825 laid off

Last Thursday, 825 staff were laid off - terminated or given the opportunity to retire or be demoted. Many I know. Among the casualties... the boss formerly known as ^%$#@! Could hardly keep the grin from my face! He was not fired - just demoted - to my level...

The new boss is one I have worked for, so in a matter of 24 hours I went from incompetent to the one called upon to coach and train peers...what a difference a day makes!

Unfortunately, one of my staff was put on working notice. 12 weeks. Her husband had hip replacement surgery 3 weeks ago, and she had just joined the team 4 months ago. She did not take it well. Who would? We are putting together an action plan to address any training issues within the next few months. I would like to see her transferred to a new area. She is not comfortable with some of the technology, but has all the right work ethic and a will to learn.

After the emotional day at work, I arrived at the school to pick up 6. Hugged on arrival - trouble is brewing! 2 incidents that day. One taunting another child, one throwing leaves (iin which a stone was hidden- accidentally). Hit a girl in the eye with the stone and ran to hide. Took a long time to draw a confession out of her. Thursday night, her room was stripped. No toys, no games, no knick knacks. Just a bed, pillow, blankets, and one book to read. Found a bad smell while cleaning her rooom. Gerbil had been trapped in a drawer and died of dehydration. Lovely. Thought his skin might come off when I picked him up, but fortunately, he was removed intact. Stiff, but intact.

6 has had 7 good days. She is earning her stuff back. The message got through. Whew!

Thursday night received news that a friend's birth mother had been admitted to hospital. Turns out it was a malignant brain tumour. Surgically removed yesterday. They did not get it all. Prognosis is 6-12 months. The two were reunited 5 years ago after 40 years of searching. Is this good timing? Or bad?

The roller coaster continues