The other day it occurred to me that my job requires a different outlook on life than other people's jobs.

I was out at P.E. with my students, and one of the kids had a tantrum of sorts because she didn't like being told she could not play catcher in our kickball game.  She ran to the sidelines and refused to rejoin the game.  This is not the first time something like this has happened with her, and I decided that this time when the power struggle ensued, I was going to win.  I insisted that she go back and play; she had to get in line to kick the ball at least once.

Needless to say, this did not go over well with her.  She intermittently screamed, cried, swore at me, and made threats, but I held fast to my demand that she kick the ball at least once.  P.E. was over; the other kids had already lined up and gone back to the classroom with my aide.  Ultimately in a burst of final rage, she screamed "Fine!" and ran over to the plate so I could pitch her the ball.  Yelling at the top of her lungs, she kicked the ball (I think she was actually trying to kick it at me, but this is a small kid, and it barely made it back to my feet).

So what was my reaction to the crying, screaming, swearing, and threatening when all was said and done?  I praised her for following a teacher direction she didn't want to follow for the first time since she had been in my class, possibly for the first time in her several years at our school.  I also gave her a pencil from the pocket of prizes in my apron. 

Totally different outlook on life.  But at least it was a cool pencil.