We had to put a little hustle in sending Gib off to the Youth In Government general assembly yesterday, and reschedule some things since it wasn't on the calendar, but he reports that they did very well, and nobody wanted to speak out against their proposed legislation. Which I hope means it will be passed. Their bill is about requiring all child care center staff in the state to be CPR certified and capable of using an AED. He carpooled up to Nashville with another friend who is running for Governor. Gib said he is doing well, so good luck to the group!
Mariah's opening night went very well. She was excited. Mike and I are attending the performance tonight and looking forward to seeing Music Man. Mike loves his musicals and it's even better when your daughter is in it!
Preschool was a breeze as a T.A. I love the flexibility and random fun I get to have while helping others. On Tuesday I spent most of the day playing with the kids. On Wednesday I helped one-on-one with students in the 3 classes I support, and I brought tadpoles from another teacher's room for visits and torture by 28 children trying to catch them. We had a blast. I love catching tadpoles. The other teachers just shuddered and took a pass on that little activity. The kids loved it though! Thursday brought even more one-on-one work and it was my birthday at preschool! We summer birthday people have to live with never having a bday celebrated during the school year. But at least in this bday I didn't have to add another year to my age.
Speaking of which, that reminds me of a funny conversation with a little guy who was having a hard time with pennies all being pennies even if they are different colors. Trying to explain how copper pennies change color in time went over his head. Showing him the differences in quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies didn't seem to do it either. So I asked him if he wanted to know when the penny was born. Of course! I showed him the year on the darkest, ugliest penny in the pile. It was 1974. I whispered loudly enough to be heard by the teacher that I bet that penny was as old as she was. I yelled, "Hey - what year were you born in?" 1975 was the answer. We did the "WHAT?!" face together and I said, "well that explains why this penny is all old and brown. It's not all shiny and pretty like this penny here that was born in 2011. It practically has wrinkles!" The teacher didn't have to put too much effort into pretending to be slightly offended - that was the best part for me. Oh, and one little girl who I guess was throwing her lot in with her precious teacher asked me, "and what are YOU? a hundred????" I just loved it! She was the same little sweetie who made silly putty beards the day before and put it on her face and said, "I haven't shaved in fourteen months!"
Preschool ends in mid-may - wah! So I plan to enjoy it. Right about this time of year is when we all start realizing we will have to say goodbye to our graduating class and we hug on them a little tighter as these dozen days of preschool will go by way too fast. Some of the kiddos have been with us since they were 1! It's bittersweet letting those little birdies fly away. But then I look back and remember when that little munchkin mentioned above cried for the first hour and then intermittently all day for a couple of years. Even before she was on "my side" of the building I would stop and talk to her while she cried through recess. Last year, I held her in my lap and worked for the better part of the year to get her over her fears. It amazes me still how much changes in the lives of these kids in the first 5 years. At graduation, we compare our preschoolers progress to the caterpillars that are spinning their chrysalis' in our rooms right now and the glorious butterfly release day in May. The kid who couldn't get through the day tear-free now runs into school with a smile on her face (ok wait, that's not quite true - if ever there was a 5 yr old who needs a cup of coffee before school it's her! but give her a few minutes and she wakes up smiling). I love the surprise hugs, seeing her take advantage of every opportunity to insult me, and be the first to hop in my lap for a story or during chapel time. She usually can be counted on to spring me from jail and we always have some BFF time on the playground. She has a gorgeous smile and everyone always comments on it. These things are the silver lining you must remember for every hard day you put in.
I'm baaaack! and I couldn't be happier!
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