Grateful Friday

 I talked to Olivia on the phone last night and she said, "How are you doing?"

I said, "I am tired and aggravated."

She said, "Are you aggravated by something in particular or are you just generally aggravated?"

It is something in particular and it is December teaching coupled with compressed days (because of chemo) before grades are due and the iReady middle of year diagnostic.  Mostly it is about the ten children who WILL NOT sit down and get to work.  I have them sit right next to me and they hop up every ten seconds or they are looking everywhere in the classroom except at what they're supposed to be doing.

It is making me a little crazy.

Yesterday though, I had about 6 of them at my desk and it was a constant stream of Get back to work.  Sit down.  You can do it!  Keep working!

A girl right next to me finished!  She pumped her fist and in her darling accented English said, "Jes! I did it!"

I was proud of her and she was proud of her and it made me realize that they aren't actually trying to aggravate me.  They are trying to finish.  They want to finish.  It is glimmers like that that make me grateful.

It's a reminder that I need for everyone on the planet probably.  The person driving below the speed limit in front of me, the person who stops with their shopping cart blocking the aisle at the grocery store, my students.  They aren't actually trying to aggravate me.

For example, I realized the other day that the two boys who always throw their coats on the floor, can't easily reach the hooks because they are so short.

Everyone is trying their best.

I'm grateful for the reminder.  Hopefully it will carry me through these next days.