New day, same ship?

Second, full-on day at summer camp. The kids are great but it’s hard work getting them to do any of the structured activities. Two little girls were from the US state I was born in, here visiting their English granny, which was interesting, and one of the other staff is friends with lots of my old students. We’re not allowed our phones out near any of the children so my picture is a bit random - one of the beautiful stained glass windows in our lunch room.

I was supposed to be looking after two three-year-olds but one was unbelievably badly behaved. He kept snatching toys off the other child, pushed her over, didn’t want to be with any of the other kids, refused to do anything I asked him and kept running off. The worst bit was that he literally nearly killed me, by wrapping his arms round my throat so tightly that I couldn’t breathe. When I protested, he pushed his fists so hard into my throat that I felt my windpipe collapse and it still hurts… all while he was laughing. I couldn’t believe how strong he was and it took two adults to prize him off me. Later, when I was writing up the incident report, he grabbed my pen and then spat in my face when I took it off him. In all my years of teaching, and all the awful behaviour I’ve endured, this was the first time I have ever been spat at in the face! He was just as bad with the other staff, including snatching the manager’s walkie-talkie and running off with it. By lunchtime, his mum was asked to come in and pick him up. He won’t be back.

The other staff asked me if I was coming back tomorrow and when I said only if I’m needed, they both said, ‘OMG, WE SOOOO NEED YOU!!’ Oh, dear!