Some Thoughts.

So. I love my job - I really do. Teaching Arts and Crafts to little kids in the park? It is a prime time.

However, no amount of standing on the table or staring at the sun until your eyes water or making your body heave and shake is going to convince me to give you a different craft just because you want what someone else literally drew from a hat, child. Do you see the SIX other kids in your immediate vicinity with the same prize as you? Happily decorating said craft? Yeah. Yeah, it is kind of awkward that some parents are watching. Yes, I am talking calmly to you. By heaven, you are sticky. And your little face is so beautiful. Why must your behavior be so ugly? I must be honest with you, you cute little girl. I don't do tantrums. I also am irked by how ungrateful you are. Guess what my mom did when I was little and began whining for things at the grocery store? Calmly picked me up, left her half-full cart in the aisle, and carried me to the car. And we went home. Except I have no car to put you in while we abandon your half-done craft. And even if I did, it'd be mighty illegal. But just know this. You are a cutie. But I'm not a push-over, and no matter how much I love you - and especially because I DO love you, I will NOT give you what you want. I'm not here to parent you, but I'm also not here to cater to every kid who cries over wanting something better. If I did that, I'd have 30 crazed children mobbing me each hour until they were perfectly happy (which would never happen). K thanks, bye.

It's been a long, hot day. :)

Each class takes a different amount of time to do the crafts or to calm down enough to the point that they won't main one another or run off towards the creek in the park (which is running SO high because of run-off), so basically you just gotta come in with guns blazing and pocket full of ideas. And mostly, my job makes me ridiculously happy, occasional bratty children aside. I can't even dislike them because I know it's not entirely their fault. Someone at home is letting them get away with that... Not my mama. She raised me right!

Anyway, with one of our classes, to kill time, we had them trace the outline of their hand onto a paper and write their name in the palm, and five things that are making them happy right now - one in each finger. Well, mostly, they're all delightful, but there's a little girl named Rachel, who I love especially. She can't say her R's (nature is a cruel beast, no?) and she always looks like a tiny freckled turtle, with her skinny neck poking awkwardly out of her Polo's that are buttoned ALLL the way to the top. Gosh, I ADORE her. Anyway, I'm mildly heartbroken because she's missing our last class Friday for a chess tournament. That's right. She's one of those child chess prodigies. COULD SHE GET ANY CUTER? Well. She's about to, because here is what she said when it was her turn to share.

"Hewe I wote my name, Wachel, and I like Awts and Cwafts Class, the letter AW (R), and pointing."


And then she was done. And I was dying. Sometimes I like pointing too, girlfriend. And I like a girl who's honest about that. Also, I guess she only has three fingers. Which is just fine by me.

P.s. I guess breastfeeding in the park is fine now. Seen at least three moms enjoying the sunny weather and feeding their young. So. Thanksss for that, mamas.