my kids

They always said that you know that your hooked on City Year when you start referring to your students as "your kids."  It didn't take long for all of my team to fall in love with our students and it was only a few weeks into school when the phrase "my kids" was slipping off our tongue. "My kids" are some of the most tough and resilient people I know. I am often overwhelmed thinking about their lives outside of school, but to them (for good or for bad) it is nothing out of the ordinary.  Every so often, though, something will really get to them and it brings me to tears.
Poor TB is one of those kids who drives me crazy, but it's only because he has so much going on outside of school.  He is CONSTANTLY doing stuff for attention and moves at a snail's pace, which is another source of frustration. I've posted about him before because his home life is just so wild.  He has two older brothers, one in seventh grade (SW) and one in eighth (DH).  SW has schizophrenia, which at age 12 is almost impossible to treat because your body is changing and the medicine that worked in January might not be effective after a month of hormonal changes in February. Last month, SW pulled a knife on DH in family therapy with TB witnessing the whole thing (I posted about this).  Over February break, Ms. Moulton was reading the students' writing and apparently Timmy has been writing about how SW cusses his mom out.  DH will jump in to stop it all, but at one point, SW tried to jump out the window. SW is now being hospitalized for all of this for 45 days (major props to the mom for being able to do that!) and it is taking a major toll on poor TB.  He spent all of recess telling me how SW is in the hospital now and how he misses him. It was the saddest thing. How do you explain something that is so tough to a seven year old? My heart aches for him.
One of my other students, JA, has been living at her sister's house for the past three months.  Her mom went to the DR for Christmas and just never came back.  Good news, though! She returned on Friday!! Thank goodness!!  I'm not saying that it's a perfect living situation, but every girl needs her mom! I'm so happy for her!
I guess that these are just two of many students who bring so much baggage and emotional stress with them to school every day.  TB refuses to miss a day of school because it's so much better than being at home.  I'm sure he's not the only one in which school is a safe haven away from everything at home. I am so thankful for each of my students and the intersection of our lives. These students are the absolute reason I serve and I love them with all of my heart. They are truly my kids.

"I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers."
      -Phil 1:3