Well last year, I had one of those change your perspective Forever kind of moments. It's kind of cool how God can use the smallest most insignificant thing, and make it into something so BIG! I was out on the playground with my class. It was one of the last days of school and so my kids were getting ready to be big 2nd graders. If you aren't a teacher you may not know this. But when you teach kindergarten, you tell your kids that we gotta be ready for first grade; we need to practice reading, and put our good listening ears on, etc. We have to be ready for first. If you teach first grade, you tell your kids that we gotta be ready for second grade and pratice that reading, etc. It is one of the many teaching tricks that I have learned. Well my kids were getting ready to move on up and show those second grade teachers how smart and responsible they are. Well we were outside on the playground on the second to last day of school and I was talking to one of the teachers (who happened to be in second grade). As we watched the kids play; one of my kids came up to me and said, "look Mrs. Walsingham, I made you some cake." I looked down and sure enough there was a big bucket of dirt. She had made "this cake" just for me! I then had to decide, do I play along with this child (and possibly make myself look silly in front of this other teacher) or do I tell her that "we don't eat cake in first or second grade, now go play with your friends." The decisions we have to make on a daily basis :) Well, yall know me. I put my hand down and took a big ole pretend bite of that dirt cake and told her how delicious it was. She hugged me and went on to make some more cake! It may have been just some dirt cake to her, or maybe to you. But that day, that little girl reminded me, that sometimes we just need to stop what we are doing and eat a little bit of cake. I know that as teachers, we get so bogged down with all the standards, grades, papers, plans, meetings, ect that we have to do; that we forget to stop and just enjoy spending a little time playing and having fun with our kids. I also know that as a wife, I get bogged down in trying to keep up with laundry, dinner, paying bills, etc; that I don't always stop to enjoy the little things in life with my husband. The list can go on as a daughter, friend, mother, father etc. So, my challenge for this year. Instead of worrying about all that BIG stuff anymore, I'm going to start to enjoy the little things in life that fill your heart with joy. I'm going to start to stress less, and laugh more. I'm going to stop, slow down, and eat a little bit of cake...and then I'll hit the gym :)
This is my first visit to your blog, but based on what I've read so far I'm really looking forward to more stories and insights from you! Keep 'em coming! I have a blog too ... stop by for a visit when you have a little time.
ReplyDeleteIt is my first visit, also, but I will be back! You write just like you talk...which is wonderful! I'm looking forward to your next one, also!!
ReplyDelete