Session 18 Goodbyes

Throughout the week prior to our last session on Thursday group members had been asking me about this session. Although I had reminded them for the past several weeks about when the last meeting would be, they continued to comment about it and when doing so seemed to hope I would extend the program or change the ending. J

As we started our meeting I gave an outline of what the plan was and started with a discussion about the movie. Several group members who had missed the previous session were able to attend and this was a good opportunity for them to get a review. H3 thought it was a good idea to get animals to help the kids. S1 mentioned that she noticed that the animals in the movie were similar to that of the Manadoob. L1 who had been sick participated whole heartedly and shared that she found the movie to be very inspiring.

Previous to this week the group seemed united in the interest to always keep reading, they loved the book and wanted to read extra each meeting, however today felt a little bit different. Several mentioned as we began to read chapter 28 that it was the last and made sure I noticed their sad faces.

We completed the Manadoob survey and celebrated with some snacks and mask making. While creating our masks I asked if anyone would like to talk more about Manadoob and their experience, and after everyone expressed interest we each took a turn. H2 said that Manadoob was really fun for her and she learned a lot about others. L2 shared openly that at first he wasn’t really sure about the program but chose to stay and got used to it. T said she liked it from the start, she made friends which is something she shared she usually doesn’t do easily and got the chance to share things she didn’t feel she could outside of group. S1 wasn’t too sure at first and didn’t really like Manadoob, she didn’t really know anyone and now is more comfortable and didn’t want it to end. K simply said that “It was awesome!” H3 did a drum roll on the table, making the group laugh, and agreed with K, that Manadoob had been awesome! H1 seemed very genuine in his response that he thought the story was good. He shared that Manadoob meant a lot to him and it taught him a lot about himself. I appreciated hearing this from him as I feel he is hard to read at times. L1 liked the group, she was able to build trust and share openly. She enjoyed being part of a group where everyone was there because they wanted to be.

We had a great time working on our masks and had fun taking several pictures. I handed out certificates of completion to the group and when it was time to go many thanked me for the snacks and the program. I had an amazing time getting to know these Club Members on a more personal level and I am excited to watch the friendships they have created in Manadoob continue to develop. I have no doubt this group of kids will do great things and spread the word about Manadoob throughout the Club. Several expressed interest in going through it again next year; I told them this wasn’t a possibility but that we could further discuss the opportunity to help with the group. I hope to have this year’s Manadoob graduates assist at times next year and think it would really add to the program if we were able to do a project benefitting out local humane society or something similar. We will see what next year brings!

Session 17 Patience

This week each of us shared our favorite Manadoob character to get started. I thought this might be a good way to prepare for our next session when we create our masks of a favorite character. I reminded our group that next week is our final meeting and heard from several that they weren’t happy about this. T and H3 like Griff Bob best because of his humor, K likes Uma Lily because she is part dolphin, and S1 agreed adding that she thinks Uma Lily is honest and wise like herself. Yama Cruz is L1’a favorite because of the patience he shows with Wella. H2’s favorite is Latona Maya because of her unique mix of a pig and a pony.

Last week we left off before doing chapter 26: Patience in the workbook, so we started there discussing the Nairi stone and its meaning. We each shared one thing to be patient about. For T and K they both feel they could be more patient about their birthdays. S1 wants to be more patient about earning money; H3 admitted he could be more patient about waiting for Thursdays. When I asked him why Thursdays, he replied that he looks forward to Manadoob! H2 wants to show more patience towards others, especially when they interrupt. L1 shared she is feeling impatient about an upcoming memorial on spring break for her bunny that passed away; each year her family gets together to hold a small remembrance of her bunny at this time. We agreed that keeping the Naira stone close may be helpful and after reading the moobiki hint L1 and S1 whispered to one another and smiled. When I looked toward them L1 smiled and asked why they only get one stone to share, that she needs several in her family. Everyone in group started laughing about this and agreed that at times multiple stones may be helpful in this area. I appreciate the relationship L1 and S1 are creating; they have been sitting next to one another and sometimes whisper amongst themselves during breaks in group. I hope to see this friendship continue to develop after Manadoob as well.

We read through chapter 27 together and watched the video Kids & Animals – A Healing Partnership. Next week will be a very busy session as well, and I hope to discuss the video and finish chapter 28. The last part of our session will be spent working on our masks and having some snacks to celebrate our group. J

Session 16

Today was Valentines Day and the kids seemed very aware of this fact so I chose to tie a bit of that into the lesson; we each shared one thing we LOVE about our lives to start off the day. S1 loves that she has a good mom and dad, T loves her family, H3 loves his awesome time in Manadoob, L2 still loves the courage he showed to express his feelings to dad, and M listed the Club, Manadoob, and her family. I shared my love for my job and K chose to forgo sharing at this time.

We worked through chapter 22: Thankfulness, which many of the group thought would be more appropriate at Thanksgiving. Interesting that so much of a person’s feelings and habits can be tied to a holiday or any specific day for that matter. So we broke this habit and on Valentines Day, instead of Thanksgiving, chose to share about what we are thankful for in our lives. Everyone was very excited to finish their windsocks by adding several statements about these things and be able to take them home. It didn’t really surprise me when several group members chose to wear them instead as hats. All that candy was setting in and the group was feeling silly! I look forward to asking next week what became of the windsocks/hats after group.

It seemed very fitting to move on to chapter 23: Humor after the windsocks became hats. We brought out the Moobia stone Rahwa and H3 instructed us to “let it flow.” We thought about things that make us laugh and cheer us up when we are feeling down. Some of our experiences included a friend singing a funny song, tickling, helping animals, jokes, and taking time alone. We took in the moobiki hint and moved on to talk about judgment. As we read through the chapter there were gasps and sounds of surprise when Ga-loom shared his fear of being alone rather than intent to be scary. I loved this moment, and as we finished reading the group seemed content with this realization. After doing some reflecting we were all able to think of a time when we were maybe too quick to judge someone or something else. However, we instead shared how we had felt in the past when we had been judged by others. In short, it doesn’t feel good; we don’t like it, and agreed to give people and animals more of a chance before creating opinions and judgments such as those created about lonely Ga-loom.

We did a quick time check and chose to use the reaming few minutes to continue on reading with the hope of finishing chapter 25: Confidence and reading through chapter 26: Patience. We created a list together of the things our group felt helped Wella become more confident. Our list consisted of things like helping Zack, learning to express her feelings in a healthy way, the Moobia stones, facing her fear of Ga-loom and in return getting better rest, that Zack was nice to Wella, and doing better in school. Next week it will be one to chapter 26 and then one last session afterwards.

