The Journey Inward

I began my teaching career in 1991. Single and childless, my students were my world. I spent countless hours prior to and beyond the school day planning, organizing, photocopying, arranging the room, writing them notes, making photo albums and communicating with parents. I also began keeping a notebook of funny or poignant things they said. I found this notebook yesterday and thought I’d share out some of the gems.

Conversation between two 6 year old boys:
Boy 1:  You're not doing that right!
Boy 2:  Yes, I am!  Leave me alone!
Boy 1:  You have to do it this way!
Boy 2:  No, I don't.
Boy 1:  You have to.  You're doing it wrong!
Boy 2:  You can't tell me what to do.  You're not my wife!

A group of 3 boys are sitting at a table, working and chatting.
Boy 1:  Do you ever think about marrying your mother?
Boy 2:  Sure, I do, but then there's my dad to think about.
Girl from across the room:  YOU CAN'T MARRY YOUR MOTHER!!!!!

Two boys side by side at a table working on an art project:
Boy 1:  Miss H always makes projects for the kids who are absent.
Boy 2:  Yeah, and she makes 'em for the kids who aren't here, too.

A new boy joined our classroom in 1993:
New boy:  Miss H, I finally remember your name!
Me:  I'm glad, but soon it's going to change and you'll have to learn a new one.  
Girl 1:  Yeah, she's getting married.
Girl 2:  Yeah, then she'll be Mrs. H.
Boy:  Maybe she'll be Mrs. Smith! (Mr. Smith is the principal and 40 years older)
Girl 1:  He's married.
Boy:  How about Mrs. Jones? (reference to Mr. Jones, music teacher).  What other men teach in this school?
Children continue to name every single man they know!

While baking cookies with the students:
Boy 1:  Wow, Miss H, you know how to bake cookies?
Girl:  Of course she does!  She's a mom!
Me:  Well, no, I'm not a mom, but I do know how to bake cookies.
Boy:  She can't have children!  She's not married.  Besides, she has to know how to bake cookies because she's a grown up.

Conversation with a boy whose family ran a pumpkin patch on their farm:
James:  Miss H, the pumpkin patch isn't open today so I get to play after school.
Me:  That's a shame.  I was going to stop there after work on my way home.
James:  Oh, where do you work?

The kids were rushing to be done before the others.  
Boy 1:  I'm finished!
Boy 2:  It doesn't matter if you're finished.  It just matters if you're done.

The day of Back to School Night:
Kevin:  I can't wait for you to meet my mom.  You look just like her!
That night I meet his mom - a short, slight, black haired, blue eyed woman. She looks nothing like me.
Me, the next day:  Kevin, it was so nice meeting your mom last night.  How do you think we look alike?
Kevin:  You both have the same happy smile!
I still tell this story 33 years later.  What a lesson from a child on what really matters! 

Random overheard conversations:
Girl:  My kitties are at the vet.  They're getting their baby things cut off.

Boy 1:  This is my new silver necklace with a cross on it.
Boy 2:  A cross means that God will protect you.
Boy 1:  Phew!  I'm glad I didn't get the skull.  

Boy 1:  We've got to win!
Boy 2:  Yeah, otherwise we'll lose!

Girl:  ...and this is a picture of burned food.  That's because my mom burns things a lot.  But don't write that down or I'll get spanked!