What's Said At Home Doesn't Stay At Home

Twice last week I was greeted with a smiling teacher' smile when I picked Li'l Boo up from preschool. The first time was when the class had to draw a picture of something they're thankful for. Mind you, most students drew their dogs, love, money, presents, parents, etc. Li'l Boo drew the double-decker main line train. I recognized it by the words they wrote to title the piece, but then saw it clearly as a big rectangle with multiple rows of windows. I instantly knew what he meant. What's not to like about the new train cars: clean, bright, and carrying more people than the older trains? When there's a large crowd waiting on the platform, I'm grateful for the double-decker trains too.

The second time she approached me grinning was to hand me his dictated Thanksgiving letter for my hubby and me. My son had told her that he was thankful for me "taking care of him because he's our only kid because we don't have any more babies" - his words verbatim. Yo boy. Guess he's overheard us discuss that topic a bit too much this past year. . . or this was his way of saying that he wishes he had a little brother or sister - so he stops trying to take over others' siblings during playdates. ;-)

I can only imagine the stories preschool and grade school teachers have shared with their own familes or friends based on the things the kids say and share at school. I recently read the charming book Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind by Phillip Done as part of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog book club. It cracked me up with his re-telling of things his students have said or done in class over his career as an elementary school teacher. I smiled my way through the entire book, from the first paragraph when he described the drawings on his desk:

"If I'm in the drawings, I am usually as tall as the schoolhouse in the background. My head is bigger than the sun." So true, right? Our refrigerator is plastered with family drawings like this too. . .

Amidst the stress of my daily life, it was a delight to be reminded of the memories of my childhood, grade school, and my hopes for my son to share these same experiences in school. I read the book a little each night before bed and have to admit that I'm sad to have finished the book, because it was such a great reminder of the simple joys in life (and to ALWAYS watch what we say and do with a kid around), and way to end my day with a smile. Ahh . . . to only be eight again.

This post was inspired by the book, and you can read other moms' musings inspired by or about the book across the SV Moms blog network on Monday, December 7th.

Full Disclosure: I received my copy of the book from the publisher for free as part of participating in the SV Moms book club.

Comments

[Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama]

I love that your son drew a picture of a double decker main line train as something he is thankful for! He would get along really well with our 3 1/2 year old!

As a teacher, I have some great memories of some real gems from my students about their perspective on the world! It is part of what makes the job so fun!

-Leticia
DC Metro Moms

[phildone@hotmail.com]

Dear Leticia,
Phil Done here, author of Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind. Thanks for your post. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. Love what your son's Thanksgiving letter!
All the best,
Phil

[bonggamom]

After we came back from vacation, my daughter went up to the front of her class and told everyone where we went, what we did, etc... My teacher told me that my daughter told everyone that on the second day, "All my parents did was fight about where we should go". Oh dear! Our home life is definitely an open book as far as her third grade class is concerned :)

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What a strange design, but it puts me a little sad