I walk down the street from my house to the school wearing my navy blue trenchcoat and holding a pad of paper.
I am taking large strides. I am a writer and am teaching fourth graders how to write.
I feel like a grown-up and a sassy kind of cool mom.
I’m wearing the coat my sister gave me. The one with the white piping and navy buttons that makes me think of shows I’ve never seen, but should. Like the “Mod Squad” and “I Spy.”
It also makes me feel like a reporter from another time. I think I should probably put a pen over my ear to complete the transformation.
I hear the swish of my jeans and feel the gentle thump of my flat boots against the pavement. There’s just a slight bite to the air and I breathe free.
I love what I do.
I sign in at the front office and head to the classroom where Group 4 meets me. It’s their first day, and they are excited and squirrely, and all that two of the boys in my group want to write or draw or talk or yell excitedly about is wrestling.
I keep trying to hear them and redirect them, while not losing the other kids who are sitting criss-cross applesauce with me in the hallway.
As the poet and the joke writer and the comic strip creator share their ideas, the boys talk across the circle about wrestlers with names that sound like Meat Grinder and Kick the Crap Out of You. They want to write stories about them and draw them and survey kids in the class about their favorite wrestlers.
One girl writes a poem about the new year in a minute and a half. A boy in the group proudly pitches his idea for a word search.
The kids’ conversation swirls around me, and my bravado withers.
I have no idea what I’m doing.
I am a dream squelcher because I am saying things like, “We have to appeal to a larger audience” and “That sounds too violent.”
I am clearly a mom of girls. So out of my league.
On the walk home, I no longer hear my jeans swish or feel my boots. I am listening to my girls talk about gymnastics and tap dance and sharing time and P.E.
I clutch my coat around my neck to stop the air that bites and watch them race to the corner.
This piece is a free-writing exercise for a Tuesday feature called “Just Write,” hosted on a beautiful blog called The Extraordinary Ordinary. I’ll be doing this on Tuesdays whenever the mood strikes.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Oh I A d o r e This! I so look forward to the mood striking you (weekly, if I might hope!) I so feel what this experience must have been like. My gosh you captured boyness so well it makes me laugh and ache for your quickly deflating bubble all at once. Just good good extra good writing, Ashley! I wanted it to not end. I loved it!
It was such fun. I’ll definitely be doing this again. :)
I love you. I love your writing. And I love your trench. You are definitely a sassy kind of cool mom!!
Ah, thanks Sissy. On all counts!
Viva la difference! I love your observations that the genders indeed see life in quite different ways. I applaud you for tackling such an important requirement Good writing,as we all know, is a requisite tool to succeed in school and life.
Thanks so much, Papa. I’ve got much to learn about that other species. :)
I love it! Now there is a real challenge for you – boys. I love all the blogs you write – they are visual to me. I love you, Ashley!
Thank you, Auntie C, for your comment!
I love this post! I can imagine being there with you.
I teach a class of all boys, and the things they come up with still surprise me (and sometime appall me!!!!)
Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s awesome!
Thank you, Katie, for your validation — they can be charming and appalling little buggers. :) I can only imagine a class of ALL BOYS! Wow! Also, I so appreciate your words of encouragement. Thank you.
Loved your new post and am so proud of how you always are up for a “new challenge” – even teaching writing to boys whose minds are elsewhere!!!
You are very special and stylish person, who is a gifted writer, cool mom, & a wonderful friend and mentor to me! Love You! :)
Thanks, Becca. What a sweet boost of encouragement for my day. I treasure you!
I am so happy that Jackson is in this class to reap the benefits of your writing expertise. I loved this post!
Thanks for your comments, Julia! I hope Jackson gains something from the experience. I think he joins me next week. I do feel like my biggest goal in this newsletter is helping the kids to be excited about writing and to see the enjoyment in putting something together that they as a group created.
Boys — They are different in so- many ways and keep you on your toes.. Love this blog.
Mom
They sure do keep you on your toes — not that girls don’t, right? :) Thanks for faithfully reading my blog, Mom. It means a lot.
christy said this yesterday…and she is soooo right. someday…we are going to open up a book with your picture in the back. it will be your book full of good stuff like this. and we will say…that’s our ash.
You just made my day. :) Love you guys.
Ashley,
You described things so vividly I too imagined being there with you. I could even picture your expressions as you said those remarks to the boys. =) Love you Ashley and I love your writing. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your comment, friend. I’d love to have you with me, too. I could use some help with boy wrangling. You have more experience in that regard than moi. Love you.