Power Struggle

My bf at the New Centre is Shane. Blonde hair, blue eyes, such a little man already. He bosses his sister around something shocking, but he completely loves her so it's almost ok.

At home, he is definitely the boss. Last week he told me I couldn't say a particular phrase because he'd already said it. It was his. Needless to say, it was something In Charge-ish, which he has no right to claim at all.

Today he was spinning a plate on the table in the playdough area. I asked him to stop. He didn't. I asked if I needed to take it away or move him somewhere else. He still didn't stop. I took the plate away. Aaron gave him another plate and I think told him to do it again. I moved Shane away and told Aaron to stop being a little shit. Maybe not in so many words.

With Aaron, it's that he is a cheeky little shit, but with Shane it's just pure stubborness.

Luckily, I am the queen of stubborn. We're a perfect match!

I moved Shane away and sat back down at another table. I invited him to join us but of course he's too stubborn for that. Eventually our game intruiged him and he told me to move my foot so he could pull the chair out. Of course he refused to say please so I didn't. Fricking queen of stubborn over here. Another few minutes and he so wanted to play that he managed to ask perfectly politely if I could please move.

I would like to think that means lesson learned, but I know we will do this all over again almost every day I'm there. It's just in our nature.

Make Sense?

Everyone in my room went to an austism seminar today. Everyone except me. Me the support worker. Make sense to you?

New Centre

I have an every-Tuesday shift at a new centre.

I'm support-workering again. It's interesting as a comparison of the old centre and between Goo and my new charge.

Ranee is both better and worse than Goo. Not as verbal, but he's getting better. Not as tantrummy, but then, Goo got better and Ranee has his moments. Ranee is more huggy but Goo seems happier to see you.

I kinda have a crush on Sean, even though he does not have an inside voice.

Grace I would personally place somewhere on the Spectrum, or somewhere in the area of diagnosable with something. She does have an awesome imagination. She had two pieces of cheese made into a house, and was all, "There's a mouse about the house," which is a cool book. THEN she broke off a teeny piece of cheese and was running the 'mouse' all about the house. Awesome.

Luke is like a cross between Damon and Jimi. Barely talks, but will chatter away to his mum. Talks to himself/his toys when he plays. Has started nodding to us when we ask him questions. And he did actually answer me. Plus we had an awesome game with a soccer ball and hula hoop wherein I got him to laugh hysterically which was brilliant.

Talk To Me

I got to talk to some of the kids on the phone the other week. I always miss them majorly when I talk to them.

Hugo was gorgeous, as he always is when he pulls out his I love you Missy.

Princess was decently chatty, all about her birthday, which, dude, I was there. And you didn't bring any cake in. And some other stuff too I think.

It was Molly who really blew me away.

Me: So, what have you been up to today?
Molly: We're going to get a snake today.
Me: Oh really. What kind of snake?
Molly, in my head: 'A big one' or 'A brown one' or something like that. Leading to my next question about size or colour or whatever she didn't already tell me.
Molly, for real: A Children's Python or a Carpet Python or possibly a SomethingElse Python.
Me: .....

And then she chatted away for ages in the most mature manner possible, asking where I am and telling me she's coming here next year and all. I totally forgot I was talking to a preschooler and told her to Call me when you get here, we'll go out!

Oh! And! Dude, if The Parents tell you to keep him awake, you cannot fricking put him to sleep. Seriously, read a book, do some puzzles. He will sit quietly enough.

The centre is definitely not the same without me and LMC and T - and now D? Damn.

Last Day (Again)

We had our rocking Preschool Holiday Program and PR2 / Likhwa's Last Day / T's Last Day / My Last Day Party Day on Friday. We made cookies, balloon people, glitter paintings, and party hats. We also ate huge amounts of cake provided by Likhwa, Emma, and Jack/Hugo/Syddy's shopping skills.

When I said goodbye to Mia (who is the best-spoken two-year-old in the whole entire world), her mum said that she's never seen Mia love someone as much and as quickly as she loves me. Which was the sweetest thing in the world for her to say. Even if I have a simple explanation for it. In the words of LMC:
I'd go back for one day just for the ego stroke.
When everyone in the whole center thinks I'm awesome, even kids who've never met me are bound to agree starting right then. It always wears off though!

