Gorgeous day out there today. I'm really enjoying this early Summer. That's right, once again Kansas decided to skip Spring as I found myself in an old building with off/on air conditioning that required multiple layers until it didn't. I was trying to outsmart my work environment by wearing a long sleeve shirt and a thin jacket. I hoped that would somehow equal a fleece jacket but yet give me more flexible options. I calculated wrong. Instead I just felt itchy all day.
I was right there along with so many of my clients and their sensitivity issues. Angry at clothes, jackets, performance expectations. All in good fun though, work - it's such a great way to balance all my idiosyncrasies. I get overstimulated and stressed - guess who's an adult who can lead a sensory party. I love my job. If I didn't know how to emotionally regulate, I wouldn't be able to help them. Yet it's actually very difficult to hold instructional control, anywhere. But in chaos?
Chaos is a byproduct of someone not being able to hold instructional control.
There are situations where chaos can be naturally high. A classroom full of toddlers with communication and sensory disorder challenges - is one of them. I know that going in every day. In no possible way do I 'mix it up' or experiment to see what happens. Or make promises. Even under the best intentions I have no idea how the day will turn out. Everything is so structured and purposefully considered, because of the chaos potential.
The goal of successful management is to reduce and remove chaos from the environment, not add to it. This should be a principle of communication. Holding the ability to facilitate a conversation is different than being a conversation.
Idk, I'm a behavior technician who does intervention service all day. Maybe what comes natural to me - operating from preventative actions, isn't what first comes to mind for others. To me, being kind, generous and helpful is the best way to resolve behavioral concerns. Resolution also requires a high degree of emotional maturity, awareness and honed instincts. As well as honesty.
I started this morning untangling a behavior problem with Jake. I learned he does not want to exit the school bus in the afternoons as well as invading personal space of the other occupants while wasting everyone's time. I actually enjoy breaking down the exact process of behavior and logistics. Even as I was being told, I was like - I got this. My mind filled with plans on how to get him to function appropriately. Visualizing it all. The distractions (uncomfortable triggers), the enablement (current expectations of broken process), the reinforcements (rewards/praise/attention). All because I cannot physically be there and I have to draw up plans for others to follow. One of those people being my mom. Quite simply, it's going to become a bigger problem than it needs to be.
It's hard to accept but controlling the actions of other people is not possible but learning to emotionally regulate yourself is. I learned this as a kid. I practice it every day. It's crazy to me that it's become a career and I love it more than writing. But it kind of goes hand in hand - the creative fiction background really helps me throughout the work day with navigating the instructional control. Can't really explain it that well tonight. I'm tired.
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