Sunday mornings I stop by all the children’s classrooms to say hi to the teachers and children. I am often greet by children who are eager to tell me the story about how they lost their tooth this week or how they aced their first spelling test. While I love hearing these stories from all the kids, being able to visit the three-year-old classroom is the highlight.
A few weeks ago I was making my way toward the three-year-old room. As I approached the room I could hear laughter echoing off the colorful walls. I poked my head around the corner and into the room. Immediately I was greeted with shouts of excitement, “Ms. Lauren! Ms. Lauren! Ms. Lauren!” I was then practically tackled as a heard of three-year-olds came rushing up to me to give me a hug. As I was finishing hugging each child a little boy looked up at me with a smile in his eyes and asked, “Ms Lauren, are you ready to be chopped?”
To most people this would be an alarming question, but I knew exactly what the kids were about to do. In their room they have a cardboard puzzle that makes up a work bench. Many of the cardboard puzzle pieces are in the shape of saws, screwdrivers, hammers, and scissors. It has become a favorite game of ours for the kids to pretend to “chop” me as I fall to the floor from the loss of limbs. Each kid giggled as they got a chance to “chop” off my arm or foot. But at the end of the game that same little boy said, “Don’t worry Ms. Lauren. We’ll put you back together.” And with kisses on my hands and feet the three-year-olds pretended to put me back together with love.
I don’t know what it is about that age that I enjoy. Maybe it’s the fact that one minute they could be talking about the snow last week and the next minute they are telling me how the red power ranger destroyed the monster. But maybe I love that age because they love others unconditionally just the way God loves each of us.
Mrs. Claudia, a fabulous teacher, reading a story to the three-year-olds.
