[abc, easy as 123... ish - the first trimester of the garden of children]
I am now officially (more or less) done with the first third of Kindergarten. And since I’ve been such a slacker this year about writing on this thing, I figured I should take this time in the airport to do some reflection.
1.) Kindergarten is fun.
It is. It really is. There are moments when I want to pull out my hair, but that’s mostly because I lack patience on my side… I mean, ultimately, 5 and 6 year olds are hilarious. We were making pop-up cards today (which was SUPER successful) and one of the kids wrote “Live Your Life Symmetrically” on his card. What does that mean? I have no idea. But it sounds profound. That’s all the matters right?
I wrote before that kindergarten is joyous – and while I attribute my general happiness this year to my independence in this new city, I also know that it is because I get a bolt of joy and love every single day. Endless hugs, sloppy kisses (not often, but sometimes – haha), and little notes that say “I love you!” – you really can’t beat that.
2.) I love my coworkers.
I really do. First of all, MT and Uncle Cracker and the best. It’s that perfect blend of colleague and friend where you can be comfortable enough to ask about what their doing in the class in a personal and nonjudgmental way. We are all learning – especially me! And I feel like I learn how to communicate with the kids, be compassionate, silly, be an attentive teacher, and all around loving person from MT. With Uncle Cracker, I learn (slash am reminded) to hug often, accept the kids for who they are, and to run around like an airplane during recess.
I tend to be on the more straight and narrow side of life. I like rules, I like order, I like thinking ahead. BUT, slowly, I’m learning to balance it out.
I also love the other teachers I work with. This year, I have quite a few more coworkers who are the same age as me and in the same place in life. But even if they’re not, I work with a team of student-centered educators who put the children first. See, I want to go to grad school because I want to cultivate more teachers like my coworkers. They exist! See? But they are all in a very specific location. But can’t all teachers be like them?
3.) It’s weird to be sitting.
I’m so used to standing all day, that now that I’m on holiday and have more time to sit… it’s just weird. I think it’s necessary for me to sit sometimes, but I also find myself being fidgety. Man, my body just can’t make up it’s mind. I’m in better shape than last year though. Now that I’m back home, people have commented that I look slimmer. So I respond – that’s because I’m “cooking” for myself.
I just baked coffee cake and am in the processes of making butter and honey doused baklava… so we’ll see how long this “slim” thing lasts.
4.) Everyone should be a kindergarten teacher at least once.
I think it should be mandatory for teachers and strongly suggested for non-teachers.
I think to learn why we are the way we are, we need to learn where we came from. You can’t see yourself in kindergarten, but you can be in a kindergarten class and identify with at least one child. And then hopefully you’ll have a moment of, “Oh! THAT’s why I am who I am” or “I can see why [insert annoying coworker here] is the way s/he is.” I don’t know, I think it just gives you perspective on human kind.
Also, there is no bigger exercise in patience than being in a kinder class. And if soemthing is not going the way you want, honestly, you only have yourself to blame. Sure, the kinders have some sort of responsibility for themselves, but when they’re being difficult, you can’t blame them. They’ve only been in this world for 5 years. You should know better, you’ve been here significantly longer.
It’ll help you be kinder (like… kind-er) and compassionate towards others, and honestly, towards yourself.
Okay, I really need to work on this dang statement.
