happy spring, friends!
on sunday i was traveling back from a blissful week in paradise squished on a tiny airtran plane next to my sister and a young gentleman shamelessly attempting to pursue her. this young fellow was giving it all he had and i was enjoying listening to his attempts whilst reading the second book in the "divergent" series. as the two were exchanging pleasantries the topic of majors was brought up. he asked what mine was...thinking i wasn't listening. my sister told him early childhood and his response went a little something like this, "what like baby sitting 101? all she has to do is feed the kids cookies and take naps. what does she do?" what? yeah. mouth ajar i was THIS close to ripping this kid to shreds with my vicious rhetoric when my sister calmly and plainly told him that he was full of shit. man i love her, always knows just what to say. the rest of the flight when on without a hitch but i still can't seem to shake off the words this young guy said about my craft. what do i do? are you serious? i can't go back in time although i've given it some thought and i now know exactly how to respond should an airtran situation like this present itself again. this is what i do: my kids and i, we try hard. every single day from 9:30 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. we study each other. our characteristics. our similarities. our differences. we study ourselves. we learn about the things that make us who we are. we learn about our community and our world. we dance. we recycle. we spell new words. we are learning how to read. we are learning how to write. we are learning to be scientists and mathematicians. we are learning how to appreciate each other in new ways. we are learning how to read and use maps. we build each other up. we coach each other when someone needs help. we learn from one another. we are growing. we are evolving. we are challenging what we know each and every day. my frustration with the dude on the plane had far less to do with his underestimation of me and more to do with his underestimation of my kids. people think that because children are young they are seemingly incapable of learning certain things about life. this infuriates me because from where i stand i have seen and witnessed children acting in ways that far surpass the capacities adults place on them. children are so insightful. they are so inquisitive and richly curious. they require a special kind of nurturing in order to grow and learn. i teach because i believe in education and what it can offer a person. what in can mean to someone. i teach so that one day one of my students will be the person to tell someone like the guy on the plane that he is full of shit for saying the only thing you do in first grade is take naps.
1 Comment
4/1/2014 11:23:12 pm
Well, I love that you've started a blog. We have always been Lola fans and invite this daily (or however frequent) diary. Your consistent attitude of GLASS-HALF-FULL is what will expel you into the stars my love. GOOD FOR YOU, muaaah.
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