Banana Pudding.

I don't think anyone chooses to work with children so they can feel uber appreciated each day. While I work hard, and am most of the time am happy to do it, with the kids, teenagers and parents here in DC, I don't expect "thank you's" or a general appreciation from them. Actually if I manage to not get attitude from a Mom or snide silence from a teenager, then that is a pretty good day. While I have a sense that most of the families are appreciative of me and my relationship with them, I am O.K. with not having a tangible demonstration of this appreciation.

However, this week one of the families I work with surprised me and totally made my day and probably my week. I am still beaming about it. As I was dropping off two of their teenage girls one night about 6pm after a girl's group, the little boy (who I also work with and have known 2 years now) and his little brother, come running out of the house, hyper and full of energy, no shirts on, and are knocking crazily at my window. They present me with a big Tupperware of banana pudding and are so excited that they almost drop it on the curb as I am trying to get the door open with them pushing against it.

You see a few weeks ago, when I was dropping one of the kids off I went inside to check in with their mother and Grannie, and they were in the middle of making banana pudding. I joked and said that banana pudding was my favorite, being from the South, and how nice it was to make it for me and all. Well, their Mom (who could certainly be described as "sassy" to put a positive spin on it) said, "This banana pudding is spoken for," continuing in a playful banter. I hadn't thought about it again until this week, when I got my own batch and it was delicious and such a sweet gesture that really encouraged me.

Hugs, smiles, small improvements and the kids in general make me love my work and the people I get to know, but a gift of banana pudding will be at the top of my list for awhile.

Ina Garten and coming up for air.

When I got home from work last night, I felt very tired and exhausted to a new and different degree. No joke, I was asleep by 9pm (I am normally a night owl) and couldn't even stay awake to talk to my hubby that night and almost felt as if I was drugged, and had no choice in my state of consciousness.

I awoke to feeling terrible so have been home today "sick" with something of a touch of the flu and a migraine. Quite against this idea, I began driving to pick up a kid around 10am, and had to turn around, just couldn't do it.

So I've been snuggled on the couch, taking naps with the food network in the background, as I have drifted in and out of sleep. I had a dream that I was in the Hamptons with Ina Garten and now awake, still keep thinking I wish we could be friends. She seems like a lovely person and watching her show makes me want to slow down life and move to the beach where I would have time to arrange flowers from the garden (also which I grew), go to gourmet markets to pick out delicacies, and invite friends over for lovely hosted picnics and dinners. Can life really be like that? Would I even like that for long?

This morning when I first "gave in" to my sick day status, I was thinking that this would be good chance for me to catch up on life. Like finishing my paper which is due on Friday. Typing in my monthly progress notes for all my kids for work. Mopping the floor perhaps. Going on a walk since I haven't been able to work out all week. Well, none of that was accomplished because I have felt sicker than I anticipated, which leaves me wishing for a not- so -sick, but still "sick" day or a time in my life at the beach with Ina.

Well, I guess I will take a walk to 7-11 because I need a diet coke and perhaps a magazine and some fresh air.