So we’re driving to Boy #1′s basketball game early last weekend and Girl #1 starts talking about my writing. I explain to her how writing is the most important thing she will ever learn in school and how fun it is when taught correctly—which rarely happens. Then she hit me with this bomb:
“I think you’d be a great teacher.”
I was so shocked I nearly had to pull the car over and catch my breath. I’d have been less surprised if she had told me she held up a liquor store the night before.
“Really?” I said curiously. Keep in mind that last year I asked her if she wanted help with her homework one night, and her reply was:
“Only if I don’t get a whole, big speech on every subject.”
So needless to say, this was a big deal. She went on to tell me I should be teaching language arts and that it would be fun if I taught at her middle school. All I could think of was “she wants her dad at school?” The last time I drove her and her friends around I wasn’t allowed to talk.
I have to tell you, it was possibly the greatest compliment that I’ve ever received. The only other thing that comes close it when a cute girl in 7th grade said I had “awesome feathered hair” at the mall in 1981. Yes, I still remember that—and it stays in the vault.
But the victorious feeling from Girl #1’s compliment was short-lived.
Boy #2 and I were talking in the hall that evening as he marveled at how tall I was. I don’t hear that every day and have no problem if it does come from a 6-year-old.
“Well, I think you’re going to be a lot taller than me when you grow up.” I explained. I figured he’d be pumped by this information. He’s by far been our biggest kid.
“When I’m a grown up, you’ll be dead.”
“What?” It was like a punch in the gut when you’re not ready.
“Dead. You’ll be dead,” he said with the confidence of Bill Gates at math camp.
“Why would you say that? I plan on being alive for a long time.”
“I just have a feeling. And that feeling is that you’ll be dead. That’s it.”
And he walked away.
In one day I don’t think you can get a better example of a lifetime of having kids. It’s all about the ups, the downs and taking small wins where you can.
Even if you will be dead.
—Photo Ann Kinney/Flickr