I don't think I've said, Liese, but I'm really glad you did that training, even though it's been hard. Not only because of the benefit to the kids you work with, but also I hope it will help you to feel a little less helpless in the face of seriously troubled kids.

Direct care is HARD, Liese. It is emotionally and mentally draining, which leads to physical.

My direct care positions have all ended at about 9 months, and only one move was not due to burnout.

I'm trying to insist on Fairytale of New York being played at least at some point in the reception. The Girl says it's a Christmas song so we can't have it in May. (Thinking about it, that's a reason to be more cheerful about having to postpone the wedding. She'll probably put up with the song in December.)

My sister walked out of the church to Wouldn't It Be Nice by the Beach Boys. I'm jealous of that inspired choice. We might end with The Beautiful South, for no particular reason.

And smonster, thank goodness, YES! It was your ratio that I meant to respond to. I hope it is not too late, but by all means, you need to get that ratio down as low as possible, and 1 to 10 is definitely too high. Especially with at-risk populations, kids particularly, you are dealing with learned behaviours that can be problematic in interacting with each other. Not their fault; this is what they`ve seen modeled in the past, but you need to provide an environment of safety first, and the reality is that you can`t do this without sufficient staff. 1 to 5 is much better, and preferably no fewer than 3 leaders in any given overall group. That allows you to physically break up fights if that might be an issue. And it allows you to send one adult off with someone, without leaving the entire group in one person`s hands. That strategy also helps with gender and sexual abuse issues. You can make sure that any one on one work is monitored and the opportunity for abuse or even the appearance of abuse is tempered. In our experience, often with victims of abuse, you have to be very careful because they may be unable to accuse the perpetrator of the abuse, especially if it tis a member of the family, and a youth worker may be the nearest handy person to accuse. So the better staff ratios help with making sure these angles are always covered.

Aww, guys. I was busy typing all that out and look, compliments! I seriously thought of you guys during the class as part of my support system and why I`m able to do the work I do.
 
I will want to talk further about my training later on, so ask me again later. I will whitefont specifics in case it`s triggery for people.
 
And I will probably make a Press PSA later too, but just so I don`t chicken out: I`d like to say I am making myself available to talk about suicide and death issues to anyone here or your friends who want or need to. I obviously don`t think a weekend class makes me an expert, nor am I trying to supplant your everyday mental health care. But I want to let it be known you should feel free to approach me if ever you have the need.

Yep, Liese is right on. At the shelter, we had to have a 1:5 ratio of qualified staff -- no volunteers -- for the teenagers at ALL times. The on-call person was guaranteed being called in at least 3 or 4 times a week, just to ensure ratio.

I know those jobs burned me out, but I am so glad to have learned the things I did. I have direct experience in how I deal with crises of all types, and that's a reassuring bit of self-knowledge to have. It hurt in the getting of it, but I wouldn't trade it.

BTW, I'm SOL on the OTB. They don't have it in my size. I think I'll go to the store and see if they can order it, though.

Yes. Never pass up your OTB, else you'll wind up like I did, scouring eBay in hopes that someone would have it.

Yes, this is a true cautionary tale. Which reminds me, I need to start checking Ebay UK for my OTB again.

At our wedding, we walked down the aisle to the pavanne from the Orlando soundtrack.

Actually, I found the OTB elsewhere, but I have a coupon at Macy's! Maybe I'll see if Nordy's will match it.

We might end with The Beautiful South, for no particular reason.

LOVE. We walked in to the Beatles' "Two of Us" and walked out to Hank Williams' "Baby, We're Really In Love," both played by Mark's uncle K. I had long wanted to walk down the aisle to "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by the Darkness, but we figured that would be a tricky one for K. to cover. And the Darkness is better for the dance floor, anyway.

Liese, I feel lucky to know you. I'm in awe of the work you do and the person you are.