When My Parents Blame Me For Not Writing Them Because I've "lost Touch With Reality" At Camp

When 9-y.o. campers tell you about their family yacht and European excursions.

Hahahahaha!!! 😂😂😂

When campers complain about ropes course helmets

I’m a Slytherin… I do this… there are people like me out there! 💚💚💚💚

Date a Slytherin who plans a future at like 2am and then texts you every detail for when you wake up

Active Listening

Active listening is something I’ve mentioned in posts, usually with the mental health post series, but I think it’s also been in some behavior management posts, but I don’t think I’ve ever taken the time to define it. Active listening is an important skill in life and is applicable at camp in navigating camper conflicts, difficult topics, and staff dynamics.

What is Active Listening?

Active listening is a listening skill and communication tool, which may be especially useful when emotions are running high or when something is of particular importance, but can and should be used often.  The combination of positive body language and repetition helps to show you are listening while helping you listen.

Why use active listening?

Active listening has multiple benefits. Two main benefits are that it helps you absorb what your camper or fellow staff member is saying, and it also helps them feel heard. 

How do I do active listening?

Ignoring the terrible phrasing that is, active listening is fairly straightforward. From the CDC, to practice active listening (x):

give your full attention to your [camper]

make eye contact and stop other things you are doing

get down on your [camper]’s level

and reflect or repeat back what [they are] saying and what [they] may be feeling to make sure you understand

Some more guidelines can be found here, and they are more adult communication related.

Reflecting is an important aspect of active listening, and comes in the form of reflecting words and emotions. You could do this by restating the feelings a child said they had, or repeating their words. There’s some examples at the CDC link.

If you’re neurodivergent or your camper is, you may have to make certain adjustments. For example, making eye contact may not be helpful for all people. You can adjust this by leaving the option open, but not forcing it. You can still employ other parts of active listening, such as stopping the other things you are doing.

My dog burrowed in my blanket... CUTE!!!

The Pink Rose, part 7

Part Seven- July 11th, 74 ADD

Pairing: Haymitch Abernathy x reader 

Word count: 954

Warnings: reference to danger, anxious/fear/PTSD response, implied history of abuse/assault

Here's a little filler action to move the story along. ✨#Backstory✨

The day had come. The 74th Annual Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta attempted to mentally prepare themselves to go to the arena. After Effie said her goodbyes, [Y/n]- flanked by Haymitch- approached them. [Y/n] smiled in an almost motherly way and Haymitch crossed his arms and looked them over.

“Any final words of advice?” Peeta asked.

[Y/n]’s face turned serious, “When the gong sounds, get away from everyone- don’t stick around and risk getting caught in that mess. The Cornucopia will be a bloodbath and you’ll need to find water and somewhere to situate yourself”.

“And after that?” asked Katniss.

“Stay alive,” Haymitch said. Everyone knew he was serious this time- there wasn’t a hint of sarcasm or humor in his voice.

After leaving their tributes to the airstrip entrance, [Y/n] and Haymitch made their way to public viewing area to watch the start of the Games. As soon as Haymitch was pulled away by a group of potential sponsors, [Y/n] felt a breath in her ear, “Are the odds in your favor?”

Startled, [Y/n] whipped around to see the familiar citrus orange face of Porcius Perfidius. His pompous grin looked down at her, “Hello sweet girl,” he sneered. [Y/n] felt her wall of confidence begin to melt as her palms grew sweaty and her heart began to race. Porcius was more than twice [Y/n]’s age, pear shaped, and weighed somewhere in the realm of two baby elephants. He wouldn’t stand a chance in the arena, but [Y/n] historically shut down whenever she came face to face with him. His pale skin had the slightest tint of orange, but his hair, eyelashes, and goatee were bright coral. Before she could respond, a green, stick-shaped version of Porcius appeared. His partner in crime: Janus Caesonius.

“Come now, Porcius. [Y/n] is a woman, we know that for a fact,” he whispered with crude amusement, “What do you think of your tributes this year? Will we get a woman on fire when this is all done?”

[Y/n] felt her cheeks burn. These men fueled a quiet rage that she didn’t know how to act on. She had to think of something to say to sate or deter these men. They’d been demeaning and harassing her for 13 years and she kept letting them. Her heart skipped a beat when she decided not to please them this time.  

“Don’t you think you’re a little old to keep up with the tributes now? Your stamina can’t possibly be the same,” [Y/n] questioned Porcius with her sweetest smile.

The men looked at her in shock- Porcius glowered at her and hissed through his teeth, “Look here you little bitch, you know exactly how hard I can make life for you and for your tributes. Don’t think the whole Capitol loving you is going to protect 12,”

“Oh I am counting on that, you can’t possibly make things any worse for me,” she shot back.

Janus grabbed her upper arm tightly, “Well if you think-”

“Janus,” a calm voice called from nearby, “It doesn’t look like you asked Ms. Bellwood if you could touch her,”

Plutarch Heavensbee.

“Stay out of this Plutarch!” Porcius sneered

Plutarch looked at him with the demeaning smile he was so good at giving others, “Well, we’re in a very public place right now and it’d be a true shame if a friend of Mrs. Caesonius or Mrs. Perfidius saw you so close and touching another woman. We know how rumors are like wildfire. And it appears District 12 has enough fire to go around right now,”

Janus let go of [Y/n]’s arm; but not before whispering in her ear, “We’ll finish this later,” He directed Porcius to follow, leaving [Y/n] rubbing her arm and standing alone with Plutarch.

With an embarrassed smile, [Y/n] thanked Plutach for intervening. 

“Your boyfriend was gone for mere seconds before the vultures made their descent,” he held out his arm, “Take a turn about the square with me?”

She suspiciously took his arm and followed his lead, “You’re not in my inner circle, you’ve never paid for the pleasure of my company, and I can’t say we’ve had more than a ‘good morning’ or ‘nice to meet you’. So what makes you think I have a boyfriend?”

Plutarch smiled as he looked ahead, “Ms. Bellwood, before you learn the hard way, I’ll let you in on a secret: I know almost everything- I’m in the business of knowing other people’s business. And fortunately for you, I’m quite observant, unlike most of the Capitol.,”

“And you’re quite humble. So who’ve you been talking to?”

“No one,” he could see the confused and frustrated expression on [Y/n]’s face, “It’s about to be confirmed a second time, but you might teach Haymitch to not drool when he looks at you. The Capitol may be full of self-indulgent imbeciles, but I’m not one of them,”

[Y/n] opened her mouth to respond when she heard Haymitch’s voice, “Heavensbee, are you picking a District to sponsor?”

“Not this year. I was simply picking Ms. Bellwood’s brain about the confidence we might hold in your tributes this year. You are noticbly more invested in them,”

“Well, sometimes you get dealt a hand you can work with,” Haymitch gave a half smile. 

Before Plutarch could respond, the countdown started. Ten… nine… eight- the tributes readied themselves- seven… six… five- the camera hopped from panicked to confident tributes- four… three… two… one.

Peeta jumped and ran for the woods.

Katniss hesitated and ran straight into the cornucopia- to the bloodbath.

In a quiet, breathless voice, [Y/n] whispered, “Fuck…”

Masterlist

This is probably the cutest gif I've ever seen!

When you can’t find the best fanfic ever because you forgot to like it and can’t remember what it was called…

I AM SO STOKED!!!!

Interacting with my mom’s high school students…

Reminds me of why I’m skeptical of teenagers…

Student 1: “Ms! That’s your daughter?!”

Several students: “You have a daughter?” “That’s your kid?!”

Student 2: “You guys! She’s been here like 5 times!”