January 22, 2014

PRESCHOOL LIFE: VOLUME ONE.


card
Because I know you need a dose of cuteness and because I've been wanting to blog about a teacher's life (read: preschool teacher) for a long time now (just like this girl!). They're not written nearly as well as her, but I want to remember the little moments and here are just a few of them:

+When your bulletin board is covered with kid's drawings. Teacher presents are the best. 

+One of the little kiddos sings You are My Sunshine because his mama sings it to him each night before bed and every time he sings it, tears well up in my eyes. I cannot wait to sing that to my own babies someday.

+When kids call you mom and then look at you in complete embarrassment when they've realized what they just said. I'm pretty sure I said and reacted the same way when I was a kid.

+Little boys + baby dolls. It's actually the cutest thing ever. We have a sensory bin that we fill with sudsy water and we use washable markers on the babies to make them "dirty" and in need of a bath. Do you know who washes those babies the most? The little boys. And yes, it is the cutest thing in the world.

+When kids come back from winter break and see your face and remember who you are.

+I get the privilege of working with an amazing team of teachers and when they found out my not-so-great love for men in tanktops (please, don't ask), they made this gem of a birthday card for me:
birthdaycard
+I came across this pin on Pinterest a few months ago and I cannot believe how true it really is. It's been a struggle for me to only show love towards the children who constantly pester, speak out, or roll their eyes at me (yes, preschoolers do roll eyes!). But when I look at them through this pin, I realize that maybe they just need a little more loving. And so far, it's worked wonders for my attitude.

+When kids think and insist that you live at school. I loooove this one. It's hilarious as they try to imagine you with a home, a mom, a birthday, etc. Just hilarious.

+Going on field trips. We were lucky to have so many amazing people chaperoning our field trip, making it an easy 1:2 ratio. It was such a great blessing. We saw real life police officers (gasp!), ate some yummy bread, and mailed letters to a retirement home. And it was also extremely exhausting (with two sessions/day, that meant two back-to-back field trips for me!).

So if you're a mom or a teacher or just a kid-lover, what are your favorite kid-isms? Or maybe just your favorite part about your workplace?

26 comments

  1. 1) I once had a student who was so frustrated that she didn't call me "Mom" but "Abuela." That made me feel old.
    2) We play a game where the kids have to explain why teachers can't nap at school (or live there).
    3) I keep a binder of their artwork and gifts because my bulletin board is full.
    4) I love PreK.

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    1. Haha, that's hilarious! But to be honest, these days there are some really young grandparents out there! :)

      And I looove that game idea! I should totally adapt that for my kiddos. I'd love to hear their responses! I'm going to have to think of how that can tie into a lesson of some sort.

      And I also love the idea for a binder of gifts and artwork. That would be the coolest scrapbook ever.

      And yes, preschool is the best! What age do you teach?

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  2. Yessss! Love that card! The Hubs doesn't get why I don't think pictures like that are good... they're actually really funny to me for some reason! And we had some friends before we moved that we always ran into at the local Target store... their son thought I lived there. His mom said he asked her if "we could go to Target and see Mrs. Meg!" Haha! Maybe that says something about my Target problem.

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    1. Isn't that card priceless? Long story short, my co-workers were trying to set me up on a date and when I saw the tank top, I cringed and ever since they've poked fun at that odd quirk of mine. :)

      And that's hilarious! Kids are seriously the funniest and it could be worse stores out there! If you ask me, that's a compliment. :) Target is THE best.

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  3. - The little girl I nanny is always calling me mommy.
    - I secretly love that the girl and her little brother ask me not to go home --- but some days, I'm like, LET ME OUT.
    - I love when they show these little nuggets of wisdom or truth. In all their child-like behaviors that can really stress me out, sometimes a really profound or heartwarming comment will shine through and I know, deep down, between a tantrum or a whine, they really are human and I haven't failed. ;)

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    1. Isn't it the sweetest when kids call you Mom by accident? I think it's the sweetest and also hilarious. It's moments like these that I want kids right now (and then they get sick and I suddenly can wait another ten years, haha). :)

      But I love that they ask you not to go home! I get that same feeling when kids don't want to come to school. I'm usually exhausted by then, but I still think it's the sweetest. One of the kiddos once told me that they wished their mom was as cool like me. :)

      And you said it. And girl, you've definitely NOT failed. If they love you as much as it seems from this one comment, you've definitely NOT failed one bit.

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  4. this is precious!!! also, i just DIED laughing at your birthday card. OMG. i love it.
    1. i was a nanny all through college (and even for a few years of high-school) and my kids (not actually mine) would call me mom sometimes. it is hilarious because they immediately realize what they've done. adorable.
    2. my kids always ask if i'm married yet and if i have children. it's always great explaining that one. "no i'm not married yet." "why? how old are you? mommy was married before she was that old." bahaha. i heart kids.
    3. kids are the most honest people on the planet. sure, they've got their faults, but they are blatantly honest. they say the darndest things.

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    1. I know, I literally laughed out loud when I opened the envelope. My co-workers are wayyy too funny for their own good. :)

      And I love that moment when they've realized they've called you by the wrong name by accident. Their cheeky smiles and their nervous laughter that they do to try and cover up their mistake is hilarious.

