Preschool and Emma

Remember my charity entry? Well, I'm going to add teaching co-op preschool on there. I love the kids, and at the end of the 3 hr craziness I can even admit that it's really not that bad. But, I have to share something from this last Friday.

As background, Abri is part of a 10 child co-op group. (Yes, we're a bit optimistic having that many kids in the group, but it just worked out that way given a few factors related to which kids/families were participating this year.) We had 3 weeks of teaching for each child we had participating in the co-op, two days each week. I just finished my 3 week assignment last Friday. Emma stayed home from school that day.

(As a side note--she had complained that morning before school that her tummy was hurting. It was similar to a time we had had with her two weeks earlier where she stayed home for the same reason but never got sick, so I figured it was the same thing, that she wasn't contagious, and that it's got to be related to allergies/digestion issues that we are working out with her--to reassure any of my friends reading this whose kids came over that day and wondered why she was there at all.)

It was actually pretty great having Emma there to help. She is such a great eldest child--always looking for ways to help. (On the down side, she is quite the little mom already in her reprimands of the little girls, but she really does mean well.) She was quick to think of things to do, even suggesting that we do a W activity where we say sentences to the kids and they have to say which word(s) start with W. She basically gave me that extra pair of hands that really comes in handy when you have so many kids asking for help with glueing, opening lunch items, washing hands, etc.

Well, after all the kids had gone home, Emma asked me, "Mom, are they always that loud?"
Me: "Yep."
Emma, smiling: "Wow, I feel bad for you. . .[then reflectively] I wonder if they are louder than we are."
Me: "Your class?"
Emma: "Yeah. We get pretty loud. I don't know how Mrs Key does it everyday."

Me either. Kudos to teachers. Make a point to thank those teachers in your kids lives. They are awesome.