Thursday April 3

4th (and last) day of camp
Today I came in and everyone was already putting up the volleyball net. We played volleyball in the morning, then I got out things for the boys to draw. I asked each of them to draw a scene or character from their favorite tv show. One of the boys was upset that J was not there yet so he decided to draw a picture of his feelings. Everyone either drew or played games until lunch.

For the group activity I asked each of the boys to write down 5 things they learned this week. Many of them said they learned new things about their friends. One kid said he learned about art (since we had been in the art room).
The kid who called 911 said he learned not to "do stupid things", not to get angry over little stuff, not to steal, that he can do better, and that he can draw more than he thought.
The boy who drew his feelings said he learned not to cuss, not to fight, how to control his feelings, to be nice, and that his friend ("brother") looks up to him.
Another kid said he learned how to interact with his brother better, how to be nicer to his brother, and how to include his brother.

I feel like I learned a great deal more than all of them. I learned about each kid individually, as well as more about adolescent boys in general. Everything I have done in my practicum has been with older adults until now, and I learned how differently these groups act. I do have younger brothers that I help and interact with, but I learned there is a large difference in a relationship with a sibling or someone I know personally, and with a client. When one of these boys asked to do my hair, I automatically said I don't care. But one of the other adults told him that he needed to remember his boundaries. I am glad she stepped in and said something because I would not have otherwise said anything, or thought that this was too much. When another kid asked for a hug later on I did not know what to do because if doing my hair was crossing boundaries then hugging me had to be crossing boundaries. I told him he should hug the kid he thought of as a brother.

I find my biggest dilemma as a social worker is always trying to figure out where that boundary line is. How close is too close...how friendly is too much?