The group really enjoyed being able to explore their Moobia stones and seemed excited to read through several chapters throughout the day. We were able to make some great progress and all of the credit goes to the hard work and focus of our group. I notice I no longer need to ask for volunteers to read because before I get a chance members are asking me if they can first. I see the change in our group each time we meet, they have taken ownership of this group and often when they raise their hands and I call on no one, someone will whisper a reminder, “This is our group we don’t have to do that.” I started this earlier on because I don’t want to be seen only as the adult in the room, I felt it would be more effective if I was also a learner, working alongside them. This is not to say that I don’t step in and help facilitate at times and share the plan for the day but this small group is a great opportunity for each member to practice respecting one another and to be self monitoring in their sharing. Another aspect of this that I find helpful is that they stay engaged in the conversation, they cannot just raise their hand and check out, to know when to share they must be listening.

Session 15 Courage

This week was very different from last week, our group had much more positive energy and I would say most definitely a case of the giggles. We did check in by picking a stone that represented our thoughts or feelings for that day. At the end of group we each shared one statement including the meaning of that stone to explain our choice.

We continued our discussion on forgiveness and what this means for each of us. A consensus was reached about whether or not we feel able to forgive someone who has lied and apologized for it.  We decided that people make mistakes and if they apologize sincerely they deserve a second chance, but that it  may be different if the behavior is a pattern. T brought up the example of the boy who cried wolf and shared the story with the group to illustrate this point.

On to chapter 21: Anger.  In this chapter we learned about the Amara stone of courage and talked about how we can act with courage in our lives.

S1 felt that she could try helping someone who looks down. This would be courageous for her because she feels shy.

K thought that she could stand up for herself more.

T wants to try more to meet new people.

L2 also wanted to stand up for himself.  He shared that he had stood up for himself recently and it made him feel happy and brave, but chose not to share the details in group.

M want to have courage when she gets older, and was worried about what it will be like.

As we continued to talk and bring in examples of how we had acted with courage in the past H2 struggled to share a memory of this. S1 asked if she could she could share something for H2 and told us she felt H2 has showed courage a few weeks back when she shared even though she was feeling worried. I pointed out to the group that in that moment S1 had just met her goal for showing courage and this realization resulted in a giant smile across S1’s face.

We wrote down three things that make us feel angry, stood up, and as a group yelled them as loud as we could. What a change from this group in just a couple of weeks. Everyone participated with courage in this activity!

We read chapter 22 in the book but ran out of time to start the workbook portion. Each of us shared our statement about the moobia stone we had picked. L2 shared about how he had picked Rahwa because he felt thankful for the chance to spend more time with his mom. He was able to stand up for himself and express to his parents who he wanted to stay with for awhile. L2 had initially not wanted to share this with the group and for whatever reason he chose to share anyway. All this courage talk must have paid off!

Session 14: Tuli

Today we started our session by taking a few deeps breaths, stretching, and taking a seat.  We had a discussion about the experience of putting our worries in a bag and keeping them somewhere safe while sleeping. Several group members felt there was no change, while for others there was a different feeling about it. M told the group how she when she had put her worries somewhere safe it was easier for her to forget about them. H3 was worried about not deliberately putting them somewhere safe because he had forgotten them in his mom’s car, but when he looked at them again later he did feel better.

After a few minutes of sharing I felt like the group was really struggling to stay engaged so we stood up and shook it all out. Most of our group was hesitant today to let loose and be silly and I asked them about this. I received feedback confirming from almost everyone that they were feeling like it had been an off day. Some were tired, feeling down, too much to do, etc. S1 shared a technique she uses when she is feeling this way, taking three very deep breaths and letting her hands rest in her lap. After a little bit of encouragement she led the group in this exercise and we created a plan for the rest of our meeting.

We then talked a little bit about the Tuli stone. H3 was able to recite the definition without even looking at his book, reminding us of the importance to trust and believe in ourselves. M seemed disappointed because she forgot to carry it with her so I asked that she try and think about a day it might have been helpful and what that would have been like. She shared a couple examples and that she wanted to work on remembering for next week. T took it skating with her one day and remembered continually checking to make sure she hadn’t lost it. She felt that having it with her helped her believe she could skate faster. S1 told us that she didn’t tell or show anyone her stone but kept it in her pocket for a day. She told us that it made her smile when she reached to see if it was there and felt like maybe it pushed her to try and be happier. H3 was very proud of his Tuli stone, sharing that he took it to the before school program he attends and presented it during share time. I love H3’s enthusiasm and openness to really dive in to Manadoob!

As I have mentioned in the past few posts the group is really into the story and always asking if we will be reading. We read chapter 20 and learned about how Zack found out he is adopted and all of the feelings that accompanied this discovery. Our group had much to say about this issue and varying opinions, which seemed to change as our discussion continued. I enjoyed this process of changing opinions because it tells me they are really hearing one another and willing to see an issue from a different perspective than their own. It was interesting to me how the focus from each youth was initially to discuss the adoption rather the lie about the birth certificate and adoption.

While we started the day’s session with a bit of an off day, the group ended up having a great session and coming together in the end.  

Session 13

Today we checked in by using a number scale. Each member held up on their fingers with what number they felt represented them today. The scale was from 0-5, with zero being the worst they could imagine feeling and five being the best. When we did this I saw no 5’s among our group but many 2’s and 3’s. We said nothing more about our numbers at that point but agreed to come back to it later if we wanted to.

We started the day by catching up in the workbook for chapter 17: No One is Perfect. It was difficult to list 3 weaknesses for many of the members; we spent quite a  bit of our time here, which is great because I believe most were really putting some thought into this. I asked each person to share just one of those weaknesses. Before we started I reassured them that I realize it may be difficult and our group is confidential and should be a safe place to share. In agreement we continued and noticed some similarities among us. L1 bravely started and told us she feels math is a weakness for her, her plan is to continue practicing during the summer. T feels like she doesn’t always listen to her mom and wants to instead start listening to her. M shared at this point that she felt the same as T and also wants to try harder to stop and listen to her mom. S1 related to L1 that math has been tough for her and she is also going to work hard and practice often. She spoke about getting help at the Club from one of the teens and feeling better about it. K feels she could listen more to her mom as well, she wants to try to understand more and change how she reacts when asked to help out around the house. H3 told us that he doesn’t always tell the truth and wants to put more effort into thinking before he speaks so that maybe he will catch himself. S2 feels uncomfortable speaking in front of large groups and plans to work on this by using opportunities to speak in front of smaller groups as practice.

