There are some unwritten rules when it comes to working with little children. Yesterday, I broke one. I know…I know. Because children typically hunt in packs, teachers have to strategically utilize the “get down on one knee” maneuver carefully and judiciously. Why? When one child sees you at their eye-level, it’s like there’s some kind of primordial alarm system in others that says, “Get him!!” 😊 Kind of like when one person yawns, then, well, you know…

There I was…I had just come in from dropping off my bus and was getting ready to get my kids from another teacher when there she was. Her big eyes intently staring into mine as I approached and a smile neatly tucked away in the corners of her mouth as she stood in the doorway of her classroom. I tried to look away but I knew there was something she evidently NEEDED to tell me…another loose tooth, a new outfit, a new school adventure…there was something on her heart I had to know! And so I did it. I threw caution to the wind and slowly dropped to one knee in front of her so I could get lost in the eyes and message of this little girl. Sure enough, she greeted me with a squeeze around my neck and then backed up just enough (NOTE: her definition of personal space and mine are a little different😀) so she could tell me some things about her day. I was so enthralled in what she had to tell me, I lost sight of my peripheral…a military breech of conduct especially egregious on the battlefield.

Noisily, the pack began to gather. The two adjacent classroom doorways where I had kneeled began to fill with a whole slew of little bogeys and I was powerless to stop it. Sweat began to bead under my hat on my forehead because I knew a storm was coming. The little girl valiantly continued her story in all her cuteness unfazed by the growing presence of her peers at my 10 and 2…as though she were baiting me. On my left, one child capriciously made her way around to my 6…I thought she was heading down the hall to go the bathroom, but NO. In the midst of my little talker telling me about the fun she had at recess, I felt little hands encapsulate my neck from behind, a little head lay down to briefly rest in between my shoulder blades and a muffled “Hi Mr. Todd!!” ❤ Emboldened by this pediatric vanguard, students began pouring out of the doorways while my original target kept talking LIKE NOTHING WAS GOING ON! I did my best to defend myself, hugging to my left, a good-natured smile and head pat to the right, but no…their attack was relentless!! The tsunami of giggles pretty soon became so overwhelming on my left side, I almost toppled off my one knee, falling to the right.

My friends, there is another unwritten rule in childcare. Never, under any circumstances, ever, fall down to the floor in the presence of children. Even the most hardened childcare veteran shudders at the thought of this occurrence and I was THIS CLOSE (picture me holding my thumb and pointer finger dangerously close together) to becoming buried alive underneath so much and so many snaggle-tooth tigers!

Thankfully though, I was able to muster what little strength that had not been hugged out of me and with gritted teeth and a soulful roar, stand with children now on all sides clinging to whatever they could get hold of! It was like some kind of adorable zombie apocalypse. When I finally arrived to my classroom sans children, I was grateful for my life!! 🙂

Even bigger than that though…I was grateful for each and every one of their precious lives and the love they are unafraid to show. <3

BTW, did you know God feels the same way I did when we “mob” Him with our love and affection like my littles did me? Just a thought…

Have a blessed evening, friends…

Landon <><

Efimerios

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