damn

so...
i had to have a heart-to-heart with a student today...about his attitude and his lack of respect...
he has problems...yes...but i have been worn out...not able to deal with his eye-rolling and teeth-sucking...
and then...
i told him that he didn't HAVE to like me...but he had to follow our class laws...(long story...but we have a small government within our room)
then...he started crying. asked if could go to the bathroom...i asked for a hug first...and, his head on my shoulder, he lost it.
an 8 year old...losing it.
my heart broke. shattered. damn. godihatethis...
i took a chance and told him about when my parents divorced when i was 8...my mom moved far away (to florida) just like she threatened she would...and how, even now...i was hurt by that.
sooooooooooooo...upon opening a whole new can of worms....
he confessed that he is mad at his mom...(she basically deserted him)
he is mad because he lives with his great-grandmother....
of course, he wants to be with his mom.
and he is sad that he is invisible at home.

makes me want to scoop him up and take him. take him anywhere except where he feels that way.
no one. no one should feel that way.

sadly...he is one of the most brilliant 8-year-old writers i know. he is is amazing with numbers. he is charmingly beautiful...
and, he feels invisible.

my heart is broken over this. to hear it from his own mouth...an 8 year old with a broken spirit.

daunting is what it is. and all i can do is hope that hugging and words can get through to him.