Why Are You Wearing Train Pajamas To School?

Carol Burnett said, ” comedy is tragedy plus time”. Meeting my school friends for lunch, encourages work stories. Like war time buddies, we share common experiences. Hard times, become fond memories, now. Here are a few that stand out. After 27 years, of teaching you meet some interesting families. The young children are proundly influenced by the quirks, whims, and hardships of their parents. Sadly I have had children sleep through class, because they spend the night in the emergency room, with their battered and bruised mothers. Some children hit and kick the dolls in the housekeeping corner, because it is what they observe at home. Teaching is an education for teacher and student.

There were also happy families, and delightfully funny kids. Jonathan was one of them. He was one of 7 children. His mother was a professional singer and entertainer. She spent weekends entertaining. Dad became the weekend babysitter. Jonathan was a great kid. He was pleasant, smart and had lots of friends. We were a uniform school, so choosing the correct school clothes was not normally a problem. Today it was for Jonathan’s dad. My guess is he didn’t do a uniform wash.

Today Jonathan came to school wearing his train pajamas, and slippers. Daddy is taking care of us, he proudly announced. He also showed us his small teddy bear. He brought a new kind of lunch.

Open school night brought Jonathan’s lovely mother. Her hair, make-up and clothes made her look like a fashion model, more then a mother of 7. After we discussed how well her son was doing in class, I asked her how her show had gone? She laughed and said “how did you know about the show”? Jonathan came to school wearing P.J.’s and slippers, teddy bear came too,” I replied. He brought cake for lunch. She sighed,“ his father was the babysitter”, she explained. I shared my mother’s favorite quote, “ a father is not a mother”. She agreed and he never wore his pajamas to school again.

Mercedes was the third child of a family I knew very well. I had taught the siblings and cousins. I knew them all and liked them all. She was the baby of the group. Mercedes was determined not to go to school. Regardless of who brought her, she would scream and cry, and throw her little body against the large wooden door. Eventually she would exhaust herself, and fall asleep at a desk. It was terrible to watch her performance. I was about ready to agree that she was not ready for kindergarten, and kindergarten was not ready for her. The next morning Grandma came to visit me. She told me that Mercedes had done this act to keep her out of preschool for two years. It was time she went to kindergarten and attend school. “Please teacher help us”, she begged. As soon as Mercedes understood, this act was not going to work here. she adapted, and loved school. Children and parents are always interesting. Kindergarten is a place to learn, for teachers and students.

It is years later, and I doubt I possess the patience or strength, to tackle 28 little ones in a classroom. My grandchildren are enough of a challenge for me. I guess it is true, for everything there is a time.

What do you remember about your early school years? I hope your memories are kind, and realize the teachers really tried to do their best. Judy Be Open