you changed my life and all my goals

I don't know how I ended up in the field that I am in.

Most days I feel like I just kind of fell into it.

Today was one of those days. I didn't feel like I had the skills needed to do my job.

One of my clients, one who I really love, found out that her aunt, the last family member she had contact with, was giving up custody of her.

Her mom didn't want her. Her dad didn't want her. And now this aunt.

She was sitting in my office crying.

I didn't know what to say.

I wanted to call my dad and have him say to her "hang in there, kid", like he still does sometimes for me.

I wanted to tell her that she was better off without them.

I wanted to give her a hug and promise her that I could make all of her problems disappear.

How is a 15 year old supposed to deal with the pain of knowing that no one in her family wants to take care of her?

What can I say to make her feel better about something like that?

Lori Ann

I'm so excited

I despise the acting, think that the story line is not that brilliant, and feel that Bella's obsession with Edward sends a poor message to teenage girls...and yet.....

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE ECLIPSE!! LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!
66 days to go...
 

Lori Ann

Just Dance

 

Looks, charm, and dancing ability..that right, ladies

 (and by ladies, I mean all you 4-5 year olds)..he's got it all!!

Lori Ann

Dang it feels good to be a gangster

You know, there are a lot of days that one can look forward to in life. Sweet 16. First day of college. Wedding day. Babies birth. So many wonderful and heartwarming days.

The most important of these days has arrived for me..

 

That's right, people. I have an intern.

 

I was tormented as an intern. Don't even let me go down the road. Schizophrenics, data entry, getting supervisors pepsi, and running baking groups with the mentally challenged.

 

In order to provide my intern with the experiences she needs to succeed, I have created a list of challenges that she must complete in an 8 hour period.

Good luck, Frances...

(your grade may or may not depend on the successful completion of these challenges!)

 

INTERNSHIP CHALLENGES 2010
1. Construct a lunch for a staff member. Obtain lunch items from staff, students, trash can, etc. This lunch will most likely be very random. Tell the staff person that you made them a homemade lunch to thank them for being your only true friend!

2. Walk up and down the main hallways one time having a conversation with yourself in the third person. A loud, argumentative conversation.

3. From 10-11am, end every sentence with “In accordance with prophecy”

4. Gather a group of at least 3 students and tell them that you are going to show them how they are dancing at the clubs now. Do the bunny hop or the shopping cart. No laughing or telling them “just kidding”

5. Choose one staff person randomly. Every time you see them ALL day long, wink at them. Refuse to explain if they ask..just keep winking!

6. Get a group of students to spontaneously sing together. The dorkier the song, the more internship points you get

7. Call Adam(our boss) “Captain Morgan” all day.

8. If the subject of sex comes up in any group or with discussion with staff or students, tell who ever is present that your friend “Nances” lost her virginity during a three legged race in middle school. When they ask for more details (and they will) just say “well, it’s all sealed in my..umm..her juvenile record now, but let me tell you..that school hasn’t had field day since”

9. Ask someone if they can keep a secret. When they say yes, tell them that you are a closet “Kenny Rogers” fan. Arrange for someone else to ask you in front of that staff about you liking Kenny Rogers. When this happens, turn to that person and say “I thought you could keep a secret!”

10. Make two students who are enemies- friends!

Lori Ann

Winter just wasn't my season..

Spring makes me feel restless.

I wish I could make myself channel that energy into something productive...like spring cleaning.

All week I have been wanting to find a really good book to read or a project to start.

I spent WAY too much money at Target, just impulse shopping.

I got a new hair straightener. Yay.

I have been wanting to go to the movies, but seriously, is it just me, or has there been nothing good in the theatres for MONTHS?

I might start therapy soon. They say that you can't be as effective a therapist to others until you have gone through it yourself. (if so, I will keep you all updated on the process...should be festive!)

Ok, now that I've made all of your Sunday afternoons amazing with my inspiring blog, I guess I will go back to watching my favorite scenes from Harry Potter and spying on my neighbors!

Lori Ann

p.s.- A shout out to the El-Bell on her first soccer match!

If I'm going to tell it, then I've got to tell it all

I confess:

Going back to a 9-5 (as opposed to my old "make your own schedule") job has been GREAT. I've discovered that I work best in a pre established framework!

