I spent some time with grandsons this weekend. We had Leo, 11 months, Saturday through Sunday afternoon. Taking care of him is a physical endeavor. He’s at least 20 pounds of activity. I love talking to him and watching his responses. His facial expressions are funny–the O-face, his inquisitive eyebrows, and his endearing smile. Yet, as they say, he is a handful. And rightly so, learning how to move is serious and dangerous business. You always have to be on guard. I saved his life a few times over the weekend.
Thomas at 2 months is less active and a light 11 lbs. 9 oz. of soft and cuddly. He has started responding with coos and smiles. But I don’t worry as much about his safety. He’s usually being calmly held, or he stays in one place on a floor mat.
As I was looking at my students today, I tried to imagine them as babies and toddlers. I said to them, “It’s hard for me to imagine that at one time if I had put you down in this room, you would’ve pulled all the books off the shelf, stuck your fingers in the socket, or tried to climb on the desks.” They all started talking at once with their stories of what dangerous things they had done as toddlers.
“Look! I still have a scar on my elbow!”
“I jammed my fingers in the door.”
I told them I think we need to save this as a writing prompt. They called me out on “peanut butter” which is what we call things that are off topic.
I admit I’m as bad as any of them at getting off the topic. But I got a good writing prompt out of it.
Those boys are so cute! And SO lucky to have each other! They can look back when they’re in school and also tell great stories about adventures they’ll have together. Love how you captured the energy in your room when you mentioned babies and danger.
I had the exact same thought – perfect writing prompt. You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but those teacher thoughts are always there!
Your boys are adorable. 20 lbs of activity is a perfect way to describe your sweet Leo. Enjoy every precious moment, Grandma!
You did find something to write about through your observations and that conversation!
Leo and Thomas are adorable. I can imagine you want to put up your feet and relax as soon as you hand them back to their parents. Little ones — especially at Leo’s age — are exhausting because of the physicality of it.
“I saved his life a few times over the weekend.” So casual, so true. What a fun writing prompt. And what adorable grandbabies you have – in all their physical glory!
The boys are adorable! I love this slice and how you wove it back into your classroom. Amanda already mentioned my favorite line, “I saved his life a few times over the weekend.” Great slice!
Beautiful little boys! Love the connection you made to students and their infant pasts. I think it’s easy to forget they were once little babies sometimes…
I like to teach through “mini-stories” connecting the moments of life to what we are learning. What is peanut butter and what is a mini story? I love to remind my third graders about how lots of practice creates pathways in our brain. We love to laugh about how they used to put their shirts on when they were first learning to get dressed. And now, most of them, show up with their shirts right side out and on in the right direction! Practice creates pathways and these stories like you shared with your class create connections! So fun. And…those babies are adorable.