Lately at "pick up" after pre-school, a small group of the kids from my son's class have started gathering near a tree on the school grounds to play and chase each other around for a few minutes each day before going home. The moms chat and the kids, along with their little siblings run and play. Very cute.
Today, one of the little boy's Dad picked him up. It seems like he and his wife split it pretty much 50/50 for drop off and pick up. I like to see a Dad so dedicated and involved like that. Anyway, while the kids were playing today, this little guy's dad was telling us about why he chose this particular preschool for his kids. He had some issues with fighting, and or lack of discipline at the school his son was at last year. His son was being picked on, and the staff did nothing. Didn't notify him or his wife, address the issue, etc. And that was when our kids were only 3! This school on the other hand, is very hands on, very on top of everything. He and his wife are very happy with this school, and so am I.
He went on to tell us that last week, he and his co-workers were guest speakers in our kids class. He is a corrections officer. He stands about 7 feet tall, literally. He's HUGE. He asked me and the other moms if our kids had told us about the day that they came to class. We all answered no. Crazy, right? He went on to tell us that what they talked about was making good decisions versus bad ones. How bad decisions in life can wind you up in jail. In jail there is no such thing as Christmas or Easter or Birthdays. In jail you don't get to have anything you like. You don't get to play with anyone at all. He said that he's never seen a group of kids look so terrified in his life..... well... this brought out a lot of emotions from me (on the inside).
I thought... well, hmmm, that's good. My kids need to learn about consequence and what not.. They need to take it seriously that you can't just break the rules.. But, well... I'm probably the only mother of a child in their class who has a child that has a father that could potentially wind up in jail this month. Mind you, J doesn't have any idea that his dad is in the middle of a criminal trial that might send him to jail, but I know.
I remember when I was in 1st grade and we were learning about Heaven and Hell. Sister Brendan made it very clear that if someone kills another person, they can NOT go to Heaven. Period. Well, at six years old, I knew very well that my Dad had been in Vietnam. I knew what that meant. I knew that he killed people. I knew that his cousin Bobby was killed over there. I knew that my Dad was in a place for 2 years with a gun, and that pretty much all he did was hide and kill the enemy. I'm not sure why I knew these things at six years old, but I did. When I tell you that I lost sleep over the thought of my Dad NOT being allowed into Heaven, it is an understatement. The fact that I still remember the story 30 years later gives a little weight to my message here.
I KNOW my Dad is going to go to Heaven one day. He is the most giving, loving, generous person I've ever known... with a side of funny, jackass, sarcastic yahoo. I love my Dad, and I'm fairly certain God's ok with him too.
But the point of this long winded story is this.... be careful about what lessons you are teaching to an anonymous group of preschoolers... cause even if a kid is wearing baby gap hoodies, and stride rite sneaks... you don't know what's goin on in his house and life. those gap and stride rites are all hand me downs from my big sister. My little boy's Mother struggles with a lot of truths at home. be careful with your tough love... some kids already have it tough.
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