The Sweetest Moments
Spending a few hours with the tiny geniuses of creativity
The Sweetest Moments
What’s in Your Vending Machine?
As I’ve mentioned recently, I am doing some new work remotely which has shifted my ability to work with the children on a regular basis. I’ll remind you here quickly of my first day when I was welcomed with a picture colored and drawn just for me.
After having been gone for two full weeks, the same child greeted me with furrowed brow.
“Where have you been?”
Uh-oh. “Well… I have been away but now I’m back.” (I quickly learned that answer would not suffice.) “But where were you?” (Oh. This kid’s going to be a detective). I just told her the plain truth. “I have a new job, and I can only be here on Fridays.” She walked away seemingly accepting, if not satisfied.
I must admit it was gratifying to have a child annoyed with you because of your absence. That, as well as when another young one runs up to me to tell me gleefully that he’s moving “ten hours away!” and uses my name, “Miss Fleur”. (They know my name?!) There are about a hundred children, so it surprises me. Though I supposed there’s only one of me from their point of view.
We have fun questions we ask at each table to get the afternoon started as they eat their snacks. Today the questions was: If you could have your own vending machine in your room that was free and you could get anything you wanted, what would be inside the vending machine?
After explaining what a vending machine is, the answers were filled with joy. (Note: it was plainly stated that “money” as an answer was off the table.) It is also worth noting that this ended up being an interesting and enjoyable journey into the difference between the minds and hearts of a child in Pre-K and a Kindergartener just one year ahead.
At the Kindergarten table (ages 5 and 6) the vending machines were filled with magic. More specifically, a very popular choice was to be able to write on a piece of paper anything you wanted, then insert it into the vending machine and voila! You have your heart’s desire. The desire for a variety of magic powers were also at a premium.
Things shifted dramatically at a nearby table where the Pre-K’s sat. Vending machines were filled with favorite stuffies, french fries, popsicles, ice cream, “pacies” (pacifiers). and endless puppies and kittens. When asked what the vending machine might hold for their parents, strangely the answers remained steadfast.
For why wouldn’t Mommy and Daddy also desire a vending machine full of puppies and popsicles?
But when pressed, one faithfully honest (if begrudging) daughter allowed with a half rolling eye and a tip of the head— “coffee”. Knowing this little one for only a month, I would have to agree. Her parents would welcome a coffee vending machine to keep up with her. (I’m sure they already have one called a Keurig.)
I have played and lost the game of Break The Ice more times than I can count to a smaller than average Pre-K girl that reminds me of a walking piece of candy or a perfect replica of a brand new doll in a shop window. She’s a mean Uno player as well. (She had some rules I’d never heard of. Perhaps that’s why.)
Her mother walked in and she dropped me like a forgotten crayon mid-rainbow. That’s as it should be. I burned her sweet face in my brain as I watched her skip out the door. It’s my last day. I’ll probably never see her again.
She made my life better just having known her for a mere handful of hours. I wonder what she’ll do with that vending machine. She wanted those popsicles. What a life she could lead.
Just don’t play Uno or Break The Ice with her. She’s a formidable foe.
I’ll miss being asked to draw a dragon for the twentieth time. I’m a terrible dragon drawer but I got better. I’m an even worse unicorn sketcher, but they kept coming back. I’ll even miss screaming, STOP RUNNING!, every two seconds when those who have the short term memory of a flea listen, then walk two steps, then run again… wash, repeat.
But I live to tell the tale. I wonder what memories I burned in a teacher’s brain. Yikes.
I hope the answer requires refrigeration and many, many purrs and cuddles.
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Matt. 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Grace, Peace & Blessings'!