Feild Day at Harp Elementary

I spent the day at the kid's school yesterday for Field Day. As you can clearly see in the pictures, we had a blast. I was one of a handful of parents who were able to volunteer (thanks Ron for hanging out with Charleigh all day). This proved to be a great experience not just for the fun we had, but also for the gift of perspective I received.

Vin's teacher has told us more than once that he is perfect, which Mattie doesn't believe and said so in one of her school compositions! But yesterday when one teacher asked the class for a volunteer, somebody who "always plays by the rules and does the right thing," his class actually called out "Calvin" in unison and some of them put their hands down. Then, the kindergarten aid, Miss Laura, walked up and said, "Are you Calvin's mom? OH, I just need to tell you how much I love him...he is just so special to me....such a great helper." Later in the day, she gave him a card with gift certificates to Sonic for ice-cream and a hamburger.

In Mattie's class, I got to pick up her self-portrait, which had been on display in the main hallway since returning from the Art Center of the Ozarks Exhibition. I can't wait to frame and hang it here. I spent the morning with her class, and the afternoon with Vin's.

I often hear from others how nice my kids are, but I actually got to observe them both in their own little social world, and it really helped me see that we are doing all right on this parenting thing so far. It was a real confidence builder. I was pleased to see my kids demonstrate respect for adults and classmates, compassion for classmates, a great sense of adventure and appreciation for what the teacher's had planned for them. I was so proud of them. It was a good day.