I love my new job. It is great to look forward to work and enjoy the challenges that are ahead. For those of you who don’t know I started a job as a team leader in a home support team for SAI (Saskatchewan Alternative Initiatives). It is a great organization and I am really enjoying the philosophy of Gentle Teaching that they follow. It is a much different pattern than most of what I have seen in my experience with group homes and social services but it seems to be the trend, even when working with teens, to offer more freedom and guidance rather than rules and control. I can honestly say that there is no subtle distinction between the two approaches. I can also say that much of the difference in the success of either approach has to do with the heart of the individual who is supporting someone who is disadvantaged.

My experience so far with SAI is that they hire for heart and that “makes my heart super happy” (quoting from almost every episode of Ni Hao Kai lan).