Fish Kisses & Other Hidden Talents

When I was a younger mother to younger children, I wish I had more of what I seem to have now to give to the kids at preschool. I think my mom sees those years differently, from her viewpoint, but I always felt frazzled and out of patience. She says I played alot with our kids and seems to think I did a fairly decent job of getting them through the early years. I hope she's right, because while I thoroughly enjoy my time playing with the kids at the preschool, in the back of my mind I feel a little guilty that I didn't give as much to my own. It makes me a little sad. And I think that perhaps for alot of moms currently going through that phase in their life, maybe it is hard for them to always be in that moment of time. So I try extra hard to be fun and patient and creative with their kids, so that while they're in preschool they are getting something a little different than the usual Mom-Stuff (because we all know she's a busy, busy lady).

So, to answer the question about Fish Kisses - you know how you make that fish face by sucking your lips in and making them go up and down while you cross your eyes and make a kissy face?! That really sends kids running. Mine always took off. C'mon, everyone makes that face, don't they?!

So, I got involved in this Methodist preschool ironically enough through a recommendation of my friend and counselor in YW's at church who taught there for many years. I wasn't looking for a job, but she mentioned they were hiring a teacher's assistant/music teacher. I don't sing especially well, don't read music, can't play an instrument, never taught kids....thoroughly unqualified, unless Ballet counts?! But something kept niggling at me to go for it. I even interviewed against someone else I passed on the job info to! One of the nicest things is that the hours allow me to be home when the kids are home, and all their holidays are my holidays, summers off, etc. Mike's comment when I got the job was, "are they aware you are completely unqualified for this?!" and we just laughed and laughed that I got the job. The first few times were rough, but I quickly found my groove, and discovered several hidden talents. I can make stuff up on the fly, I don't have a problem acting goofy, it doesn't take a great voice to sing preschool songs, and the kids are just happy you're letting them bounce around and laugh at you because you look silly dancing. Now the 1 year olds aren't as easy to please as the 5 year olds, but really, it isn't all that difficult.

Throughout the years, there have been a few LDS ladies teaching at this Methodist preschool. That just makes me giggle. Subsequently, there are several Mormon preschoolers in attendance - yesterday 4 out of the 10 in my class. (A little side note: They love the Prayer Request circle time before we pray...a little different than what they are used to, but ah, what better time to get the scabs on your knees blessed and announce your mommy had to go to the dr because it hurt to pee.) When we decided to sell the house and mom moved out here, I took a personal leave of absence and have been their substitute teacher several times this year. They just offered me the position to come back next year as a 2 day a week Pre-K teacher's assistant. I think I will be rotating between 3 classes doing whatever needs to be done whenever a teacher needs an extra set of hands. This works out well for us for the next couple of years. Once we have Indy and Taryn in college, things may have to change, but in the meantime, while the pay isn't much, it's a good place to work and the hours are perfect. And when a child sees me and goes, "Yay!!! It's Miss Chrissie!!!!" and I get a big hug, boy is that a great moment.

Now I am last LDS left standing on Methodist ground. I guess it falls on me to recruit more. So, that was a long blog to answer a couple questions, but there you go....