As anyone ever done this at all?

I tutor children between the ages of 6 and 11 at one of Boston's public schools. It's a very rewarding job to me, because I get to give back to the community what I learned years ago!

I help the kids learn what I learned when I was THEIR age and in school. I tutor usually 4 children in a day for about 45 minutes for each one. I help them with their reading skills.

I truly hope to be able to tutor the same kids who I tutored before they left school for the summer!

One particular young boy who I tutor thinks the world of me. He likes to read mainly about science, nature and animals. He has difficulty with some words, but I help him with them.

We've beccome attached to each other, and we like each other a lot. He sometimes feels a little embarrassed at times when I ask him to read a little. Of course, I read to him and the others as well. I told him that I wouldn't poke fun at him, that I had trouble reading as well when I was his age.

It was very painful to me to have to say goodbye to them for the summer, especially THIS person. While attending the school's cookout for them, he came up to me multiple times and just gave me a hug. When they were about to go back to their rooms, he saw me crying a little, came up and hugged me again! We said bye to each other.

I told him that I want to tutor him some more when they come back to school. It's really nice though, to be able to share with them what I learned in school years ago!!:cool:

Good on you, Big Daddy! I've nothing but respect for folks who do things like that.

I have a problem though. I'm very paternalistic, and love working with kids. But, given the state of the world today, I'm afraid to.

I used to be a certified black powder instructor with the 4-H, for instance. There's no way you can teach a 12 year old girl how to hold a rifle without, in the process, touching her. When I announced I would no longer do that unless a parent was present, that ended my teaching.

I wouldn't want to teach ANYONE how to hold a rifle or a gun, much less a child - boy or girl!! That to me, is teaching them how to be violent, and there is too much of that in the world today!!

Tutoring is such a wonderful and much needed profession. I know it makes a world of difference to the children and in many cases you have such a positive impact on the little ones for life!

Yeah, plus I've already gained their respect and politeness.

One little boy, at times will do gross things like put one of his fingers into his nose and then into his mouth! Or he'll pass gas! Blatently, right in front of me!! Then he'll look at me with a smirk on his face. He has no shame in his game! Haha!! I'm not sure if he's trying to get attention or not.

I asked him why he does those things and he wouldn't tell me. But him and the others pretty much like me and they always greet me when they see me. They come up to me and give me a great big hug!