Mi Familia

Yesterday, I was teaching my first graders Family vocabulary.

My first graders are my favorite class, hands down, although there are things I enjoy about (almost) all of my classes.

Although they usually eagerly and enthusastically repeat me when I teach them words, yesterday they were definitely zapped of energy. It was *Gray, cold and rainy outside and they looked terribly sleepy. After repeating "Grandpa" once quietly, my attempt to get them to repeat it again had the word turning into "ga-ra" or variations thereof. It was just a sort of groaning noise. I didn't blame them, I myself just wanted to curl up by my heater with a *good book.

But then, I brought out something extra I had printed for class that day. I wasn't sure how it would go over, or if the kids would understand, but I had printed out a labeled picture of my own family.

Suddenly, they were awake. Their eyes widened, literally widened, and nine little bodies began leaning forward over desks as though my photo had magnetic pull. I pointed to each family member and explained "Dad" "Sister" "Brother" "Me" "Mom." I went to the first desk, planning to bring it to each student so they could look at it up close, but the minute I stopped in front of Celia, everyone else jumped out of their seats and gathered excitedly around her to stare at the photo. I could see them mouthing the words, some of them gently touched the picture, and dear Mercedes said "Que guapa," in whispered reverence.

My smile was so wide. I just couldn't hold it in. I felt tears in the corners of my eyes, but not sad ones.

My family means everything to me. I know if you read my blog, this isn't a new topic. I miss them more than I can say right now, and being able to share them with a class of precious children and seeing their reaction made me feel so full of love--for my family and for my class. I was so proud to share my family. The children were so adoring.

And I had to agree. My family is muy "guapa."