Glee semi-disappointed me this week

People feel strangely compelled to 'come out' to me.

I bought capris again...*sigh*...I guess I needed to learn AGAIN that capris are not for people with short legs..they just look like extreme high waters!

I love love love love love love gossiping. Can someone explain to me why I find it so thrilling?

There are a few blogs I read which have recently gotten boring for me. (although nothing could be more boring than my own blog, trust me, I know)

I felt a wave of sadness about Heath Ledger tonight. How strange.

Lori Ann

What I Meant to say Wednesday!

Ok, I have seen a lot of other people do these "what I meant to say Wednesdays", but this is my first- wish me luck!

This is hosted by Chief..click on the picture to check out her awesome blog and link up and play if you want!

Ok...It's "What I meant to say Wednesday - The Group Therapy Edition"

Client # 1- You don't know me. Don't act like you know me.

Me: Ok, that is a fair assessment.

WIMTS: Did you steal that line from a movie? Because I swear I've heard it on every 'dangerous minds' '8 mile' type movie since about 93.

 

Client # 2- I don't like you and I don't have to talk to you!

Me: I am sorry that you feel that way and I hope we can get to a place where you feel that you can trust me enough to share

WIMTS: Sweet, so we feel the same way about each other.

 

Client # 3- This is SO boring

Me: Well, this group is really directed by you all. What can we do as a group to make this more interesting and worth your time?

WIMTS: I know, so boring right? Maybe they'll let us watch some movies here! Let's ask, if they say yes, I swear I will buy the pizza!!

*I love my clients and my job and don't mean to mock them in any way. Just expressing my frustration and some of the first thoughts that pop into my head when interacting with the kids!*

Lori Ann

I didn't mean to hurt you..

I was raised by a father who really should be a professor teaching "the history of Rock and Roll". He played all the classics. They are the soundtrack to my childhood.

Why did it take me until Lennon/McCartney night to first hear this Lennon song?

AMAZING.

Lori Ann

Everything

I do love nothing in the world so well as you.

William Shakespeare
Lori Ann

In your eyes..

Life is never what you expect it to be, is it?

I have this new job. There are so many things I love about it.

Family, Group, and Individual Therapist.

I never in my life thought I would be a 'therapist'. It's a title I have always held in some reverence and never imagined that it would a title that applied to me.

But here I am.

Today, I decided to let the kids decide on some of the rules for our group, and they said they thought music should be a part of it.

We spent the next hour listening to our favorite songs on the ipod I borrowed from my sister.

It opened doorways of communication that I had been trying to pry open for the last week and a half.

Imagine a group of 6 or 7 "bad kids" all singing along to "Love Story" by Taylor Swift...and then spending 15 minutes talking about it. Or about how the song they chose reminds them of when they lived with their mom, before they went into a foster home. Or how the song they chose was all that kept them from committing suicide a few months ago.

It was both powerful and sad.

Powerful because I know that it was healing for some of the kids, and sad because I want so much to help these kids. I would love to take them all home with me and shower them with praise and encouragement. I would love to go to their concerts and parent teacher conferences. I would love to ground them for bad grades and set a curfew and lecture them about keeping their room clean.

They haven't had any of that.

I guess what I am saying is that it's kind of cool to have a job where you learn more than you teach, and where you get more than you give.
Lori Ann
 

p.s.- I played "in your eyes" as my song. Apparently Peter Gabriel isn't that popular with teens:)

You know what I hate??

I hate, more than anything else on Earth, smugness.

I CANNOT STAND IT.

It's what really propels my political views. I don't think I'm being biased when I say that there are FAR more smug liberals than smug conservatives. (though I am sure that both exist). Liberals just have that smug "I am smarter than you and I really care about people, unlike you" attitude that irritates me.

ANYWAY,

I was reading someone's blog and she was commenting on how she was excited about health care reform, and I was like "oh well, whatever makes you happy". I am not a fan of it, but I don't begrudge anyone their opinion...until...

the comments section.

I kid you not there were AT LEAST 100 comments from Canadians, stating things like "welcome to the modern world...finally you've learned that you need to be like us"

OH MY GOSH.

Which brings me to the other thing I hate most in this world..

Canadians!

Lori Ann