I survived!
Counted to 10 about a thousand times, but I made it. It was actually a great experience. Tried to make sure I was helping all the kids I was assigned to and not just my son. Lots of activities, and though the kids whined about every one when we started each, they had fun with them all. The place was run by enviro-hippie wannabe's, so that got a little annoying, but I bit my tongue for the most part. Chimed in just enough for them to know I wasn't going to let them preach to the kids. Well, that and I wore my NRA ball cap the entire time!
Really had to bite my tongue about some of the boys. Half of them had hair as long as the girls. Saw one with an ear-ring - in 4th grade - and it took every ounce of control to refrain from asking him if he was wearing a maxi-pad as well! He probably wouldn't have understood the reference anyway.
The first night I did have to lower the hammer after the twerps wouldn't shut up. Let them yap for a half hour after lights out. Figured a well-deserved beating wouldn't go well with the place, school or local law, so had to "inspire" them a different way. So I told them that their teacher had asked me to report if they would listen, and that she'd gladly assign a 10-page writing assignment if I let her know of any problems. They shut up immediately. You just have to figure out the appropriate levers with what you have at hand!
My back is killing me though. I don't have a good one to begin with, and sleeping on a hard wooden bunk with a thin foam pad didn't help. Probably 4 hours sleep total between Monday and Tuesday nights. Still, it was well worth it. At one point we were watching dolphins while hiking on the beach, and 4 of them came to within 15 feet of the shore. My son will never forget that, and I was happy to be there with him to enjoy such a memory (of course, it was everything I could do to keep him out of the water - me too)!
Now I just need to heal up for the Cub Scout camping trip this weekend!!!
Thanks for all your well wishes!!!
