"I'm, I'm-a on a booooooooaaaaat!!" (Said by Rachel while canoeing on Monday morning)
AAAAAHHHHHH..... HOME SWEET HOME! I love you Chippewa, let's never be a part any week of the summer ever again until I no longer work at you!
This week I had the opportunity to work with Rachel. Rachel has been coming to Chippewa for three years now. Year one was quite the challenge. Year two a little better, but still fairly testy. So I knew what I could be up against for my week with her, also because I had worked at Rachel's school for 4 months this past academic year, several times in her classroom.
Rachel isn't a very active young lady. Perhaps 5x's as less active as Lorena, who sits around -3 on the active scale herself. Rachel did spend quite a lot of time with her group this week, which was pretty fantastic. During her past summer's at Chippewa, I am unsure as to how much time she did spend with her group, simply because she is quite possibly the MOST stubborn camper to ever come our way. If she doesn't want to do something, you are NOT going to make her do it. It will be a 8hr protest.... trust me. I make it sound like I worked magic with her... I actually did nothing of the sort. I somehow coaxed her into the Terra Trek (which makes mobility sooooooooo much easier with Rachel) to transport her here and there, but she got up and into the chair because she wanted to do something, not because I'm a particularly good convincer (I'm probably the worst out there, actually). But she did go, and she had a good time most of the time she was there. She played "sandball" (the ONLY game seniors seem to play!) and threw the ball over the net three times (and she was super proud). She canoed with friends three times this week, as well, and handled herself so well. She spent every morning with her group, and today virtually the entire day.
But the week wasn't without it's challenges.
The camp day is a long one for everyone, but perhaps it's the longest for kids for whom the camp day is longer than their regular school day. Camp buses arrive for 9am (some departing as early as 8am) and depart for home bus stops at 4pm. For a camper like Rachel, this day is far too much. Rachel's day at school starts around 9:15 and ends at 2:45. And even though dad was going to be dropping her off and picking her up each day (to avoid the early bus times and complications associated with the bus in general), her 3:30 pick up time was still a far cry from her usual routine of 2:45 departure. The day was too long. So by 12:30/1pm, she would be in a very stubborn mood, and it wasn't entirely pleasant. On many occasions this week, it became necessary for me to keep Rachel apart from the group so that she wouldn't cause harm to other kids. Other times she just wouldn't move her butt into the chair so I could transport her to where we needed to be. Still other times, she WOULD get in the chair, but would twist herself in such a magnificent way (better than any contortionist) so that she could grab and scratch at me as I pushed her across camp. That being said, I managed to escape this week with only minimal bodily harm! Still, there were times when I required the assistance of up to 4 other staff to help me get Rachel up and to where we needed to be: the washroom, flagpole, our group, canoeing, out of canoeing, or wherever. THANKS KIM, KATHERINE, KAREN, MELISSA, REBECCA, JEN AND KATIE!
On Thursday, a particularly challenging day the whole day through, I thought we should try making a sock puppet in arts and crafts. I wanted her to have something concrete to take home to show her presence at camp was not just one of a sitting duck under the pavilion. She was pretty grabby that day, and even though we were there doing the craft, I had her sitting several feet away in case she decided to grab me or anyone around us. It should be noted here that I needed to use NVCI (non-violent crisis intervention) in the washroom and under the pavilion twice already that day. I'm not quite sure just HOW she gets a person's hair around every finger twice in a matter of milliseconds, OR how she clasps her hand THAT tight, but she does. If I may quote Kim here: "NVCI works on every kid in the world.. EXCEPT Rachel!". I am here to confirm that statement. Luckily, I still have all my hair!
Anyway, I had been watching her deescalate behaviour-wise as "we" completed her craft, and I thought she had reached a point where I could reintegrate her in terms of proximity to other kids and staff. So pushed her chair over to the area where we could choose some googly eyes and a nose for her puppet. I turned my head for maybe, MAYBE, 3 seconds, and when I turned around.... Rachel had the tightest grasp of little girl hair I have ever had to break lose! There was no warning, no anything but me looking down to see my camper going in for the kill on an innocent junior camper who barely reached my waist in height. It took three of us to take care of this. Camper support to calm the little girl down and hold her hair close to her head so it didn't get ripped out. Me to redirect Rachel's one hand to hurt me instead of the little girl and both Kim and I to unclench her fingers on the young girl's hair. I hope that little girl got a freezie out of the deal!!!!!!!!
