More Tales from the Lives of Babes

I thank God every day for guiding me to the calling of elementary education.  As much as I get bogged down by my grad. school program, I really do love it, and I love teaching!  I LOVE working with kids!  Today was my first day back in my classroom since the holiday break and the moment I walked in the door, I got completely smothered in hugs!  (I literally couldn't even move my arms to hug them back, they had me pinned lol!)  The whole day the children kept coming up to me to tell me stories and to ask me where I had been and tell me that they missed me.  I realized that I had really missed them.  They really are such a joy.

Later today I stopped at a local Wendy's to grab myself a bite to eat before heading to class for the night, and this little girl probably around 6 or 7 years old totally astounded me.  The establishment I was in was in a slightly sketchy part of town, and I was a little nervous about the characters I observed there.  This little girl, who was there with her grandmother wanted some ketchup.  Well the pumps were out of ketchup and so her grandma just told her she would have to make due (she didn't think to go up and ask at the counter).  Anyway...this little squirt was DETERMINED to get some more ketchup (sounds like me lol) so she walks straight up to these two (I would consider) shady looking fellows sitting at the table behind her, against her grandmother's urgings not to bother them, and she asks if they have any spare ketchup she might have.  Her grandmother is getting more upset, and begins to apologize to the men as she pleads with her granddaughter to stop bothering these men.  The man then responded "She's not bothering us," to the grandmother and then turned to the little girl, "You want some ketchup?" she nodded.  He took her up to the counter and called one of his buddies who was working in the back and promptly got this little girl a pile of ketchup packets!  Then the man guided her back over to the table and made sure she was all set...the little girl continued to try to talk to the man, and her grandmother continued to fuss at her to stop bothering them and the man kept insisting she was fine and told her they were headed back to work, politely said good bye and went on their way back across the street.  But this girl just totally amazed me, because what I witnessed totally called to attention my judging mentality.  I was shocked at myself!  And then I just sat and wondered...when did I/when did we lose that innocence?  That belief in the good in everyone?  I hope that little girl never loses her spark, and she always reaches out to everyone without reserve.  I hope to be more like that little girl.

Anyway...those are just some tales from the lives of babes for the day. Ciao!