I wrote goodbyes to J/H/S in their books, including a new update of what Hugo is into right at this present moment in time. Things like:

Likes:
riding his bike on the concrete
throwing things into the playroom from preschool
Hugo in the preschool room
cookies

Dislikes:
riding his bike on the bike path
the playroom
food that's not fishbites or cookies.

In addition, here's a list of things I've said in the last 24 hours or anticipate saying in the next that will confuse anyone in SA all to hell (and their origins):

Hugo: Oh no [insert something that has fallen, eg 'oh no stars' or, more likely, something that Hugo has dropped, eg 'oh no orange', or 'oh no tana toast' or, and this is not not within the bounds of possibility, something ceramic that Hugo has somehow taken the lid off and dropped it to the floor and smashed it into a million pieces such as 'oh no toilet'].

Connor: Behind you! (Even if said thing that he's pointing to is next to you or over there or even right in front of you.)

Connor: This one! (Said when he's choosing something, as in the following conversation:
K: Here Connor do you want your smoothie?
Connor: NO. (Another patented Connor phrase.)
K: Do you want my banana one then?
Connor: This one! (Pointing to my smoothie.)

Which leads me to...

K: Yeah no.

and...

D's pajama's from Pajama Party Day: Let me think about it. Ummm, no!

D and I: 1234...Hi5!

edited to add:
"i NEED you to ..." (hugo)
and
signing things like 'finished' and 'ready' and 'orange' at people who don't quite understand.

Blog Hopping

This is absolutely ridiculous.

The Parents have (jokingly?) offered me a baby-sitting job over the Christmas holidays. If you ask me, kids in holiday mode are the craziest, least-rational EVER. Parents who choose to embark on that have all my sympathies.

Which is why airlines, hotel/motel-type people, tourist attractions, and anyone else who may come into contact with kids on holiday should be doing their absolute best to NOT hinder the parents in any way at all.

Sarah, I hope US Airways gets a strongly worded letter from you, perhaps accomanied by a soundtrack of over-tired kids on holiday. I'm sure they will see that happy holidaying kids are really in everybody's best interests.

Preschool Holiday Program Teacher: Blah blah blah and there will be hand and foot painting on the verandah.
Liam: And if the teacher says wow you put it on the wall!

***

The Rents: Come on kids, we're going shopping.
Jack: We need [it's frickin contagious] to go cake shopping.
Me: Sounds good to me. Hey Jack, you can buy me one too.
Jack: Ok.
Me: Do you some money?
Jack: Yep.
Me: Oh, well, that makes one of us. Have fun shopping.

Next day, guess what we have for afternoon tea? Yep, chocolate cake. Turns out the kids went and got it and wouldn't let The Rents put it back. "We need to buy a cake for Missy. It's Missy's cake." Ha ha HA.

Thanks, kids. You are the BESTEST.

Bananas in Pajamas

Today was the Pajama Party. Everyone came in their pjs including me and D and T. I think ours was the only room where everyone did. Hugo had awesome glow in the dark skelton ones and Jack of course had Thomas ones. When I got there Hugo was all, "I have to go," and then, "I have to go to the Pajama Party." Obviously there were no balloons and cake, this was not a party. We did have pancakes but only the kids got them. Pfft.

Later,
Hugo: Read Teddy Bear books.
Me: Nah Hugo you read it.
Hugo: I need you to read Teddy Bear books.

How awesome is that?

First Day Back (Again)

"Hi Jake! I'm Missy! Get off the concrete!"
[Cue T and D pissing themselves laughing.]

Emma: My dad's on a work trip. It's cold. He has to wear lots and lots of clothes.
Jessie: Well, he can't wear no clothes.

Also had a heaps long chat with Anastasia who will never talk to ask you something but when her and Jessie and I had been messing around on the cushions for a while she wouldn't shut up. Jack is much more articulate now, and there's a new girl called Mia who is incredibly well-spoken for such a young kid. There's also a new kid called Tylar who I've decided will be a rugby player when he grows up, but a really sweet one. Syddy did her fake-coy thing for a while but of course got over it. Emma and Jessie hung off me all day which I'm hoping they'll be over by tomorrow. And we had signing class after work which was good as I'd forgotten some and got to learn some new ones. Let's hope the novelty of being back doesn't wear off for another few weeks!

Can't Stay Away

I'm heading home again; I'll be working at the centre for four weeks (back in my spot in PR2 of course!).

