The school year is finally winding down and extra activities and the "other stuff" that accompnies this time of year is in full swing. Looking at OSI's prompt for this week; tolerance, really made me stop and reflect about what I do throughout my day and why I do it- especially during this "super-charged" time of year.


My day is filled to bursting with tolerance ...
with a room full of kids that can not make it in other classrooms
It's trying to help those whose parents won't or can't
it's trying to look past the anger management issues
and the heart breaking family lives
the constant, consistent, often lifetime of failures
the total social inappropriateness
the hyperactivity and hypo-motivation
the anxieties and the phobias
it's trying to look past what angers or bothers me
and realize sometimes it can't be helped- it's who they are
it's trying to "dis" the many "dis"abilities
and focus on the abilities instead
to look past their quirkiness and differences...
to try and look into the imaginations and hearts and minds of these teens
sharing laughter and joking with those who are usually laughed at
it's acceptance of who they are and where they came from
and to help them get there...where ever "there" is
trying to instill a level of respect not only for others, but for themselves
pride in themselves and their successes
and to let them know they matter
not always liking them,
but always ( ok, usually) tolerating them
not because it's my job...
but because I care.