finally all back together in school this week, and the kindergarten made the most out of enjoying what mother nature had left behind for us to play with. we headed out to go sledding on a ‘hill’ that could best be described as no more than a 23-degree angle, though to see their eyes upon approaching it, it appeared to be their first encounter with the swiss alps. even so, it was a challenge to get to the top, as the snow was quite deep and their legs were quite tiny. but motivated they are, and they hiked up to the summit, over and over, jumped on sleds, headed down, and marched back up.
all except for one little guy. he stayed on the sidelines, even when invited up, and instead rolled around and ran around and laid in and laughed and ate all the snow he could handle. when it was time to leave and stomp back in, he began crying and yelling out, ‘you didn’t let me go sledding!!!!!’ his outburst was met with great understanding by my class who simultaneously burst out laughing. it was at this point perhaps, that he realized he had made his own choices, and this was not a great argument. the sobbing stopped.
There’s no fear when you’re having fun – Will Thomas
when everyone made it back inside, they warmed up, had a snack, went to music class, made puzzles, read books, ate lunch and suited up for another trip outside, this time to the playground. once out there, they saw that their familiar playground had been turned into a winter wonderland. there was fresh, fluffy, deep, white, sparkling snow everywhere, totally untouched by any other kids!
they jumped in it, rolled in it, made snow balls and snowmen and snow castles, played with ice chunks, went down the slides covered with snow, filled buckets with snow, made snow angels, snapped icicles off of their playhouse, climbed things, tried to run in the snow, and loved every minute of it. after a long time spent playing on our ‘winter beach’ we headed back inside once again. after taking off all of our layers and hanging them to dry, everyone was absolutely exhausted. it was nap time. and we had earned it.
image credit: mnh.si.edu
When you’re really having fun, you’re always doing it a little bit in a way that you’re not supposed to.
That’s when great things happen.
Sounds like so much FUN!! My kids would have loved it, but then so would I have.
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diana – it was exactly that )
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What a great school day!
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mark – yes, and i hope they loved it as much as i did )
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Childhood memories, thanks for taking me back Beth.
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my pleasure, and don’t forget, you are never too old to sled and play in the snow. even if you can’t climb the tallest mountains any longer.
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I remember sledding on the levee when I was a kid, about the only hilly place around here to do it. Too bad the public is no longer allowed there…
I love the illustration of the foxes…
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oh that’s too bad, you need to find a new sledding spot asap. )
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Well, there’s always the roof….
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never rule out any possibilities )
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I absolutely dig the little guy who had refuse-to-sled remorse as you all got ready to go back from the hill, Beth. The class spontaneously laughing at his outburst is wonderful to teach him a little life lesson. I’m glad you got to relive the wonder of childhood hill-conquering with the little ones!
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yep, he was one of the highlights, and the group’s reaction helped him get back to enjoying the day once again )
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I am so in awe of your ability to do this! We were not allowed to take our little ones out, usually because at least one of them (8 being special needs and 4 being typically developing little ones) had breathing or physical challenges. We would bring the snow in, as I mentioned before, in the two water tables, one with snow, shovels and buckets and the other filled with warmer water and floating ducks, boats and things. The one poor little one, we had to place him in a high chair with samples of each since he had spinal bifuda and was not able to sit at the level of the water tables. We would hold him, sometimes but he was an independent guy and preferred ‘independence’ in his own eyes, of the high chair. Perhaps he felt like King for the day? Smiles, Robin
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i feel lucky that we have that freedom. that sounds like a wonderful way to bring the fun to your kids when they couldn’t go to the fun. you must have been a great teacher )
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It sure would be nice to be little again!
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oh it would )
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Love this. Thanks!
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my pleasure, ann )
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This is the thing I really love about snow. It offers so many options. Run through it? Throw it? Eat it? Slide on it? Pile it up and build a fort? Thrash around in it?
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exactly, and there is always one who chooses the thrashing option )
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Great story, great quote 🙂 Perhaps not entirely appropriate, but I have a fave quote that came to mind when I read yours. Not sure who said it, but saw it on a stone bench at Minneapolis Institute of Arts: “There is a period of time when it is clear that you have gone wrong but you continue. Sometimes there is a luxurious amount of time before anything bad happens.” Love that one!
And love your sledding stories. Sounds like you all needed a nap for sure.
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oh, that is a perfect quote liz, and i love it too )
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I wanna be in your class, tooooooooooooo!!!!!
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it would be fun to have you in there, i’m sure )
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Lol!
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I love your stories, I want to be in a class of yours and I promise I may even get to like the snow… x
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thanks jen, and we’ll bundle you up warm, it might grow on you after a while )
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This brought back some fond memories. In Oklahoma City, Daddy had to drive us some miles to the only decent hill, and at the time it seemed equivalent to launching ourselves down the south face of Mt. Everest. In later years I had to laugh at what a minor little slope it really is. Your kids are so lucky. What fun to actually go sledding AT SCHOOL!
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oh what great memories and yes, it’s all a matter of what you believe and your perspective. i am the one who feels most lucky to go sledding at school, believe me!
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Oh, I want to be 5 again! The funny thing is, I have a five year old and sometimes watching him struggle with figuring out how life works and his emotions, I think that being 5 must be the worst thing in the world! But to have that kind of unadulterated joy again–it would be worth it.
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yes, it would all be worth it )
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Beth–I LOVE the final quote. Sometimes when I enormously amuse MYSELF with a caption I just wrote for my weekday blog photo, I always wonder why so few others stop to listen to objects. 🙂
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thanks john )
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What a great quote…LOL
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thanks, i liked it too )
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