 A large part of our conversation surrounded H2 when she asked if she could pass. I didn’t want her to pass because I felt like she had been a little bit disengaged already today and really wanted her to connect with the group and create some friendships. I thought for a moment and suggested that she ask our group. S1 was the first to speak up and provide feedback, she told H2 that she really likes to listen to others because she feels like then she may be able to help. L1 suggested that H2 give herself a limit of how many times she can pass per month. H2 told us she felt she wrote things that were really personal and could come up with a less personal example to share. This was great problem solving by the group.

 I feel like I say it every week but these are amazing kids! They supported one another and H2 challenged herself to feel vulnerable. She shared she struggles to ask permission to pet people’s animals. She thinks this may be rude and wants to work on being more patient and asking permission. At first I felt like H2 had dodged a bullet and was avoiding really answering the question but as I continue to think about it I need to remember that if she really feels strongly about it, that’s what matters. This could translate into other areas of her life as well. L1 said that it felt good to share and put it out there.

We then read chapter 18 and 19; they are really into this book and now when we stop to do workbook it’s not only L1 who gives me a sour face about it. The group seemed pretty excited to be taking something home and everyone was participating well in writing down worries to take with them .We set some ground rules for next session so that they felt comfortable to write whatever they wanted. For this we would only share about the experience of how it felt to write down our worries and put them somewhere safe for a night. They could share a worry if they want to but don’t need to.

We had a quick discussion about what to do with our remaining time as this session was flying by. I didn’t want them to be overwhelmed with two think and do assignments and gave the choice to them. Everyone was up for the challenge and wanted to do the activity for chapter 19 as well. We got out our Tuli stones and discussed our thoughts for next session.

I suggested that we continue to write things in our notebook that are personal if that’s what we feel we need. I reminded them that it is a safe place to write anything they feel and I will not look in them without permission. To avoid any group member feeling that they can’t share about what they write I suggested that if they are using it to write things they feel they would like to keep to themselves always be prepared with one thing they feel comfortable sharing. This way each of us can have a safe place to get out our feelings but can also engage in group discussions.

Next time we will have discussion about each experience and if we have time move on to chapter 20: Forgiveness.  Although our time was up all wanted to stay and talk a little bit about their numbers. Each member shared and did so without raising hands and waiting for me to lead! This was a great session for us!

Acceptance Session 12

Today we started with a check in of what animal each member of the group felt like. I can feel the kids start to break lose when we do this, it seems like it may be easier for them to express how they feel when it isn't so direct. I will list what animals they chose; at the end of our session we came together before leaving and went around the table so that each member could share why they had picked their animal.

L2 – sloth, he felt slow and tired this morning

M – dog, she felt excited and wild

S1 – puffer fish, she thinks they look funny and she had felt funny and happy

L1 – wolf pulling a sled, L1 felt like she had a lot to accomplish and felt behind.  She said she felt like she was pushing snow out of the way and was not meant for the jobs she needed to do.

H2 – dragon, she felt awesome and ready for a challenge and at the same time was feeling short tempered

H1 – death lyger (which he described is a mythical creature), he felt like a mythical creature today because his friend from school was sick and he felt unseen and a little bit alone

H3 – roasted chicken, this would fall more in the food category in my opinion but he likes roasted chicken and felt awesome and likable 

T– turtle, she felt slow and tired

K – horse, K shared that she thinks horses have good and bad days just like her.  K also shared that when she is at the Club and school she feels like a wild and free horse, and at home recently she has been feeling differently.

It’s exciting to see how our group is becoming more comfortable with one another and really sharing how they are feeling. I appreciate the creativity in their answers and although some may not be actual animals, I felt as long as they were able to tie it in and explain their thoughts and feelings it didn’t really matter.  In the end they were speaking openly to one another and relating in a positive way.

We had two group members who still needed a chance to share about their experience giving away their “I believe “ charms so we started with this after check in.

S1 – gave one charm to a friend who she thought it would help to feel better.  She gave her second charm to a teen here at the Club, Jenny, who recently started working with S1 in math. She said she thought it was really nice of Jenny to help her and that Jenny was happy to receive the charm.  On a side note, I have noticed S1’s attitude change quite bit in the last two weeks since receiving individual help in math, she seems happier to come to Manadoob and told me it’s because she feels good she got her homework done!

L2 – gave his first charm to his mom who he shared thought it was sweet. He gave his second charm to his mom as well, but to pass on to her boss for him. He told us that she is very sick and thought it might help. His mom informed him that her boss was thankful for the charm.

When discussing questions one and two in chapter 16, Acceptance, L1 shared that when something is especially hard to accept she tries to think about it in a different way and sometimes this helps her to keep going. She shared that one thing she has accepted is her bunny dying, as she has shared with us in a past session.  L1 told the group that her mom had made her a stuffed animal bunny to help her. H2 said that moving to Bend was hard for her because she moved away from her family and the coast which she feels connected to. H1 chose to give some advice (which related to the Moobiki hint) that no one else can control your life but you, that it is up to each person to choose to react or accept things. M agreed with H1 by saying she liked that. (This was great, M stayed very focused and contributed in an appropriate way, I gave her a thumbs up and she responded with a giant smile on her face). S1 told about how winning or losing sports has been hard for her to accept. Her mom asks her to play at least one sport each year and when she was very young she felt it was hard to really understand winning and losing and the feelings with each. L2 and H3 related to one another in what they chose to share; L2 had a close friend move away from him when he was younger and H3 was a friend who moved away from another. M shared a time when it was hard to accept a fight with a friend because it was difficult for her to understand it.  T described moving away from a friend and how her friend had given her a charm that made it easier for T to accept moving.

Again, everyone had something great to say during our discussion about self talk when kids bully and what we should do when we witness the bullying of a person or animal. L1 tries to be really nice to a person if they are bullying. I asked the group if they had ever heard the term “kill with kindness” and they all answered with nods and yes’s. T shared a very insightful thought that maybe the person bullying is being treated that way at home or somewhere else and we talked about this for a few minutes. We agreed that trying to understand may be a nice way to help someone. K felt very strongly that if she thought it was safe to do so she would try to step in and stop the bullying. H1 would try to give advice he has in the past given to his brother, which was if you are angry try to find another way to express it like using a punching bag. H2 feels like she bullies back when she sees bullying. She says that she tries to make them understand how it feels. I asked if she wanted some support from the group about this in the form of advice and she stated that she just wanted to share it and get it out. H2 is consistently brave in her sharing with the group and I hope this will continue. I hope that this group will help H2 to become more trusting of others and open to the possibility of positive outcomes rather than expecting the worst. L1 shared a story about her experience at a local agency serving homeless animals where she was able to advocate for an animal she felt needed more medical attention. She expressed her happiness to be able to take on this role and explained the steps she took to do this, including voicing her opinion with the support of a trusted adult.

