A wonderful blogger, RML, recently posted something written by her 11 year-old self. I didn’t write when I was 11, if I could avoid it, but she got me thinking about 11 yr-old me. That's when I learned I had no defense against tears. I turned 11 during 5th grade. I showed up for the first day of school hoping to be assigned to Mrs. Bloom. I was--I didn’t know it yet, but she was a really great teacher.
There was something else I didn’t know. She was 5 months pregnant! But I learned a lot before she left on maternity leave, including how to sew an apron for my mom (as an Xmas present). She made it to the holidays and then we were assigned a new teacher. A brand new teacher, she had graduated early, at the end of the fall semester. She was only 21.
On the new teacher’s first day she introduced herself, talked about her parents, and how excited she was to move to DC (from Tennessee). Then she started to take attendance. Well, she tried. The kids thought it would be funny to refuse to answer. Before she got to my name, the teacher broke. She went to her desk, put her head down, and started crying.
It was horrible, unbearable! I couldn’t take it. Someone had to do some- thing, but everyone was looking down at their feet. Then I remembered one of my dad’s lectures. When something needs to be done, you can’t wait around hoping someone else will take care of it. You need to step up and do it yourself.
So I did. I went to her desk, patted her on the shoulder and told her it would be okay. The kids would cooperate now. She looked up and asked how I knew. I smiled and said, “Because I know their names!” That made her laugh and everything was okay after that. She and I had an odd relationship. A few months later she asked me if I thought it would be okay if she asked the (handsome, single) 6th grade teacher for a ride while her car was in the shop. I said, “Of course!!!” =)
I try to keep it a secret, but tears still work on me. Darnit!!!
Awwwwwww my God!!!!! How cute were you at the age of 11?!?!
ReplyDeletePoor girl... being a brand new teacher is hard - been there.
And don't worry: tears usually worn on ANY guy!
Oh, and thank you so much for the mention, I'm flattered! *blushing*
Aww that's so sweet Rick! :)
ReplyDelete"When something needs to be done, you can’t wait around hoping someone else will take care of it. You need to step up and do it yourself." I'll always keep this in mind, thank you for sharing your Dad's lecture with us! :)
When my daughter heard this story she laughed and said, "You were a weird kid, dad!" LOL
ReplyDeleteRick, how do you remember everything so clearly? Im JEALOUS! i think i have memory gap already. LOL
ReplyDeleteyou are so sweet! then and now, im sure you were like a little angel to the newbie teacher then and a very loving husband to your wife now. AWW :)
so, did she ask the handsome teacher for a ride? :)
Thanks for sharing your dad's lecture with us! I totally agree with it, but I never would have thought of it in a situation like that.
ReplyDeleteThat;s so lovely of you to help her feel better :)
I do too want to know whether she asked the handsome teacher for a ride :P
Haha, she DID ask for the ride and later they dated for a while.
ReplyDeleteAWWWW! Rick! you deserve 10 DQ cakes after that gesture! :D I know what you mean though.. something about tears just breaks me down too!!! Gotta love lessons from your parents... my parents words of wisdom always ring in my head. haha!
ReplyDeleteWow, you were a great kid! I don't think I would do that when I was young, LOL...
ReplyDeleteThat's sweet. Really sweet! =)
ReplyDeleteAt 11 I would have probably laughed my ass off when a teacher cried. (yea, I was that kid) Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteAs a woman, I know all too well the incredible power of tears. On more than a few ocassions, I have used tears to manipulate and extort.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to brag tears are part of my arsenal of superpowers.
wow. That's sweet.
ReplyDeletenot every 11 boys would do that..
and dont worry..
guys with tears are cute too:)
especially when your 11...
Oh Rick. You've always been a sweet one. I'm a sucker for tears too. I can't stand em and try to stay away from them. Tears are contagious. Tears make me want to do something to make the world a better place
ReplyDeleteIM BACK!! and that's one cute little story Rick!! I can somehow imagine the scene on my head lolz do you still in touch with that teacher?by any chance?? ;p
ReplyDeleteAw. You're very considerate with an healthy dash of humour, a good mix!
ReplyDeletethat is so cute! i can totally picture you as the nice, good kid in class.
ReplyDeleteyou're a sweetie, rick...then and now :)
Wow! What a gentleman ... at 11! Your dad must've been proud if he knew how you've heeded his words.
ReplyDeleteErrr ... what happened to that teacher? Any updates?
Your reactions have surprised me. When I tell this story (or someone tells it for me), most people wonder how I got to be such a little freakazoid--was I 11 going on 30???, that sort of thing. I guess I just needed to share the story with better people! =) {Thank you}
ReplyDeleteThe 2 teachers dated for a while, then he moved on, got married and started a nursery school with his wife. My teacher was still unattached the last time I saw her, which was about 7 years later. She should have been about 28, but she looked 45. I don't know what happened to her.
If you get a chance, you should visit RML's blog.
Wow, you are such a sensitive and thoughtful boy, Ric.
ReplyDeleteIf you wake up one day with ants running all over you, let me tell you why. You are so sweet!
I loved this story, this was so adorable! :-) I could just imagine the scene in my head.. :-p That was sweet. For the teacher's part, I'm pretty sure things aren't so...stable at 21. Kids can be pretty stubborn when they want to, right? I've tried to "psychologize (not a real world, but i like it anyway, haha)" kids in my line of work...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteOh, but this was a good story. Totally cute.
ohh you were so cute helping the teacher out! it takes a lot to stand up against the other kids at that age too
ReplyDeletenice! im the ones that wait until someone does something. i guess im a scaredy cat for that. :/ but its so sweet of you to help out the teacher.
ReplyDeletei learned how to sew at elementary too! though i was really REALLY bad at it. hahahaha
That's so funny about how she asked if it was okay for a ride! It confirmed to me your personality. You ARE wise - even at an early age you were!
ReplyDeleteTears are a woman's greatest power, no? ;)
clothed much, a modest fashion blog