I had my last day of work on 10/9/15. It was not as emotional as leaving my previous job but still a tough time. As stressful as the job was at times and as much of a struggle I had with some clients at times it was a good experience overall. I do believe that I helped some of the kiddos and even a couple of families even if I don't get to see the results or know the ultimate outcomes.
I cut "the rope" on 10/8/15 in group. I did therapy groups on one of the boys units. They had an activity where each new person ties a not on the rope which is supposed to represent the community on that unit. When tying the knot you state a personal goal and a community goal. Then when you leave, successfully, you cut a knot from the rope. I got the chance to cut a knot and take it with me. I thought that it was going to be a lot more powerful than it was LOL... Typically there is an opportunity to accept feedback from the other people and to offer it as well. Most of the boys weren't even paying attention and I was already in a bad mood because their attitudes were whack that group. I was seriously expecting to hear some like powerful heartfelt words for whatever reason I suppose I saw too many therapeutic movies, Freedom Writers.
Anyway the title of this post is something that I used to say to the boys on a pretty daily basis. Some of the most angry looking young men got the most annoying happy me just to help spread some joy. It got to the point that with a couple of them it became a game to come up with something else super cheesy to try to sort of one up the other person's kindness level. It was funny to see these "tough" kids start cracking a smiling at the corniness of it all. The same kids needing to be restrained, locked up for assault or burglary or drugs or theft or whatever... those boys smiling at hearing "rainbows, unicorns, butterflies and tutus." There are still children in there even if what we see is "criminal."
I will miss some of them and some of the parents too. I wish that it was the type of career that you could keep in touch with the clients to know how they are doing and be able to offer some support even if from a distance, but it is not and so I will just hope and pray that they turn their lives around. It was always real and never dull, thank you ladies and gentlemen for the growing and learning experience from these last 13 months :-)
See ya, Miss ya, Love ya,
Camille
This was a gift I received from one of the girls and her mom. It stayed at the front lobby for everyone to be able to enjoy... So pretty and so thoughtful :-)
I cut "the rope" on 10/8/15 in group. I did therapy groups on one of the boys units. They had an activity where each new person ties a not on the rope which is supposed to represent the community on that unit. When tying the knot you state a personal goal and a community goal. Then when you leave, successfully, you cut a knot from the rope. I got the chance to cut a knot and take it with me. I thought that it was going to be a lot more powerful than it was LOL... Typically there is an opportunity to accept feedback from the other people and to offer it as well. Most of the boys weren't even paying attention and I was already in a bad mood because their attitudes were whack that group. I was seriously expecting to hear some like powerful heartfelt words for whatever reason I suppose I saw too many therapeutic movies, Freedom Writers.
Anyway the title of this post is something that I used to say to the boys on a pretty daily basis. Some of the most angry looking young men got the most annoying happy me just to help spread some joy. It got to the point that with a couple of them it became a game to come up with something else super cheesy to try to sort of one up the other person's kindness level. It was funny to see these "tough" kids start cracking a smiling at the corniness of it all. The same kids needing to be restrained, locked up for assault or burglary or drugs or theft or whatever... those boys smiling at hearing "rainbows, unicorns, butterflies and tutus." There are still children in there even if what we see is "criminal."
I will miss some of them and some of the parents too. I wish that it was the type of career that you could keep in touch with the clients to know how they are doing and be able to offer some support even if from a distance, but it is not and so I will just hope and pray that they turn their lives around. It was always real and never dull, thank you ladies and gentlemen for the growing and learning experience from these last 13 months :-)
See ya, Miss ya, Love ya,
Camille
This was a gift I received from one of the girls and her mom. It stayed at the front lobby for everyone to be able to enjoy... So pretty and so thoughtful :-)
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