Why would I want to work with children?

I don't consider myself to be fantastic at working with kids, or perhaps even passionate about it to the exclusion of all else. Everyone knows it can be a real headache at times, but then there are those occasions where it's pure pleasure to have the honoured privilege of working with these young individuals. They have such a different way of seeing the world, and the most disarming sense of humour at times. Check this out...

A grade four student, reading the staff room duty roster attached to my work folder, thought he was very clever to discover my first name.

"Is your first name Steffanie?" he asked somewhat cheekily.

"Yes," I answered, and left it at that, which for some reason he interpreted as displeasure.

"Aw, don't be embarrassed," he continued, "My first name's Tom, you know."

Having taught him for six months, I was fully aware of both his first and last names, and could only smile at the complete randomness of such a comment. It makes me wonder at how they come up with these things.

Please note, in all anecdotes students' names have been changed for anonymity.

Catching up on life

Well Kids4Life 2007 is over, so here I am trying to catch up on life. Many others have done a really good job of filling you in on what went on with Kids4Life, so if you're interested you'd be better off checking their blogs!

Well, here's my own brief summary:

The best thing:
Being involved with local Bendigo kids who I will meet again, and having a positive influence into their lives.

The worst thing:
Not being myself after the events of the last month and so feeling my best efforts weren't quite up to my regular best.

The easiest thing:
Packing! If you forget something, just drive home and get it. Or better yet, have your totally awesome mum deliver it to you! (Love you, Mum!)

The hardest thing:
Some parts of team life (probably related to "the worst thing").

The most different to Champion City:
The beautiful hot weather (a little too hot at times).

The most the same as Champion City:
All the mission traditions and chants.

A Promise

Just got back from Melbourne. Fantastic time. Will blog about it soon, I promise (although perhaps it may have to be after Kids4Life).

Oh, and my cousin has had a baby girl, one week early! :)