I have to carry a bouncey ball around with me. And I don’t care if its spelled bouncy and not bouncey, I like the ‘e’ in there.

It is a strange habit that gets me through the day and relaxes me. I carry it at work (I am lucky enough to work somewhere that doesn’t seem to mind that I bounce a ball through the halls). When I am called for something on the other side of the building I grab it to bounce while walking down the halls. If I’m waiting for the busses in the morning I have the ball in hand. It just feels right to carry a stress reliever with me. If I’m frustrated I bounce it, it changes my focus from whatever is frustrating to bouncing the ball, relaxing me instantly. I use it this way for students who are upset and can’t calm down. I give them my bouncey ball. This automatically makes them relax for a few reasons: a) it’s special, it’s something they know I cherish that I’m sharing with them; b) its the same distraction for them it is for me; and c) it can be good to get anger out, they can throw it as hard as they need to in the gym and nothing will get hurt (although it hit me in the eye once and I had a slight bruise).

So when we were away on a three day field trip with the 5th graders this last week and one of them had a birthday, it was particularly special for him when I gave him my bouncey ball. The one I had been carrying around since the beginning of the school year.

It’s not just any ball either, I need the ‘Whammo Superball’. Luckily they sell for two dollars at the local toy store two blocks from my apartment.

So today I will be bouncing my replacement Superball all over the place to break it in.