Just a sampling of my Christmas memories…

We are still in upstate NY at my family’s. We are enjoying our time here. It’s great having the whole family together. Ari is enjoying her first Christmas. No shortage of presents and attention to be sure. Vanessa and…

Errrmmm, actually “it’s” not but I still am. I’ve been accused of being a slacker in regards to posting here for you happy people (thanks JESS). So I’m here letting you know that life still exists, and I still am drawing breath. With that said, I will now wish you all a late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Holiday was good for me….got to go home and see the family…which is always good.

Anywho, I’ve got stuff that must be done, and you need not waste anymore time reading my ramblings…so we shall depart!

I thought everyone was able to see my heart throbbing as I walked into the room. The first room I had gone into was empty. I wasn’t sure where to go, and then an idea popped into my head. “The cafeteria”. As I entered the room I saw them. They were sitting down in front of a TV. No, not all of them because there’s one going for a tissue and another coming out of the restroom. Still more are at the tables. Some of those in front of the TV have no clue what is on the screen because they’re talking, laughing, and pestering each other. There is a lost look on my face as I glance around me. How happy I was when someone took pity on me and showed me where to go and pointed out things I had not seen before. Then as she left me she said something like “at 10 til come pick up your children.” Thus started my day. The day where I first tasted the life of a K3 teacher.

As I sat down at the teacher’s desk looking over the lesson plan I mentally checking off the things I understood. All of the sudden I see something that makes my heart start throbbing again. Do these 3 year olds really know this? What will they think about me when they find out I don’t know it? Agonizing thoughts rush through my brain while I finish going over the lesson plan. It’s now 10 til and I walk back down the hall and step through the doorway. More children have arrived. There are more kids walking around and goofing off than watching the video. I walk up to a teacher and ask her a question. “You don’t know that?” is the reply I get. confess I don’t know all of it and that I feel bad since K3 kids know it. She told me to skip it if I was uncomfortably with it. Her words comforted me for the moment.
Nervousness arrived and asked to stay while my class lined up. Then I pushed Nervousness away when I saw that only three, yes only three, tres, treîs kids lined up. We’re now off to the classroom zone.

Settling in was crazy. Today is “Stuffed Animal Day”. Some have big ones that won’t fit in their cubicles. Others have noisy ones that I need to find the off button to. They want to keep their stuffed animal by their seat so I let them as long as they don’t play with them. They start coloring while I gather my wits. Look at watch, oh, it’s time to say the pledge. I told the students to stand up. We said the pledge and afterwards I wanted to pray. BUT before I prayed a little boy said “Now we sing ‘My Country ’tis of Thee”. I swallowed hard. I get confused with the words. Don’t know it all. How can K3ers know this song and I have to see the words to know how to sing it. Bravely I say “you all will have to sing it well and loud because I don’t know all of it.” Oh me, Oh my, those K3 students really do know that song. Meanwhile during the song the principal comes through the door. He sings with us (I mean with the children since I really am not singing ’cause I can’t remember the words). He tells the students to listen to me because I’m the teacher for today since their teacher is sick. With that he leaves. The kids finish coloring. I mark down how many are here for snack and lunch. Then we’re off to the bathrooms. Back in the classroom we learn about Wise Men visiting Jesus. We sing songs, read a book, and review our letters A-J. Then we jump, turn around, stomp our feet, clap our hands, count to ten and sing more songs. We learned about the jungle and about the pigmys that live it the jungle. They follow a Honey Bird to the honeycomb where the bees are. Then they build a fire and put the bees to sleep. They break open the honeycomb and scrape away the honey. But they do leave some for the Honey bird. After we learned about the pygmy’s we walked down the hall to snack. Then once again back to the room for our coats and off to recess. After recess we went to the bathroom and then to the water fountain. Then back to the classroom for rest time. Everyone put their head down on the table and listened to Christmas music.
Since I also had to work at Daycare the class I was teaching combined with the other K3 class for Art.
And that was my day.

Some titles mean alot.  Some I can't stand.

When at the University, my students are expected to call me "Mr. Buck."  One day, I heard the familiar title and turned around.  Sam, a boy I know from home, and have known since the day he was born, had a question.  YUCK!!!  To hear him call me Mr. Buck made me sick.

Yet, some title I like to hear.  For instance, I enjoy being called COACH.  Every now and then I walk through campus.  The boys boys from past basketball teams will shout out, "Hey, Coach!"  That's special.  I try to hide my thrilling smile, but it's no use.  I love it when those boys call me "COACH."

Furthermore, I enjoy being called UNCLE BUCK.  After my nephew started using the title, it sort of caught fire.  Friends' kids and church kids have started calling me UNCLE BUCK.  The title makes me laugh, but I'm now officially UNCLE BUCK.

However, I most love the title…