When I called ds and told him I had gotten three compliments in
one day, he accused me of bragging. Which I was, and I suppose
I am again here, and that's sort of embarrassing since I was raised
to never, ever, ever, not in a million years, brag.
But this is a blog, after all, and no one is required to read it. Also
I kind of want to remember getting compliments. The next time
I have a really, really bad day, I will have a way to cheer myself up.
I am late blogging about it, since it happened on Wednesday,
February 9th.
I got three (count 'em, three!) unsolicited compliments at work, making it quite the red letter day. I called Henry, as he said, to brag. But, hey, this doesn't happen every day. Or week. Or year. Or even five years. First was when I was alone in after school care, because the other person who works Tuesdays can't come for the first half hour. I had a large influx of kids, including several from pre-K. The pre-K kids have to be adroitly managed into all sitting at the table closest to me, such that I can intervene in any potential problems. That's the idea, anyway. But after the pre-K kids arrived, I had more kids coming in, so one of the pre-K teachers, who had escorted the kids to me, offered to help, and I asked her to please get them situated at the table. It took me a long time to get to a point where I could go check on them, but the pre-K teacher was still there. I went over and thanked her, and apologized for asking her to do my job. And she told me that I do so much to help them, which they really appreciate, and she didn't mind at all doing something for me. Really sweet of her. Number one. A bit later, when only a few kids were still in after care, some of whom were the principal's kids (technically 'head of school,' but I grew up in the era of principals). So he came to pick them up, and asked me how I was doing. Just the usual 'how are you' kind of stuff. And I said I was very well, and that I am very grateful to have such good health (and he doesn't know the half of it, considering I am living with LFS [genetic cancer syndrome]). And he said that he was grateful to have me there taking care of the kids. Those aren't his exact words, but the inference was that he thinks I am doing a good job. Totally gratuitous - I mean, he could so easily have said some innocuous thing about my being fortunate, or whatever. Number two. Then after all the kids were gone, and we had cleaned everything up and clocked out, I was taking a left-behind item to a kid's classroom. Things are always left behind. Folders, library books, water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, etc., etc. It is a rare day when nothing is left behind. I was taking something to one of the first grade classrooms. I walked by another classroom, in which the lights were on, the door open, and the teacher inside. She said hello and asked me what I was doing still there. I told her I was taking a forgotten item to a classroom. She was quite surprised, and said, "You're very kind." Which was so sweet of her to say. Number three. I honestly came home smiling all the way. Days like this make the job so rewarding, even if it doesn't pay anything to speak of. I really feel appreciated. |
I will keep in contact with some; 
