Here's a funny story from my first week back on rotation with my favorite first graders:
The kids got out of Sing Time a bit early, so we're sitting around the table catching up. They seem just as happy to see me again as I am happy to be with them again, which is nice. As we're chatting, one of them pipes up: "Are you in college?"
"No, I've finished college."
"Oh, then you're married."
Grin. "No. I'm not married."
Now everyone is enticed by their own intrigue into the conversation. There are many guesses at my age, and someone asks, "Are you in high school?"
Chuckle. "No."
And again, "Are you in college?"
"Nope."
With my help, they finally guess my age with proud smiles and are now willing to believe I am indeed old enough to have finished college. The girl sitting next to me is catching up. "Wait, you're not married?"
"No."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No."
"HOW DO YOU LIVE!?" Eyes wide and arms stretched out toward the sky in desperation.
Now I can't help myself. That's the funniest thing I've heard in a week! With smiling eyes I laugh heartily as I look at her and reply, "I have lots of friends." I resign to also respond: "I have a job..." not wishing to further instill the idea that we're defined as who we are by what we do, but not knowing how else to assuage their confusion about my 'young--but out of college--but not married' status as a person, their being wholly unacquainted with any other such persons. And this does seem to satisfy them, even the wide-eyed girl whose flair for the dramatic completely made my morning. And my hope is, that she will continue to encounter more holistic examples and ideas of what it means to be a woman.
At any rate, that was just one of the hilarious moments of my Sunday morning. Another was the spontaneous dance party that erupted when the calm background music for the game we were playing suddenly became upbeat. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
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7 comments:
First graders rock. :)
It's never too early to learn about all the wonderful opportunities life offers - perhaps you have set some of those little girls on a path that will keep them from being whiny 19-year-olds who are obsessed with getting married. :)
I do find it amazing that already at their young age, the world is simply boiled down to "high school, college, marriage" ... I guess we can be glad that at least college seems to be a priority? That is a really cute response by the dramatic girl, but I do say send her to me when she's 12 and I'll set her straight on boyfriends. LOL.
This blog makes me happy! I love the childhood innocence. But come on, didn't we all, at one point or another, think it went that way? I remember it, and it was not too far in the distant past... Glad I got set straight- life would be so boring if it went that way for everyone! Where's the adventure in that?!? :)
Hahaha this post goes incredibly well with my most recent rant!
By the way, the word verification for this post is making me type "bilsed". I don't think it's a word, so I think we need to come up with a definition for it and make it a point to use it in every conversation 5 times within the next week.
Well, both options are great. :) It's the superior vs. inferiority complex that one lifestyle will pit against another that's a problem.
Next question if you ever get married:
"Do you have any kids?"
"No."
"HOW DO YOU LIVEEEEE?"
That is hillarious! :) Kids can be so funny sometimes. I love these type of stories. :)
Hope you're doing well.
hahahaha baahahha! that was the best post ever. thanks for sharing that story. i'm not sure i can count on one hand how many times i've encountered that conversation. great commentary as well. love it.
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