Triumph!

Several weeks ago I made a professional goal--namely, that I would make friends with the surly 12-yr-old who tried to call me a f****** b**** when I told him his time was up on the computer.

This is not because I have some compulsive need to have everyone like me. Because I don't. Much. But I happen to like 12-yr-old boys, and I've always had a soft spot for the punk ones. This soft spot was strongest when I was about 10-14 years of age and was always falling for the Bad Jr. High Boys. Now it is more of a benevolent, legal sort of interest. Plus I know that their lives can be pretty crappy and they need safe(ish) places where they feel welcomed. I'm absolutely fine with banning adults who make my life hard, but I don't want to do that to a kid. Kids have enough problems.

Anyway. I'd like to think I've been making progress. We haven't started having tea parties at my desk or anything, but there has been no more attitude. And yesterday when he walked by my desk he waved hello. I nodded my head and answered, "Hey."

Inside, though? Inside I was doing Snoopy dances.

Posted in: library gossip