Our new jobs have been an education in so many ways. We've had to readjust our cooking skills,
(now cooking for 14 instead of 2), discover the skills needed to run a house of 12 students who are rarely related to each other, learn how to create a chore program so the home is cleaned regularly and thoroughly, learn new names and faces, adapt to various dialects, become CPR certified, know how to drive 22-foot vans, know and uphold the consistent expectations for students and houseparents, etc. In addition to the required topics, we've learned about the area and what teens here like to do for fun.
Now that our classroom training is finished, we spend much of our time shadowing other houseparents. We go into their homes and observe how they run their homes. We take what we like and don't like and then keep track of it until we are assigned to our own home. Then we will incorporate it into our routine and hope for the best.
When we shadow, we will do everything the student home is doing. If they are going to dinner, we go with them. If they are watching a movie at home, we join in. If they are meeting up with other homes for a bbq, we get to join in the fun.
The first weekend we shadowed was Memorial Day weekend. Since the students didn't have school on Monday, many took the opportunity to enjoy some time with their families. That first home had only 4 students there and one went on a day visit with family
(off with family for the day but not staying the night). One of the things the houseparents planned for the weekend was to attend a High School Step Competition in Harrisburg. Stepping was part of our learning process too.
We described Stepping to some family and friends as a combination of drill team, marching band
(without instruments), and cheer. Wikipedia
(a super reliable source...I know) defines step this way:
"Stepping or step-dancing is a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. Though stepping may be performed by an individual, it is generally performed by groups of three or more, often in arrangements that resemble military formations.
"Stepping may also draw from elements of gymnastics, break dance, tap dance, march, or African and Caribbean dance, or include semi-dangerous stunts as a part of individual routines. The speed of the step depends on the beat and rhythm the performer wants it to sound. Some forms of stepping include the use of props, such as canes, rhythm sticks and/or fire and blindfolds.
"The tradition of stepping is rooted within the competitive schoolyard song and dance rituals practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, beginning in the mid-1900s"
A new competition to the two of us transplanted from Idaho:
Our visits also included some mini-golf & pizza to welcome upcoming 9th graders, dropping students off at Hershey Park
(almost every weekend), celebrating birthdays with the students, being there for prom, and witnessing the
Walk of Shame:
Yes, those are female & MALE students getting the boys dolled up!
Thank heavens for HouseMoms who can tuck in the hanger straps for boys who think they are spaghetti straps. One of the boys put on his strapless gown backwards; my biggest complaint was that the school didn't warn us about the hazard we discovered that night, cheeks hurting from laughing and smiling so much.
The
Walk of Shame is with one student home. The boys take a bet with their housemom that she will spray them with the kitchen sink hose unexpectedly. If they get sprayed, they walk down their lane dressed in prom dresses and heals-after getting their nails, makeup and hair done by the girls next door-and other student homes come watch the fun. If they don't get sprayed, she buys them a quart of
Rita's. This year there were three lovelies. We were present at the girls' home when the call came that they'd have 3 to make up and then we were present for the walk.
Dan, and another Flex-Houseparent from our training group, decided to add their own touch to the parade:
During the summer we commandeered a student home. That means for three weeks during the summer, we were in charge. Scary, I know! The regular houseparents were on vacation and we took over 100%. It was a good taste of what the job will entail when we are assigned our own home.
Between the guys' work & school schedule
(some were there for summer school) we tried to fill the time with other fun activities. There was pool games, a 4-on-4 basketball game, pool, puzzles, bowling, a few rounds of spoons, July 4th fireworks, pool, secret service to another student home, pool, a concert by the US Army Field Band Jazz Ensemble, did I mention games of pool?
Commandeering added more experience and education to our belts. We're looking forward to all that's in store for us as we continue to shadow and cover other student homes.
