Who is he?
As we read Curious George today, the answer seemed simple, he is George's owner. However... Grace (who feels the need to meet her daily quota of questions) kept asking for his background details. It started simple...What's his name? Where's he from? Information that I ever so quickly invented. His name is Eugene and he is from Kalamazoo. Then it quickly became much more complex, with my favorite question..."How would you describe him?" I don't know, I said..."How do you describe me?" Whoops...loaded question. In Grace's eyes I assumed she would describe physical attributes first as these things are rather tangible. Grace, however, has always been one to delve deeper. She has seen the man in the yellow hat phyiscally, she was prying for personality traits and background. After asking her to describe me...she skipped right over physical attributes (thank goodness) and said "you're nice, you're silly, and you get me things." As much as I was overjoyed that everything she listed was relatively positive, this wasn't at all how I would have described myself.
It got me thinking. How do others describe me? I think one of the most awesome things about being a teacher is the summer. Not only because it's 10 heavenly weeks of a break from the routine, not only because it allows me to be with my family who I can't get enough of, but because each fall you are allowed to reinvent yourself. Unlike most other jobs, you can start fresh each year. How you leave in the spring, doesn't necessarily have to dictate what you are like in the fall. You have 10 weeks to reassess what things worked well the previous year, and what things you desperately need to change. I am curious as to how my students would describe me as teenagers can be extremely candid. I would like to think I would be described as strict, hardworking, and caring...however, I'm afraid none of these would be their description.
So, as I'm gearing Grace up for school I am excited by the fresh start for her. Physically, we've done the dentist, doctor, haircut appointments. We've done school shopping, supplies, uniform stuff. Now, just time for her to set out and start becoming her own person...I can't wait to hear how her teachers describe her and if that description matches the Grace that I know. How do you describe yourself?! I'm curious if it would fit the description that I would give you! :)
3 comments:
Like Grace, I can't think of a single negative thing to say about you! You're great and you have NO IDEA how much I will miss you being across the hall this year!!
Let me describe you! =) You are a mother with the biggest heart! You are a planner, a researcher, a forever learner, and a teacher that reaches people-really reaches people (not just students!). As much as you plan, you still know how to spend unplanned time with people and make them feel important. You're levelheaded and a trustworthy friend. I could go on and on, but there is probably a word count limit! Stay the same, please!
I've often explained to Chris that I feel like we all fill certain roles in friendships. I see you much the same way Kellie described you. I, too, will miss you next year as I try some new AP stuff on my own without the awesome sounding board I have in you. :)
I think you'll find your experience with how teachers view Grace quite interesting. I know that it has been eye-opening with Luka. Not in the sense of anything bad; it just seems that how I view him is amplified ten fold at school, which makes for some interesting conferences.
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