And then today was a dream day. She stayed with her group the whole day long, with a short break to listen to music and hang out with "the girls" at lunch time. She played camouflage with the group twice, canoed with two friends to "Dead Man's Cove", went to the washroom flawlessly (even when I had to leave to get items left behind), made another sock puppet (because first sock puppet got lost in the commotion of attempted murder of small children the day before), and she let me trot her back to the senior field for the rest of the afternoon. No fuss today at all, and THAT is how a Friday should be.
I'm extremely tired this week. Pushing Rachel in that chair was absolutely exhausting (she's a fairly solid young lady). The weather was pretty spectacular every day, and I loved it. But that breeze could have put me to sleep in the sun at any given moment throughout my week. This, in addition to Rachel's largely inactive week, made me daydream most of my week away. Several late nights didn't help either (I must admit though, that the social was more fun that I wanted to admit, and the drinks and conversation with Katherine and Karen afterward were wonderful). I trained pretty well for the marathon this week too, and today I'm just pooped! So my night will consist of eating pasta (22k in the morning!), watching a movie, and, if I don't fall asleep before the movie's over, sleeping for as long as I can before I wake up at 6:45 to run in the morning.
But even though exhaustion defines my life lately, I'm very happy. I just like where I am, who I know, and what I do. I am lucky to have everything I have: people, circumstances, and things.
Next week: Benjamin! NOBODY COUGH, SNIFF, SNEEZE, OR EVEN FAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Kudos' of the week:
1. To Kim for just being an amazing individual I am so lucky I get to call one of my closest friends. I love you so so much!
2. To EVERYONE who helped me with Rachel this week, in getting her places, helping to pry children free, or giving me a chance to step away and take a breath.
3. To Karen Francis for sharing so many awesome insights and advice.
4. To Rebecca who circled camp again and again with Sean, and let me look for snakes with him.
5. To Michelle for having to be the only HH'er inside this week.
6. To Kaliee for "integrating" herself into every "Show your Style" performance at the social.
7. To Specialty for producing and performing THE BEST "Show your Style" to ever be performed or ever will be performed. You clearly thought about this longer than anyone else.
8. To Farrah for being so strong at work when you could have easily just given up.
9. To Chaylene for being such an AMAZING substitute for Kylie this week working with Aaron! He really loved being with you and you were so wonderful with him. You did awesome, consider HH for next summer!
10. To Kylie for all the amazing thing's she's doing in Peru for the Peruvian families and children. BUT I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!
This week I had the opportunity to work with Rachel. Rachel has been coming to Chippewa for three years now. Year one was quite the challenge. Year two a little better, but still fairly testy. So I knew what I could be up against for my week with her, also because I had worked at Rachel's school for 4 months this past academic year, several times in her classroom.
Rachel isn't a very active young lady. Perhaps 5x's as less active as Lorena, who sits around -3 on the active scale herself. Rachel did spend quite a lot of time with her group this week, which was pretty fantastic. During her past summer's at Chippewa, I am unsure as to how much time she did spend with her group, simply because she is quite possibly the MOST stubborn camper to ever come our way. If she doesn't want to do something, you are NOT going to make her do it. It will be a 8hr protest.... trust me. I make it sound like I worked magic with her... I actually did nothing of the sort. I somehow coaxed her into the Terra Trek (which makes mobility sooooooooo much easier with Rachel) to transport her here and there, but she got up and into the chair because she wanted to do something, not because I'm a particularly good convincer (I'm probably the worst out there, actually). But she did go, and she had a good time most of the time she was there. She played "sandball" (the ONLY game seniors seem to play!) and threw the ball over the net three times (and she was super proud). She canoed with friends three times this week, as well, and handled herself so well. She spent every morning with her group, and today virtually the entire day.
But the week wasn't without it's challenges.
The camp day is a long one for everyone, but perhaps it's the longest for kids for whom the camp day is longer than their regular school day. Camp buses arrive for 9am (some departing as early as 8am) and depart for home bus stops at 4pm. For a camper like Rachel, this day is far too much. Rachel's day at school starts around 9:15 and ends at 2:45. And even though dad was going to be dropping her off and picking her up each day (to avoid the early bus times and complications associated with the bus in general), her 3:30 pick up time was still a far cry from her usual routine of 2:45 departure. The day was too long. So by 12:30/1pm, she would be in a very stubborn mood, and it wasn't entirely pleasant. On many occasions this week, it became necessary for me to keep Rachel apart from the group so that she wouldn't cause harm to other kids. Other times she just wouldn't move her butt into the chair so I could transport her to where we needed to be. Still other times, she WOULD get in the chair, but would twist herself in such a magnificent way (better than any contortionist) so that she could grab and scratch at me as I pushed her across camp. That being said, I managed to escape this week with only minimal bodily harm! Still, there were times when I required the assistance of up to 4 other staff to help me get Rachel up and to where we needed to be: the washroom, flagpole, our group, canoeing, out of canoeing, or wherever. THANKS KIM, KATHERINE, KAREN, MELISSA, REBECCA, JEN AND KATIE!
