I Work Hard For The Money
Today I completed my second four-day week of working as a teacher’s assistant to a class full of two-year-olds. I think I’m starting to acclimate as I don’t have to down two ibuprofen, soak my body in the jacuzzi tub and take a nap after lunch.
The director is actively looking for another assistant for Monday, Wednesday and Friday which would mean I would only work two days a week. That’s my preference, but I don’t mind working Monday through Thursday right now. It just gives me twice as much to spend at Barnes and Noble and Starbuck’s.
The Tuesday/Thursday class is quite a challenge. We have nine boys and one girl; one boy with Down’s Syndrome; a couple boys who I believe have some aspect of Autism; and a Chinese boy who speaks no English. The Down’s Syndrome boy is sweet, but we have to watch him very closely as he likes to pull hair and pinch faces. But he did pretty good today. He and a couple other boys are speech delayed so they do baby ASL, which the other teacher and I are slowly learning.
It is the most physically demanding job I’ve ever had. But watching their little faces light up when they see you in the morning makes it so worth it.
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Todd had a business trip to New Orleans so the kids and I were on our own last night. Taylor was supposed to have band practice at the church, but they already know the songs so it was cancelled. That meant we could go grab something for dinner and not worry about being back at a certain time.
When we lived in Arkansas the kids and I frequented Sonic – especially when Todd was out of town. Imagine our disappointment when we moved here last year and found out there was no Sonic in the entire state. But because we were faithful God blessed us with a Sonic in Lancaster – about an hour from here. That’s how I see it, anyway.
Driving an hour away on a school night for fast food is insane. I’ll be the first to admit it. I would never consider doing something so frivolous. Lucky for us they opened another one much closer. Only about 30 minutes away. Somehow that makes it much better.
So at 4:30 yesterday afternoon the kids and I set out for the new Sonic. Our friends that kept the kids when I had surgery in July found the new place and Betsy told me where it was. I thought she said it was on 29. So we headed down 29, but after about 30 minutes I realized she probably said 23.
We had been heading in the same direction as the Lancaster Sonic and I had to make a decision. Do I keep going or turn around? And if I turn around where do we eat? We couldn’t go in anywhere because Katie didn’t wear shoes. So we decided to keep going.
You know how when you’re going to a place you’ve been to a few times and you know it’s just around the next bend or over the next hill, only to find out it must be the next bend or hill? Yeah. There were a lot of nexts last night. We finally made it to Sonic around 6:00. So it took us an hour and a half. Ridiculous, no??
Thankfully my children are used to these kinds of things with me. Katie gave Taylor and I a French lesson, we listened to Taylor’s favorites, the kids watched the first episode of “The Office” on his video iPod. I kept apologizing but they both said it was okay and they didn’t expect anything less. Not sure how I feel about that comment.
We got our beloved Sonic food (Cheddar Peppers are only 5 Weight Watcher points) and headed back home. The car needed gas so I stopped in at a Wawa to fill up and buy the kids a treat as a peace offering for keeping them out so long.
Last Sunday we stopped at Wawa for lunch (they make great subs) and since I was going to be starting back on Weight Watchers the next morning I wanted a last hurrah of Ben & Jerry’s Vermonty Python. To my overwhelming disappointment they didn’t have it. So when I saw it in the freezer last night I bought some for myself. Sort of defeats the whole Weight Watchers thing, but I’ve made it last for two days now. I doubt it’s going to make it to three since the night is still young.
We finally pulled into the garage around 7:30. Just call me Skipper – or Gilligan – because it was a three hour tour. Next time I’ll try Highway 23 and see where that lands us, Little Buddy.
OMw! LOL – That is something I would do. I’ve never had Sonic, but have heard about it. We have one about 15 minutes from my place.As for that comment from the kids… sounds like their used to this sort of spontaneous behavior from their mom?