Next week we will start Chapter 17 in the workbook and continue on reading if we have time. I am grateful to be able to share these experiences with this group of Club Members. I am proud to see them starting to take ownership of this group and really reach out to one another. 

Session 11

Today we implemented our new check in process. Prior to our meeting I asked L1 if she wanted to decide on a check in for the day, she responded with the idea of a color to represent how each person is feeling.

We decided as a group that each of us would say aloud a color that we felt represented our mood for the day and then at the end of group we would say one word that described the feeling. The following are our check in colors:

H3 - yellow

S1 - purple

L1 – bluish/greenish

H2 - white

K – yellow

We then shared about who the “I believe” charms from last session were given to. It was interesting to see how many gave a charm to someone in their family and the reasoning behind their choices.

T seemed very excited to report that she gave on charm to her Mom and one to her older sister. She mentioned that her older sister reacted emotionally; she hadn't realized how much T thought of her. T shared that she was glad to be able to give them something representative of her feelings for them, it made it easier for her to express this.

L1 gave one charm to a friend who was moving to a different school. L1 reported that her friend liked it and that it helped her feel ready to move on to her new school. L1 gave her second charm to her bunny who had been acting sad recently. She told us that she thought that giving him the charm helped him feel better; he acted interested in it and more social again. She puts it on his cage each day.

K gave it to her mom who put it on a necklace and had been wearing it daily. The second charm went to her dog, he wears it on his collar. She shared the meaning of it with her family so that they would understand why it was important to her.

H3 gave them to his Mom and Dad, who he also explained the meaning to. He felt that both of his parents appreciated the charm and really liked it.

H2 gave one to L1 who she considers to be a good friend and the other to one of our staff members who she described feels like an Aunt to her. H2 then shared that she had also given hers away to her teacher. I asked her to share about her decision to do this, I was especially curious because she often shares that she doesn't connect well with her teacher and feels she is struggling in class. She told us that on the last day of school before break “everyone” was giving the teacher gifts and H2 hadn't gotten her anything. She felt bad about this and left out, so she wanted to give her something too.

S1 had left the previous session early and wasn't able to hand out her charms yet but said she had a good idea of who she wanted to give them to.

We moved on to reading chapter 15 and 16, which members of the group read aloud. When it came to the question of whether they had ever been bullied and how it felt I was happy to hear that a couple group members were able to say that they hadn't felt bullied before.

S1 is becoming consistently more open with the group in sharing. She told us she had been bullied before and it felt embarrassing to her and she worried it would happen again. I am hoping through this program that S1 will be able to view herself as others do and that her confidence will improve. She has so much to offer but may sometimes sell herself short. I think it takes a lot for her to share with the group and feel very fortunate to be a part of this process for her!

H2 told a story about that day when a boy that bothers her in class disrespected her boundaries by hitting her. She told us that she ignored him and tried not to take it personally. I, as well as the rest of the group, encouraged her to always tell an adult. I’m not sure if she will use this suggestion, she often shares that she feels adults won’t do anything. Although I can’t control what happens at school I will be checking in with her to make sure she is feeling safe and at least communicating these things with her mom. Our staff team may be able to support her in rebuilding her trust in adults by consistently responding to and working to prevent any type of bullying in our programs.

We wrote responses to a few more questions and saved them for discussion at our next session. Everyone shared a word that they felt represented how they felt that day and that corresponded with the color they shared earlier.

H3- “pretty happy”

S1 -“tappy” which she explained meant tired and happy

L1- sad and excited

H2- happy

K- fappy which meant to her funny and happy

T- left early

Session 10

This session felt a bit different from previous meetings right from the start.  It was the largest group so far in attendance and there was a different energy and attitude throughout the group. S2 ,who had been reluctant to participate last week, was the first to volunteer to help set up and to read.

As we wrote down our three strengths I explained that they would be asked to share at least one they felt comfortable with the group hearing about. S2 shared that she is supportive, L1 talked about her love for animals and ability to show empathy for others, H1 told us about his drawing skills and being a good bicyclist, H3 felt he was good at spelling and schoolwork, L2 mentioned his sense of humor, T feels good at sports, K was proud of her ability to cheer people up by being funny and the sound of her unique laugh, M knows how to be kind to her friends, and H2 struggled to share anything at all. She said that what she had written was too personal and she didn't know what to say. Before I could encourage her too much or ask the group to help, L1 spoke out and shared with the group that she felt H2 was friendly and told us how she has approached L.N. after the first session and told her how she noticed she was shy and asked to be friends. L1 told H2 that this helped her step out of her shell and participate more. H2 must have been pleased to hear this because she had a giant smile on her face and the rest of the group agreed that what L1 had said was definitely true of H2.

After this discussion I felt the group’s mood change a bit again, a little bit more restless than at the start and at this point I brought this up for the group to discuss amongst themselves. They brainstormed some great ideas to help keep the focus and stick to our code of conduct, specifically the part about being respectful of the feelings of others and how that may be influenced by how we participate and listen in group. We took a minute to be crazy and wild and after that started up again. We will be implementing ideas that came up during their brainstorming such as a word of the day based on how each member is feeling or a score for the day. H1 shared he felt these things could be very important in helping the group become closer and get to know one another better.

We moved on to chapter 14 and talked about the feelings associated with the thought of letting someone down and the fear of failing. Each member shared something about this:

K worries about forgetting a promise to someone and not doing well in school.

T shared a different perspective, that she isn't afraid of failing because she isn't afraid to try.

L2 worries about school and tests because he wants to get good grades.

H2 shared her strong feelings about not letting her mom down. She shared that she thinks lots of people have and that’s why her mom is so tough. H2 sharing this really touched my heart, she is so insightful and I've seen her concern and worry for others. I would say one of her many strengths is her ability to have empathy for others and try to help when she can.

H3 is not necessarily scared of failing but of the response from others if he does.

