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.
Your students have given you many memories to chuckle at and treasure. Chuckles for me too!
Please write these all down for you baby to read later. They are hilarious. The breastfeeding one is my favorite. Or maybe the screaming?
Congratulations, Laura!
What wonderful news.