Conferences, nice things, and the itches

This week, our school has parent-teacher conferences.

I. am. exhausted.

There is nothing more exhausting than teaching kindergarten all day and then staying until 8:30 p.m. talking to parents. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy meeting and talking with parents at conferences. I really do -- I'm not just saying that. There's just something not right with leaving school at 8:30 p.m. and returning at 7:00 a.m. two days in a row. Exhausting!

However, I love the things kindergarten parents say at the first round of conferences. Many parents I have seen once, even twice, before with older siblings. Some parents are new to our school -- and new to parenting. Some parents are even younger than I am! But, they all come to conferences proud of their little ones, and I love being the one to tell them, "Your child is doing great in kindergarten." It feels good to light-up a parent's face telling them how wonderful their child is [although... not all conferences go this way!! :)]

Here are some of my favorite parts from conferences this week:

• All kindergartners love their teacher. Correction: all kindergartners are obsessed with their teacher. This is not unique to me -- they just do! I always laugh how every parent says the same thing, "He/she looooves you, talks about you all the time, tells everyone in our family about you..." I love it. There is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of happiness and love.
• Well, one of my little girls made her parents and I laugh with her love for me. I thought this was truly hilarious and so darling. Last week, our class went to the pumpkin patch. Don't be fooled: In Omaha, the pumpkin patch is really an amusement park. Because the kinders split up into groups with parent chaperones, I put a sticky label on each child that read: "If I am lost, please call my teacher." and I listed my phone number. However, I'm not crazy. The minute we returned to school, I had each child put theirs in the trash can. I don't need parents calling me on my cell phone! :) Well, according to one of my little darling's mom, she found something in her little one's pocket. The little girl grabbed it from her mom and immediately ran to her room. When she came back, her mother asked her where she had put the sticker. The little one replied: "I hid it in my room where no one will ever find it so now I can call Mrs. A anytime I want!" Ha ha -- sneaky and oh-so-cute. I'm still waiting on that phone call...
• One mom (who sent her first baby to school this year) was happy as can be with her daughter's progress so far this year. She handed me a card at the end of the conference with a big thank-you. Inside the card was such an awesome message. I hope when I have children of my own, I remember to go out of my way to do things like this for my child's teachers. The card read: Mrs. Anderson - This was my Facebook post on Sept. 18. A few of my friends suggested I pass it along to you. I hope this isn't too forward. -- "Dear Mrs. Anderson (Maggie's kindergarten teacher), You are crazy good. I adore you. My child has full-out blossomed in the last month. Will you please be her teacher until 12th grade? Love, Maggie's Mom." 
• Oh, and my favorite comment from a parent at conferences this week -- "We want you to know that we have had many conversations with him about how he can't marry you. But, it's just not getting through to him yet." Ha! What a cutie.

Last but not least, a cute little something from one of my kinders. We had just finished reading the classic book, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly -- a favorite of mine and the kids! After, we colored and cut out an old lady and all the animals she swallowed so the kids could re-tell the story to someone at home.  

Mrs. A: "Honey, I love how you colored your old lady."
Student: "Thanks! Do you like the spots on her face?"
Mrs. A: "Sure."
Students: "Those are the itches."