I glance across the room at my parents and see the disbelief in their eyes. This is difficult for me to share and for these young mothers/fathers to hear. You see, I have been teaching at this school for 14 years. I live in the neighborhood! I can walk, ride my bike or jog (ha) to school. It is a mere 1.4 miles. This is my community, my extended family so to speak. Trader Joes is our favorite meeting place! I hear my name tossed through the air - "Mrs. Elorduy - Mrs. Elorduy! What are you doing here? Don't you live in Kindergarten! You have a whole kitchen there! You can eat in the cafeteria, YUM!"

I always have to chuckle when I picture my husband, myself, my son and our two dogs dining in the cafeteria/multipurpose room - under the "Disco Ball" feasting on cafeteria food! Might not be such a bad idea, it would be good for my diet, the dogs could clean up, no need for a custodian and we would have a variety of rooms available for nap time!

This is why I love my job. The laughter, the imagination, creativity, it's ok to be different, it's ok to cry when it hurts, yes, I still love you even though you just dumped all the fish food in the tank, no that doesn't hurt its just my toe you're standing on, well, yes we kinda need to use a tissue instead of our shirt sleeve!
OK, we are going to the gym for PE now (kindergarten: why would we go to the gym to pee) - I did not say to pee - I said PE, remember Coach, run around, scream, yell, chase, a place to wear ear plugs, the gym, PE! Oooo, yeah!

The world of Kindergarten! What can I say I love my job!