Vivian sat at the table, practicing line after line of cursive writing because apparently she will learn handwriting in Grade 3, otherwise known as “next year.”
Out of nowhere, she said, “Some parents just want their kids to be like them.”
I paused whatever I was doing in the kitchen, which probably involved burning myself. “That’s interesting,” I said. “Where did you hear that?”
“I didn’t really hear it anywhere.”
“Is it just something you thought?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
A shadow of guilt flashed over me. “Do you feel that’s how I am as a parent?”
“No,” Vivian said.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Cross that off the four-page cheat sheet I’m preparing for her future therapist.
“But I want to be a teacher anyway,” she continued, “even though you are one.”
I thought of the ten hours of grading I have ahead of me this week. “Teaching’s a good job,” I said.
I wasn’t lying.
“But I don’t want to have kids,” Vivian said. “Children are a lot of work.”
She wasn’t lying.
Viv kept talking. “But teaching is a lot like having kids, only you have 22 of them.”
I nodded and smiled at this wise young soul, the same girl who – at age 4 – called the stretch marks on my stomach “silver rainbows.”
Wise child!
Wise indeed … and how lucky is she to be in a class of only 22!
That is so true. And it’s public schooling. High quality, too. 🙂
Very wise child. The difference is that you can give those 22 kids BACK to their frazzled parents at the end of the day.
(Let me know if she needs any more information about not having your own kids… I think I have a list of “101 smart reasons to go child-free” somewhere…)
I bet you do. Some days I could likely add to your list.
Can Viv come over for a little while and hang out with Auntie Nay? I could use some estrogen in the house. She’s so sensible. Also, I’d like her to assess what’s going on with some of my scars. Maybe she could give them pretty names.
She could. She’d love Auntie Nay. She loves exuberant women…would leave Kelly alone when she visited from Texas.
Hahahahha! I don’t know, I wouldn’t want to compete with Kelly. I’m sure there is plenty of Viv to go around. Right?
I could sell Viv’s exuberance. Just the other day, she told me I’m spelling her name wrong. Apparently, it’s Vivy, not Vivi. Oops.
I find it really sweet that she wants to be a teacher like you. And yes, really wise.
Yes. Though I think she wants to be a teacher “like her teacher”, not like me…
She’s a wise old girl. Poetic, too. I love how she calls stretch marks silver rainbows. Makes me feel proud of mine. 😉
I know. I’m going to try to hang on to that phrase…
I love this post.
Thanks.
What a brilliant 7! I think it’s great she wants to be a teacher like you.
Yes… we’ll see how long that lasts!
Incredible! That one’s a keeper. =)
Yes.
A wise girl who takes after her mother in so many ways. I love teaching too… most days.
Yes, “most days” is right. Tomorrow, I’m setting my alarm for 4 a.m. to grade. 🙁
So cute! Out of the mouths of babes!
🙂
What a cool convo. These will be great to look back on someday when Viv is grown eh?
True. I’m sure she’ll say, “Did I really say that?” This one I typed out within a minute of it ending…
Very wise! I love what comes out of kids. I overheard two of mine talking and the youngest asked why we have to die. The oldest said, “Because we have to make room for the next batch.” Saved me trying to come up with something better!
That made me tear up! I love that.
OMG adorable!!!
But does she have her mother’s sense of humor? If so, she’ll go far.
BTW, haven’t heard anything about the Things lately. Still in England or somewhere?
Both she and William have a sense of humour that will far surpass mine.
That one is wise beyond her years. I love it when my 6 year old throws some wisdom my way. It makes me think I’m doing something right, raising him to be observant and brilliant. Takes after his mom! 😉
Ha. I love your logic. And then…when they do something idiotic, it’s a recessive gene from their father, right? 😉
So sweet!
She is.
Sometimes I think the children are wiser than the parents. We as adults seem to lose the innocence that they have and miss the obvious. You have a lovely little girl…
Thanks. And I think you’re right. I also think they’re natural poets…seeing the world anew until society insists they conform.
Very wise kiddo. Must take after her dad.
Ha! Funny. You’re just projecting…
You would think the wisdom of 14-year-old girls would be twice as wise as a 7-year-old, but you would be wrong.
Ha. A colleague near the age of retirement told me that with teens, you simply add the digits of their age together to get the expected behaviour. In other words, a 14-year-old would have the expected behaviour of a 5-year-old (1+4=5). New math for parents!
Silver rainbows? Oh how lovely. Really.
It gives me pause; that what we see as flaws, our children can label magic.
And it’s just something she thought. Sigh.
They can. They are natural poets, I think.
It was one of the best conversation I have ever heard. Some times these innocent minds think much beyond the imagination of our mature mind. Wonderful words of wisdom. Great post.
Thanks. I’m still rather astonished. Yesterday she told me she doesn’t like me wearing lipstick (it was the only time she’d ever seen me wear it). I don’t like it either. I need to listen to her more. Except when she tells me she hates me…
I do not think, she would ever tell you that she hates you. So you are on the safer side. 🙂
Um, I see I have typed ACCESS instead of ASSESS. That is going to kill me. Can you edit that? Or do you prefer to see me die of embarrassment. Either way. 😉
Done. I can erase this one too if you like. I’m the English teacher who wrote “pole” instead of “poll” on my FB page last night.
I love this very thoughtful, introspective Leanne we have this week!! Very sweet post. 🙂
Aw, what a sweet story. I have 22 second graders myself, they love to learn cursive! Makes them feel so grown up.