Happy Valentines Day

Valentines Day is a funny thing to a teacher. It's exciting because it's a Day of Love and you just want to love the life out of your little ones. But it's also the Day of Sugar. Everyone and their mom sends chocolate and sometimes pure sugar to school. And it's NOT ONLY for their own child, but enough for EVERY child in your class. You veteran teachers (mom and Jill) are probably thinking, "You let them eat that candy?! You fool!" But I do. I haven't learned yet.

In my 3 lengthy years of teaching I have yet to have a great Valentines or even just an ok Valentines Day (except for today :D. Today was ok.). My first year teaching I spent 4 or 5 hours decorating my room with pink and red hearts. Three to four hours, did you get that? I don't even spend that much time cleaning my apartment. I was that excited about Valentines Day. My kids came in my class the next day and all my boys (4th grade of course) said, "Yuck!!! Why is our room pink?" And my girls could have cared less.

I don't remember much about Valentines Day last year except that my kids were pretty wild and one of them threw up. They were wild again today. SUPER WILD. I made the mistake of letting them pick out two treats to eat in class. One boy (Hale) picked out a whole candy bar and ate the WHOLE thing. I didn't know kindergarten could eat a whole candy bar. But he did, and then he chased it down with a package of pure colored sugar. You know the candy. It has a white sugar stick that you use to get the other sugar out with. Just a side note, that was my favorite candy growing up. One of my kids gave me a package of it today- I was soooooo excited. And then someone else took it. Can you believe that? Kindergartener thieves, who would have thought?
BUT.... there were two things that happened today that made my day.

First thing: One of my girls was sucking on a lollipop. She walked up to me, stuck it out right in front of my face and said, "Auntie, want a lick?"

Second thing: That boy Hale, the one who ate 2 and a half cups of sugar today, he's one of my favorite kids. (not that teachers have favorites ;D). He's the most wild kid but he has the SWEETEST heart. Well today he came up to me and said something silly and we laughed. As he walked away and I said to another boy, "Hale is so silly." And the kid said back to me, "Yeah but I hear you yell at him." I think it is funny because A) it's just a random comment. But B) I think kids can see the complex relationships their teachers have with other kids. And he probably thinks it's really weird that Hale gets in trouble all the time but at the same time I'm always hugging on him and laughing at him.

So, I had a pretty good Valentines Day. I know it would be weird if the same two things happened to you, so I'm not going to wish that on anyone. BUT... I hope someone in your life did something to make you smile or laugh.