How things have changed

Well, after 4 1/2 days of mostly sleep, two trips to the doctor, and 2 new prescriptions (4 total), I am feeling almost back to normal, whatever normal is anyway. That's good, because tomorrow I report for new teacher induction.

Anyhow....every year at Camp Esperanza, we have to undergo a certain amount of training. We do a day a month before camp starts. Then, we all get there around 2 on a Saturday afternoon and have more training. Kids do not arrive until 3ish on Sunday. THat extra time is spent preparing, planning, and going through training sessions. The last couple of years, there has been more emphasis on child abuse. This year we watched a video and had a long talk about things that have happened, can happened, and how we as counselors need to procede. This year, it was gently suggested that there be no more lap sitting. So, I can't tell you how many times this week I had to tell a little 6 or 7 year old girl she could sit beside me, but not in my lap. Or, I would just gently lift her to the spot beside me. I hate that past abusers have made it to where it has to be this way now. These kids, some who are in the throngs of treatment, who are dealing with fighting for their lives, who are away from mom and dad for the first time, are not allowed to be comforted the way I was when I went to Girl Scout Camp as a child. We also have hug raids, but this year we were instructed to do 'side hugs'. Can't have any chest to chest contact, ya know. It just breaks my heart that the world we live in has come to this. That there are sickos out there who will (and have) take advantage of the situation to somehow abuse these kids. I know in the long run that this is the safest for both the campers and adults, but it really does break my heart. I wish I could say with more clarity what is on my mind--I'm always better at composing these things in my head than actually writing them.