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Friday, June 26, 2009

How did you think that would end?

As the year winds down there is the requisite flurry of parties. Yesterday was Emily's end-of-year party, and my job was to run the station where the kids made Jello aquariums. We were working on a 15 minute rotation. It was important to time the work so that the kids finished on schedule, and I was fortunate to find a good balance quickly.

This similar to what we were making --

clear cup filled with blue jello, swedish fish, graham cracker sand, and Cool Whip)

I was on the last group of kids and was enjoying my time with them thoroughly. I was bantering back and forth with one little boy in particular - let's call him PITA (for Pain In The Anterior-region). PITA was having a hard time following the rules and rather than chastising him I was distracting and engaging. I typically have good luck with this approach, but not today.

After a lot of fruitless effort I was getting exasperated with the boy and his 12,000 questions: Can I smush it? Can I stir it? Can I share it? Can I take it home... You get the idea. Finally, I'd had enough.

PITA: Can I eat it? Can I eat it?

KathyB!: Sure!

PITA: Can I mix it all together first?

KathyB! (wondering if he didn't remember that we'd discussed this 3 times already). Yes, PITA. Of course you may eat it. Go ahead! I bet it's yummy!

PITA: Really?! I can eat it? Really...?

KathyB! Honestly, you can do whatever you want....

Do you ever get the feeling the world is moving in slow motion? As soon as those words passed my lips time changed. I remember looking into his eyes as his face lit up. I remember thinking that I'd made a terrible mistake but being unsure of the exact nature of the mistake. I remember the look of pure glee as his face burst into a smile. I remember thinking, "Noooooo..!"

I also remember PITA digging his hand into his Jello aquarium and slinging a handful of goop at his neighbor.

My eyes bugged out a little as I turned to look at the other mommy working the station. She didn't say anything, but I could see it in her eyes....

You opened the door...

How did you think that would end?

48 comments:

Kristina P. said...

All I want to know is what is a Jello aquarium?

Sultan said...

"This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper."

T.S. Eliot from poem 'The Hollow Men.'

Michel said...

won't the fish die if you make them live in Jello??

I know I don't have any fish and all, but I think they might. Maybe not if it were the strawberry jello though...because that is yummy.

I feel for you. Jello stains. I remember many a jello shot in college that did not end up so well.

Zip n Tizzy said...

Ah see, you do have a houseful of girls. Not to say they're not mischief... Recent posts about 6 year old twins have defied that theory, but they know they're being mischievious. Boys just get caught in an impulse and, well, you gave him permission!

The Rambler said...

Mental note to self.

Never tell a child when beyond point of clear sanity to do whatever they want. NEVER. Remember this story.

Right?

:)

Unknown said...

OH LOLOL! too funny! I never made jello aquariums...you rock :)

tracy

The Blonde Duck said...

I want a jello aquarium! Leave the PITA at home, please.

mommakin said...

'do whatever you want' *shudder*

Anonymous said...

Hahahaha! Kids are so literal!

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

You are welcome in my classroom anytime. Anytime.

Pam said...

After Accident Injury Field Day and Food Fight Aquarium Day I think you will be off the hook for volunteering next year. Well done! I wish I had thought of this during my girls' elementary school years. Think of all the time I could have saved myself. Brilliant! LOL!

Gibby said...

You didn't. He didn't.

KB!, didn't we talk about volunteering in the classrooms? About maybe taking a vacation from kids like PITA? You should be sitting next to your lovely pool instead. With a couple of us. Some music. Food. Drinks. No jello aquariums.

Right, Anon Mom? (where is she?)

Tina said...

Oh boy....famous last words!

THIS is the reason I don't volunteer more!

Kathy B! said...

I probably should add one point - in case anyone reads what I write in the comments, which you probably don't, but at least I can say I tried... :)

I really like volunteering in the classroom. It makes me happy (except, obviously, Field Day). I like to mess with the kids a little bit. I'm probably at least partially at fault in all of these shenanigans because I seem to inadvertently get kids a little wound up (I know! Me? Get the kids crazy?? Never!). But that's okay!! They're kids, and I like to see them bust out and act like kids in the middle of the school day.

And as long as I clean up my messes, the teachers seem to be okay with it...

Lindy said...

This is precisely why I don't volunteer.

Anonymous said...

Too funny...oh the things I miss out on as a working mom. You can handle these for me. ;)

Anonymous said...

I'm with you...I like to get kids wound up and have them have fun. And I don't mind messes. That is quite a funny story...and guess what we call Olivia when we're on vacation and drivin us all crazy? PITA!! :)

peewee said...

heh heh. But that does sound kinda fun. I would LOVE to throw a fistful of Jello at some people.

TKW said...

