Are you my mother?

I'm overwhelmed. Today, one of the students asked if she could be moved to another place in the classroom. I asked her why. She told me because, the boy next to her talks a lot. He talks a lot, but only because she talks a lot. I was suspicious and knew something was up when I asked her to move next to the sweetest girl in the classroom. She told me, "We're not the best of friends today." I don't think they've ever been friends. I asked her to explain, and she did, with a pretty nicely fabricated lie about something that happened in the hallway. Then she suggested I put her next to "Tommy". I told her that seat was taken, and realized why she would request such a change. "Johnny" sat on the other side of her requested seat.

The intro makes no sense, I know, because I'd rather not go into the details of the situation. I would like to say however, that I was shaken the rest of the day, by the idea of the influence of evil men/women on their children.

I don't know that I can handle this profession. I used to think I'd like to be a social worker, until I lived with a number of girls my age with extreme health and moral problems. I wasn't strong enough to carry their burdens and mine.

I have not felt as helpless as I did then, until now. When I realize there is not much I can do for the child who is abused, or the child who has addictions, or the child who suffers from the bad influence of the adults in his/her life. It isn't fair that the happiness that should be there's is robbed from them so early on.

It isn't fair that the only thing I can do, is hope the things I can help them do, will leave some mark of happy accomplishment or memory of success.

I guess talent day serves as more than a chance to talk loud and show off. It provides students an opportunity to care about something and care about someone and be cared for themselves-- if its done right.

I wish I didn't have to be their mother.