Longhouse School

Lolita, 8am, back home in our Oliver Cave.

Yesterday Max let the kids walk around the track before the workers added the third layer. I emailed him this morning to ask whether I can run on it and he said it is dry by now, go for it. So I ran, and ran, and ran. I didn’t even remember to count my laps. I could feel the cushioning from the layers. I am sure it is much better for my body than running on the road. The owners are going to be draining the pool on Monday so just a few more chances to swim. I did lap after lap. Pure joy. Then back to Oliver for a hot, hot shower. More news on the track this morning a bit later.

With the permission of the Marables, I want to write a bit more about Tuesday night. Lori had completely calmed down by the time the rest of the kids came into the Owners’ RV. They all went to sleep as always. After the Maracles picked up Lori, I got a text from Mrs. Maracle asking whether I was still up and could we speak?

I seem to remember that Guy or Julie gave them Reddit names but I don’t remember and does it really matter? So let me call them “Benita” and “Percy.” And I have their permission to share everything here.

Benita knocked on my door and I made herb tea for both of us. The owners had already called them about Lori’s “meltdown” and how I had followed her into the other RV to soothe her. She thanked me (more details are on Julie’s post).

“It might seem like a setback but it really isn’t,” she said. “It’s been 3 months at Longhouse Elementary plus 2 months at the RV Park camp with only this one episode. Lori used to have two or three episodes every week back at her old school. From that perspective we are doing great!”

Her therapist and pediatrician have not been able to make a diagnosis yet and the therapist is trying to give her some anger management skills. The term “latchkey kid’s syndrome” has been thrown around. “Would I I have your permission to permit the therapist to contact you?”

Absolutely. And I shared with her something I told Lori. “I will always be your teacher and your friend. I am also an only child. May I be your Big Sister? Would you mind being my Little Sister? I will always love you and will never give up! You can make as many mistakes as you want but I will be here for you.”

Since then, as Julie wrote, Lori has been following me around like a puppy. I will try to address any co-dependency pattern a bit further down the road. But let me finish this morning’s story. Lori came to the track while I was running and ran a bit herself. Then she jumped into the pool with me. The water was freezing but we just giggled!

As I wrote in the title, Longhouse Education is about finding even one more safe moment for one child at a time.