Blueberry visits 1st grade

One of the many things that has changed since finding out we are having a baby has been my education plans. Last summer I started my Master’s of Education in Special ed. I’ve always loved working with those kids and I thought it was a good fit for me. In August I began my first of two internships and since I had to do it part-time I am just now rapping up my hours. It has not been the ideal situation but I have been able to really get to know the kids and see their improvement since the beginning of the year. They are first graders and they keep things interesting. I have been told I look like I work out, that I have rat teeth, and that I have had several bad hair days. Now, if that doesn’t make you want to get out of bed in the morning, I don’t know what will.

In my first trimester I was so sick that it was impossible for me to keep up with my internship. I would have to run to the bathroom and there was no time to let the other teacher know that I wouldn’t be there to intro the math lesson or take the second reading group. We had not yet told anyone about the pregnancy so I just looked like an extremely irresponsible and unreliable student teacher. Finally, after many days of missing a section I was supposed to teach, I had to spill the beans. All my cooperating teachers were very supportive and completely understood the first trimester crap I was going through. By the time February rolled around, I was still sick as ever and just exhausted from what my body was going through. Everyone involved agreed that it would be best if I took a break from the internship that way I could just focus on work. I ended up taking about a month break and I came back in March. That was when the kids were really hilarious.

I’m guessing that the teachers explained that I was going to have a baby and that was why I wasn’t going to be there for a few weeks. I’m not sure what was said exactly but I got all sorts of questions when I got back. Kids were asking me if the baby was really inside, if it hurt, when they could see the baby, etc. My favorite was when a kid asked me where my baby was. When I pointed to my stomach she gave me the funniest look and said “Then why are you here?” As if to say, go home and don’t come back until you have a baby to bring back. I have another student who asks me how the baby is every day. She is very concerned about this little guy.

The other day we had visitors in the classroom and one of my students came up to me and, within earshot of our visitors, said “Ooo, Ms. Geffken, you’re belly is sticking out”. Our vistor looked at me in complete shock of how rude that child was and I had to explain that I was pregnant and they get excited when they can see my stomach sticking out a bit more than normal. That was funny. I think she was afraid of what that student might point out about her.

My favorite moments are when I get my morning hugs and then the students give me a second hug for the baby or they waive to my stomach and say “Good morning, Baby!”. It’s nice to see the students being so tender and thoughtful especially when their behavior later in the day makes you want to bang your head against the wall. They are really eager to see the baby and it is kind of sad for me that they won’t. I keep telling them that they will be second graders before the baby gets here. That’s like 4 months away but they think it’s about 20 years from now.

In my next post I am going to brag about my yard sale adventure from Saturday. I will include some pictures as well. Our “baby corner” in the living room is getting much bigger… Serious organization needs to happen SOON! (And shame on your for not holding me accountable for cleaning out my Christmas closet!!!! I have not done any of that yet and I wanted to be done by the end of April. You all are a bunch of enablers…)