...investment

I'm kind of sort of thinking I need to invest in a filter. A filter for my brain that goes all the way to my mouth.

 

Seriously, not a day goes by that I don't think, "Quit sticking your foot in your mouth!". I mean, it starts to get a little questionable when I realize that I may or may not have a direct impact on molding the minds of our youth. And, I'm pretty sure the little faces staring at me are pretty young and still quite impressionable.

 

Here's the low-down...allow me to set the scene.

 

We're doing read aloud time when one of the boys asks if we can read the book about fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. Since I'm, without a doubt, the world's best teacher, I immediately shouted, "I can't wait to hear all about fire trucks! I know we're going to learn so much reading this book." yada, yada, yada.

 

As we're reading along, one of the boys remarks, "That truck looks a lot like a po-lease car. They both got lights on top." Ah, we're making connections to the text. Good readers make connections. I have taught them something! I'm so pleased. I'll follow up and see what else they know about these types of emergency vehicles.

 

"Fire trucks and po-lease cars can run red lights and stop signs because they have to get to there quick!" (I SO wanted to correct his use of quick.. it totally should have been quickly because it's an adverb, but I just couldn't bring myself to correct him when we were learning so much!)

 

"You're right. Police cars and fire trucks drive quickly and run red lights and stop signs when it's safe to do so. Did you know Ms. L had the opportunity to ride in a police car? The police car was going very fast and we ran a lot of red lights and stop signs. It was really neat!"

 

"I rode in a po-lease car. Did you go to jail, too?"

 

Wait. Hold up. Crap. Oh no. What have I done? I just admitted to these little boys that I rode in a police car. Normally people only ride in a police car if they are under arrest, you know under lock and key with handcuffs on. Oi. This isn't looking good for my teacher of the year award.

 

I then had to back track and explain that I have a friend who is a police officer and I rode in his car (is it your boyfriend?!) when he was working and we went to a call that required him to turn on his lights and sirens.

 

How much do you want to bet NONE of them heard that and go home to tell their parents their teacher rode in a cop car because she was under arrest?