took my paper and won't give it back to me.". Mr T responded by saying "I don't have it". I continued with the quiz and instructions for the project, and at the end of the class, I told everyone to leave, except Mr T and the Complainant.

I went over and sat with them and asked the Complainant to explain what happened. Mr T took her paper, sat on it and when she tried to get it back from him, it ripped. She then started to cry and he jeered her. Not nice.

I asked Mr T whose paper it was. He said the Complainant's. I asked him why he took it. He said he didn't. Then he changed his story. He took it. But she was the one who tore it, he said. I told him that if he hadn't taken away what was hers, it wouldn't have torn.

Then came defiance. I told him to apologize. He said nothing. He hung his head and avoided eye contact with me. I again asked him to apologize. He said nothing. You could see the Complainant looking expectantly at Mr T, her classmate, hoping that he would do the right thing. I then had to pull out my ace card.

"Do you want to come back and help me at work?" In quick time, he looked up and nodded. "Then you'll have to apolgozie." That he did. I asked the Complainant if she accepted his apology and she said yes. I told her to leave, then I asked Mr T to carry my box down to the car. There, we had The Talk.

I told him that he doesn't always have to make himself noticed by disrupting the class, and that I couldn't have him up at the top of the class every week to have to keep an eye on him. I told him that I recognized that he was a bright boy, and that's why I am paying attention to him. I also told him that he can be anything he wants to be, but only he can decide how his life goes. I reminded him that his mother works and sacrifices so that he can come to school, and that I notice that he is never absent, which is good.

Then we got into a discussion about home life. It turns out that he does not know his father, because he died, either when Mr T was very young, or before he was born. He says his step father shouts at him. I asked him why. He said when he doesn't want to do what his step father is asking him to do, he gets shouted at. I asked him what type of things his step father would ask him to do. Empty the garbage bin. I asked him if he doesn't contribute to the rubbish that is in the bin. Yes. Ok then.....so you have to help. He has siblings. Can't recall how many.

I ended by telling him that I can't reward him, by bringing him to work, if he behaves badly and is always distracting the class. I believe he understood, but only the next few classes will tell. He is the group leader for one of the groups. If he stays focussed, I know he will do a good job, because he has shown leadership qualities, in that he can get people to do things. I will have to help him see how he can channel that to his advantage.

Mr T.....a work in progress. I'm going to email a Counsellor I know who works with kids and see if she can intervene. I don't want to cross any boundaries, so I am going to be very careful how I go about this. But I must help him save himself. Because of his temper, I can see him eventually getting into a fight and stabbing someone. I will try not to let that happen.

First casualty of surgery....

Weight GAIN! I weighed today and was so disappointed in myself. After surgery, I went down to as low as 88kg, but of course that's because dem did starve me for 1.5 days. I then begged for food. Yes, begged. But even when I got home, I still continued to be at a steady weight. That's until I was able to get food for myself.

Bun, hardough bread, sweet drinks. That's it. Or in other words....SUGAR!!!!

So I have given myself a few days, then I will start back doing some gentle exercises which will tell my body that it's time to get serious about controlling the eating again. I have to. I have to attend a wedding in June and mi not buying no cothes, so mi haffi get into the frocks I have!

Wish me luck!