I get coworkers giving me props all the time...but yesterday was the best one yet. I work at the state Deaf school. A high school boy who was hit by some real personal tragedy this year (brother committed suicide) has been walking around with his head bowed and really not communicating much. Well, yesterday he stopped me when no one was looking to say, "Noticed you've lost a lot weight, you look really great."

I said, "Wow, thanks. I've been working hard."

He said, "Great job" and "keep it up!” I got a huge smile from him too.

You know most kids are pretty self absorbed. I’ve had one chubby girl ask me what I was doing. I’ve had one sweetheart girl give me a huge hug and wow. I’ve had two gay boys, essentially say, “look at you!” But this boy has more reason than most not to be bothered with adults like me...so it just took me by surprise. His encouragement was so meaningful too.

I’m really awestruck at how much people around me are cheering me on. And really there are some great kids out there, don't you think?

I love teenage boys. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, I was an English teacher... I loved all of my students, but teenage boys are the best!!!

What do you do at the school? I've often thought of going back to school and learning sign (took one class and really enjoyed it) so I could be a personal aide or interpreter for a student...or, an English teacher at a deaf school. Well, I've thought about that, nursing, and sonography.

And Juli...many congrats...your weight loss is amazing!

Rain

I'm the cafeteria manager. Yeah, a lunch lady. :eek:

I'm in school to get my BS and MBA, so I can get away from where food is being served.

Thanks for the props on the weight loss. I feel pretty lucky to be able to lose as well as I have.

My mother was a cafeteria worker for many years. She was actually an LPN, but my father lost his job and she needed something with great benefits... So,, she worked in our high school cafe...until the nurse left and then she bacame the school nurse. Which was fine except for the kids who would go to her and say things like...didn't you used to feed us last year?

But...she actually loved working in the cafe...minus the perpetually wet shoes and the uniform (brown and gold polyesther...seems like a cruel joke).

:eek:

Rain

Thats a great compliment coming from a teenage boy. The other day my son's friend told him that if his dad (my dh) every kicked the bucket, he was moving in on me. lol. He then told him I was hot. My son was totally grossed out that one of his friends thought his mom was hot. I loved it. :eek:

Hey Juli, I have had the same thing happen, I run the transportation dept for my schools. So I really am not around the students on a daily basis, there are times I do have to go out and driver or I will be out a school site, I will have students stop and look at me and ask what happen? I had one kid sitting behind me, just kept looking at me and I asked what is wrong? He said you look like one of the old bus drivers, I had to laugh and I called his name out, and said oh my god it is you. I took that as a compliment. It is just way too cool when a student does say something that is a positive.

The same thing happened to me. I work in a state psychiatric hospital and many of my patients have made positive comments. Those would have been the last people that I would have expected to make a comment, much less even notice or even care, (given their symptoms, issues and behaviors with just the nature of their illnesses). Also, I used to babysit a friend of mine's 3 sons. I had not seen them in a while and ended up seeing them the other day. One of them goes "you look different". He is 8 years old and I didn't expect him to notice or say anything either. The youngest one is three and he refused to come to me because he didn't recognize me. The positive coments and acknowledgements are very encouraging and brighten my day; especially when I am having a bad day. Further lets me know that I made the right decison.

I also teach in a high school. I have had several students make postitive comments. I had one comment I will always remember. This was right before Thanksgiving break. I was coming in to school one morning and one of my 9th grade students saw me. He asked if I have been losing weight. He then went on to tell me to keep up the good work. He then laughed and joked, "Don't eat too much turkey, you don't want to gain it back" I thanked him for making my day. He was then killed in a car accident that weekend. :think Why do horrible things happen to the good ones? I haven't stopped thinking about him and his family since.

So to everyone enjoy those postitive comments!

Great NSV. Keep up the good work!

And really there are some great kids out there, don't you think?

Yes there are. Some of my son's friends from Scouts know I'm going in for the lapband and they're already encouraging me. I didn't realize my son was so proud of me for making this decision to have surgery - and I'm just so amazed that these teenage boys can move me so much by just saying "good for you". Pretty darn cool.