With all the drama at work lately it is a nice to have reminders of why I do what I do. Kids are priceless. Their simple, innocent minds are even better. The following randomness took place last week:
I was working at the table with a guided reading group while the rest of the class completed literacy activities at their own pace. Everyone is working on their own or with a partner to read/discuss stories, the classroom is buzzing with 'active quiet' and things are getting accomplished (no easy feat in a first grade classroom thank you). All the sudden, "R" comes over sniffling and wiping at his eyes, completely distraught.
Me: What's wrong?? What happened??!?!
R: I
*sniffle* keep
*sniffle* hpwejkpsjfkdh
*exasperated sigh*
Me: Whaaa? I don't understand. What happened?
R: Nothing.
*walks away*
Me: R! Come here! I can't understand you baby. You have to talk to me so I know what's going on.
R: I just keep
*sniffle* thinking about my dskjoshlsk ...
*shudders*
Me:
*looks around for someone to translate*
G: I think he said he is thinking about his DS.
Me: ?!? Okay? What about your DS? Did you bring it here and lose it?
R:
*whimpers* noooooo
Me: Okay? Where is it?
R: At hoooome.
*pouts*
Me: Okay? Did you break it?
R: Nooooooo.
*sigh*
Me: Did you get it taken away?
R: Nooooo.
*sniffle*
Me: I don't understand. What's the problem?
R: I. Was. Just. Thinking. About. It. and I remembered
*sobs the rest of this* I forgot to turn it offfffffff!!!!
*big crocodile tears emerge at this point*
Me: Okay? But can't you plug it in and charge it?
R: Yeeeaaahhh but kjoisdhfsodfjds
*still sobbing on my shoulder*
Me: I. Don't. Understand. If you can plug it in and charge it, why are you upset? You can play while it charges right?
R: Yeeaaaahh.
*hiccup*
Me: So it will be okay...
R: lkjoahoijoijadf (something that sounds vaguely like he won't be able to move around if it's plugged in.)
Me: It'll be alright. I promise.
*pats him on his back and begins cleaning the tears/snot off my shirt - soooo glad I recently cut my hair*
R: Okay.
*steadies himself* Okay.
*shakes it off and goes back to work*
Me: ?!?
Okay. What I
wanted to explain to this
spoiled rotten whippersnapper (said with love) - is that
when I was his age - we had Nintendo.
Straight up OLD SCHOOL Nintendo.
Wires and all. With game cartridges that were bigger than his entire DS. Game cartridges that you had to blow into so they would work. We had games where Mario runs to the right, breaks bricks and jumps over stuff. The concept of a 3D Mario world did not exist. The concept of any kind of 3D game world did not exist. We had games where you used a plastic gun (with a wire), stood one foot in front of the TV and shot ducks that flew up out of the bushes and when you missed them a dog came up out of the bushes and laughed at you (trust. I was a terrible shot).
There he is. Hey old friend. Good Times. Good Times.
There was no such thing as a handheld touch screen for children's video games. There was no concept of wireless. There was also no concept of walking around and/or playing in the car, outside or anywhere but 2 feet in front of the TV. We had to sit on the floor to play b/c the cords didn't reach the couch. And. It. Was. Heaven.
When did I get so old??!??!? *sad face*
But srsly thanks to "R" for reminding me why it is that I do what I do. I can deal with the BS and politics if in return I can surround myself with these sweet babies everyday (well...most days...they're not always so sweet and innocent...). ;)
*images found via google images
He was facing the other way until I sat down on the couch....
