Ew.

It was
Another night
When one of those
Slap me in the head
And call me an idiot
You've never been a mother
And now you are trying to be a parent
To a 9 and 10 year old
Snuck up and hit me between the eyes.

As I kissed Ms. O
And tucked the blankets around her
She says
"Tomorrow when we get up
Will you clean my ears?
They hurt."

I,
Full of Concern,
And thinking of all the flu,
Strep
Ear Infections,
Etc.
Going around schools
Tell her I'd do it right now.

Then I pulled out the q-tips.
Then I realized I have never cleaned either of the girls' ears
Ever.
Then I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

First it was clipping toe nails.
Now it was earwax.
Barf.

No wonder she claims not to hear things I say.
Nasty!

Then,
20+ q-tips later,
As I get done
Ms. O says
"I meant that my earring hurt
And I wanted you to clean my ear behind my earring...
But, thanks."

Sure enough.
She had been playing with one of her earrings during social studies
And had irritated it.
Blood.
Barf again.
(This is why I became a teacher - not a nurse.)
We took out her earrings
And sterilized her ears.
She gave me a hug.
Said thanks.
And went to bed.

Needless to say,
Ms. O has the cleanest ears around.

As far as Miss M,
She'll have to wait for another day.

The ear cleaning is definitely something that will have to go on to my
"Don't forget to check out on a semi-regular-basis."

Let's see...So far, I have...
Toe nails.
(Crap - they grow so fast.)
Finger nails.
(Why can't they just chew them like I did.)
Ear Wax.
(Oh, ew, ew, ew.)
Clean out back packs.
(I swear - things grow in there.)
Organize bedroom drawers.
(Some how what I fold becomes shoved in to the point of explosion.)
Between the beds and bookshelves.
(It amazing how many socks have lost their pairs!)
Check soap and toilet paper supplies.
(Seriously!  Can't SOMEONE tell me that they ran out?!?)

Praise Report -
When I left work today, I was bothered by an interaction and decision of the student.  I don't usually share anything with the girls, but something was brought up on the way home and I ended up giving some general details about the issue, the student's poor choices, and then the student's continual denial of the choice despite rock solid evidence.  We talked about being truthful, asking for forgiveness, why confession is good for the soul, etc.  At one point Ms. O says "I love when we talk like this.  It makes me think about what I can do differently."  And Miss M replied with, "Yeah - and when we are back with Mommy we can think of Mommy Maryann's stories and lessons and make good choices."  Melt my heart, girls.  Melt it to pieces.

Prayer Request -
CFT tomorrow.  It is my 5th one and supposedly there are services ready for Miss M.  The problem is the same problem that I have brought up since August.  I talked with the possible therapist that would take her case and when I explained the distance, time, etc. her first words to me were "why haven't they changed the service provider to someone in your area?" - which is what I have been asking for since August. Please pray for me to speak with clarity and wisdom for the sake of the girls and for the sake of their need for support, yet keeping in mind that their transition to moving back with their mother could be in as little as 45 - 60 days.