Potential

It has been said that patience is a virtue and it is evident when one works in taking care of kids. The unpredictability of a child's mind and actions can be a daunting task to figure out, for one must think like an FBI profiler. In some ways I must think what that child thinks and see what that child sees. Also predicting their next move before they do it. For some of these kids act like little angels on the outside but deep inside they have the capacity to be like Hannibal Lecter. For they can mess with one's mind to the point of going insane and tearing out one's hair.

One has to remember to keep one's cool as madness surrounds them day in and day out. As the saying goes, "Kids say the darndest things." Sometimes those things that kids say and do can trigger emotions that one can't help bring out. Such emotions as anger, frustrations,sadness, humor, and the ever so popular confusion. It's the weird things that cross our paths on a daily basis that leaves me and my friends totally speechless. For I am basically amazed at the depths of insanity that these kids will try just to get any kind of emotion out of us.

Over time one can become a little cynical and have sarcastic wit to them. For one can turn into a George Carlin or a Dennis Miller in which they are known for their sarcasm. Over the years, I have learned that one must not have the mindset that it's not just a job. It's not a job that a person thinks is just for the paycheck or the fact that there are perks to the job. In retrospect, I don't consider it a job, I consider it a place that I come to day in and day out where I can have fun and make a kid's life much more enjoyable. Everyday I walk through those hallowed halls and feel like Norm when walking into Cheers so to speak.

They say if you change the life of a child, you change the world. In my own view, I play a small part in something much greater than myself. For a person who seeks to one day become a parent should come to trade places with me and walk in my shoes. For the experiences one will face will change their perspective which some would perceive is "the easiest job in the world." I consider every kid for the last 7/8 years that have walked through the doors of the Youth Center as my own kid. In a way they have somehow given me a better understanding of what it's like to be a parent.

For there will always be whining, crying and temper tantrums associated with my job and that is just coming from the staff. You got to have a little bit of humor in a place that has so much insanity in it. In any case, someone once told me that every person has the potential to be a parent. It's how one uses that potential that separates the men from the boys so to speak. A couple months ago, the question was given to me if I had the potential of being a parent. My answer...I believe I do.