Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever
My wife is a kindergarten teacher and she told me this story about what happened in her classroom today. But before I start the story let me first tell you that it has been raining here for a very long time. I cant remember the last time we had a 24 hour period with no rain. Now for the story. (names have been changed)

After lunch, Teacher asked, Do you know why I have been grumpy? Do you know why we all are having a bad day?

And as children so often do, they started to blame themselves.

Because I hit Sally, Billy said.

Because I cried when I spilled my milk, said Trent.

We are having a bad day because I ate too much junk food, said Amber.

And all the kids had a reason why what they had done was the cause for having a bad day, and why Teacher was grumpy.

No, said Teacher, It is because we all have cabin fever.

Whats that Teacher? The children asked as they felt their foreheads. Do we have to go home?

No we dont have to go home. We are not really sick. But we have been stuck indoors for ever so long and cant go outside and play because it has been raining so much. When we cant go outside and play, we get tired of being inside, we get grumpy and we have bad days. Its not your fault that we are having a bad day. Just like it is not your fault when you get sick and have to stay home. It is not your fault you have cabin fever. When we are sick, we have to take medicine, and I know the perfect medicine for cabin fever. We are going to start this day over. If you got in trouble, you arent in trouble anymore. We are starting all over. Every body go outside and line up at the door so can start our day.

So Teacher sent all the kids outside to line up at the door. Then she open the door and welcomed them to school. Good morning, she said. Welcome to school. We are going to have fun today.

The children came in, and they played games for the rest of the day. And they put puzzles together and laughed and had a good time together.

When my wife told me this story, I couldnt keep the tears out of my eyes because here was an adult telling little children that it wasnt their fault. They were not the ones to blame. She put the blame where it belonged, on the rain that had kept them cooped up indoors. She then took steps to help them believe it.

So often, we as survivors also need to learn this lesson, It is not our fault; lets put the blame where it belongs, on those who hurt us. And I know that it may be easier to say than to do, but lets all start over and have a good day!

Love ya,

Darrel
 
Thanks Darrel. Great story. I may share it with my sister in law. She's also a kindergarten teacher and as you know we are having the same weather. Infact I think we might have sent it your way. You'll be happy to hear it seems to be clearing up on the coast. It was a good story for me to hear today also.
Dale
 
Darrel.

As today is just another day in my week of where I am confused stressed and not feeling well. This story of yours hit the spot today with me.

I AM NOT TO BLAME for my molestation. Kobus is at fault. My parents are at fault not to take responsability at getting Kobus locked up. I was a kid and they were the grown ups.

Thanks for sharing this lovely story today with us.

I am not to blame.

stressed and confused dad
 
Derdle,

guess you must live in a parallel universe to me, because it rains here for months, but today the sun in shining down.

It is good to see a teacher who can put confidence into kids this way, its a cool thing to do.

thanks for the story,

ste
 
Darrel,

What a cool story! But you know, I think that this, in some ways, IS exactly what we do.

We have to come to terms with what happened to us, yes. We have to acknowledge the feelings and the pain, and we have to let out the anger and frustration. But finally, at some time, we have to move forward. I guess we go back to the door and come back in, ready to do the work. We don't really forget what happened in the past, we are just prepared to trust the big guy and see where we are led.

Aren't we like the children when we start out? We don't KNOW all this will work. It is an act of trust, trust in ourselves and trust in those guiding us.

Much love,
Larry
 
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