S2 isn't afraid to fail because she works hard and knows that if she continues to try she has some control over the outcome. What a positive and determined attitude!

H1 isn't too scared because he feels he has friends that will be supportive regardless.

L1 shared that she worries what her parents will think if she fails.

We talked a little bit more about what H1 had shared and the importance of being kind to yourself and surrounding yourself with people who will support you. I shared my view that maybe changing your perspective can help relieve the pressure to succeed. I gave the example of getting a lower grade in school than you had hoped, and how this could be viewed as a learning opportunity to help take away the negativity. 

I asked L1 if she thought her parents would continue to support her if she failed and she shared that yes they would and smiled at that thought.

Time had gotten away from us so we had to end rather quickly. We read the moobiki hint and the directions for the think and do activity, which was giving away the “I believe” charms. I encouraged them to write about the experience or take a picture if they would like me to send it in and return prepared to share who they gave it to and why.

Session 9

This session started a little bit differently than most, I felt it necessary to address the change in attitude among several in the group regarding attending Manadoob. I brought this up and asked for comments and questions from the group. L2 and S1 spoke about their homework burden and feeling they are pressed for time to keep up. K also mentioned this but unexpectedly got picked up directly following her statement. We talked for awhile about commitment and the attendance contract each of us had signed. I spoke to them of my expectations and the thought I would like them to put into their decisions in this area and of course in life. We talked about balance, using time wisely, using resources, asking for help, etc.

Once the discussion had died down we started on chapter 12. I read to them in an effort to save time and gave them some time to work on questions 1-3. The workbook asked us if we have ever felt different or odd and how that has made us feel. H3 said that he is the 4^th shortest in his class and it makes him feel really small. M shared that she is tall and she likes feeling different. Both S1 and S2 said that being different can feel both good and bad. S2 enjoys it when she gets compliments about being different and unique; she gave the example of when someone copies what you do how that is like a compliment. L1 shared that sometimes her shy quality makes her feel odd and out of place, it’s hard for her to speak out and step out of her comfort zone. She shared some advice her mother had given her: everyday is a new day and she can be a new person each day. H2 talked about being different in school and feeling really alone, she thinks of school as “a big bush with  lots of flowers and if you look closer some of the flowers are different.” She told the group that she feels out of place at school because only she and her friends live in mobile homes and are “not rich.”

When we got to the first think and do activity I felt the mood of our group change, it was silly and lighthearted. They enjoyed the break in deep thinking and took their time giggling and joking with one another about how their hands looked.

At the end of our session we picked stones and each shared which they had chosen.  They left wearing their sadiki wristbands and were excited for our next session. L2 told me as he walked out that he had changed his mind and was ready for next week. Since he had to leave we agreed to talk more about it later on. 

Session 8

Today I received a call from S2’s dad informing me that she would no longer like to participate in Manadoob. I spoke with him about options and asked if he knew why she would like to step away from the group. It sounded like maybe there was some confusion so I followed up with her before Manadoob today. S2 and I spoke about her reasons, which it seems stemmed from feeling overwhelmed at school and an upcoming change in her schedule. Her dad had mentioned she was nervous to tell me because she didn't want to hurt my feelings, so I brought this up in our discussion. I told her that it would not hurt my feelings and that the most important thing to me is for her to be happy and healthy at the Club. I asked that she think about her decision and reminded her of the attendance contract she had signed at the start of Manadoob this year.

When it was Manadoob time and members were lining up L2 also asked me if he could stay behind, which it was easier for me to tell him no because I understood his motives (that he wanted to stay back to play with a friend who had attended the Club that day). As I told him no I decided to also call S2 to come to class with us. I spoke with her and let her know I felt it unfair to let her step out as we had formed a close group and her decision would not only affect her but also the group as a whole. She accepted my statement and attended our group. I was also hoping that her feeling of being overwhelmed would pass and she should be encouraged to take time to make these types of decisions. I hope to also have a conversation with her about making it serve her best, maybe looking at it a different way.  Instead of another thing on her long list of responsibilities, maybe an opportunity to let loose and unwind.

We revisited the Iduna stone and the three uncomfortable things we had written and put in the pouch with it. I asked members to share one of the things they had written if they felt comfortable doing so. H3 shared that putting his negative thoughts away for awhile help him, he didn’t hide his excitement about feeling that the Iduna stone worked for him. M agreed that writing about things that bother her makes her feel better. T said that she wrote down her worries of paying bills like on the house, taxes, and having enough money for food. Her honesty was absolutely amazing and the way she said it shocked me. She was so matter of fact, like worrying about taxes and house payments are typical thoughts of a nine year old. We spoke a little bit more about this and I thanked her for sharing something so personal. S2 shared that she had written about her schedule change and grades being uncomfortable for her, she worries and wants to do well. The amount of pressure she puts on herself is obvious and I hope that throughout this year she will learn to take time for herself and learn to be kind to herself as well.

As we progressed to chapter 10, I was reminded of the extreme positivity of our group. Everyone moved quite quickly through the changing negatives into positives exercise and each member shared one that they felt applied to them personally. S2 spoke of sharing a room with her sister as did several of the other girls including M We also shared about chapter 11’s question regarding anticipation and every one was excited to put a sadiki sticker in its place for this section.

Taking into consideration the way our group started with two members wanting to skip our group I thought that it was time to shake things up a bit and give them some space at the same time. I offered them a choice, we voted, whether to continue on starting to read chapter 12 or explore our kits a bit. The response didn't surprise me at all; all but L1 wanted to explore the moobia stones and their meanings more so that’s exactly what we did for the last 5 minutes of class. I felt the energy in the room change as they moved about and hope that our wavering members will have a renewed interest for next session. 

Session 7

We started the day with recap for members who had been missing the previous week and continued on in our workbook to complete chapter 8. I encouraged group members to lead the recap and fill in their peers about what had been missed. I notice that when I start setup and handout materials the group has settled into a routine and a seating pattern.

I was a little worried going into this session because leading up to the start I had been talking with H2 who had a very rough end of the day. She had exchanged words with a Club member on the bus and was feeling particularly upset about the situation. I was worried H2 would be withdrawn and I didn't think she would even show up. I had given her the option to check in with me before Manadoob to let me know if she was up for it, she surprised me by taking her place in line and attending.

