Sep 26 2007
Are You There, God?
It’s me, ITCM. Yes, that’s right… I’m calling out to you Mister. Here I am volunteering as a catechist for the 5th year in a row wondering why you are putting me to the test once again this year. Just when I think, “Hey! This year will be a piece of cake! I can teach 2 classes simultaneously without a scratch!” *BAM* Nope.
Let me explain.
The first week in teaching 3rd & 5th grade classes had me fooled. Every CCD’er in attendance was on absolute best behavior leaving me to think I’d have the easiest year ever. But the next week? New students. Which is all well and good, except for the fact that one has physical limitations of which I’m completely out of my element in handling inside a classroom environment and another involving a testosterone-pumped dude who demands the run of the classroom by rolling around on a 4-wheeled chair. Excuse me???
Not one to give up easily, I’m finding myself equipped with bribe material in the way of Halloween candy on a regular basis. It is working so far. Smarties. Skittles. Dum-Dum lollipops. Hershey’s Kisses & Hugs. You name it. But I can’t help but feel like I’m in ‘cheater mode’ here, God. Not only that, but this whole setup is making me wonder if ALL CCD classes endure these kinds of challenges, which actually makes me thankful for being that proverbial ‘fly on the wall’ during my own kids’ experience in the classroom.
All I know is… I’m already experiencing CCD-itis.
6 Responses to “Are You There, God?”
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I catechize my children at home. I am trying to teach them how to properly behave (and frequently not succeeding) and I didn’t like the curriculum used by our CCD program, so I opted to do it at home…I think I may be a little crazy.
CCD-itis? Sorry darlin’ Sounds like you’ve prayed for strength and doing your best. I wish I had some advise but you are outside the realm of my experience.
How do his parents handle him?
@Christine: Saint or crazy… not sure which!
@CD: If I didn’t have a personal interest, the answer would be a no-brainer… I QUIT. But I happen to know how much the RE department needs teachers AND, well, I’ve got 2 people in the system.
As per the parents, I sense he’s only like that while trying to show off in front of the other boys. I confronted him directly in front of the class yesterday, and that put a halt to his antics for a few minutes. The embarrassment factor is HUGE at that age. Thank God.
3rd grade is much easier than 5th, I’m finding out.
@red-t: With regard to the candy, I’ve found a system… anyone who acts out gets their name posted on the board, and those are the kids who do not get a treat on the way out the door. A few threats calmed down the testosterone-chair-dude. For 5 minutes. *sigh*
God knows that you are putting your everything (include your candy) into teaching CCD. The fact that you volunteered to do this will score you extra points at the Pearly gates. Ask the other CCD teachers how their classes are going this year.
I so wanted to teach CCD this year as there is a shortage of teachers, but I chickened out. Big time.
@mannyed: I almost did the same, but having 2 sets of begging eyes on you during the actual sign-up process destroys any thought of that. Consider yourself lucky.