Yeah, a first grader said that. I get that it's terribly scary, but we also work in a behavioral classroom, so you should understand that this shit sorta comes with the job and learn to not take it personally. I'd be more sympathetic if you were put into this position without your say, but you actually applied for it! You say you pride yourself on feeling more comfortable with kids than adults, but then you grow immensely upset when a kid says "I hate you!" or doesn't want to play with you right at the exact moment you beg them to. Some advice? Don't fucking beg them to play with you. These kids are awesome, but they're scarred, too; the last thing they need is an adult in the classroom who projects her upset/needy behavior because she can't learn to brush it off and do her job. Part of me is thankful that you DO have a heart because I've worked with the exact opposite kind of people, but you have to pull yourself together, damnit. It's a tough job, and sometimes yeah, it DOES get to you, but I've given you ample opportunity to go take a breather and even talk about it with me in our planning time. You have never taken these opportunities, which would be fine if you didn't always let this shit get the best of you. Stop pretending you're okay when you're clearly not; talk about it, or work it out on your own, but either way—-fucking get it together, because it's the professional and right thing to do.