We started at question number four, talking about someone in life who understands you like Pete understands Wella. L1 shared that she feels her pets understand her; she described the personalities of her dog and bunnies and how they support her in different ways. She shared that she feels they are her “sun” they brighten her day and surround her with warmth. I appreciate L1 willingness to share about her pets and her bravery to challenge the rest of the group to think and answer these questions in whatever way may be their truth and not what they may feel is an “expected” answer.  H3 shared that he feels his mom really understands him and supports him. He told how she cheers for him during sports and he thinks that’s really nice. H2 shared, which I felt very proud of since she did have a trying day. It was a big step for her to remain open and willing to interact.

The whole group was especially excited to start an activity, which was starting their windsocks. I gave the directions several times, M still struggles to stay focused during our sessions and I think struggles to fully grasp what we are discussing at times. The group is patient with her but I think that they notice as well and wonder why.

We still had time so after discussing chapter 8 we moved on and read chapter 9 learning about the strange things happening to Wella, the feeling of being pushed toward the river and finding Cruz's bowl out. We worked on the activity, writing down three things that feel uncomfortable and putting them in the bag with the Iduna stone. We will wait for the next session to talk more about this and members left their pouches here at the Club to ensure we will be able to check on them next time. 

Session 6

This session we started with a discussion about the grandparent letters. I was very pleased to see that most of the group completed the assignment and wanted to share. S1 shared that as she wrote her letter she found more she liked about the person and included that in her letter. L1 wrote to a former teacher and asked if I could help her deliver it. H3. is going to mail his letter, and so are L1, S1, and T.

During this week’s session we continued on to read chapter 7. L1 had asked if she could read it to us and complete the workbook chapter about beauty. The group agreed that they felt Loki Bella was beautiful and recognized beauty as more than someone’s appearance. S1 raised her hand just to ask if they would get to share and talk about the questions. The answer was of course yes, but I appreciate that she is becoming more confident and excited about sharing. She smiles more now during Manadoob and her higher self esteem shows in her interactions with peers in other Club programs. L1 shared a story about a friend who got teased once, and she now feels bad that she didn’t do more. She said that she wished she could go back and do something about it. H2 said that when she gets teased she doesn’t really get bothered because of how her mom has explained it to her. She shared that she tries to understand what the other person may be feeling or “what’s wrong with them.” L2 shared toward the end of the discussion that he had been called weird before and I replied by saying that I think he has a very outgoing personality and is funny. I asked him if he felt what I said was true and described him well and he agreed. We talked about the possibility that maybe the person calling him weird just thought he was funny but maybe chose a word that L2 didn’t really like. The group encouraged L2 to ask next time someone calls him a word like weird for them to clarify what they mean.

As we continued on to chapter 8 everyone in group volunteered to read. We started our discussion about the word “obsessed” and it’s meaning, but unfortunately ran short on time. H3 spoke of his obsession with Pokémon cards and immediately L2 responded that he feels the same and “just can’t stop playing video games.” When H3 said “same here man,” in such a serious tone it was all I could do to keep from laughing. They are too funny sometimes, and although this is not where I had intended the discussion on obsessions to go, if this is how they can relate it works for me. We will need to finish up the workbook section of chapter 8 this next week and talk a little but more about this topic in the context of the book which I’m sure will go great. I know that they will be very excited to be able to start a project with their supplies as that has been the big question each week since we started! 

Session 5

Thursday in Manadoob we finished up the last of chapter 5 and continued on to chapter 6.  The take home option I had given them for writing a short story about a gift of kindness has been postponed until next week. (Some Club members had completed but forgotten it, and with the reminder others seemed interested.)  I also gave members the assignment of writing the letter to a grandparent or similar person in an effort to save time since we always seem to be lacking in that. We will be discussing both in our next session.

We started with a check in about the Think & Do of being kind and happy for an entire day. L1 thoughtfully shared that she had gone to volunteer at the Humane Society over the weekend and made a conscious effort to have a happy mood. She said that that’s how she would want someone to act if she were in a cage all day and also commented on her dog that is blind that she has taught 14 tricks. S1 talked of how she had cheered up a friend and realized that by doing that it made her feel happier too. H1 asked someone at school who looked sad to play with him.

After we read chapter six and I asked the group to get out their workbooks again I heard unanimous moans and groans which made me smile because this means they are hooked! We have reached that point in the program where they have become invested and interested and I am very excited about this. The discussion we had about chapter six was emotional and a little tough at times, but I am thoroughly impressed with how the group supported one another. I decided since our group is developing well to pull myself back a bit during the discussion. I let them know that I was there to listen and I wanted them to talk about the first questions in chapter six as a group (knowing now that most of the time they want to share about each thing). Right away L1 spoke up and asked who wanted to go first. Several group members spoke of a loss and openly talked about who or what and how they felt. Most of the group was very focused, however one group member, M, struggled a bit in a way I was not expecting. She withdrew and engaged a member sitting next to her in giggling and talking about unrelated topics. H2 is kind of like the group task monitor and quickly leaned over to me and was concerned about this, instead of correcting them myself I encouraged her to wait her turn and share her feelings. As our conversation continued L1 told us of the loss of her bunny who she says she felt was like a person to her. L2 shared how a friend moved away and it made him sad, H1 talked about his fish that died and told the group he felt like L1. L1 told the group that she feels like her bunny is with her not physically but metaphorically because her mom made her a bunny stuffed animal and it helps her feel better. L2 supported her by saying “I like that.”  Other group members talked of friends or loved ones, favorite things or simply passed if they didn’t feel like sharing.

Toward the end of our discussion we talked about the power we have to control our reactions and what we think about things. The group seemed to like the idea of being able to decide how they want to feel about something and the power this gives them. The energy seemed a bit low at the end of group so I told everyone they were required to take a moment to smile, even if it was fake, which had the outcome I had hoped for since all of us looked around and laughed.

One of the best moments happened after class when L1 approached me and thanked me for the opportunity to talk about these things and that she really appreciated it. I am really enjoying seeing her come out of her shell.

Session 3 - 4

We have had several members who were absent at the first 2 meetings attend the group and it seems fitting to provide an introduction for them as well.

H1 is typically very social and interested in talking and sharing.  However, I noticed in Manadoob he was considerably more reserved. I am hoping this may be due to it being his first session and getting used to the group. He and H3 are good friends and I’m sure will benefit from the support of having one another as part of the group.

L1 is an eleven year old girl who I would consider to be a quiet but influential leader of the group. She has a calm presence and respectfully engages other group members. She seems to be quite dedicated to the program already and interested during our meetings.

K  is an energetic young girl.  She is open to sharing at every opportunity and seems to be excited about the program. She is friends with H2 but seems to be comfortable on her own.

