Life keeps us busy, but some things I am unable to write about. It’s strange, how every couple of months, I sit to write about my life and realize that almost everything that is on my mind is things I cannot talk about publicly.

There are so many things I wish I could get off my chest here, but if I did, other people I care about would be hurt. I have turned into a kind of counsellor, it seems.

Rocking Chair

I love my school, It’s a great place. That said this school year has been off. Unfortunately at this point, I am unable to discuss the causes of stress for everyone, because it may negatively affect people I care about, or myself if published.

I have a rocking chair in my classroom. I have it in a secluded section of the room. It has “Huggables” or stuffed animals next to it. Books, some of my D&D Stuff, and my dice tower.

My classroom is a designated safe space and I try my best to keep it that way. When a child is feeling overwhelmed (Or a teacher), they are free to move to the back chair, and hug a Huggable. The only 2 rules are: 1) one person on the chair at a time (Because I have had 4 kids try to force themselves on it), and 2) if someone is on the chair, leave them alone until they feel better. (Don’t go report to anyone that they are there or try to talk to them). The 2nd rule is because some children need the chair during class periods, and they went there to be away from distractions.

I have my D&D stuff there for me, but I have some students in my class who have become interested in the game and they are free to look through it. The books are the same, some of them are teaching material, some are novels and relax books.

After school, and during breaks I often have teachers from my team come and use the chair as well. They often need to offload what is bothering them, or the difficulties they are running across. It seems daily that I have teachers come crash on the chair. Children daily use the chair. and sometimes they want to talk about their difficulties. I am open to hearing them, but some ask to talk with the school counsellors. (So glad we have them, but I feel we need more than we have)

Men’s Group

I attend a Christian Men’s group every week. It was sold to me as a Bible study thing, but it seems more like a support group for men in my area. We look over a verse or two of the bible, and discuss how it may relate to our life.

Then we read passages together and discuss. I find it helpful.

This week our starting questions were:

• Name a friend that you can call a true companion.
• Who do you talk to when you need to process things?
• What is one hard time that you experienced? How did you get through it?

Everyone talked about their wives for the first one. (Which is great to see)

For the second one, I admitted that I often need to internalize things and process them alone. If I do talk to someone about it, it is my wife. She knows all my secrets.

For the last one I passed, because right now I didn’t think I could explain. Some of the men talked about their experiences in the military, or life and death situations, and times they were worried for their families after losing their job in a foreign country.

The bible passage of the week was from Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

If you would like to comment on the posted questions or just reach out, I would love to hear from you.