Slice of Life
Excitement fades, small anxieties surface. I take a deep breath as I walk through the gate, "It's showtime!" Hmm, their core values are still stuck in me. Okay, I think I'll remember enough to help today. I take a step, "Aaaaayyyeeeee, Emily!" Everyone walks out of CPR training and greet me with more joy than I every attributed to each person. This is a really good feeling.
I get in the water with my laminated sheet of the new curriculum. "Emily, I just wanted to give you a heads up that your 2:30 student is on her second week of swimming and she's having a rough time transitioning." Co workers keep talking to me while I'm thinking, my favorite kind of student. No sarcasm there, I'm excited for the challenge and the potential connection. "So, I can do whatever I want with her and take things slow? Yes? Okay, great."
...she comes in crying. This 6 year old sees a new face. Me. She's scared and unsure of me. She's scared and unsure of the water. The lifeguard wants to put her in, but I say no. I think what I am about to do is going to work...nope. Sitting her on the step to chat with doesn't work. She doesn't trust me yet. So I put her in the water.
"Here are your options, we can do kicks on the barbells, or we can lay on the mat." I ask a few times over her whaling cries. She chose the mat. "Great, would you like to walk or would you like a piggy back ride over to the mat?" She chose piggy back ride. When the mat became a comfort and safety blanket for her, she calmed down and her personality shown through. We both decided swimming can be fun and to not be afraid of new teachers or the water. I had fun too. I forgot about my anxiety.
Slice of Life
I forgot.
For one moment, I forgot to ask what was in it.
To check the ingredients label.
For one moment, I convinced myself that I packed my epi pen.
That I had benadryl in the car.
For one moment, I was laughing, then another, I hit shear panic.
I thought the worst, and felt the worst.
For one moment, I forgot to pay after taking the drug store benadryl.
Or even to bring money.
For one moment, I forgot that I could breathe again.
That breathing doesn't require focus.
For one moment, I laughed.
I forgot that we were just sharing stories while drinking Mexican chocolate milk.
How could I forget to check the milk?
I don't think I'll forget that moment.
Slice of Life
I spread out the blanket in the air, creating ripples until I hear the snap.
I lower it slowly to the ground, plot down with my book and open to page one.
The sun beams down on my neck and back.
I spread out as if I could receive photosynthesis.
The breeze momentarily feels cool to my skin from the beads of sweat.
The blanket flies up and pulls my out of my book.
Page one hundred.
I probably should have put more sunscreen on.
Slice of Life
I forgot.
For one moment, I forgot to ask what was in it.
To check the ingredients label.
For one moment, I convinced myself that I packed my epi pen.
That I had benadryl in the car.
For one moment, I was laughing, then another, I hit shear panic.
I thought the worst, and felt the worst.
For one moment, I forgot to pay after taking the drug store benadryl.
Or even to bring money.
For one moment, I forgot that I could breathe again.
That breathing doesn't require focus.
For one moment, I laughed.
I forgot that we were just sharing stories while drinking Mexican chocolate milk.
How could I forget to check the milk?
I don't think I'll forget that moment.
Slice of Life
I spread out the blanket in the air, creating ripples until I hear the snap.
I lower it slowly to the ground, plot down with my book and open to page one.
The sun beams down on my neck and back.
I spread out as if I could receive photosynthesis.
The breeze momentarily feels cool to my skin from the beads of sweat.
The blanket flies up and pulls my out of my book.
Page one hundred.
I probably should have put more sunscreen on.
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