Sticking my neck out here...
... and adding to a thread that has been dormant for over a year, but I just wanted to tell you about what happened today.
I've been working part time in a library for the last four years, a job I took mainly for the convenience of its location close to my mum's care home.
I seem to have become fully occupied with reading to classes of children visiting the library, or singing and reading at Toddler Times.
Today two classes of year 4 primary school children visited in quick succession. I read the same things to both classes.
I read them cautionary poems (Matilda and Young Ethelred)) and a funny poem called 'The Alien in the Classroom'. ( Note to Izzy, don't look this one up!) Also a picture story book of Goldilocks and the Three Bears which was much too young for them really but both classes liked it, and then a Roald Dahl poem about Goldilocks viewed by a jaundiced adult.
The first class were a bit unruly but laughed like maniacs at the funny bits. The second class were very well behaved but seemed to need permission to laugh.
At the end, the second class rewarded me with rounds of applause. I have to say that in all my long working life I have never received applause as feedback and I was quite stunned! Fancy being applauded for something you enjoy doing!
I'm just saying this because, well, the applause was the highlight of the day, and I think my mother would have smiled if she had been there. She was a teacher and used to read to me herself and take me regularly to the library where we lived.
I hope I am forgiven for indulging myself here. There is some light and laughter after dementia, at least in my case.
Love from Deborah x
... and adding to a thread that has been dormant for over a year, but I just wanted to tell you about what happened today.
I've been working part time in a library for the last four years, a job I took mainly for the convenience of its location close to my mum's care home.
I seem to have become fully occupied with reading to classes of children visiting the library, or singing and reading at Toddler Times.
Today two classes of year 4 primary school children visited in quick succession. I read the same things to both classes.
I read them cautionary poems (Matilda and Young Ethelred)) and a funny poem called 'The Alien in the Classroom'. ( Note to Izzy, don't look this one up!) Also a picture story book of Goldilocks and the Three Bears which was much too young for them really but both classes liked it, and then a Roald Dahl poem about Goldilocks viewed by a jaundiced adult.
The first class were a bit unruly but laughed like maniacs at the funny bits. The second class were very well behaved but seemed to need permission to laugh.
At the end, the second class rewarded me with rounds of applause. I have to say that in all my long working life I have never received applause as feedback and I was quite stunned! Fancy being applauded for something you enjoy doing!
I'm just saying this because, well, the applause was the highlight of the day, and I think my mother would have smiled if she had been there. She was a teacher and used to read to me herself and take me regularly to the library where we lived.
I hope I am forgiven for indulging myself here. There is some light and laughter after dementia, at least in my case.
Love from Deborah x