I honestly didn't think I'd being going back when I left last time. Now that I do, I'm truly sorry that Syd and I had such traumatic experiences of saying goodbye. It would have been much better if we could have said, "Don't worry Syddy, Missy's a wuss - she'll be back as soon as the temp drops below 15 degrees."

I feel bad, also, that I keep coming and going from their lives: I was there, then I left to go to uni. Then I came back for 3 months over Christmas, then I left. Now I'm going back, but only for four weeks before I'll be - you guessed it - leaving again. Although maybe it is a good lesson for them to learn that people may leave but if they miss you enough, they'll be back!

I'm thinking we'll get a big wall map and put photos of all the kids, and their grandparents who live interstate, and me of course, so they can see 'where' we're going when we go. Tjina's been around Australia, and Damon went to England, so a bit of geography in the room would be good theme for a little while, I think.

Driving me crazy right now: Imagine, by Alison Lester. SW had it when he was little and we loved it. I'm writing about it for an essay but I can't remember the words past the first bit.

Imagine if we were deep in the jungle
Where butterflies drift and jaguars prowl
Where parakeets squawk and wild monkeys howl.

Help me out, somebody.

Too Much Childcare

Tuesday Night:

I had a dream that involved me babysitting (or something?) Hugo but he was off at like holiday program down the track or something. And then I got worried and walked along the dirt road to where he was walking back with the group, except that he was really really dehyrated and fainting. So I picked him up and carried him back to where he'd been before, and got him checked out by someone but not an actual doctor. As we were waiting for the doctor we realised that he had a worm in his stomach (thanks House) and it came out through his bellybutton. So that was good, but then it crawled up and around his neck and attached itself to his tongue cos the woman who was supposed to be looking after him wasn't watching. But I got it off and we got him water and he was ok.

Wednesday:

I texted The Parents to make sure all three of the kids were ok, because I am a crazy girl who will stress out until she knows for sure. And they sent me cute pics of Hugo and Syddy.

Wednesday Night:

I was at a churchy-type building but I think we went in there looking for a restaurant. There was this mum being a bitch to her daughter and eventually the daughter burst into tears. Then she wrenched away from the mum and came running to me for a big hug.
(Then somehow me and my grandma were driving a car that looked like a trolley slash Laura's little jeepy thing slash bike and I had to figure out how to drive it.)

Soooo....

Is my subconsious saying I'm crap at the looking after kids thing? Or that I'm awesome?

Edited to add: That Wednesday Night one was totally a dream as well, in case you thought I really was about to crash a trolley/jeep/scooter thing while my grandma was in it.

Hugo

Before I left, I made a list of things that Hugo was into at that moment. Partly because mum had done something similar in his book, and partly because I thought it would be interesting, especially considering where he was when we (T, Jack and Hugo, and me) first came in the room.

It's been sitting on my desk for weeks now, and so that I can throw it out, I'm typing it up.

• "arounds" = streetlights. He'll also echo you if you tell him they're streetlights.
• "preschool room empty"
• going over speed bumps (roots) or updowns (cracks) on the yellow bike. Incidentally, Jack makes speedbumps out of paddlepop sticks on the car mat.
• "drains" and counting drains. Especially likes the Number Five Drain. Does this at home as well, where they have lots more than we do, including on one the bottom of the pool.
• books: Bear Hunt and Possum In The House.
• on the swing: Cheeky Monkeys.
• letters: "S.A.N.Y.O. Music!" (hee!) and my KSA, Champion, etc tees.
• boxes with things (textas, pegs, puzzle pieces) in them to shake.
• bread cut in four pieces.
• fav letter: K.
• "in the tunnel" changing to "in the tunneal!" Tunnels can be lots of things, most notably, behind the block and shelves, where we lost 75% of all our puzzle pieces as well as textas, paddlepop sticks, and god know what else.

Read The Signs

Seriously, can someone explain to me why I'm not doing early childhood education or some such studyness?

Ring-ring!

Called T's mobile yesterday during inside time so I could talk to all the kids I miss so much teach them a valuable life lesson about how to talk on the phone.

It was so funny. I swear Emma said some random name when I asked who it was. I had no idea I was talking to her. Jessie was pretty good. First thing she said: "Missy? I miss you." All together now: Awww. Syddy was so cute. T said she would like curl up and do this cuuute head tilt and just laugh every time I said something.

