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Monday, May 12, 2008

Before I get fired...

i just wanted to make a mother's day post about my sunbeams. how i love my sunbeams. they bring me such joy! i am actually getting a bit choked up just thinking about how sweet they are. i love them all so much. i want to thank the parents (especially the mothers, on this post-mother's day) of my sunbeams for having such sweet children and for sharing them with me each sunday.

yesterday was mother's day. it was a wonderful day, despite the rain. after sacrament, i walked into primary. i sat down in the middle of the front row. caroline was the first one there. she quietly came in and sat down.
caroline: "you know why people lick their fingers?"
me: "why caroline?"
caroline: "because when the pages are sticky, it separates them so they don't get stuck together."
me: "you're right! caroline, how are you so smart?"
caroline: "i'm a very smart girl."
me: "you are a very smart girl."

diana walks in, sits down.
diana: "i brought cookies!" (shows me her box of girl scout cookies)
me: "diana, you're so nice to bring treats!" (she brings something each week to share)
diana: "sister joray, my shoes match your purse!"
me: "you're right, diana! what color are they?"
diana: "umm, WHITE!"
diana didn't ask for her mom one time! Not once!

nathan comes in and stands in front of me. (caroline to my right, diana to my left)
me: "nathan do you want to sit on my lap?"
nathan: "yes." in his voice, (which i love so much).
i begin "going on a treasure hunt" on his back. "going on a treasure-hunt, x marks the spot. line, line, dot, dot, BIG questions mark. spiders going up your back, bite! all the blood is rushing down. spiders going up your back, bite! all the blood is rushing down. tight squeeze. (blow) cool breeze. now you've go the chills!"
nathan: smiles, "can you do that again?"
me: "yes, but you have to whisper." i do it again but only the motions, no words.
nathan: "can you say it too?"
me: "no, because gracie is giving a talk about her mother."
nathan was quiet and content the whole time! he was snuggly. he melted me.

kaia walks in.
kaia: "can i sit by you, sister joray?"
me: "there aren't any seats by me, could you sit next to diana?"
kaia sits in the seat next to diana.
kaia: "sister joray, look what i drawed!"
me: "did you do that for you mom on mother's day?"
kaia: "look sister joray, i got a bracelet."
me: "that's a pretty cool bracelet you have, kaia."

kalia walks in and stands in front of me.
kalia: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER JORAY!"
me: fighting back tears, choke. (her mom, ana, is standing beside her). in my head; don't cry. "kalia, it was so nice of you to remember my birthday! can i have a hug? you're such a sweet girl, kalia."
she quietly sits on the other side of caroline.

katie walks in.
me: "hi katie!"
she sits on the other side of kaia.
katie: "sister joray, look at my sparkly shoes!"
me: "katie, where did you get such sparkly shoes?"
katie: "my mom."
me: "i like your sparkly shoes."

layton comes in. he sits in the last chair in the row, closest to the door. i look at him, smile and wave. he smiles shyly, hides his head. we play this game for a few minutes.
layton didn't cry, didn't ask for mom or dad. was just cute and smiley.

they were perfect. my perfect sunbeams. not one was crying. not one was rowdy. not one was being irreverent. just perfect.

we go to our classroom. i begin the lesson with an opening prayer. during the prayer i crack one eye open to make sure everyone was doing what they are supposed to; fold arms, bow head, close eyes. i was caught!!! "Amen."
nathan: "i saw, you PEEKED!! hahaha i like the prayers when you peek. "
i couldn't help but to laugh a little because it's true. i was peeking. i should be an example by not peeking. but i did.

i was in a good mood, feeling like i could take on the world. within minutes it turned to complete chaos!! i couldn't get through the first half of the lesson. i didn't feel like being grumpy so i kind of let things slide. someone was on the floor with a chair on her back acting like a turtle. another someone was climbing the window sill. one of them was stealing another one's chair, "he took my chair". someone else was lifting her dress over her head. while i was busy telling the someone with her dress over her head that "little girls don't lift their dresses up", the door opens, it's sister gorge, the primary president. whoops. she saw the mass chaos! quickly i try to pull it together. too late. i let it go too far already. "class, we have a visitor! how should we act when we have a visitor?" i received cooperation from most with whom i went on with the lesson, while the other few were being rep remanded.

well, needless to say they calmed down in time for a few activities and sugar cookies. i can assure you that not every sunday turns out this way, only the sundays when primary presidents come to check in. and this is why i may be fired.

it was a good sunday. my sunbeams were happy and i was happy.

we missed jacob, skyler, and morgan with us in class yesterday! we hope to see you next sunday!

9 comments:

Smith Party of Five said...

I love you. I hope you have a good time. You are my favorite teacher. I like to hug you. You are pretty. You love me. We love you. I have a boyfriend, his name is Ethan. -Kalia

Smith Party of Five said...

You are the best! Kalia loves having you for a teacher and I couldn't ask for a better one! Keep up all your good work! -Ana

Susan Mangus said...

Ha. They'll never fire you after that post!! The first thing about teaching is - "they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." You just qualified yourself!! That was sooo tender.

natalie said...

Ahh. That was so sweet Alyssa! Kids are so funny! The song from Dumbo was playing (Baby Mine) and that did me in! I love when you write.

Anonymous said...

That is so sweet that you love your Sunbeams like that! They are super lucky to have you for a teacher!

Tara said...

You are such a great teacher! Jacob was distraught at missing class! He woke up Monday morning all ready to go to church, "But you said, I could go to class the next day!" We are so blessed to have such a great Sunbeam teacher!

Sara said...

Can you please be Jenna's sunbeam teacher next year? That was a darling post.

battraws said...

I can't believe you can get Nathan to sit for more than 2 seconds! Would you please sit by us in Sacrament Meeting? I'm so glad he has you for a teacher!

Amy said...

Oh Alyssa- you truly are the best primary teacher..and are just perfect for those sunbeams. Seriously, there might come a time when you'll be asking to get fired because I'm sure they'll never fire you...you'll be there forever!