I had worked in the special education program only a couple of months. Why did it feel like forever? From the outset I knew that the six little boys in the program could be unpredictable and violent, but two elements of the job were unexpectedly difficult: the physical rigors and the unrelenting pace. The combination of both of these elements left me exhausted and stressed-out. I had taken this part-time job as a “step down” from full-time work. But instead of feeling more rested, I was at my wit’s end.