Good Evening

Today hasn't been a particularly good day.

Had Rhymetime at the branch library and had two new children who were very disruptive while the parents chatted. Made it unpleasant for nearly everybody there. I was getting a bit fed up with it by the time we got to craft time, it didn't really get much better. I was glad to pack up and go to lunch, just to have a break from kids and people.

The next couple of hours were fine, then it was getting close to BOOKclub time (this is on fortnightly at the branch library). I had kid after kid come and say, 'BOOKclub today?', I ended up with 14 kids there!! There really was not enough space for them all. When I first took over I had three regulars, now I have 10-12 regulars, and today there was bonus kids. I had prepared for ten, so was up and down stairs getting more printouts done and extra chairs. THe space we use ended up being very crowded and I had one child who wanted to be very disruptive. He is the youngest and has learning difficulties, but I couldn't give him any time today because of the number of kids there. Now I have to figure out what I am going to do about the space issues, as well as worrying about making sure ALL the kids get SOMETHING out of the session.

Finished at 5pm, picked up Matt and Will. Went to get Scott expecting to only have to hang around the soccer fields for 10 minutes. Half an hour later we standing shivering and he is just finishing up. We got home at 6.50pm. Matt was screaming because he was hungry and thirsty and I was at my wits end. Scott had left his soccer bag behind and in it was a house key and his shoes. To top that off we get home and I checked his bag and in it is a letter saying he has detention next week for misbehaviour in class and not completing work (this is in maths which he hates anyway). So not only am I upset at him for losing his gear, I am now upset at him because he is not making an effort.

Also cranky because teachers are having a 24hr strike tomorrow (changes to the way staffing is done that I agree with, as do many people I have spoken to, but not some teachers), such a pain!

I will be glad to go to bed. Tomorrow is the Biggest Morning Tea at the library, I hope it is a better day than today.

your wife.