I’ll take the bad with the good…

McCanless always surprises me. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected with her and from time to time I learn from her spontaneity and her spunk. Mary Clare taught me to savor life, McCanless reminds me to.

I’ve mentioned that she loves to hang out with my 8th graders, and every morning during homeroom, she has the opportunity. I get to school around 7:45 am on a good day. She has about 15 minutes with my students until I take her (drag her) over to her building. Lately, my students and McCanless have been playing hide-and-seek. She was hiding under my desk at my feet when my headmaster came in to chat with me. As I was looking up at him, McCanless shouted at him (his feet), “Na-Na-Na Boo Boo, you can’t get me.” and knocked his shoe with a balled-up fist. I quickly smiled at him and began to explain. He chuckled as I began to drag McCanless out from under my desk PRAYING that she would at least apologize, or smile, or sing…anything to recover! She didn’t, of course. She didn’t flinch. She wasn’t shocked. She wasn’t scared. She said, “Hey, you’re not an 8th grader!” and ran over to find her pals.

I was certainly embarrassed of that little minor incident and I tried to “not sweat it,” but I certainly couldn’t get it off of my mind. McCanless has a mind of her own and is certainly strong willed. Each day, I get glimpses of others in the grocery store/playground/school of those who I can FEEL thinking, “If my child were saying that to me….” or “I would never let a 4-year-old say those things to me.” “Why would anyone give a 4-year-old an option, anyway.” UGGHH! I get so frustrated. I know she is a fantastically wonderful, creative free spirit, but I wish others did too!

I was thinking this way for a couple of days, and she did it again. McCanless threw me for a loop. We had a SCISA teacher’s conference in Orangeburg yesterday. As I walked around the convention center walking by booths I also noticed the artwork submitted for judging. I knew our art teacher submitted a few and I was glancing at the winners trying to find work from our students. Another teacher from THA saw me and asked if I saw McCanless’ art? What? I had no idea! McCanless’ art was submitted in the 4K/5K division and was given a ribbon. This category wasn’t judged, but hers was only one of about 15 in that category on display out of over 100 SCISA schools. I was so proud of her at that moment! Several other teachers came up to admire her painting and I thought my heart (and my head) would explode with pride. I wanted to say, “Na-Na-Na Boo Boo,” but of course, I didn’t!!

My little wonderful, sassy-mouth artist, Mommy is so very proud of you!

3 Comments