But I Smile Anyway…

Aaaand… at ease, every educator out there! (Well, most of you, anyway. I know some schools are still going for a couple more days!) It’s the Holidays!!!!!!!

Are you ready with your drink?

• If we were having chai I’d have to start by telling you all about the nativity! So, we practiced every day, after our lunch hour, as the hall was always free then, and each day, I saw the children’s confidence, and performances getting better and better! Thursday arrived and I had a nervous tummy, I kid you not! It was also my directorial debut, so there were added nerves. New show, new songs… EEK! But, those children did us proud. There were one or two absences, but we managed to cover them. One of my SEN children was out, and the mothers of the other two sat with their children, to help them out with such a big change. One sat on his mum’s lap the whole way through. The other sat for a while, then did try and storm the stage a couple of times, but only to join in with the singing, and to check up on baby Jesus in the manger! The parents were happy, the children were wired, the staff were relieved! We did it!
• If we were having chai I’d tell you that the rest of the week was not quite a right-off, learning wise. We still had our activities, but the children were definitely in a heightened state of Christmas excitement. Maybe it was the consumption of chocolate with breakfast, as they cracked open their advent calendars each day. Or just that feeling of manic energy you get when you are all so tired. Or was that just us staff? Whatever it was the week went smoothly, even though we were all wondering if the Government would suddenly decide to put everyone on remote learning for the last week, seeing as the Omicron cases slowly rose. Part of me wanted this, as it could be the circuit breaker we may need, in order for everyone to have a decent Christmas. But, another part of me desperately didn’t want it to happen. Remote learning is a bummer for little children, and another end of term with no Christmas festivities for the children would have been awful. So thankfully, we got to the end of term. Crawling, I have to admit, but we got there!
• If we were having chai I’d say that I felt extremely spoilt and appreciated, again, with all the love showered on me by parents and colleagues. The whole team were, actually. I cant thank everyone, enough!

• If we were having chai I’d mention that even the Secret Santa gifts were gigglesome!

• If we were having chai I’d have to put this out there, though, especially… One of the little lads in my class, I have great affection for, because, even though we have some tussles with some of his choices, and behaviours, he really does try hard, and wants the approval and praise from the adults around him. After school finished, he came back with his mum with a beautiful box of biscuits from Fortnum and Mason’s along with this lovely message, that I want to frame and keep forever! The biscuit tin is also musical, so it’s another lovely keepsake!

• If we were having chai I’d let slip that I had a preliminary meeting with the publisher, on Friday, too… watch this space, is all I can say, right now!
• If we were having chai I’d let you know that the weekend was very, very quiet. We did hardly anything, but to be honest, I don’t think I could cope with much more than that, given the tiredness! The weekend involved, aong with a little laundry, grocery shopping, and housework (necessities!) plently of reading and drinking warm drinks! A perfect weekend!

• If we were having chai I’d share tghat even Sonu Singh decided to give me a lie in on Saturday, with no 5/6 am racket, demanding food. In fact, when I had fed him, and came back to lie down, for a little longer, he joined me!

This week will hopefully be finned with the joys of the festive season. We have a family member who hasn’t been well, and should be back in the family fold by the beginning of the week, and everyone is tentatively waiting for any last-minute announcements from the Government, regarding Christmas and mixing households… I am sure that I shall have at least two more trips to a supermarket, since the teens have turned into gannets, and even the shopping I did on Saturday seems to have already disappeared! Fingers crossed all the presents arrive as well, so I can get them wrapped. The next time we meet for a drink, will be the last Chai of 2021… where did this year go?

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