Telling It Like It Is

Ever watched that show "Kids Say the Darndest Things?" I saw one show and vowed not to see another one. Some of the kids on the show look like show-offs who sometimes say really offensive things and when things seem to wane Bill Cosby just asks the kids about their crushes who make the kids blush and yell at him and so on.

But, to be fair, kids do have a fine way of putting things into perspective.

Today was an open house at my workplace (school). Interested parents and next year parents are welcome to peruse through our classrooms to check out what we can offer. Some of these parents bring their little ones to check out the school and today there were two little girls, ages 7 and 4, who were absolutely adorable. They were drawing in the office when I went in to get something. Later, I was heading into the washroom and as I was opening the door, the 7-year-old was standing just behind it, waiting to come out.
She stopped in her tracks, stared up at me, and then said, "You are so pretty!" and went to touch my skirt.
Imagine a child making an adult blush, but there I stood in front of her, turning a bright crimson. I curtsied and said, "Thank you!"
Then she furrowed her eyebrows, stooped over a bit to rub my knee, put her hands on her hips, and stood upright again to scold me, "It's winter time, you know!"
I laughed and told her that I wear nylons to protect me a little. She walked a full circle around me and said, "Nylons are itchy."

I do admit that some adults sacrifice logic for fashion. I often find myself silently chiding the girls who wear mini-skirts in below zero temperatures and/or stileto hooker boots on slushy days. In my defense, I usually wear pants at work, so I could move about freely in the classroom, but because today was Meet the New and Potential Parents, I thought I'd go for a skirt. Now that it's been brought to my attention, yes, it was very cold outside today when I left work at about 8. And yes, the nylons are itchy. I tore them off as soon as I got home and stepped into my comfy worn-out PJ pants. What was I thinking? :)

I don't often get compliments except indirect ones from my students ("I like your necklace" or "I finished my vocabulary homework" or "You're much cooler than my last year's teacher") and rarely do I get a comment about how beautiful I am without a creepy leer to go along with the comment. Next time I want an honest opinion, I have only to turn to a young one for input.

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." (Anne Frank)