The Balance

I am constantly searching for balance. It seems all of my time is spent either at school, school related functions, or thinking about school. At some point, it would be nice to think about me.

It seems the best way to do this is having Jr. High type crushes on people. I seriously need a life.

I have more I would like to say, but twitter has ruined me. I fear all of my thoughts will be truncated in some way from now on.

Bloodhound Gang

Honestly, no where else in the world could this have happened today. I refuse to believe it. The following story may be the greatest thing have had to address since Finals Week of 02.

End of day, children laced with high octane levels of sugar and friendship fever (ie...we had our Valentine Party today).

I stand naively at the door, until I hear a panicked chorus of: "Miss Wishon, Miss Wishon"

Thinking the worst, I turn around terrified, ready to see blood dripping from the ceiling...NO. Instead I hear someone one say "Stevie sniffin' people butt!" And then some more, "Stevie sniffin' people BUTT!"

Needless to say, I am dumbfounded. "Stevie, come here please."

Stevie: Yeah. looks abashedly at the floor

Miss Wishon: Were you sniffin people's butts?

Stevie: Yeah, I was

Miss Wishon Literally crippled by laughter, turns away and tries to calm herself, and through fits of giggles manages to eek out ...

Miss Wishon: Why?

Stevie: (seriously) I was tryin' to find who farted.

And Scene!

So, I could not stop laughing from the time that this happened until I got back into the building. I later found out that his mom made him demonstrate how far away he was by putting his face up to her hand. No joke, like 1 inch. He was determined. All she could say to me was, "He really has a problem with stinky smells".

***Names have been changed

**** This is the same kid from the "Excuse me, I'm trying to learn here!" story.

Attitude Check!

Who knew that "choir practice" could be so enlightening?

I had done it. I had allowed myself to participate in the mob mentality. The CYNICS. I promised Conan that I wouldn't, and then I did.

I am not that person, and yet in some sort of quest to fit in, I became surly. I think that is why I have been having so much trouble posting as of late. I was feeling the burn-out and bureaucracy. I say, NO MORE! It took a conversation with a sort-of stranger to help me realize what I had done. When someone else is seemingly uncomfortable with the level of negativity, you know you have crossed a line. What happened to me? I used to be the person to speak up against that sort of business. Where was I when this person needed us to be inspirational, not Debbie Downer? I am truly sorry. We aren't terrible people, just very very tired.

Wonderful things happen in my classroom everyday, and by the end of the day, I barely remember most of them. I just know that as I reflect on the day, I know I laughed in there somewhere.

Here's a mildly hurtful, but mostly heartwarming story. We'll call the child Schmo.

The Scene: Immediately after lunch, first grade hallway.

Miss Wishon goes to throw away her tray.

Childen: Miss Wishon, Miss Wishon!

Miss Wishon: Shh...we are in the hallway!

Children: (a chorus of voices) Schmo said you are fat! Schmo called you fat!

Miss Wishon: I don't really need to know that.

Children: But he said it in front of the whole lunch room!

Miss Wishon: Well, if that is what he thinks, it is okay, I don't see it that way.

Children: But....

Miss Wishon: I don't need to hear anymore about it. It is rest time, heads down voices off.

Children enter the classroom and walk to their seats. Approximately 10/15 children give Miss Wishon hugs.

Miss Wishon pushes door closed, cries for a second in the hallway, and then goes back in, ready for math.

Now, you may be thinking...Heartwarming?

Yes, because my kiddos cared enough to get defensive for me. It was really very sweet, and I usually only have a few huggers in my after lunch line. They were hurt on my behalf. I did my best to keep it together, cause you definitely can't let kids know that you have a poor body image or that they can hurt your feelings.