      Also, I've had that EXACT same thing happen to me! But if I was really nine years old like they think I am, then I think it would be a good thing that I don't have kids right now, haha.

      And they definitely are the most honest human beings ever. One of their greatest and most hilarious qualities, too. :)

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  5. This much be such a sweet age to be around. Old enough to potty on their own (mostly) and little enough to be precious. Their honesty is hilarious, no filter at all

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    1. It really is! Our kids are mostly all potty-trained (that doesn't mean I don't get my fair share of bathroom accidents, though) and they're still incredibly precious. And definitely honest, too. :)

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  6. that birthday card is so funny. lol.
    So true. kids do say the darndest things :)

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    1. I know, right? :)

      And kids definitely say the darndest things. One of their best qualities, if you ask me! :)

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  7. teach presents ARE the best! I work at a preschool with infants to two year olds and i can single handily relate to every single thing you said! my favorite of all time is when they start to say your name as they reach around 2. it practically melts my heart each and every time!

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    1. Really? That's awesome! I looove meeting fellow teacher bloggers and cannot wait to see your blog! :) The little ones are the cutest! I haven't worked too much with their age recently (I did in high school, though!) but I, too, love it when they start saying your name. A lot of the kids are just coming to the point when they're getting used to me (I'm a new teacher) so it's great to see them see me and say my name. Kids are the cutest, right?

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  8. The card is hilarious, and I'm sure there is a great story behind it! Ha ha. My mom teaches kindergarten and she always has something amazing to share, just like you. Teachers are special people! :)

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    1. Haha, there's definitely a great story behind it. Long story short, my co-workers were trying to find me a boyfriend and one suggested one of her friends and he was wearing a tanktop and I cringed and ever since, they've poked fun at that little quirk of mine. They're amazing, right? :)

      And I had no idea your mom teaches kindergarten! I looove that! I'd love to teach that age someday. :)

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  9. <3 I love that you're enjoying your job so much!!! :-)

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    1. It's funny that you mention that because we're just now going through a huge sick/flu thing in the preschool so right now I'm not loving it so much (I've been madly disinfecting everything to say the least!). But it really is a great job so I can't complain too much. :)

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  10. Mmm :) I just came home from a day of Pre-K and this just made me so thankful for them!

    Being called mom. It's so sweet to watch them process through - "Wait! She's not mom..." And field trips are so stressful to me! Enjoy that one to two ratio! ;)

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    1. That's exactly what I feel after reading your blog! And I'm not even kidding. :) I always seem to read your teacher posts after a loooong day of work and am always left way more grateful for my job as a teacher than ever before. :)

      And isn't that reaction hilarious? I love it and always get a good laugh from it.

      And field trips are stressful, right? I always wished we went on more as a kid. Now? Not so much. :) We're lucky to have lots of adults that can go on field trips with us (since we have so many student teachers) but I know that once I'm in an elementary school, that definitely won't be the case! :)

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  11. I'm so intrigued about this "men in tank-tops" thing. Although, I kinda half to agree with you. ha!

    I do love it when you leave for a break and then come back and they remember you. That is one of the most precious and heartwarming things.

    Story: I worked Pre-K at a summer camp in New Orleans once and got VERY attached to this one kid. Like, me and him were straight up buddies. He was always by my side and every morning he came directly to me. Well, when the summer ended and I went back home and preschool continued. I got a text from a co-worker the morning it began and she told me that my buddy walked in and immediately asked, "Where's Ms. Jessica?" I could just hear his sweet little voice saying that. And it broke my heart, but made me incredibly happy at the same time. :) There is at least one kid that has stolen my heart in every place that I've worked/served. Kids are so amazing and special.

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    1. Haha, well, long story short, my co-workers are on this quest to find me a boyfriend and while looking through their friends' profiles on FB, one came up with a guy in a tanktop. When they saw me cringe and discovered my not-so-great love for guys in tanktops, they decided it would by my odd quirk. And hence, this lovely gem of a birthday card. :)

      And that story is soooo cute! Kids are definitely amazing and special and it'll be so sad when these kids leave for the summer + especially for the kids who are going to graduate to kindergarten. :)

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  12. So cute! Little boys with baby dolls is the cutest! And I'm not a fan of the men's tank tops either...

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    1. First of all, I am sooooo glad you agree with me on men and tank tops! I honestly thought I was the only one when my family laughed at what I said (probably because they thought it was funny and usually I don't talk about that kind of stuff) and when my co-workers laughed, too. For me, there's just something odd about guys in tank tops and I still don't know what THAT is.

      Also, little boys and baby dolls really are the cutest! Even though they love to be rough and wrestle and all that, they are actually extremely loving towards those little dolls and some of the smaller kids in the class, too. :)

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  13. oh my goodness - these are so incredibly sweet!
    i've definitely called someone "mom" before and received a hilarious look - it happens.
    yay for field trips and you are my sunshine songs!
    sounds like you have found a lovely niche!

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    1. Isn't it hilarious when we make little slips and call people/get called the wrong name? I think it's hilarious. :) And I do think I've found my niche! It's funny, because I never thought I'd love teaching as much as I do, but I'm so glad I have it--even when the kids are germy and sick. :)

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