Ha, this is a great post! Your Sonic adventure is totally something I’d do. Except not for Sonic, cuz I’m not much of a fan. We have one five minutes from our house, and there’s NOTHING else ear our house!Sounds like the job with the kids is going well! i’m sure you’re their favorite teacher!
I’m not crazy about Sonic burgers and such, but I love their Cheddar Peppers, their specialty drinks and their ice cream yummies. :o)Deb – The kids ARE used to my spontaneous “let’s do this or that”. Poor children.Monnik – You’re sweet, but they love their Miss Beth. lol
Okay so we went to Chick-fil-a last night again. I can understand the craving. Hey…you got some quality time with the kids, eh?
When GG worked nights and the boys were in grade school we frequently had “adventures”. Both my boys love the spontaneous…Beanie a little too much. But, wow…you spent 3 hours with your kids. Who can argue with that! Cheddar peppers huh?
What???? You didn’t use JILL to help you get there???? Hey, even if it means asking directions, or getting help from your GPS, SONIC IS SO WORTH IT!!! I LOOOOOOVE their coneys! Our local Sonics have 50-cent all-you-can-eat corny dogs & ice cream cups every Halloween. It’s so fun. And ours not only has the drive-in slots, but it also has a nice porch area AND a drive-THRU, as well…altho’ Sonic with a drive-thru just seems wrong.
April & Rosie – Yeah. Three hours with them in a car. Sounds funny, but it’s one of my favorite things. They’re very good about indulging my whims and even know in the summer they have to save a little mindless mom time. I know I’ll be sad when they’re all grown up. Who will I play with then??Katybug – The Sonics around here – because there’s not a one over a year old – have the drive throughs and eating areas, too. No time for eating there last night, though! But I still couldn’t bring myself to do the drive through. lol
Sonic. I don’t think I’ve been there. But the late night search for the perfect drive through food? Ooooh, yeah.
I would TOTALLY drive far for fast food! I once drove four hours and back to spend an hour at an H&M, because I really, really wanted to go, and they didn’t have one close to me yet. Would you believe I have never been to Sonic, though? There is one five minutes from my house!
I wish God would bless me with a Sonic. Then I could routinely pass it by and say “we should go to Sonic sometime” without ever actually going there – like we did in South Carolina.
Hi Jen thought you might like to know there is a guy with a Christian blog he recently started and is looking to have good conversation and learning, growing in Christ.His name is John and he is on my blogroll as Shhh…God’s talking and then also as a paramedic in full on forward.I think there will be some interesting discussion there. 🙂
Out here, we brake for In & Out. I’m ashamed to say it happens more than it should, too (and that Raccoons have climbed in our car for the leftovers, lol!).Sounds like your job is going well for you! That’s awesome. My neice worked in a preschool for a couple of years. She recently got a better job, had to leave and was sad, because of the rapport she’d developed with the kiddos. She recently told us that working in that preschool prepared her for her new job…as a prison guard! LOL!
Sounds like an adventure I’d have with kiddo. Except we don’t have Sonic here. Which is good, because I don’t really think they’re part of my eating plan. Does’t mean we still don’t want one here though.
They do not expect anything less….now that is FUNNY because it is so TRUE!!!
Girl…you are speaking my language! Vermonty PythonThe universe begins and ends with this most other-worldly icecream.
We usta have Sonics in CO, and now that I’m in WA, i have to settle for Burgermaster. Which is okay. Because, like you, I’m not in it for the burgers. I like the cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches and the malts. They should just rename that “suicide” on the menu. Either that or, “killing me softly…” And…re: the directionality thang. Separated at birth. TTFN, Little Buddy.
Ooh, sonic is heading north? Maybe there is hope if we get transferred. We had A & W in one town I lived in growing up. But I love Sonic’s cranberry limeade. And strawberry limeade. Mmmm. But my tummy didn’t like the cheese coney I had for lunch after church today. I must be getting too old for chili-cheese coneys or something.If I ever make it to the Lancaster area to visit my relatives, we’ll have to meet!
Not intresten