T is a very quiet and sweet girl. She is very close to her siblings and outside of Manadoob spends much of her time with her younger brother in a caretaking role. She has become more confident within the group quickly and holds several qualities that remind me of L1

S1 I asked to join the group because of her very obvious quiet and timid personality. She was new to the Club this year and keeps to herself during free time at the Club. I am hoping Manadoob will be a good place to start in welcoming her to play a more active role in our “Club family.”

As far as our Manadoob session, I think that it went well. After adding several people to the group we had eight in attendance for the past two weeks. Our group seems to be meshing well and generally happy with the time we spend together. The only complaint I have heard so far is that there isn’t enough time for Manadoob and it should be multiple times per week. I guess I wouldn’t really consider that a complaint but a testament to how much they enjoy it!

Although I had planned to be through chapter 7 by now we are still working through chapter 5. To my surprise, after each question if I offer the chance to share every member raises their hand.   Because of this, it has become a habit to review and simply go around the table for each person to either share or pass if they wish. Although I feel somewhat pressured for time to be able to cover the material in the amount of time we are able to dedicate to Manadoob, I feel that having meaningful discussion is far more beneficial to the kids. As a group we decided to spend extra time discussing what we are learning and made the story assignment in chapter five a take home option.

L1, T, L2, and S1, all offered to share what they felt it means to be shy. After each shared I pointed out the theme I had noticed - that each of them perfectly described characteristics of themselves, a perfect response to “what shy means to you.” We talked of the importance of understating how each person’s perception may be different but just as relevant and worthy of respect. I asked if each of them would consider themselves to be shy and with smiles they all said yes. I was proud of their willingness to share this, in a way challenging that shy characteristic they each saw in themselves. L1 shared how much effort she feels it takes for her to socialize and speak to others and many of the other members showed their agreement and support of her statement.

We discussed our group and how to keep it a safe space for sharing, that each of them feel a bit less shy in this space. During this discussion L1 also shared that she feels she relates to Wella in a very important way, the loss of a pet. I was touched that she would share something so personal after just two meetings with our group. I feel for L1’s loss and am impressed with her bravery to talk about the “tough stuff” and create that personal connection to the story.

Our group ended with each being asked to complete the Think and Do activity of spending a day happy and kind. I will be interested to see the results after our talk about shyness. Some seemed hesitant but luckily I will see them through the week and can give subtle reminders and encouragement.

Session 2

We had our second session last Thursday; once again it was a very small group of 5. Although I have been recruiting it just hasn’t seemed to work out yet. I am expecting a bit larger turn out for our next session and still aiming for about 10 Club members.

Our session for the day covered chapter two and chapter three, which focused on family units and seeing beauty and magic. Our group is a little bit quiet and shy, understandably so since we are early in the program. I notice that group dynamics are starting to be formed and find myself concerned with making sure the real reason for the group stays in the forefront.

Since in the last entry I gave the update on how past Manadoob members were doing it seems appropriate to now introduce this group, although it is still fairly small.

S2 is an eleven year old girl who seems very mature for her age. She has younger siblings which may account for this quality, as well as her patient and thoughtful personality. She has been fairly quiet in group so far but when she speaks the group takes notice. She is very thorough in her workbook and has shared her thoughts several times.

L2 is ten years old and in some ways reminds me of S2. He is very considerate of other members, quiet, and patient. However, I also see L2 as a group leader; he is well spoken and the thought he puts into what he shares is obvious. He sets a positive example for others as he follows along and asks questions related to the material as well as of other members, trying to acknowledge connections within the group.

HR is the youngest member so far at nine years old. She is the most talkative and for the time being is very interested in knowing what is going to happen next and when we will use the program kit materials. She is brave to share personal experiences in just the two sessions we’ve had so far and it is apparent she needs and wants a safe place to talk about sensitive topics.

MG is a member who I had never really spoken to before creating this group. I had however noticed how quiet she is and thought this may be a good opportunity to provide her with support and let her feel safe enough to come out of her shell. She has shocked me with speaking openly and her willingness to read aloud. She is eleven and has a bit of trouble staying focused and understanding the topics fully but instead focuses on connecting with others in the group.

Manadoob Updates

For those of you who are loyal followers of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon – Bend Branch Manadoob Program here is an update of what’s happening.

As Ryan mentioned at the end of last school year he changed positions and is now the Teen Director. Under Ryan’s leadership the Teen program is consistently growing and Club members are increasingly more involved in not only their events but also giving back to our local community. Ryan is a natural fit for the Teen Director and has already fostered many positive relationships with the youth enrolled.

My name is Alley and I will have the pleasure of facilitating the Manadoob Program for Club members this year. I have worked with youth and families in a Boys & Girls Club setting for the past 7 years and couldn’t ask for a better job. The youth we have the opportunity to interact with on a daily basis are absolutely amazing! I am in my final year of the Master’s in Social Work program through Portland State University and am anxiously awaiting graduation day.

I plan to keep much of the program the same as Ryan did: class size of 10, weekly updates, and a celebration at the end of the program. I thought that a fitting way to start the year would be a quick update on past Manadoob participants for those of you who followed the blog last year and may be wondering about the progress of these youth post-Manadoob.

BL is still a Club Member and doing well. She continues to interact with others in a positive way and has developed her own group of friends who she enjoys spending time with at the Club.

KJ is continuing his work on aggressive behavior and using verbal communication in a positive way to express how he is feeling. He attends the Club most days and is generally unpredictable with his moods but the progress is noticed by staff.

CS2, in my opinion, has shown a very noticeable change in his behavior and how he carries himself. He is much more confident, social, and engaged in Club activities. He loves interacting with staff and has positioned himself in a way within the Club that ensures daily discussions with staff members.

CS1 has started this school year on a positive note.  He is now a role model for his peers and instead of being too distracted to complete or remember homework he often prefers to finish before playing.  He also encourages his new friends to do their homework as well.

HJ is a current Club member but has not attended more than a few days so far this year.

CM has become a much more social young lady. She is often the starter of conversation and instead of just smiling when addressed will answer confidently.

CJ is staying busy this year and is once again a participant in Girls on the Run, a self-esteem building program that combines health-based lessons with physical activity (training for an end of the season 5K event). She is often beaming when she comes in from practice and enjoys sharing her experiences with others.

RJ, MZ, and FR are not current Club Members.

Looking forward to a wonderful year!

