Mark, who's about 10 or so, is a wee bit on the SEN side

What does SEN stand for? I gather, from context, that it's a behavioral/neurobiological thing, but I can't parse what the abbreviation maps to.

And off to drive to school... I did exercise in the pool at 6:30am. New plan day one.

Ugh. I'm on 4 10-hour days now that I'm back to a 40-hour week, so I'm up earlier than I think is right and proper. I have to roll out the door by 7:45 to get to work by 8:15, and then I work until 6:15. It'll be an adjustment, I'm sure; the hardest part about *today* is that I also have writing class at 7:00, so there's not point in going home after work; I'm just going straight from work, and then class until 9:00, and then home by 9:30. THAT will be a fucking long day.

Also... Royal Classy Caps!?!

They're the classiest! (Hey, if that isn't their slogan, it *should* be....)

Dear God. I already need more coffee.

Eeep. Yes, extra coffee this morning. I don't bother with coffee until I get to the office, but that is a couple hours after I am up and at 'em.

4x10 is tough, but 3 days off, not so tough. It's good to have a week day to get stuff done for yourself.

OK, I guess I have to Google Royal Classy Caps.

4x10 is tough, but 3 days off, not so tough.

If you only spend one day in bed recovering from the tough work week, it's works out pretty well. Two 16 hour days plus a 6.5 hour day may yield four days off in a week, but IME it also yields spending 3 of those days off in bed.

ION, Fay's kids slay me.

exit Miss Fay stage left, pursued by a bear. A big gay leather-daddy bear.

Ah, the image, at 8AM...

What does SEN stand for? I gather, from context, that it's a behavioral/neurobiological thing, but I can't parse what the abbreviation maps to.

Sorry! Teacherspeak for Special Educational Needs (a term which covers a vast multitude of things, of course). I've got a couple of kids in my class with SEN issues of one sort or another. Well, 3, I suppose, if you count Pun - but despite the fact that he's got a mild speech impediment and doesn't have the usual complement of fingers and toes, he's a very bright kid, and he's got great fine motor skills - very tidy writing & drawing, loves those Bionicles thingies and playing games on his own mobile phone, all that malarky. I didn't actually realise he had any lack of digits for a couple of weeks. Pun's Special Educational Needs are actually more a matter of adequately differentiating to stretch and challenge him, as one of my more gifted kids.

("Can you think of any number sentence with the answer '42', kids?"

"Er...40 plus 2?"

"Great! Anyone else?"

"41 plus...plus 1, Miss Fay?"

"Well done! Yes, Pun?"

"168 divided by 4!"

"....ooookay. Sticker!")

Right, have just deleted another long paragraph gushing about my kids, because, really, who cares? They rock. That's all you need to know. They rock mightily, in a variety of ways, and I feel remarkably lucky to have had 3 terrific classes, because, alas, more often than not there are at least one or two kids who tax your patience. But I've got awesome kids. Yay!

because, really, who cares?

I care! I love your kiddo stories!

Hee!

Well, you guys will probably appreciate that my Number Of The Week has been 42 for quite a while. I have an interactive display which reads:

The answer is...

What is the question?

and has a handy sketch pen there for kids to use to scribble questions with that answer. And I can stick new digits up, and a new piece of paper once the old one is full. But it's been 42 for several weeks, because it makes me laugh.

Right, have just deleted another long paragraph gushing about my kids, because, really, who cares? They rock. That's all you need to know.

See, now, the thing is, we have no shortage of angst and stuff to worry about and grieve over. Your kids and your stories about them give us plenty to smile about, plenty of hope, plenty of joy. They are a blessing to us, just like the Buffista sprog stories and photos. We need them.

Seriously, Fay. Need.

It's weird to think that if I were a schoolkid today I'd probably be classified under a special needs somehow. Very smart, very quiet, a bit tonguetied, hiding in a book somewhere away from the noisy kids. Though maybe not. It's another of those things that make me grateful I didn't take on the challge of Kid (1), For the Raising of a Person.

Can you think of any number sentence with the answer '42', kids?

Would the kid who answered "What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?" get a gold star?

I love hearing about your kids, Fay. You could fill the thread with stories and I would be happy as a clam.

Sean, I wish there was anything I could say. Going way back, the fact that you are a loving and giving person means you will not be single forever and that some woman is going to be very lucky. You're just on a very rocky and painful detour.