Imagine if you will - in your office at work - 27 'workers' walking in all at once... bebopping (that's fancy for bouncing up and down as they walk)... smiling... all.... 54 eyeballs gazed upon you, all in somewhat of a row - all thinking, "I'm really happy, I wonder how this 'boss' is gonna make me happier.?"
I never realized how lucky I was.
Forty pounds ago and thirty-plus years ago I taught Elementary PE. I never, at least until maybe now, realized how lucky I was.
Tweren't because of me - it was because of them.
Kids teach, yeah they do.
They give you their all. You ever manage people? You ever have a workforce full of folks that put 100% of their trust in you? You are their everything, and in that moment, their only thing. I think that's called loyalty. (Remember, they teach.)
We, those entrusted to stand at the head of the class - ain't gots no idea what's gone on in their day. Single parent? Being raised by Grandma? Lost a parent? Wearing the same outfit they had on yesterday? Did they get breakfast? Was their electricity, gas, recently turned off? Did their jacket match the temperature? (Were they even wearing one?)
All those unknowns, yet, there they were, 27 of 'em, already to have decided "I'm going to have a happy, smiley, day."
I left education for all the wrong reasons. (Imagine if you will, walking away from that scenario to go load suitcases on airplanes for $15K more per year.) Of course teachers need to be paid more - but this ain't about that.
This is about us being in good hands for tomorrow. Sure, we hear about the Johnnys and Julies that are 30-something, living in their folk's basement playing video games (again and again.) For every one of those - there are a kajillion well behaved, well meaning, GOOD HEARTED little ones pointed in the right direction.
We adults - we have our "It can't be Monday already"... Our "Hump Day" (thankfully we're halfway there)... our TGIF... our "IT'S THE WEEKEND!"... Our, "are we there yet are we there yet" (Retirement age.) A perty ugly cycle with the main theme of "oh woe is me."
Not kiddos.
Breaktime at work. Ya ever see old farts breakneck out the door to run, scream, yell, bebop, whoop, hop, jump, tag, chase, suck up everything in life good there is to suckup? Me neither. Recess is like that though.
Then, we go home and we adult. Literally, placing children in the backseat. We are the ones making the bucks, thus, we, by nature, get all busy purchasing the rewards for ourselves. Not all, of course, but most. Children, feel slighted? Nope, they still got that smile on their face. Their look of loyalty, devotion, unending love.
A dozen donuts in a box on an office table. Of course I'm grabbing one. If they ain't looking, I'm gonna grab another. Back to recess. Recess duty in fact. Recess duty is where you find the child, the child that very very rarely gets to walk into QT with mom or dad and buy a bag of Skittles. When they do though, the next day at recess, they tap you on the shoulder, say your name and proudly hand you the mostly melted last three Skittles that were in the bag they'd been saving for you. Children teach.
This past year I've been able to witness a little man, he's 6 I think. His father was killed in an accident when he was still in his mom's belly. For me, that would be akin to a 'get out of jail card free' if I chose to live in a crappy mood every day. I'd be 'ok' to walk around asking "Why me?" whenever I wanna. If anyone has 'earned' the right to lead a bitter life - it is he. Except, he's remarkable. You cannot, willnot wipe the smile of life off his face.
I've observed, in the last few years, children attending their 7th school district in three years. If that were me, I probably wouldn't talk to anyone at school for ten years for fear of one day assuredly 'losing them', ie, moving on again. Not the kids I saw. They adapt. They are remarkable. They teach.
A very close friend shares "my kids are really well educated, well intended, but, my 8 year old granddaughter is 'the adult' in their family."
Children, are they perfect? Of course not, they're HUMAN, but... what wonderful little humans they are!
Bend 'em, shape 'em, still, they come outta the wash unscathed. Undaunted. Happy. Loyal. Loving. Giving.
I am pretty sure it was Andy Williams who once said "It's the most wonderful time of the year."
It is said be kind, be nice, we never know what a fellow adult is going thru. Same with kiddos.
Of course this ain't a lecture - it's more to remind ourselves to try to match their unbridled enthusiasm, smile for smile, mile for mile. Children are simply incredible human beings, we owe it to them for us to attempt to be so as well - and it's just a guess, but also a pretty safe bet, we'd be much better off for it too.
I love the picture of the puppy running thru the gate and it's entitled "Live life like they left the gate open."
In our case, maybe they left the door open and we can all "Live the day like they left the gate open and it's recess time!"
Merry Christmas and Happy Bebopping - it's the most wondeful time of the year...
Love, Victurd
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