Being an ESOL teacher, I’ve developed a thick skin when it comes to comments from my students.  One of the hardest things about learning a language is learning appropriateness (i.e. what is polite to say and what isn’t).  This has coming shining through in the past couple days as I have been telling my students that I’m pregnant.

It all started last Friday when one of my 3rd graders, A, gave me a hug in the morning.  All of a sudden, I realized that she had put her head on one side of my stomach and was gently patting the other side.

me: A, what are you doing, honey?

A: Nothing.  You just have a big stomach. [walks off]

I decided then that it was time to tell my students that I was pregnant!

Here’s a random sampling of the comments I got today from my elementary students:

“Oh, that explains the big stomach!”

“I is so happy for you!  How much?”  [meaning how many babies?  This coming from a student whose mom is going to have twins!]

“I hope your husband is glad.”  [I reassured her that he is, indeed, very glad.]

(complaining about the fact that I won’t be his teacher next year) “Why don’t have just have a babysitter?” [answers own question] “Oh, I know why – you have to feed your baby.” [and then makes a motion in front of his own chest indicating that he is clearly familiar with the art of breastfeeding!]

from a kindergartener – First, after pushing on my stomach “It’s a baby.”  [Later] – “I know about a baby.  First you get fat.  Then the baby comes out.  And you scream a lot.”  [Home birth?  Too much reality TV?]

And what I treasure the most:  the glowing, excited happy eyes.

Praise God for babies.