Picking Up The Pieces And Starting Over

[OnlySunshine]

Well, I am still filling out job applications but I am also considering volunteer opportunities that would enhance my employability.  I wanted to volunteer at a nearby hospice in their office but they require 3 references which I don't have.  That's the whole reason I want to volunteer - to get references.  So, I am looking online at other available places.  I just filled out an application to volunteer at the nearby zoo.  I've always been interested in working in the gift shop or as a clerical assistant.  They have an opportunity for Gift Shop Assistants.  They require volunteers to give at least 4 hours of their time a week for 6 months so it's a worthy commitment.  :)

[cmaD2006]

Amen!  :)

 

I found the worst thing to deal with was potty training -- especially when the 3 yr. old is supposed to be potty trained and then wets his/her pantaloons.  I had a little girl -- sweet little thing -- who was moved from the 2 yr old room to the 3 year old room TOO fast and wasn't adequately trained to potty yet.  It was all I could do to keep my sanity.  She wet her pantaloons almost every single day and, since I was the one who took care of the room during nap time (which is when she usually wet), I had to help her change her clothes.  The smell of urine day after day gets to you when it's not contained in a diaper.  I really wished we had washclothes at the daycare because I wanted to bathe her so bad but I had to use paper towels, which is not easy.

 

It's really difficult to be patient, especially when the parents are no help whatsoever.  I always thought that little girl should be moved back to the 2 year old room but the director didn't listen.  :(

 

It takes a certain type of character to be able to deal with toddlers.  My sister is an ECE head teacher in a toddler room and she has full control of those kids (it really is a gift).  Now in her state it is a one teacher (or assistant) to 5 kids required ratio.

 

She tells me some stories though ... the funniest one to date I found to be the kid in her classroom that got angry at her.  My sister had a broken toe ... so he went directly to STOMP her toe.  The other kids in the room defended her :).

[OnlySunshine]

It takes a certain type of character to be able to deal with toddlers.  My sister is an ECE head teacher in a toddler room and she has full control of those kids (it really is a gift).  Now in her state it is a one teacher (or assistant) to 5 kids required ratio.

 

She tells me some stories though ... the funniest one to date I found to be the kid in her classroom that got angry at her.  My sister had a broken toe ... so he went directly to STOMP her toe.  The other kids in the room defended her :).

 

Wow!  I want to see how your sister handles it.  She must have nerves of steel! 

 

In my last position as a toddler teacher, the state ratio was 1 to 6 but the preschool has it as 1 to 5 because they believe in low ratios.  Since it was only me (Assistant Teacher) and the Lead Teacher in the room, we had 10 kids to care for.  The Lead Teacher didn't like the word "Assistant Teacher" and corrected me when I used it.  She said we were "Co-Teachers" or something like that.  That's OK if you are comfortable leading, but I was not!  She kept forcing me to take more control than I was used to and so did the director.  The day I quit (also the day I had the major anxiety attack) was the day before the Lead Teacher was to leave for a week long trip with her family.  That entire week, I was supposed to lead the class and have an assistant.  I was NOT comfortable with this arrangement and I kept telling them this but they wouldn't work with me.  They said that since I was the permanent teacher in that class, I was required to take charge.  I kept trying to make it work but I couldn't. 

 

That last day was HORRIBLE!  My therapist tried to talk me through it and even suggested I ask the preschool to move me to part-time (which did NOT go over well with the director).  I kept trying to go to work but I was mentally stuck and did NOT want to go into that classroom because, to me, it meant accepting that I was going to take charge of the toddlers.  I ended up calling the director and told her that I was leaving.  I did not feel prepared to handle the responsibilities that they were forcing on me.  She reminded me that I wanted this job, which made me feel even worse because of the truth.  I apologized and she chastized me over the phone.  When I got off the phone, I broke down in tears.  I felt like I was making the right choice but it was HARD!  Especially since it meant that the Lead Teacher would not be able to take her vacation and the director made me feel it was my fault.  I did warn them, however, and they didn't believe me.  Maybe it will teach the director to listen to what her employees are saying and not force them into situations they cannot handle.

 

From that time on (a year and a half ago), I swore I would never take a job impulsively.  I also swore that I would not work again as a childcare teacher unless it was taking care of infants (but even then, I'd be cautious).  I am not strong enough to deal with it.  I learned my lesson the hard way!  :blush: