FULL MOON

Growing up, hearing about the full moon was something that happened every time there was one.  Well duh!  Why would anyone talk about the full moon when there wasn't one?  Living with two teachers, they would always talk about how bad students are during full moons.  Naturally, most likely because it was my parents saying this, I thought it was made up and went to any measures to prove them wrong.  How could this possibly effect students behaviors, people getting sick, and anything else strange that happens at this time?  Well, I have came to this conclusion.  Parents actually do know what they are talking about!  Believe it or not, even though parents are stereotypical "not cool" anymore, they have been on the Earth a day or two and know what they are talking about.  Never would have thought this to be true had I not been at school this week.  

Lately, I have caught myself sounding just like my dad when I say something like this to the kids.  They ask why I tell them to do something, to which I do not have the straight up answer.  It is just one of those things you know from experience that you are making them do the right thing.  I always pull out the, "How old do you think I am?  Ok, out of that 37 years (they all think I am 37 still) do you not think I have had to make that decision once or twice.  You can do what you want, but I am telling you, the decision you are looking at right now is not going to end up being good!"  Then I close my mouth and say, "Shut up, Brad!"  Followed by searching around my head looking for the real Isaac.  The one who should be saying, "Do it!  Get into trouble!  Have fun with life and get hurt.  That is how you learn."

Back to the full moon though, children become little tyrants during these phenomenon.  There has been absolutely no control over them this past week.  If I remember right, we are just coming off a full moon, which is when my parents said was the worst.  We have had children kicked out of school, children trying to stab teachers in the eyes, children telling teachers that they should just go pee on themselves, and other things unimaginable.  I would love to say it is something with the Haitian culture, however, after being here a month, almost two, I know better than that!  Had my first week been during a full moon, I would have been on the next plane out of MIA to Harper, KS, also known as, "normalville."  At this remark, some may be laughing.  Harper?  Really?  Normal?  Yes, actually.  I have never seen students do things like this in that peaceful little town.  The reasoning behind this: I was the one doing those things to teachers back in the day.  Therefore, I never saw it being done.  God really does have a sense of humor.  The reason I am down here is to work at a school crazy enough to hire me, just so God could pay me back for a few people, such as:  Mrs. Zirkle, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Easter, Mrs. Graves, Mr. Buck, Mrs. Nichols, Mr. Hoopes, Mrs. Dunkleburger, and every other teacher out there that had the privilege of having me in class.  To all of you, three simple words.  I.  Am.  Sorry.

After these days or weeks of full moons, why do we as teachers keep going back to work, week after week, year after year?  Two more words.  First Graders!  These kids are great!  They will liven up any day.  Doesn't matter if your feet just got ran over by a bus and someone punched you in the face, these guys can get you to smile so easily.  And without even trying!  After watching my 5 boys disrupt the whole school today, I sat in the lunchroom with a scowl on my face, wondering why I had to sit in the 106 heat index and watch these kids demolish their piles of spaghetti.  All except one child named Marcfredi.  His mission in life is to make me smile, but he doesn't know this yet.

"Mistah Isaac?"

"Wes"

"Do you have a wife?"

"haha, no Freddy, but that was a good question."

"Well......who buys you things and does your dishes?"

Needless to say, I lost it, and couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day.  Where these kids constantly come up with these thoughts and ideas just kills me.  And why he thinks me, a 37 year-old male, can't do my own dishes just flatters me.  Maybe the moon was talking for him, I am not sure, but these little guys keep me coming back for more.  I never know what the day will hold, but one thing is certain.  I always have a story to write down!