First Week of School!

This week starts my first week at my new position in my agency. I am now a school based therapist- think outpatient therapy but my office is at the school.

I could not be any more excited about this switch in positions. First off, I have my own office and I feel much more in control of my environment- as opposed to my years of experience dealing with in-home work. I have spent way to much money trying to bulk up my supply of therapeutic tools for the kiddos.

See- I have room for more!

Every day, I get a little happier with the way my office is set up. Regrettably, I haven't been able to see any of my kids this week. I have a mound of paperwork and signatures I need before I can start pulling them from class.

Every poster has a picture a kid drew of each emotion!

Secondly, I am in an elementary school which is my favorite age group to work with. My school also seems very supportive of my program. Every teacher I have met so far has been very nice and welcoming. Even my principal is fun and engaging. I do need to make some friends soon- sitting in my office without someone to talk to will slowly drive me crazy!

The only way this job could be any better is if I got to work off the school calendar. Since I am not technically a school employee I still have to work summers and school breaks. I think it is my new life goal to figure out how to work a 10 month job.

Hope everyone with kiddos had a great first week of school!

New Office

On August 20th, my company is moving me into a new position. Instead of being an Intensive In Home therapist, I will now be a school therapist at an elementary school. I am beyond excited.

I won't have to drive around North Carolina anymore. I will have my own office- with a door and everything! It is really hard to feel like you are a good therapist in people's home. There are just too many distractions- TV, screaming siblings, no privacy, etc. I can't wait for my own space.

I have gone nuts buying stuff for my office to use with my kids. When I was in elementary school I had a speech impediment and I went to speech therapy for four years. I loved my speech therapist and I distinctly remember that at the end of our time I got to choose a gift from the treasure chest. I ALWAYS got stick-on earrings. Gotta love the early 90s.

Even though I am not a speech therapist I knew that I had to have a treasure chest of goodies for my office. I bought a wood box at Micheals and painted it and added glitter stickers on the front. You know you enjoyed gifts when you were that age! Bribery sounds nice and therapeutic to me. Ha

I also bought: crayons, markers, colored pencils, play dough, modeling clay, stickers, dry erase markers for the easel in my office, and an hourglass that will let them know our time together.

With my next paycheck I will buy my dollar store items for the treasure chest and I have a goal of buying two more therapeutic board games. Everyone has always recommended that I buy The Ungame and the Thinking, Feeling, Doing Game. So those are my next two big purchases.

You know you would love to come to my office and play with my toys!

Happy Monday!

Piano

I had to take a break after my 30 day Challenge! My brain just had nothing else to say.

I wanted to update you guys on the most recent crafts I have done around the house.

Last month, my husband fulfilled his dream of picking up my dad's childhood piano. My parents have been wanting to get rid of it for years but we just haven't had time to drive out to Texas to get it.

Slowly but surely, my home is turning into an instrument shop. We- and by we I mean my husband- own four guitars, a ukulele, a full drum set, harmonicas, an electric piano, and now our wall piano. My husband's mom also owns an organ that he is determined to get once we have more room. If we ever have a home with room for a man cave it will consist of musical instruments.

Honestly, the piano is in pretty good shape- but needs to be tuned badly! My only real complaint was that piano bench fabric. I am pretty sure that my dad got this piano in the late 60s- early 70s and the fabric is not only ugly but it was falling apart.

I went to my trusty pinterest and learned how to reupholster. Since I can't sew I just used a handy-dandy staple gun and it worked out just fine. I bought a yard of white fabric and a yard of pretty fabric. I wrapped the white fabric around first- just to make sure the hunter green wouldn't show through. Then I wrapped my pretty fabric. It was easy- anyone can do it!

If you want more detailed instructions I used this blog: In My Own Style. She has a lot more pictures to help you out.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday! This morning our toilet exploded sewage everywhere so we have had  a lovely morning. Waiting on a plumber now- nothing like poop water to ruin your weekend. Ha ha

30 Day Challenge- Day #30

30. List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for?

Oh my gosh, I am so excited this is my last challenge day. This has been way more difficult than I thought it was going to be.

I hope that I will have a family that will remember me. I hope to have kids, grand kids, my husband- I don't want him to die first! I think the biggest thing you can leave behind is happy, healthy children. Another generation.

I want to know that I helped people. I have never been a huge career person but I still feel that being a child therapist is a passion. Hopefully, there will be children out there who learned how to change because of what I taught them.

I wish I had three more. Really, I don't want to be "known" for much. All I care about is knowing that I have made my family happy and maybe, as a bonus, I've helped someone.

Happy Thursday,

30 Day Challenge- Day #29

29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?

I suppose that people think I am a bitch. Ha ha- great first line. I am not the most open person. Most people who know me now tell me that I gave off a, "leave me alone" attitude before they started talking to me.

I tend to have a lot of anxiety around new people and I come off kinda mean. Don't get me wrong, some people do irritate the crap outta me. I don't have tons of friends because I tend to only like a certain kind of person. For instance, if you are a girly girl that is super bubbly- I don't really know how to interact with you. It confuses my pessimistic, sarcastic brain.

I think once you get to know me you realize I am pretty laid back and easy to get along with. But- first impressions can be difficult to change. Although, with clients and in an interview setting I am a very good faker. I need to learn to keep that therapy persona on more regularly. That or just stop being scared of new people.

Happy Wednesday,

30 Day Challenge- Day #28

28. What is your love language?

Oh, I love this book! In undergraduate I minored in Sociology and learned about this book. My love language is quality time. I even got this book as a wedding gift from family members. I think I still somehow have multiple copies.

The website defines quality time as: For those whose love language is spoken with Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

Seriously, if you haven't read this book it really is interesting to find out how your partner communicates. Not to mention- how you communicate without even realizing it.

Happy Tuesday,

30 Day Challenge- Day #27

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

Wow- talk about making a girl feel snobby. Plus, what girl really has a favorite part? I am going to go with- anything that doesn't jiggle when I walk. So- I know I have good hair and I like the color of my eyes. What a sad little answer.

I firmly state I have green eyes. They are just dark green so I have to be in sun light for a person to really tell. In Kindergarten I had to draw a picture of myself and I drew the person with green eyes. My teacher attempted to inform me that I had brown eyes. Then I proceeded to argue with her until she left me- and my picture- alone. Ahh, nice to know I was stubborn even at 5 years old.

Not a great picture- but green eyes people! I have crazy face because I am eating lobster. Lobster produces giddy-ness in me. I can't control it.

Happy Monday,