My "peeps"

People are always asking my if I miss teaching.

The answer is "Yes and No."

I don't miss the frustration of too many kids and not enough space.

I don't miss a principal who has forgotten what it's like to spend all day surrounded by hyper, stubborn little imps with perpetual runny noses.

Who could miss spilled paint, oozing glue, tripping over crayons, sitting in tiny chairs or the words "Teacher, he's bleeding!" ?

I really do miss the look of awe on a little face looking at a bug, pouring water , listening to a story, chasing bubbles, building with blocks, singing a silly song, discovering the magic of reading.

The two little imps above are my neighbors, Paulo (left) and Dylan (right).

They keep me from missing it all too much.

My door is usually unlocked and they pop in from time to time.

I have toys (blocks, hot wheels, play-dough) and sometimes even popsicles.

Sometimes they just come to say hi or to see what I'm doing, or check on Taneya.

Paulo (6) gets to use my computer to go to kid web sites (he sits on my knee so I can supervise. Dylan (almost 5) is too young for that but he understands.

On the day this photo was taken they were playing "cops" and stopped in to see if I saw which way the robber went.

Like a good citizen I reported, "Yes, He was really tall, wearing a red shirt and black shorts, he had brown eyes, black hair and went (pointing West) thatta way!"

They asked, "Did he have a gun?"

I answered, "um - he had his hand in his pocket." As they started in pursuit, I said "Oh and he had on a blue hat."

"Thanks, ma'am." they said and headed out the door.

Ain't life grand ? ! ?