The DIET

Last summer I started a more healthy lifestyle. I exercise, eat better and get plenty of rest. My students are all aware of the fact that I am trying to be good, so I get bad looks if I eat a Tootsie Roll, crackers or even a granola bar. I have to justify almost everything I eat to them. They even say, "Mrs. B, you're going to ruin your diet," in this sing-songsy voice as they eat the cupcakes and cookies their moms pack for lunch. When birthdays roll around, they skip my desk when passing out treats. I am grateful, they are the reason-probably-that I haven't gained any weight this holiday season.
There is one student who is so excited for his birthday to come up. He devised a plan for me to get some of his birthday treats. He asked his mom to make 18 BIG cupcakes, and one little one--for me. I think its so cute.
So anyway, last week we were playing this game where they get to be the teacher. I told them at the beginning that I was only going to choose six kids to be the teacher, and that I would choose the kids who were following along and doing their best. Of course, they all do their best after that. We played it, it was very hard to choose who got to be the teacher, but I was choosing kids who needed practice mostly--this kid doesn't. When we were all done with the game he sat back in his chair, crossed his arms firmly over his chest and announced to the class, "Fine, now I am going to ruin Mrs. B's diet!" (Da-da-dum) I usually try to hide my humor, but I did chuckle under my breath, and I guess he heard it because he looked me straight in the eye and said, "I am going to tell my mom to make you the BIGGEST cupcake." I looked him straight in the eye and said with all the sweetness I could muster, "I don't have to eat it." I wish I had a camera, and I wish Sarah would show me how to post a picture if I ever did have a picture to post, because the look on his face was so hilarious. I knew I had foiled his evil plan, and it felt good.
All's well that ends well, I asked him this week if he was going to make me eat the BIGGEST cupcake, and he said he wasn't mad anymore. His mom will make me the tiny one--but I still don't have to eat it.