Day Three

I would be lying right now if I said I was not completely overwhelmed.

It's only day three. I need to give myself a break and repeat my mantra: "This is temporary .... this is temporary ... this is temporary."

I hate to sound like a big whiner. And I want to whine. In appropriate ways with appropriate people. Will you be my appropriate people for a moment?

Monday: I spent the morning at my regular/paying job (magazine), then headed over to the IOP from 12:30-5:30 p.m. Then I came back to the magazine to finish out my hours.

Tuesday: First day of classes. Our first prof never showed up so we got up at the crack of dawn to sit in a classroom from 8-9 a.m. The class schedules were rearranged before the day was done at 5 p.m.-ish.

My newest mantra: "I don't mind what happens."

Today: Started the day at TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). In the early a.m. I was asked to watch the children for a moment while my field instructor had a very brief meeting with the social work aides. As I cradled one child in my arms, read a storybook to two 3-year-olds, all the while keeping my eye on a 4-month-old lying on a floor pad at my feet, I thought, "Who knew?"

So, as I settle back into my familiar magazine duties in the late afternoon, I am once again able to do some deep belly breathing.

This is temporary. I don't mind what happens.

--Ms. T. J.