Getting back into the swing of things

Back to work today. It is so hard to come back after a week off. So hard that I dreamt the alarm clock was going off and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. Imagine my dismay when I realized it actualy was the alarm clock going off. Blech. Joe's teaching tonight, so I decided to spend my time productively(for once!). I am planning the curriculum for my summer program. I am not having fun doing it. You see, summer is not a happy joyful time around our house. I work at a childcare center. The kids are in school most of the year, and it is my job to keep them entertained during the short period of time between when school gets out and their parents come to pick them up. It's about a three hour time period, a little longer for the half day kindergrtners. If they aren't in school, they're in my program all day. All eleven hours of the day(we're open 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.). And even though I am not at work that entire time period(thank godness!), it is my job to plan the activities that will keep them entertained all day long. I also have to come up with new ideas every year, as many of the same children attend year after year and they don't want to do the same activities they did the year before. So I'm scouring the internet to find crafts, games, and recipes to go along with the nine theme weeks I have created. That's thirty-six art projects, nine cooking activities, forty five hot lunches, five field trips, and about a zillion games. Add to that a Luau party, a carnival, one treasure hunt, and a whopping end of summer party, and that adds up to a lot of extra work for me! Most of which I do not get paid for, as I do much of my research at home. We don't have internet at my work(how lame is that?). Anyway, summer is coming(in seven weeks, but who's counting?) and I need to get ready. I've finished four out of nine weeks. Almost half way done. Back to work........