C is for Chat

Some of my most favorite moments with the kids are those times when I can chat with them one-on-one.
I had that opportunity today at dismissal.
All the kids had been matched with a mom or a dad except for one, so he and I sat just inside the door and watched for his mom together. He's a great little kid. So full of energy. You can just see the excitement well up inside him when he's happy about something, he just can't contain it.
He has one of those smiles that can light up a room. He can be a little challenging at times, needing reminders about personal space, or to sit quietly, but he's a good guy and doesn't have a mean bone is his little 5- year-old body.

"Mrs. Collins, when I leave you'll be the only one left. Will you be lonely?"
"No, I have some work to do in my room, I'll be so busy I won't have time to be lonely."
"Work? Like what? When we leave you're done right?"
"Well after awhile I go home, but first I have to clean up a little then get things ready for tomorrow."
"That sounds like a lot of work."
"It is a lot of hard work, but it's the best job in the world."
"I don't want to be a teacher when I grow up."
"You don't? You should think about it, why wouldn't you want to be a teacher?"
"It's too much work I think."
"Well what DO you want to be when you grow up?"

"A JUGGLER!!!"

"That's an excellent choice! I can juggle."
"You can?"
"Ah huh."
"Can you juggle oranges?"
"Nope, I can juggle kindergarteners!"
"You're funny Mrs. Collins! Kindergarteners are too heavy to juggle!"

"Oh, If you only knew!"