Hugo saw my pic on the caller ID thing, and was all, "Hello Missy!" Hehe. Then I sang the ABC Song with him. Next time we'll do the rainbow song. And then maybe the Bear Hunt.

Didn't get to talk to the preschoolers but we'll do a pm call one time so I can. Mum said I'm back on the invite list for Damon's party so I might get a good convo out of him. And Jack will be hilarious I hope.

I miss them, but they've moved on. And I will too. Soon. Promise.

Moving On

The Parents sent me a pic of Little Miss Syd. I started crying. I'm such a loser.

It's weird, but I feel like I achieved a new level of ... something ... at work. Maybe it was cos I did without T for two weeks, and without D and T for two days. Maybe it's cos I know that I won't be seeing the kids again for at least a year. I don't know, but there's something.

Hugo has an appointment with the specialist in Melbourne sometime. How weird would it be if I told them to bring Syd too, and I'll meet them there?

I was right. Weird.

Or they could just send Bunna to Adelaide. No, seriously.

Last Day

Note to self:
Do not wear your favourite (work) shirt to work on your last day. Also do not wear your favourite sports bra, especially if it is grey/white.
Love, Me.

I got slimed. And yes, although K had completely gone off at us for not putting detergent in the food colouring when we were doing shaving cream last week, she did not, in fact, put any in the slime. And so I am green. Less so than I was, but still green. And my hair feels like crap.

Hugo: Love you Missy.
Everyone: Awwww!
Parents: [still chatting.]
Hugo: BYE MISSY!
Ok kid, talk to your parents, they're the ones not taking you home.

And Little Miss Syd cried. Bawled her eyes out. And started off me and T, of course. She has been saying she's going with me for like a week. Clearly not pretend. Oops. She will get over it I know. Oh my god, I miss her already. I can't believe I am going to miss out on them all growing up. I will totally have to come back, and a real job can just go fuck itself for a while.

Bunna, Grace, Rachelle, and Zoe: ruling preschool in two years' time. Can't wait.

A Week In The Life Part 3: The Final Chance to GET IT RIGHT

Monday
Me: Hop in, here's your bag. Seatbelt on. Ok, bye.
ITD*: Is this Hugo?
Me: Yes [idiot].
Him: And Jeffrey?
Me: AAARRGGHHH!!!!
(then when I've calmed down)
Me: There is no Jeffrey. There is never a Jeffrey. Just Hugo.
Him: I have to get Jeffrey after. See? 17 something.
(and that's not me not remembering, his display actually didn't tell him the rest of the address)
Me: No. There is no Jeffrey. Take Hugo STRAIGHT TO NEMARLUK. Ok?
Him: Um, ok [crazy lady].
Me: Great.

Me: goes inside thinking, "Freaking idiots".
Him: gets rightthefuck on his radio, "What's the address for Jeffrey so I can go and get him RIGHT NOW and piss off this crazy person who was FREAKING OUT."

*For those just tuning in, ITD = Idiot Taxi Driver.

And incidentally, Maria gets the same driver every time, who even gets her out of the cab and brings her inside. What can't they sort Hugo's transport rightthefuck out? Hmm? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Tuesday

Ok, so I can't remember what happened in the morning. Actually, yes I do.

He's all, "What's his name? And where's he going? Oh, [the woman from HQ on the radio] was saying something about Malak."
And I just totally shut him down. "Nope, not Malak. Definitely Nemarluk. Okay? OKAY???"
Great.

But THEN...

I had planned to go shopping for a new bag so I could pack that night. I knew Hugo was likely to be a bit after three, so I'd told vsquared I'd meet him a bit after that. (I just got to the end and realised I never finished off the shopping story, so here it is: I went shopping, found a bag, and was back in time for late snack. How awesome am I?)

So it's five after three, which is the latest he's ever been (and that had only been once, all the other times had been between five to three and three o'clock). I was waiting out in the foyer til he came, accompanied at various stages by random people on their breaks/knocking off/passing through.

At ten past, we call Nemarluk. He's already been picked up.
We call the taxi company. He's already been picked up. He should be here soon.

We wait. And wait.

We call Nemarluk again. (Why they didn't tell us he was going to be late is beyond me.)

We wait some more.

Hugo arrives at 3:40pm.
Basically fifty minutes late.
And PS: not really buying that he was picked up by ten past.

