From the mouths of babes...

Many mornings, I am greeted by coloring pages and art projects that are "for you Mrs. Barnett!" and I am beginning to run out of wall space in the one area I keep them.  This morning one of my friends came in with a drawing in an envelope and everything.  It was a picture of a house, swing set, and several stick people.  I asked her about the picture and this was our conversation:

Me: "So who are all the people in the picture?"

Her: "Well, that's you, your husband, your two kids, your house and your dog."

Me: "(Laughing) Oh it is huh?  So, I don't have any kids, does that mean I am going to have two kids one day?"

Her: "You DO have two kids Mrs. Barnett.  You have two kids growing in your belly RIGHT NOW."

Me: "I don't know about that.  I don't know if I am ready for TWO."

Her: "Well you better get ready because you are having them."

Me: "Well who is this other person in the picture?"

Her: "Oh, that is the robot that lives in your house and takes care of it."

Me: "Well, if I have two kids, I am going to need a robot!"

Wondering (and somewhat worried) if this child has some strange sixth sense.  Guess we'll find out eventually!

Mrs. Barnett...he said the "S" word...

I can't tell you how many times a day I hear 5 and 6 year olds say my name.  It doesn't matter how many times we practice raising their hands, they still just can't help themselves.  I always cringe a little when I hear my name followed by "he/she did ________" (fill in the blank with some action considered egregious by a 5 year old).  So the other day I was especially nervous when I heard the dreaded "Mrs. Barnett, he just said the "S" word!"  I had seen other veteran teachers handle this, so I quietly leaned over and said "Okay, whisper the word he said so I can talk to him about it."  The child's response was (in a hushed voice) "he said STUPID."  Now don't worry, I did still talk to the child about using the word stupid, but I would be lying if I said I didn't breathe a sigh of relief when that was the "S" word we were dealing with, and not the one that was in my head.  I guess it's all about perspective at 5 and 6 years old.  Innocence is bliss.