Masks

In one of the units at work, a select group of clients who have displayed progress in their own treatment and have had good behavior are part of a leadership group

There is an upcoming art show being put on by the recreation department. Our leadership group was asked to make something to contribute to the show.

On Tuesday night, I took six of the clients in the leadership program, we stayed up late and decorated these masks. I put out all of the arts and crafts supplies that I could find in the cottage ranging from tissue paper and glue, sequins, paint, and markers.

Each of the clients decorated a mask. The creativity that ensued took my breath away. Each mask is such a statement of the emotional space that the girl was in that evening. Some of the masks brought tears to my eyes, while others made me laugh outright.

This mask, while a little difficult to see in the picture is all women's faces - from all sorts of magazines. There are women of every size, color, and culture that could be found in our limited magazine stash. This is one of the two that spoke to me the most.

Such a cool project. These are the moments that I positively love my job. I get to watch kids be kids, and let their creative juices flow, and watch them laugh, and be 'normal'... if only for an hour.

Toothpaste

I never want to see toothpaste again.

This evening, one of my client's (who was recently diagnosed with Aspergers) was having difficulty following staff directives (to go get in the shower), and became emotionally dysregulated with escalated behaviors. She proceeded to walk into the bathroom without asking permission, and filled up the center of a toiled paper roll with a concoction of shampoo, conditioner, body wash (about 2 tablespoons of each), and an ENTIRE tube of toothpaste. Add a little water, give it a good stir.... and then start flinging it about the bathroom. While she was at it, it seemed prudent to soak all of the toilet paper on said roll with the toothpaste soup, and fling giant spit-wadesque masses at the walls... the ceiling... and of course at me.

As frustrated as I was.... I couldn't help but be thankful for the minty freshness, and not mind the smearing of it over every surface in the bathroom, when my clients have been known to liberally finger paint with their own excrement and menstrual blood.

When I got home, I discovered tooth paste in area's tooth paste ought not go. I just may have to brave through the taste and start brushing my teeth with baking soda.

Graduate School!

Last week, I was accepted as a foundation year student in The University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work!

GIGGITY!