Turns out that our driver (Frank) dropped off Jeffrey (who is now his normal passenger) then went back to Nemarluk to pick up Hugo and SORK who hadn't been picked up by their random drivers. So Frank, being the good citizen that he is, took both of them, dropped off SORK, then brought Hugo here, only to be abused by yours truly.

Actually I was very restrained, especially after he explained the sitch. He even offered to become Hugo's regular driver, which as far as I know is what's going to happen.

The real kicker: D called mum specifically to let her know what happened, as The Parents hadn't arrived when D's shift was over. (Work said they'd left ages ago.) So D hung around to let them know. Mum's response? "Wow Hugo, been all over town today?"

Oh my freaking god. You know, I said not to call The Parents during the crisis, because what could they do that we weren't already. Worry? I said that we weren't doing. But y'know, next time we'll be able to, as I know it won't even stress them out.

Wednesday

OH MY FREAKING GOD! THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT! I AM SO PROUD.

(Only took you two and half weeks you freaking idiots.)

Yucky Goo

I cannot believe that I didn't type this up at the time, but here it is, in all its... yuckiness.

The Three Ferals were veery late being dropped off (on my day off) which is nice, and also hilarious when we found out why.

Hugo had locked himself in the master bedroom.

They tried talking to him.
They pushed picture cards under the door to him. He counted them.
They tried a bobby pin, a credit card, a crowbar.
Hugo pushed the pictures back to them. Covered in Hugo-crap. Niiice.
They retried the crowbar. They broke the lock.
They're getting frustrated. Hugo's getting frustrated.

They use a sledgehammer.
Bye-bye door.
Hello Hugo.

Hello carpet. Hello suspicially brown carpet. All over the room.

Bye-bye Hugo.

Brrrmm

It was my scooter's last day today.

Jack, Sydney and Hugo each got one last sit on AND an actual ride on it.

I know. I'm awesome right?!

Jack: You drive me to your house now.

***

I've got Syd trained to say she's coming on a plane with me to live in Adelaide. She told the rents this PLUS added that she needs to buy a ticket. Dude, I was just going to stash you in the suitcase, or maybe have you flash that grin and get yourself on free.

***

While talking about Adelaide, Hugo had this to say:

"No Missy Adelaide. Missy and Hugo. No M Adelaide!"

Sorry kid. There's only so much room in the suitcase.

A Week In The Life Part 2

Monday
Idiot Taxi Driver: Hugo and Jeffrey need to go to Malak.
Me: Are you freaking kidding me??? This is Hugo. Take him to Nemarluk.
Him: Really?
Me: YES. Read the shirt. Hugo. Nemarluk. Got it?

Tuesday
Same thing, except this time he got a call to pick up Jeffrey from Malak and then take him and Hugo to Nemarluk.
I call mum. This is freaking ridiculous.

Wednesday
He wants to pick up Alexander (SORK) as well. NOT HERE DUDE.
And turns out the government's paying for it so now I don't really care how long they're making the trip. I still don't think they should be doing more than one kid at once. (Although dad says next term there'll be two kids from the centre going together.)

One Hugo is enough.

UPDATE:

Thursday
Jack went home straight after preschool so I get a 2hour lunch and an early mark! Which... irrelevent, but still.

Oh and on Wednesday, D said the taxi driver was just about to drive off when she went out with Hugo. He hadn't even beeped! Idiot.

So, took Hugo out. No, SOORK isn't here! Did I say that a bit forcefully? Too bad, I'm sick of this shit. So are the drivers, apparantly, judging by the huge groan this one did as he reached for his radio to tell HQ they they'd stuffed up yet again.

Oh! And! Not so irrelevent after all. As I went out to go home for my two. hour. lunch! there was a taxi waiting there. Just on the off-chance of two fuck-ups in one day, I went over to say hi. Ooh, nice cold aircon. Stay on task. Yeah, he was there to pick up Hugo. Not here buddy. The early driver got the kid. The slow driver is not a happy camper.

Friday
No Nemarluk (or actually, "Nenamyuk").
Yes taxi. Stupid stupid stupid.
Do you want another kid with that? Jeffrey maybe? Or SOOORK? Nope, just Hugo. It's a miracle.

Now let's see if next week we can't put it all together now mkay? Cheers.