Balance is a key to life and "all things in moderation." As adults we often have “childhood amnesia.” By that I mean we forget what it’s like to be a child and think like a child. Children love candy. They just do! And, that's one of the reasons they love Halloween. Aren't we lucky that this year they can get a sugar high on Saturday and hopefully will come back to earth by Monday morning!
I have a candy story for you today that I would NEVER use with children. In fact, I had forgotten all about this story until someone emailed and asked for a copy of it. You can save it for when you need a laugh or a smile at a faculty meeting. And, you might be surprised how aggressive grown-ups become over candy bars!!
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TEACHER
(You will need to buy Twizzlers, Snickers, Twix, a Tootsie Roll, Crunch, 100 Grand, Starburst, Sugar Babies, Baby Ruth, 5th Avenue, Watchamacallit, Mounds, Hugs, Kisses, Skittles, 3 Musketeers, Good and Plenty, Lifesavers, and Pay Day. If you can’t find everything just eliminate it from the story. The first teacher to raise her hand when a candy bar is mentioned gets the treat.)
Your alarm goes off long before you are ready to get up. It really doesn’t matter what time it is – you still are not ready to get up. But you go through the motions of getting ready and before you realize it you are already at school. You walk in the door and are twisted and pulled in ten different directions – just like Twizzlers. The sink in the room is stopped up, a mother wants to have a long discussion with you, and here come the twins, also known as the Sugar Babies, who are on a sugar high. It’s barely 8:30 and you can tell it’s going to be one of those days.
As you settle into the morning routine, out of the corner of your eye you notice the school guinea pigs, Skittles and Snickers, are trying to break out of their cage. Luckily, Ms. Baby Ruth, your wonderful team teacher, catches them and secures the cage. The Three Musketeers, Todd, Robert, and Jeremy, are having a contest over who can run the fastest and Anna and Maria are arguing over who’s coming to their birthday party. You smile and pat yourself on the back for “rolling with it” just like a Tootsie Roll.
Twix answering an email and welcoming a new child, the teacher next door wants you to come see the store she set up in the math center. “Oh, Miss King,” you exclaim, “It looks just like 5th Avenue.” The books you ordered three months ago have just arrived and the children thank you for Good and Plenty things to read. One child is looking for a particular book, but he can’ seem to remember the title. “You know, you know, the one with the Watchamacallit on it.” He’s getting really frustrated when one of the other children finds it. “You’re such a Lifesaver,” you say.
The day proceeds without a major incident. Well, if you don’t call Kevin dumping a jar of glitter all over the floor. Every time you walk you feel a Crunch. After lunch you get a Starburst of energy and begin on the Mounds of paperwork that must be done.
When the children finally leave there is a knock on your door and in walks your principal. Today is Pay Day! You open your envelope and realize you will never be paid for what you are worth – even if they paid you 100 Grand. So here are some Hugs and Kisses (pass these out to everyone) to thank you for what you do!
