Caring Classmates

You know how a Payday candy bar is both salty and sweet? Well here's a story fitting of the same description. Actually, it's probably more icky and sweet, so I'm thankful for the sweet part! Here's what happened. I was giving out puppets to a kindergarten class as we prepared to haYou know how a Payday candy bar is both salty and sweet? Well here's a story fitting of the same description. Actually, it's probably more icky and sweet, so I'm thankful for the sweet part! Here's what happened. I was giving out puppets to a kindergarten class as we prepared to have a story together. One of my puppets, Impulsive Puppy, has been well-loved, and in the process, the "leather' coating on his nose has been partially picked away. Therefore, I always laughingly remind the kids not to pick Puppy's nose. They know what I'm talking about, and the class and I typically roll our eyes and giggle. Well yesterday, I used my robot voice and said, "Don't pick his nose" as I handed Puppy to a good-natured child. From the side of the group, I heard a voice say, "Like I do." Thinking the speaker was making a joke, I gave him my attention and smilingly said, "Now we KNOW that's not true!" Apparently this curly-haired boy, who is very immature but has come a long way during this school year, was serious. He had a straight face and was calmly looking me right in the eye. Taken aback, I must have paused for a second when a golden-haired girl noticed the awkward moment and came to the little boy's rescue. "Miss Mimi, you should SEE the paper he did yesterday. His writing looked like a THIRD grader's!" As she jumped up to ask her teacher to find the paper so she could show me how neatly the boy had written, her classmates eagerly chimed in with encouraging acclamation for the boy's writing effort and success. My heart was warmed by the instinctive awareness on the children's part of the fact that their friend had said something embarrassing and needed support. The conversation shifted to the positive, and we were quickly able to move on and get started on our lesson. Of course I was reminded of the importance of sensitively relating to people in all situations and of lending my support and encouragement as often as possible. The lesson learned from this "Payday" scenario served me well, thanks to my kindergarten "teachers"!ve a story together. One of my puppets, Impulsive Puppy, has been well-loved, and in the process, the "leather' coating on his nose has been partially picked away. Therefore, I always laughingly remind the kids not to pick Puppy's nose. They know what I'm talking about, and the class and I typically roll our eyes and giggle. Well yesterday, I used my robot voice and said, "Don't pick his nose" as I handed Puppy to a good-natured child. From the side of the group, I heard a voice say, "Like I do." Thinking the speaker was making a joke, I gave him my attention and smilingly said, "Now we KNOW that's not true!" Apparently this curly-haired boy, who is very immature but has come a long way during this school year, was serious. He had a straight face and was calmly looking me right in the eye. Taken aback, I must have paused for a second when a golden-haired girl noticed the awkward moment and came to the little boy's rescue. "Miss Mimi, you should SEE the paper he did yesterday. His writing looked like a THIRD grader's!" As she jumped up to ask her teacher to find the paper so she could show me how neatly the boy had written, her classmates eagerly chimed in with encouraging acclamation for the boy's writing effort and success. My heart was warmed by the instinctive awareness on the children's part of the fact that their friend had said something embarrassing and needed support. The conversation shifted to the positive, and we were quickly able to move on and get started on our lesson. Of course I was reminded of the importance of sensitively relating to people in all situations and of lending my support and encouragement as often as possible. The lesson learned from this "Payday" scenario served me well, thanks to my kindergarten "teachers"!