Does PITA know Big Potty? Because it sounds like they are cut from the same cloth.

I don't know HOW you find the energy to volunteer.

Erin H said...

HaHa- Dane and I sometimes refer to our beloved son as H. R. PITA (as in His Royal Pain in the A...)- of course, not where he can hear. Usually when he is coming to bug us at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday.
Keep on volunteering- those teachers need you!!!

Queenie Jeannie said...

LOL!!!!!!!!!

OK, we're going to have to INSIST on easy, step-by-step, goof-proof instructions on said jello aquariums. Yes, really!! Cough it up sister!!!

countryfriedmama said...

"But that lady said I could do whatever I wanted..."

i am the diva said...

hahaha... noooooOoOOoooooooOOOO!!!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha... kids are kids at the end of the day. You did brilliantly :)
@Kathy : Yes that is how i would like to be... leave the kids to be kids and become a kid myself ;)

Freedom Debt Relief

Sandy said...

Again, kids are so literal. Bet you won't be using those words anytime soon! End of year....maybe not the time to be using blue jello. But I think I'm going to have a jello aquarium for my next party....oh, kids? No, there won't be kids and I won't say "do whatever you want either!" ;-)

Pop and Ice said...

Next year just send treats to the end of year party. A lot less stressful.....!

Eventually your kids won't want you at any type of school function so enjoy it while you can!

Patricia said...

just like at home eh? You'd never think you'd have to say "you can do whatever you want but obviously not that." *LOL*

Hey, at least they had fun.

yeah to end of school!!!

Anonymous said...

haha, I have never made a jello aquarium but now I sure want to! Although, I don't think I ever would have thought to throw it!!

Jen said...

Damn!

theUngourmet said...

Oh my gosh, how hilarious!

I love those! I want to make them with my kids today!

zelzee said...

You made me laugh!

I think the best part of those kids day is when YOU come in!!!

Anonymous said...

I keep thinking I would dead pan and say, "Kid, that was just an expression of speech." Then I would have him clean it up, because really, really he thought he could get away with that.

On the other hand, I heart jello aquariums because the boys loves them, except we put in shark fruit snacks.

Anonymous said...

I keep thinking I would dead pan and say, "Kid, that was just an expression of speech." Then I would have him clean it up, because really, really he thought he could get away with that.

On the other hand, I heart jello aquariums because the boys loves them, except we put in shark fruit snacks.

Susie said...

You NEVER give a kid like that carte blanche:-)

ck said...

I think TWK is right. PITA is really Big Potty in disguise. Thank goodness we had girls, right?

Liz Mays said...

I'm gonna go ahead and say what popped into my head right away.

He's one of those kids that you know is gonna be permanent trouble.

Even though he's a PITA now, he's gonna get a PITA of his own when he goes to prison one day.

Oopsie, did I say that?

passions and soapboxes said...

Okay Pita is an anarchist and will probably end up being arrested for throwing rocks or something at a protest rally when he is 21.

bernthis said...

do whatever you want? With Jello? What're you nuts? ;)

LadyFi said...

Hilarious!

But what a waste of a Jello Aquarium!

Mary K Brennan said...

It looks like that was a lose-lose situation. No matter what you told that kid, he already had planned to destroy you.
I still think you handled it well.

for a different kind of girl said...

I did this project once with just my two boys and seriously, that you could do that with a team of kids in 15 minutes is a marvel!

Reading this reminded me of the kids in my preschool Sunday School class. Every time it's my rotation to teach, I usually start on Wednesday, prepping myself mentally for the various PITAS (sorry, God) in my class. It's an exhausting two hours, but thankfully, there's not yet been any JellO involved!

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Court D said...

To think I was worried about my kid not talking. It's just gonna keep getting harder and harder isn't it.

Anonymous said...

Man - I imagine I would have wanted to eat that as a kid, but it doesn't sound so appetizing these days.

Karin Katherine said...

where is the recipe?

Helene said...

You are a much better person than me. The teachers at your kids' schools must LOVE you! Everytime Cole and Bella's preschool teacher asked me if I'd be up for volunteering for this or that, I'd just say, "well, can I bring the little twins with me because I have no one to watch them". She eventually stopped asking me to volunteer.

Although I did get stuck at one of the tables at their end-of-the-year carnival when one mom needed to go use the restroom real quick and asked me to watch the table for a few minutes. It was the longest few minutes of my life.

Ink said...

I LOVE those aquariums and now want to steal it as a party idea...how amazing!

And doesn't it seem as through All Things kid-related end with a handful of goop, somehow?

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

HAhahahaha!!!!! That kid sounds like a real treat. Probably the same type I'm raising. ;)

Those aquariums are awesome! I'm going to try this at home.