First Best Present

My students are writing a persuasive letter, trying to convince someone to buy them a certain gift for Christmas. Today, I was proof-reading MB's letter when I read the phrase, "This touch screen laptop would be the second best present I got since the day I was born."

I simply asked, "Wow, well what was your FIRST best present?"

He replied, "Uh...being born." (Almost as if to say, "Duh, Ms. S.")

Um, amazing. Yes, of course that was your first best present. How underrated is being born. Today, I think we should all call our parents (if we can) to say, "Thank you for my first best present...me being born."

Kids?

Two different times I had students ask me if I had kids today. The response was totally different in each situation.

Situation 1
AL (Brazilian): Mrs. S, you don't have kids?
Me: Nope.
AL: You need to have kids.
Me: Why??
AL: Because you are so good with kids. You'd be a great mom!

* AL was referring to him & his peers when he said I was so good with "kids" & I reminded him that if I had kids, they would not be as old as he was right away. He laughed. I'm glad he got my joke.

Situation 2
* Inez is a friend of one of my students. She ate lunch in my classroom today with my student. We don't know each other very well, but she began talking about her new crush & said something about my "boyfriend..."

Me: Nope, no boyfriend here. A husband though.
IG: OH! You look young. Like early 20s.
Me: Thank you.
AA (my student): His name is John.
IG: Do you have kids?
Me & AA (same time): No.
IG: Oh good. Kids are terrible. They take up so much time & energy.
Me: Oh, I think I like them more than you do, but it's good that you don't because you're too young to care about them anyway. ;)

* Note: Not sure why AA wanted to share info about my husband & non-existent kids before I did.