“I’m scared to go home”
For a select few, a break from school is not a something to look forward to. One of my usually optimistic students said to me recently that she was scared to go home. I held her and we both cried a bit. I said, “listen, when I was your age I was scared to go home, too. It doesn’t even feel like a home, does it?” she shook her head and I went on “but look, when you’re older you can make your own holiday any way you want. Have hope. I did, and now I’m here with you.” I walked her to her bus and before she got on she latched on to me. From her window she smiled and waved goodbye.
This time of year, when most of you are warm with your families, some of us are very much alone. I am very close to my students, and right now, most of them are in panic mode. 5 consecutive days off for Thanksgiving isn’t anything to celebrate.
There weren’t really holidays in family. My mom celebrated by trying to cook while under the influence of meth and vodka. If the meal actually made it completion, everything just tasted like butter. My dad used to say to me “I don’t give a shit about holidays, just another day to me.” If you got enough of us together in a room for more than 15 minutes it was a guaranteed brawl. My mom would be pulling someone’s hair out of their scalp, easy.
I am 23 years old, an educator of over 400 children, have lived on my own for years and years, and still I am terrified to visit my father over christmas break. I don’t know if I’d ever admit that to my students, though.
On a brighter note, here are some recent projects:
5th grade studying ancient egyptian art. We made clay molds and to produce plaster tiles
wish I could trust the internet enough to post pictures of my kids’ faces. The picture I have of Sameen’s holding this tile was awesome. He was cheesin’ real hard. LOVE seeing them that proud!
pulling tiles!
old, but PLASTER SUGAR SKULLS FOR DAY OF THE DEAD!!!! luv this guy’s teefs
