1982

I had the privilege to go back to kindergarten. When I took the subbing job, I was a bit leery at first. Kindergarten! My endorsement is 7-12 Social Studies, not little five and six year olds. But then I reasoned with myself—I have six children. What are thirteen more? As it turned out, they were angels. I even had my own son in the class with me too and he was a model student that day.

The best part of the school day, however, was not when it ended, and it was not when they had nap time either. The best part of the day was recess. And I had recess duty. I had about 50 little kindergarten students lined up to go outside. I, armed with a very piercing whistle, and a hand held radio, as well as my cell phone (it has a clock, and I don’t own a watch anymore), guide the children past the blacktop, back to the far playground to let loose. The biggest challenge was, not keeping everyone in control, but rather, keeping everyone out of the VERY large mud puddles that were oh so strategically placed along the path to get to freedom. I had a few dare devils here and there, but perhaps common sense kicked in. (SNORT) Come on! Kids, especially boys, are so attracted to mud holes that it puts the theory Murphy’s Law as truth.

I digress. We got past the mud with no mishaps. At least, a near mishap. One little boy grabbed a HUGE stone (think brick size) and aimed it at the small lake near the road. Thank GOD he missed his target. Otherwise, I would have had about ten other little boys that would have been really wet.

Once my whole group reached the playground, it as if I was in 1982 all over again. The freedom! The thrill of running around, pell-mell, screaming in exhilaration and not having to worry about getting into trouble was the magic of the moment. And apparently, time had not diminished that magic either. I had twenty minutes to revel in the past and to keep the little kids from seriously injuring themselves on the monkey bars. I was in disbelief how fast the time flew. I was almost disappointed when it was time to go in. (I was cold and I was out of coffee.)

Yes, we had to dodge the vast ocean’s of rain water, but we made it back to the door. And thank the heaven’s Mrs. Johnson (another kindergarten teacher), was waiting where the students line up. She voiced the opinion that getting them “herded up” and back to the school was the hardest part. I silently agreed. With a smile on my face.

I loved it. The cool, fresh air. The sound of gravel crunching under my feet. The screechy sound the swings make as their little passengers pump their legs furiously back and forth to achieve the sense of flying. The sound of students yelling and laughing, darting here and there in their little make believe worlds of play. Kindergarten.