Baby Blues

In they come, two darlings from more than 7 years ago. Each time I see them
(about twice a year) they appear to be so grown up and mature. Then, after a few moments together, I begin to see the faces of the little girls who were my charges for one full year. Each one still giggles in the same way, pokes her friend with the same finger pinch. It appears that not much has changed except their size and the size of the world they now live in.

We catch up. I hear of classes, teachers, boyfriends-boyhates. I hear what the latest trends are in school and what colleges they are thinking about. Then comes the pause. They look at each other, take a deep breath and begin.

"We have some news to tell you," one says.
"Yeah, it's about Sally," blurts the other.

Sally, having been the third part to this girly triangle, was always in the middle of their activities so I wasn't surprised to hear an update on their long time friend.

"She just had a baby last week. We're the god mothers."

I feel pain.

I have known this child since she was four and would come to pick up her older sister who was in my class. She was always a bubble, a free spirit. Full of life, in a life that was less structured than those around her. I feel helpless to help but still feel the need to express my sadness to the girls.

"You realize that you have a huge responsibility-not only to Sally but to her child?"

They nod.

"You need to help her make good choices when she asks, and sometimes when she doesn't."

They nod again.

"At 16 this is a pretty big task for both of you. I want you to know, that even if you are her support team- in the end, whatever happens, it is strictly up to Sally. We can only hope for the best."

We are all silent for a long time. Truly, what can you say?

We hug, kisses on the cheeks and they prepare to leave. As they do, one darling turns to the other..."This room seems so small now."

Yes, indeed. Their world had apparently grown, again... Enjoy?

I Just Love Your Child!

Each school year we have parent conferences. It's a time to meet with parents and discuss the overall progress that their child is making during the current school year. When I was a newer teacher I would feel apprehensive about the entire process. After all, there were times when I was younger than the parents themselves and I wanted to make a good impression as a teacher, a professional, as the guardian to their child each day. Now...not so much.

I mean, it's not that I don't care anymore it's just that, like my students, I have learned from my mistakes or omissions. Therefore, as time progressed so did my skills as a trained "conference-er". So much so that I now have my own checklist prepared and am able to gather the items necessary to ensure a successful pow-wow.

Sign-in sheet: Check.
Report card: Check.
Grade book: Check.
Work samples: Check.
Name of student BOLDLY in front of your face at all times: Having called someone's child the wrong name I now have created this simple solution...Check.
Kleenex: Sometimes for them, other times for me. HA! Thought I didn't think of it, huh? Check.
Aspirin: With the amount of students in my class this conference thing can go on FOREVER so you never know when a migraine can appear. Check.

So let the games begin!!!

After becoming a parent I realized that most everyone wants the best for their child academically but more importantly they want others to like their child. Parents hope other adults feel the wonder and awe that they do by (even if it isn't on a regular basis) just knowing their kid. It is because of this belief that I greet each parent with what I mean as a truly sincere statement, "I am so glad to see you, I just love your child." Sometimes I follow it up with a small anecdote that recently occurred or sometimes they in turn will share a clever ditty themselves. But one of the most memorable response I ever received was, "Really? I have never heard that before in my life. You know Bozo was expelled from his last school for putting a cherry bomb in his teacher's desk. She just never understood him." Ummmm, ok. Not sure I ever did either but the following day Bozo's mother treated me to some homemade jambalaya-yum! And, oh yeah, no cherry bombs that year either.

Either way, these conferences seem to bring out the agony and ecstasy of teaching and parenting and at those moments the twain shall meet-enjoy!

Input/Output

INPUT:

* tap...big brown eyes staring up at me
* I hope I 'm not bothering you but last night Johnny didn't...
*...so I wanted to let you know that Sally's anti-psychotic medicine still isn't working...
* taptap...big blue eyes staring up at me
* Miss T we were disappointed your attendance was in late yesterday because...
* ...therefore you need to be aware that David's father is NOT to pick him up...
* I've been too busy to let you know before, so here's the cake just cut it up whenever you think...You do have a knife and plates, don't you?
* taptaptap...2 sets of brown eyes staring
* .......BBBBBUUUUUURRRRRRRPPPPP!!!!!!!!.....
* You need to realize Miss T flushing logs are very important and need to be filled out on a....
* STOP IT!!! He's touching me!
* ...and we will be gone for 10 days starting tomorrow and need homework...
* Did you return the call from the therapist who wants you to...
* taptaptaptaptaptaptap...
* My daddy says that you...
* ...so she didn't have time to make me breakfast and said you should...
* I was throwing up all night last night but my daddy and mommy have to work.
* pull...taptaptaptaptaptaptap
* YUCK...somebody cut the cheese!!!!
*...did not, did too, did not, did too, did not, did too
* tug, pull...taptaptaptaptaptaptap
* Miss T? Miss T??

RRRRRRRRRINGGGGGGGGGG

OUTPUT:

Good morning my darlings, it is 8:00... let the day begin.

Enjoy!

Who Sprung the Spring?

Every year this happens and yet, once again, it has taken me completely off guard. Just like every day, I hop into my little zoom-zoom and putta-putta to school. Just like every other day I have more plans than the time it takes to complete them. And just like every other day my darling students appear anxious and excited to see me. But wait...

There's something today that seems amiss. No longer are my little darlings bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to absorb my every word. No longer do I feel that lovely sense of calm and well-being inside. Oh no (sigh), not now. For now I know my lovely world has changed...somebody has sprung my entire classroom into Spring!

Ahh yes, Spring. That wonderful time when flowers bloom, birds sing... and elementary school aged children turn into bumbling idiots. Too soon you say? They're much too young for such feelings to be aroused? Well, think again.

You'd think I would have remembered the general course of events that occur during a school year simply because I have been through this a couple DOZEN times. I mean, even Pavlov's dog figured out the routine after a few dinner bells. But no. I swear, I fall for it year after year after year. Sincere teacher, doing her best to keep the kiddies happy (secretly thinking she is at the homestretch of another school year) and BLAMO!!! Spring has sprung.

I was sharing this comment with a fellow colleague. She explained that she too was noticing the "boy meets girl" action in her classroom as well. But what I learned from her is that Spring is international and crosses through all cultures. For example, she has a student who is from Japan and does not speak a work of English (don't even get me going on the upcoming state test and YES she is still expected to have him score proficient or better-HA!) anyway, a little girl in her class said the boy from Japan was her boyfriend. When asked how she knew that, since the child speaks absolutely no English- the girl said, "He pointed to me, made a heart figure with his hands and put it on his chest." AWE! Now even I think that's cute!

So pull out the posies it's time to feel love renewed-enjoy!