Can it get any better?

I speak often of just how much I love my job.

Even on days that my body doesn't want to cooperate,

it is the job that gets me up and moving.

We have this beautiful new building but until three

weeks ago I was still in the old building.

It wasn't really working, I was not where the children

needed me to be. I was walking way more than my

body liked.

After proposing an idea to my principal and with the

support of the two assistant principles it was decided

that the nursing office would move into a small

outer office of the assistant principal.

I love my new space and, if it can be possible,

I love my job now even more.

I am in the life of the children again.

I am able to nurture more than I was able to before.

I am hands on and because of where I have been placed,

I am able to help the assistant principals with some of

our students who need the extra help from people who love

them. Many days in the last three weeks I have been able

to rock babies. I LOOVVVVEEEEE rocking children.

They climb into my lap and I just sway my fancy chair back and forth.

Sometimes it was for babies who were sick, running fever

and we were waiting for their parents.

Twice it was for children who just have a rough little time

with school, with life in general.

Sometimes instead of discipline or being reminded

of all they have done wrong, they just need to be rocked.

Yes, I know they still need the strong discipline

but that is not my part, my part if to nurture.

I am also so close that I can encourage those children

who struggle with rules.

Being able to offer incentives like helping me if they follow

the rules has helped some students have better days.

It is amazing what a troubled child will do to make ice bags

for the nurse. I have also been able to help one of our

students who loves to draw learn new techniques.

He asked me yesterday if I could be his art teacher....

So long story, short,

school nursing is not just about calling home for students

who are sick, more than just checking immunization records,

doing hearing and vision screenings.

It is even more about nurturing the whole child.

On days that are hard for me, HOBL says

"Retire, ga-gee"

I can't explain why that is not an option for me right now.

I am selfish.

I need to be needed by all these children whose lives

are not easy. It is these reasons that gets me up on days

that are hard and gets me dressed to go to TES.