I absolutely love to pull a book off the shelf and curl up on the couch for a few hours and get lost in a good story.
Unfortunately, this rarely happens.
If I do happen to be able to grab a few minutes to read, my first preference would be a feel-good fiction novel. If I am reading for relaxation, I don't want to have to think too much. My husband cannot figure out how black words on a white page can provide entertainment for such a lengthy amount of time. He does not get how characters can come to life and seem like they could hang out with me at the kitchen table.
It is possible that he thinks I am a few cards short of a full deck.
It is possible that he is right.
But as much as I love a good fiction novel, I am also a learner. I like to keep some non-fiction books in my hand to keep my brain active with the latest topics I am researching or processing. As I glanced at the two books sitting on my table tonight, I had to smile because they so encompass my entire life right now.
Enter Book #1 - Why ADHD Doesn't Mean Disaster
This book was given to me by another mom who stumbled upon it several years ago. She told me she devoured it and then asked her son's teachers to read it as well. I can see why. (If you happen to be a teacher at the school where my son attends...and if you happen to have my son in the next year or two or three...I may just happen to be asking a huge favor of you very soon!) This book was refreshing.
I have bored the internet world with the details before, so I won't go into them all again, but my little guy has PANDAS. He also has ADHD. I am hoping we can be done adding acronyms for a very long time...until they stand for the most recent degree he has earned.
Sometimes it is hard to know what behaviors are being caused by PANDAS and what is the culprit of ADHD, or what is just typical 8 year old boy behavior. And does it really matter? Not really...unless strep has entered the picture, then PANDAS really matters. And do we medicate? Well, it might depend on what the root issue is, and will the medication make the tics worse? Maybe. Or will they stunt his growth? Poor guy doesn't need any of that going on. And can he control his impulsivity? And what if he can't? Then what? He still needs discipline...and what if....and what if....and around and around the merry-go-round goes until we are so dizzy we don't know which way is up.
Back to the book. Chapter 1 is entitled: "ADHD: A Dividend - Not a Disaster." I knew from that moment I was going to love it. Don't get me wrong, I did not agree with every single thing in the book. And the book is old, so considerable research exists that was unknown at the time of print. But to be able to read about the positive qualities of ADHD kiddos brought hope, encouragement, and a fresh perspective that a tired momma needs.
Moving on...because, honestly, I'm surprised if anyone reading this is still awake at this point....
Enter Book #2 - If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!
The title of this book was enough to make me want to read it. I bought it months ago while I was still in grad school, and it has been collecting dust on my shelf ever since. However, in the past couple of weeks, my role at school has shifted. This was not a role I set out to fill, but apparently God had plans in the works that I did not know about. He's sneaky that way.
We found out back in January that our administrator at school would be leaving, so we set out on the typical administrative search. Several people talked to me about the possibility of applying for the position since I had just finished my degree, which gave me the "license" to do this very thing. My answer was the same each time - it is too large of a commitment for a wife and a mother of young children (the four paragraphs above about Book #1 are reason enough!).
However, as time went on and the search continued, doors and windows were closing and opening all over the place. As it began to look like we would be venturing into an interim administrative year at school, God began to work on me and fill me with a peace I had not had for months up to that point. When asked if I would step into the administrative role with a fantastic team for the interim, I agreed.
The responsibility is great. The nurture and care of the teachers and the students now lies in my (and the team's) hands. I am blessed to be able to work with an incredible staff who work diligently to care for and love each student, and who do everything possible to meet their spiritual, academic, emotional, and physical needs.
I do not take this role lightly. I desire the climate and atmosphere in a school to be a beautiful mix of fun, professionalism, encouragement, safety, positive attitudes, high expectations, trust, and a sense of belonging by each person who walks through the doors. That, my friends, is easier said than done.
And while books don't have all the answers, they are but one resource in which to find little gold nuggets of information or inspiration. My absolute favorite part of the "Feed the Teachers..." book thus far is this:
The six most important words..........I admit I made a mistake.
The five most important words........You did a great job.
The four most important words........What is your opinion?
The three most important words.......If you please...
The two most important words.........Thank you.
The one most important word............WE
The least most important word...........I
What is next off the bookshelf? I haven't decided yet, but I am thinking it may need to be something along these lines! :)
