And, I Reorganized My Geometry Files.

Yesterday morning I was cold, tired, cranky and GOD I didn't want to go to my job. I punished the world for making me work by wearing cordoroys, sneakers, and NO MAKEUP. Oy, the blotchy skin tone and the red-rimmed eyes and middle-aged frumpiness. TAKE THAT, WORLD!

I slogged through the day and in the end it wasn't that bad, I guess. In fact, at dismissal time I had one of those warm and fuzzy moments that makes me love being a teacher at this school.

After saying goodbye to the last of the kids, I walked back up to the front of the school and sat down on the wall with my friend Ellen (you know Ellen, right? The one I adore?). There were still a few kids and teachers milling about. My little Estafania was there with her mom, her little brother, and 3 kids that her mom babysits.

One of those kids is Thomas, the Peck's Bad Boy of my friend Krystle's class. (Ha! Anachronistic literary reference! Look at me!)

Thomas can be a pill.

Thomas spit at my little Estafania. There was a bit of an uproar, with Estafania's mom scolding him in Spanish (which he doesn't understand) and Estafania looking tearful and the other little kids laughing and pointing.  Thomas' teacher, my friend Krystle, marched outside with her lips set in a grim line and held her hand out to Thomas. "We're going inside to call Mom," she said. In her MEAN teacher voice.

Krystle is the only person that Thomas will listen to.

The whole group walked back inside and I followed because I love me a little bad boy drama. I sat with the rest of the kids because the littlest boys were getting rowdy and the Mom was busy dealing with naughty Thomas inside the office. A Head Start teacher who knows the family came out in the hall and chatted with us and corralled the rowdy little boys, one of whom was saying bad words, and spoke to them in Spanish. Estafania leaned up against me and we had a nice little chat which was particularly good because Estefania spends half her time at school in hot water with me for sneaking out of the classroom to conduct secret first-grade business and stealing stuff from my supplies and distributing them among the other students, as if she is goddamned Robin Hood or something.

It was a warm and fuzzy moment for me. The way that Krystle jumped and took care of Thomas even though, technically, it wasn't her problem. The way that the Head Start teacher knows the whole family and has known them for years and was telling the little boys that it's not nice to say bad words. The way the secretary was translating for the Mom.

I'm not conveying it very well, but it felt warm and cozy and all it-takes-a-village. You know?

Later I went home and walked the dogs and worked out and ate lasagne and drank wine. I scared myself a couple of times when I passed by a mirror and saw my blotchy-skinned, allergic-eyed reflection, but aside from that it was a nice afternoon and evening.

Comments

[Laura/DaPFG]

my momma woulda whipped that boy. she didn't take to no spitting or biting.

i feel all Aunt Jemima all of a sudden.

mmmm...lasagna...

[Belle]

Oh, there are mornings when the thought of getting dressed for work are more than I can bear. But, at my age, going without make-up? hahahaha. You are a rebel! :)

Yeah, the fuzzies are the best part of working. Happy to hear the day turned out well....I gotta try that wine trick.

[Keri]

The wine? I cannot handle it any longer. So you are lucky to have that to fall back on. And I hear you about the blotches and the allergy eyes and all of that. But I do not go places sans makeup. Except my massage therapist. That's as rebellious as it gets around here. Until later in the summer when the skin takes on that summer time glow (yes, even with the serious sun block) and evens out a smidge. But even then, it is a rare thing.

... and I bitch about making truffles ...

[Keri]

Sorry - I forgot. I seriously love the photography. Who could have any unhappiness in life waking up to those faces? :)

[Liza Lee Miller]

Yup. Those are the moments. Especially with little kids. I haven't worn makeup since spring break. Sigh. I don't know why -- I scare myself. Scare the kids. Oh, maybe that last one is why! :)

[eurolush]

I take your blotchy skin tone, red-rimmed eyes and middle-aged frumpiness, and raise you one baseball cap over slightly greasy, unkempt hair, pajama top worn under sweater and some super-sweet courduroy cargo pants that are a little too tight in the waist from my rampant pastry-eating. Ergo the bulge. And THAT, my friend, is what the they saw in MY neck o' the woods today. Touche', Miz S.

[Margaret]

Spitting is gross, and I had no fuzzy moments today at school. I'm glad someone did though!

[MsCellania]

CRAP! I am gonna have to get out my magnifying glass to see what's going on with Rosie in the car! I cannot make it out...

I went to school numerous times and ran errands in my knee length Old Navy pj bottoms the other day. Luckily I had thrown a polo shirt over my tank top when I went out to get the paper. I passed by a mirror at home around 3:45 and went 'FUCK FUCK FUCK I'm still in my pajamas and I've been EVERYWHERE today'.

I love Your Kid stories. First graders may be my favorite kids forever.

[KarenT-H]

Yippeeee! We had an EARTHQUAKE! It was only a 5.2, but that was enough to shake and wake us all at 4:37 AM. The most recent aftershock was 4.5, which was pretty cool to have as we are all at work. I tell you this because the fourth graders here all had their tales to tell this morning. According to their teacher, they ALL felt it! They were all ASLEEP when it happened! Of course, half of them only heard about it on the way to school, but by the time they were in the classroom, each of them had a story. "Well, I was asleep . . ." I so WISH that I could have been with them to see their reactions to the aftershock an hour ago. Great start to the WEEKEND!

[Wende]

Spitting? Geeze. Girl, your world is amazing. But I can feel you on a "team effort" sensation. Where all feels right in the midst of chaos.

And those dogs... LOVE.

[Gail]

I felt the earthquake too, Karen. Nothing ruins a great dream like an earthquake. The second one was when I was at school where one little guy looked at the floor under his chair to see what was happening.

Estafania is an office supply dealer? Whoa!

[bonnie]

I am heartened to hear that you are teaching your young scholars Geometry!

We have Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa on one of our bookshelves (right next to our McGuffey Readers).

It actually takes a family to raise a village.

xoxo

[the bee]

I am laughing over the spitting boy. Now, I must go buy one of those Little House dresses for Halloween. I am going as one of the blessed wives at the compound. Speaking of kids w/ issues ! Whoooo...

[MsCellania]

I like your new tag line.
Although I loved divine but scattered.
My mother broke me of spitting by rubbing my nose in it when I spat on my trike seat in anger one day. But I don't spose you could do that with your little chargers, hmmmmm?

[Swistle]

Ha ha! "Anachronistic literary reference."

I love "spring into action" stuff, too. Actually, teachers give me that feeling in general, even when they're not springing to deal with a particular situation: the way they take classrooms of Other People's Children EVERY DAY, and teach them stuff they need to know. That gives me a little damp-eyed feeling.

[Pam L]

Just waiting for details from the "lost" weekend.