music, therapy, and me

I am still brainstorming potential themes for my future blogging. It is not really something that I am devoting lots of time towards, but the thoughts are percolating a bit as I continue to do what I usually do. Having themes is not really all that important, but it does help me organize my thoughts when I am sitting at the computer, wondering what to write about. Without a theme, I tend to act like I am trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. It is hot here, so I am not going to leave my house today. I am going to spend time clearing out some boxes in my bedroom so I can navigate easily after abdominal surgery in nine days. My hospital bag is packed with clothing and charging cables. Mom's bed is made and ready for her. I still need to clean the kitchen - I always have good intentions that flop miserably when I actually walk into the kitchen. I have the fixins for my grandma's chili, so I will stir up a big pot of that to eat this week. I am still slogging through Sense a...

I made it. This was a rough week for me emotionally. It was up and down with client interactions and engagement, but I did not want to move from my house to work every day this week. This happens to me more often in the summer months, and I know that a big part of my reluctance and negative thoughts are part of my particular version of seasonal affective disorder. Knowing that fact doesn't always make it easier to live through, but I do. We are getting ready for our first round of high heat and humidity this upcoming week. I am considering moving downstairs until my surgery so I can be more comfortable at night in the basement temperature instead of the upstairs temperatures. I have 10 more days before my surgery happens, so there is plenty of time to be comfortable. Anyway... I had a brainstorm yesterday for a theme packet for my sing about songs  series. My sister helped me come up with some things to include in the new packet - look for it soon in my Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) ...

Today is the last day of my workweek. Around work, some of us affectionately call this day "Thursday-Friday" because that encapsulates the feeling of what this day means to us all. I am more than ready for this. It has been a week of insomnia, red eyes, unpredictable students, and rising heat and humidity. Let's finish this week in a strong manner and then just go! "That client" spent three minutes in music therapy before escalating into a screaming tantrum that lasted the entire session. I was singing "that client's" verse of the opening song - which "that client" volunteered for, and I guess "that client" was upset that I dared to sing to them.  My other groups went well, I guess. No one else was incensed by my singing, so I guess that was a good thing. I have finished sixteen groups and have only five to go today. The last group includes another "that client," so it may be a rough afternoon. At my school job, studen...

I slept better last night than the previous nights which is a good thing as I am heading into a session with "that client" again. Monday's session was smooth and quiet which means today's will probably be a doozy. I am not looking forward to the interaction, but that's the way life goes, so off I head to remind "that client" that is is fine to make choices for oneself but not for everyone. I don't want to dwell on "that client" today. I just want to recognize that it is the middle of my summer schedule workweek and move on. Today is my busiest day in the summer - six groups with four back to back. I fully intend to collapse as soon as I get home. After today's session marathon, I will only have five more groups for the week before the three day weekend.  I have less preparation to do for my mother's visit in 10 days than I had at the start of the last break, but I still need to vacuum and clean and get things put together. Her bed i...

It is another summer school Tuesday, and I did not sleep well - again. I am not doing well when it comes to sleeping these days. I am not really all that worried about my upcoming surgery - I don't think - but perhaps something is happening on a subconscious level that is interfering. Who knows at this point. All I know right now is that I have five groups ahead of me today.  "That client" was perfect yesterday. No issues at all in music therapy. Apparently, listening to Disney music is acceptable. I am sure it will not be acceptable to today's version of "that client." Two of the three are completely uninterested in anything I have to offer. They refuse to even sit in chairs. The entire session is a wrestling match. It is ridiculous, and I am just not looking forward to anything to do with music therapy right now. I tried to sleep last night, but it didn't happen. I could not get comfortable in my bed or my body. There are supposed to be storms in the a...

Well. My intentions to write everyday is already threatened by my summer way of doing things. I did not get up until later than usual and am sitting upstairs 9 minutes before I usually leave for work trying to make my brain work. I am struggling to do anything that makes any sense at all, and I have run out of all my sick time for this year, so I will have to get to work. I don't want to go.  "That client" is coming in today, and I am just tired of having to do therapy over screaming and tantrums. I am overwhelmed by "that client" and the response to ANYTHING I try - it is always the same - screaming, tantrum, safety assist. I am starting to dread any day where "that client" is scheduled for music therapy. Someone outside of my program suggested that I should do MORE, individualized music therapy for "that client." I flatly refused. I am not going to set myself up for significant injury by taking someone who hates music therapy for more music...