On Thursday, a particularly challenging day the whole day through, I thought we should try making a sock puppet in arts and crafts. I wanted her to have something concrete to take home to show her presence at camp was not just one of a sitting duck under the pavilion. She was pretty grabby that day, and even though we were there doing the craft, I had her sitting several feet away in case she decided to grab me or anyone around us. It should be noted here that I needed to use NVCI (non-violent crisis intervention) in the washroom and under the pavilion twice already that day. I'm not quite sure just HOW she gets a person's hair around every finger twice in a matter of milliseconds, OR how she clasps her hand THAT tight, but she does. If I may quote Kim here: "NVCI works on every kid in the world.. EXCEPT Rachel!". I am here to confirm that statement. Luckily, I still have all my hair!
Anyway, I had been watching her deescalate behaviour-wise as "we" completed her craft, and I thought she had reached a point where I could reintegrate her in terms of proximity to other kids and staff. So pushed her chair over to the area where we could choose some googly eyes and a nose for her puppet. I turned my head for maybe, MAYBE, 3 seconds, and when I turned around.... Rachel had the tightest grasp of little girl hair I have ever had to break lose! There was no warning, no anything but me looking down to see my camper going in for the kill on an innocent junior camper who barely reached my waist in height. It took three of us to take care of this. Camper support to calm the little girl down and hold her hair close to her head so it didn't get ripped out. Me to redirect Rachel's one hand to hurt me instead of the little girl and both Kim and I to unclench her fingers on the young girl's hair. I hope that little girl got a freezie out of the deal!!!!!!!!
And then today was a dream day. She stayed with her group the whole day long, with a short break to listen to music and hang out with "the girls" at lunch time. She played camouflage with the group twice, canoed with two friends to "Dead Man's Cove", went to the washroom flawlessly (even when I had to leave to get items left behind), made another sock puppet (because first sock puppet got lost in the commotion of attempted murder of small children the day before), and she let me trot her back to the senior field for the rest of the afternoon. No fuss today at all, and THAT is how a Friday should be.
I'm extremely tired this week. Pushing Rachel in that chair was absolutely exhausting (she's a fairly solid young lady). The weather was pretty spectacular every day, and I loved it. But that breeze could have put me to sleep in the sun at any given moment throughout my week. This, in addition to Rachel's largely inactive week, made me daydream most of my week away. Several late nights didn't help either (I must admit though, that the social was more fun that I wanted to admit, and the drinks and conversation with Katherine and Karen afterward were wonderful). I trained pretty well for the marathon this week too, and today I'm just pooped! So my night will consist of eating pasta (22k in the morning!), watching a movie, and, if I don't fall asleep before the movie's over, sleeping for as long as I can before I wake up at 6:45 to run in the morning.
But even though exhaustion defines my life lately, I'm very happy. I just like where I am, who I know, and what I do. I am lucky to have everything I have: people, circumstances, and things.
Next week: Benjamin! NOBODY COUGH, SNIFF, SNEEZE, OR EVEN FAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Kudos' of the week:
1. To Kim for just being an amazing individual I am so lucky I get to call one of my closest friends. I love you so so much!
2. To EVERYONE who helped me with Rachel this week, in getting her places, helping to pry children free, or giving me a chance to step away and take a breath.
3. To Karen Francis for sharing so many awesome insights and advice.
4. To Rebecca who circled camp again and again with Sean, and let me look for snakes with him.
5. To Michelle for having to be the only HH'er inside this week.
6. To Kaliee for "integrating" herself into every "Show your Style" performance at the social.
7. To Specialty for producing and performing THE BEST "Show your Style" to ever be performed or ever will be performed. You clearly thought about this longer than anyone else.
8. To Farrah for being so strong at work when you could have easily just given up.
9. To Chaylene for being such an AMAZING substitute for Kylie this week working with Aaron! He really loved being with you and you were so wonderful with him. You did awesome, consider HH for next summer!
10. To Kylie for all the amazing thing's she's doing in Peru for the Peruvian families and children. BUT I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!
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