My day in first grade

I volunteered in Eli's first grade classroom today since I had the day off. A few lessons I learned:

• It's better to pack a lunch the night before. I was almost late because I forgot that I needed a lunch, too. We're always telling Eli to plan ahead.
• First grade is all about fun. My job today was to teach small groups how to play the board game Sorry. This way, everyone got to learn the game in preparation for days when they have to have indoor recess. I did catch the teacher trying to teach them real stuff, though, each time I took one group back to the room to exchange for another group.
• Titles come slow to some. I was referred to as Mrs. Chris the entire morning by one boy. Maybe I should spend less time in front of the mirror in the morning.
• Age is relative. I said the oldest person could have the first turn each game and went around the table asking each kid how old they were. A few weren't sure even when their birthdays were. I finished by asking how old they thought I was. Answers ranged from 14-100, with most guessing in the mid to late 40's.
• Six-year-old boys like to see grown-ups run all over the playground chasing down kickballs. Yes, I got to go to recess, and my kickball line was the biggest. Nearly 15 kids lined up when they saw I was pitching.
• Boys do NOT like it when their mothers write love notes on their napkins to be discovered at lunch. Save it for at home, moms. One boy apparently got one in his lunch several weeks ago and his classmates haven't let him forget. It was the first topic of conversation at our lunch table.
• Lunch ladies are still mean.
• Finally, it's just a few decades late, but I was the most popular kid in school today.

me as a 1st grader

Sacred Heart Elementary School, Farmington, New Mexico - 1979-80 (my wife was coming up on her one year birthday then)