Has been the second week of the school holidays- where have they all gone. School again in Monday. Hardly feel like I’ve been on holiday, mind you I do do different work which makes my life interesting. Today is Anzac Day in Australia. It’s the day when we commemorate and remember the sacrifice Aussies have made on the battlefield. I was intending to go to the TTG RSL dawn service but I’m afraid that when my alarm went off at 5:45am, and I’d had maybe 3 hours sleep, my decision making process opted for more sleep. Didn’t even see the march which 2 of my sisters and a brother were involved in marching bands. I’d like to go to Gallipoli one day to attend the Dawn Service there. It will have to be when I’m sleeping better, not having problems waking up in the morning and have some money. That’s ok- I’m not going to stress about it.
Have just spent 2 hours chatting to my sister through MSN. Have had a ball!
Categories: Thoughts on life
It has been school holidays this week in Adelaide- one more week left and back to school again. I’ve been working Vacation Care which I find more fun than the normal everyday Outside School Hours Care. And really it should be, because who really wants to go to school in the holidays! Yesterday we went on an excursion to the St. Kilda Adventure Playground. I haven’t been there for years, and although I was the ‘adult supervision’ it was fun (and secretly I wanted to go down the big slippery dip). I remember going there when I was younger and having a ball. Well done to the City of Salisbury for continuing to develop and expand the playground in a time where it seems that lots of the fun (and risk) has been removed from adventure playgrounds because of soaring Insurance Premiums.
I find the whole concept of going to school in your holidays weird to get my head around (even though I work in the industry). I grew up in a time and place where most of my peers mothers were stay at home mums and it was the dad that went to work. Maybe once or twice- a day here or there- I went to a school holiday program, and I particularly remember hating being at one program. School holidays were the time when I could hang out at home and do things with my family. Now before you all yell at me and say that it is a different time, not all families are the same, and mortgages need two incomes to support them etc, etc, I know. But I do wonder what a child loses when they can no longer just hang out and do fun things at home.
Categories: children
Hooray it’s the end of term! Eleven weeks makes for a very long term, tired teachers and tired students. Nothing like 2 weeks of holidays to recharge the batteries!
It was another good week, yes again tiring, but I’ve also been doing split shifts with my OSHC work this week too. Have been trying to use my Choice Theory training in my interactions with the children. It was great when the Principal walked into my office in the middle of me working with children to see us working on the Total Behaviour Car- she could back up what we were doing and continue to encourage the children to take responsibility for their behaviour.
I’ve been thinking lots about choices the last couple of days. In the past 18 months and my journey in and through depression and anxiety I have finally seen that I do have choices, and that I can make choices for myself. For me, depression was a place where I felt frozen and out of control, controlled by my circumstances and my out of control emotions. Mind you, they were feelings that I had pushed and pushed down, and not dealt with. Well, finally I’ve had to deal with them. Anyway, now I’m starting to see the responsibility that is linked with taking control, with making choices, especially when there are things that I don’t necessarily want to do, but that I need to do. There’s probably nothing new or life shattering in that, but for me it is something that shows me that I’m moving and changing and growing and still questioning. And that’s good.
Jane 
Categories: Chaplaincy · Glasser · Thoughts on life · children
I had a good week this week- what no complaining I hear you say. Yes it was a good week and although I find myself exhausted, it’s a good exhausted. This week I finally started my extended hours as Christian Pastoral Support Worker at Dernancourt Schools. The school won some of the National Chaplaincy funding last year, but it has taken a while for the money to get through.
At first I was concerned that I wouldn’t know what to fill the 18 hours with, but I soon found that I could fill them and more. Today I was overwhelmed with students wanting to see me and I filled my three hours and completed four. And I wanted to, and could, give more than the minimum. It was liberating to realise. Now I know that it’s not going to be always easy in the following weeks, and I will struggle… and complain again, but today I am happy. I feel like I have been able to give… that I have been able to do that thing which enthuses and (dare I say it) gives me some kind of purpose. I am thankful.
Categories: Chaplaincy
I find it interesting to note the dilemma I find myself in- and even that I need to write about it. Spoiled myself today by purchasing the fourth book in the ‘Sunday Philosophy Club’ Series by Alexander McCall Smith, called “The Careful Use of Compliments”. The name of the book is really not important to what I am trying to say, however it’s content is. I am caught between wanting to sit and read it and wanting to savour the expereince and draw the reading out for as long as I can. I remember distinctly how I felt after finishing the previous book and being sad. I already missed by friends- Isabel, Cat and Jamie. I will admit that when I read I become totally absorbed in the story as if I’m there.
The other funny thing (well at least I find it so) is that the books are about a Philosopher- someone who thinks lots about the ethics of living, living in her head and thinking before making any decision. And I am someone who, my psych so deftly pointed out, who lives a lot in my head. I spend a lot of time by myself, quite happily so, but it doesn’t make for much conversation… so I think and pray.
I want to read the book, yet I also know that there is currently no book number 5. What to do? Does it really matter? Does it make for an interesting blog post? It beats complaining about life.
I know there are far more important things in this world to think about. It’s just where I am today.
Categories: Thoughts on life
Last day of school tomorrow… work changing up next year… looking forward to change… looking forward to a break.
Don’t want this to become a complaining place.
Categories: Uncategorized
that’s why you haven’t heard from me for a while… got sick of complaining… want something good to say… just over it all
off to Surfers this week- looking forward to getting away
Categories: Thoughts on life
this is ridiculous- why am I letting myself be in this place of selfishness and pettiness? I AM MORE than this
Categories: Uncategorized
I can feel myself falling further and further into it… yet I know I have choices…
have managed to function fairly well lately- got stuff done that I needed to… then I got in the way
my coping method is to ignore it all, push it away and forget (well try to) about it
I’m drowning again and I don’t know how to stop myself
what’s better- not functioning and unhappy, or functioning and unhappy?
Categories: Thoughts on life
