disciples – Running on Fumes

Not our usual background, but we both love this color so much!

In a turn of events, the adult helper I’m usually paired with has decided she can’t stand me and has resigned from her position. It’s not you, it’s me. Kidding. Halfway. She has resigned, but assured me it was not my fault. Like all nice people would say. So it was just me, solo, alone, in the midst of wild children, again. Somehow we all survived because, if you will recall, serving solo has become a pattern.

To think people trust me with their children is surprising yet not. I worked with kids for a long time, and aren’t adults just oversized children anyway? Do you know what is difficult? Getting hired as an adjunct professor! Countless submissions, hours of searching – still nothing. Not a single hit. I’m not sure what the hiring committees are looking for, but I don’t have it (or I don’t know how to market it). I really underestimated the challenges of applying to teach.

Meanwhile, I’m keeping upwards of 13 young people alive, well, and engaged. Shouldn’t this count for something?

________________

I ask you –

Do you have any suggestions for professorship?

(The post Outtakes, episode 8 first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

The photo is evidence of the only thing that went right. Everything else? Far far far far left. Fortunately, there was no crying. Only a general disdain for life, a dazed and confused expression, and an overall shell-shocked me. What’s new?

First, the adult and youth helper (a parent/child team) slept in due to scheduling confusion. Then, the A/V system took the day off. Lastly, 3 new youth joined us. Under typical circumstances, none of these things would have been a big deal. Combined? Chaos. Absolutely nuts. No helpers, no technology. Just me. Fighting for my life.

I had to give myself a pep talk. From down deep, I remembered the years I led a rotating group of “mid-girls” during my work with abused and neglected children. They desperately needed structure and consistency, and it was mine to freely give. Not much difference when leading the short disciples.

Mini stepped up her game, too. She took charge, wrangled the computer into submission, and supported me, no questions asked. Her leadership skills are better than most adults. Apple. Tree. I think she’s ready for the big time! Whatever that is. I was definitely not ready!

We survived. But it was rough. More rough than the crying origami scenario. And, at the time, I thought it couldn’t get worse.

‘Til next week.

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I ask you –

Have you ever had an experience where you were waiting on someone to help you and they never showed? Tell me about it!

(The post Outtakes, episode 7 first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)