More to come soon…

Alley

Final Session

So this is it.  We had our last meeting today with a pizza party and a viewing of the DVD.  I was worried, given the nature of documentaries, that it would be difficult to keep them interested and focused, but they loved it.  They wanted to watch it again!  There were some very interesting conversations and revelations, and a couple of moments got me a little teary eyed.  I never used to tear up about anything, but since I was diagnosed with Cancer it happens all the time.  I suppose I'm more in touch with my inner feelings than I was, but it's irritating, the kids make fun of me!

I don't know when I'll be teaching Manadoob again, though I suspect it will happen in the future.  I passed it along to a counselor who came in to do a workshop with my teens about effectively managing emotions so hopefully she will be able to incorporate it into what she does.  Networking is everything.  Still, it was a sad day, realizing that for the foreseeable future I won't be teaching Manadoob anymore.  I really fell in love with the program and I feel like I really hit my stride this year as a teacher.  At least I will be able to pass on what I've learned to whoever teaches it next.

Some good things today.  We talked a lot about communication.  The kids thought, at first, that there was no way to talk to animals.  I pointed out to them that speaking English is not the only way to communicate and that dogs spoke too.  They were skeptical at first but came around once I explained it to them.  I also talked to them about how verbal communication is actually one of the least important forms of communication and that body language and tone communicate far more information.  At the end of the DVD, I asked them what they learned from the video that they didn't know before.  CS told me that he didn't realize you could communicate without talking and that he saw how the people and animals communicated their love and understanding of each other through the way they touched and interacted.  CJ told me that she learned that people and animals can help each other with mutual problems and bring physical and emotional healing to each other.  There were many other insights as well but I'm running out of time!

I did a brief interview with CJ which I will be offering up to Manadoob to use as they see fit.  She was one of the rock stars of my group and she gained so much from it.  This is a bit of a spoiler from the interview, but, at the beginning of the class, she was having nightmares and really struggling.  She told me that Manadoob has helped her to overcome her nightmares and her fears, and she is sleeping comfortably again!

Well, I will respond to any comments (including the ones from last week I have not gotten to), and thanks again for sharing this experience with me and interacting.  All the best to all of you!

P.S.  They BEGGED me to do Manadoob one more time!

Session 14: Endings & Beginnings

Short session today.  In honor of Wella's excitement over the future, I couldn't help but point out that endings and beginnings are pretty much the same, or at least they often arrive at the same time.  In this case, they definitely have.

So before I share my thoughts from today, I talked to my boss about Manadoob next year, and I won't be able to teach it in the future.  However, our Education Director, who has been with the Club longer than I, will be transitioning to a role where she will have more interaction with families and help in coordinating support for them much like a case worker (she is getting her Master's Degree in Social Work).  While I am sad to hand it off, Alley is an amazing asset to the Club and to the lives of our members.  Her greater communication with parents will also likely give her tools to supplement what she is teaching in the class by bringing her insights and lessons into another forum.  I don't want to let Manadoob go, but it couldn't be in better hands.

I don't have much to say about today's session, but it definitely had a somewhat somber tone to it.  It was bright for a moment when I told them that they FINALLY (to them) get to take their kits home.  But, for the most part, it was pretty quiet and unassuming.  There was the feeling that things were ending, and it was a gray rainy day here after weeks of sunshine and hot weather, so the energy was just low.  Still, I asked them if they are going to miss the program, and they all answered heavily in the affirmative.  Well, all of them except RJ, who firmly stated that she wouldn't miss it at all because she hates everything.  So I asked her why she only comes on Manadoob days, and she said so she could get the kit at the end.  I asked her why she wanted the kit so much if she didn't like the program, and she mumbled something dismissively.  So, even the girl who is mad at EVERYTHING grew and came to like the program.

In fact, perhaps in the last great Manadoob moment I will experience, RJ and I had an interesting connection.  We were talking about good things we can do for other people, and RJ said she could ignore them.  I asked why that would help them, and she said because she wouldn't be mean to them.  So RJ and I had a discussion about how not doing mean things is not the same as helping them.  I expected significant resistance on her part to that idea, but I saw sincere thought and consideration in her eyes.  Usually she is dismissive or confrontational, but she really considered my words.  Shocked isn't the right word, but something just a notch lower than that.

Next week we will be having a pizza party and watching the DVD, so it's not quite over.  I will have some final thoughts next week after it is officially over.  In the meantime, thanks again for reading, and commenting, and really just caring about the lives of these kids you have never met!  I will do my best to get some pictures, but it's difficult because I'm never downstairs with the kids anymore.

Ryan

Session 13: The Home Stretch

Perhaps the biggest compliment I have recevied in Manadoob is the fact that the children are often amazed by how quickly the class has gone.  Today, when they found out we only had one more day after this before we were done with the book and the workbook, they were so upset!  Part of this is a reflection of me as a teacher, and part of it is obviously a reflection of the amazing job that Manadoob does to engage children and keep them engaged even when there are weeks separating classes at and a continuous story that takes place over months.

Today we discussed belief in ourselves and why it is important to success in every part of our lives.  HJ pointed out that belief in yourself is about half of all of the effort you need to put into something.  We also discussed Wella learning to become more confident in her life and why that came about.  CS surprised me by tying it back to an earlier point about facing your fears.  All of the kids agreed that the Manadoob, Moobia Stones, and Yama Cruz contributed to Wella discovering her confidence, but only CS recognized that a big part of Wella's confidence came from the fact that she faced her fears and overcame them, giving her the courage and sense of self needed to grow.

After that we talked about patience and how valuable patience can be in our lives.  At that point I was down to two students, so it just got kind of goofy and fun and we joked about little brothers and how annoying they are.  We also talked about our lives and just kind of hung out.  RJ, who is normally pretty surly and taciturn, really opened up and had a number of positive interactions with CS over the last 20 minutes or so.  It really seems like Manadoob has become a high point of her week and her behaviour is exemplary when she is there, even though her behaviour outside has stayed pretty consistent.  It's too bad that it is going to end, but I think the lessons have really sunk in.

So Manadoob and the year are coming to an end, and the summer is about to begin.  I find myself very reflective, wondering if this will be my last Manadoob class and thinking back over the moments I have shared as a result of the program and the amazing children I have worked with.  One more day of class, one day with a pizza party and watching the video, and then our class is over.  It will be fun to talk to the kids about what they learned, but it feels a little bit like a family is breaking up.  I hope they feel that way as well and retain the connections they've made and the lessons they've learned.

Cheers All.

Ryan