The things kids say

9-2-09

Today I wore a pair of brown slip on shoes. The brand is Vera Wang. I got them from Kohl's at a big sale. The reason I bought them is two fold: 1) I wanted a pair of brown shoes to wear that were not 6 inches high and 2) they were cheap. They weren't really my style but as I already confessed they were of the right color and price. They have a very cute fuzzy layer around the edge and a large cluster of rhinestones on the toe. The shoes are very comfortable and I can wear them at school all day without my feet hurting. Any shoe that can do that is worthy of being in my closet. Regardless of all the positive facts about my shoes, today I really second guessed my choice. While I was at school today I had several students comment to me that they also liked my shoes. My first instinct was to be flattered. Then I started to think, do I really want to be a fashion model for things that 5 year olds like? Unclear in my shoe choice I was now at a crossroads in both my foot and body wardrobe. If I wear something they like am I dressing immaturely? But if I wear something they think looks stupid I will lose my cool points with the kids. After this verbal tennis match in my head I decided that I will wear things they like because they are closer to my feet. If they have to look at my feet all day then they should like what they see. What kids say really makes me stop and think.

Another comment I got today was from a little boy. He came tearing out of the bathroom and said that another little boy had peed on the floor. Here are the thoughts running through my head: what do you want me to do about it? was he trying to pee on the floor? how do you know he was peeing on the floor? were you looking? I'm not cleaning it up. I'm also not going into the bathroom to check and see the floor where the little boy allegedly peed. Eventually I think I landed on the statement of," You shouldn't pee on the floor. You need to clean it up." Sometimes what kids say really stump me or put my mind whirling in all kinds of directions.

In the first week of school I had a Kindergarten class that was learning to raise their hands to speak. After a lengthy period of time where this one little boy wouldn't put his hand down I finally called on him to tell me the inevitable story about his dog or loose tooth. To my surprise this is what he said, "My daddy used to be in a jail where he was behind a big piece of glass and he couldn't hold me. But now he moved to a prison far away and he gets to go to a room to visit with us and he can hold me now." After my heart broke a little, I said, "well that's good that he gets to hold you." What do you say to kids when that's what they tell you.

As I was reiterating the above story to my Assistant Principal, she had a much funnier and more uplifting kid story. As she was walking down the hall one day she stopped near a first grade class. She overheard the following conversation:

Boy 1: You don't know what a condom is?
Boy 2: No. What is a condom?
Boy 1: It's one of those places you stay at the beach in the summer.

Working with children has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I hope that I always get to hear the crazy things that kids will say.

Have a blessed evening and thanks for reading my 11th blog.