There’s nothing like some good conversation over hot fudge sundaes to make my week.
me: Milkshake or sundae?
Bear: Sundae. Probably ’cause I’m eating one.
me: Okay, sneakers or flip flops?
Bear: Sneakers.
me: Book or movie?
Bear: Book. Definitely book.
me: What is the best example of a book/movie combo?
Bear: The Hunger Games.
me: You like the book better than the movie?
Bear: Yes. A lot better.
me: I did, too! So…right now, what is your biggest worry?
Bear: If you and dad ever die. Like, if you would die before I was in college.
me: You know, I think that’s a pretty typical worry for someone your age. What always makes you smile?
Bear: You…
me: What?! No…
Bear: (laughs) Yes.
me: What’s a piece of good advice you’ve gotten this year?
Bear: To write a journal.
me: What volunteer activity would you like to do?
Bear: Basketball coach.
me: What’s the most memorable thing about finishing up elementary school? It’s a big milestone.
Bear: A good memory or a bad memory?
me: Either one. Or both.
Bear: Um…let’s go with the good memory. Ms. Reich. (giggles) Throwing stuff at the children.
me: She’s the best. That’s what you’re gonna remember the most?
Bear: Yes.
me: All right. You get to make a school rule for the fifth grade. What would it be? (extremely long pause) That one’s stumping you, huh?
Bear: Don’t be a bully. There’s a lot of bullies.
me: Okay, here’s my last one. Name something you’re good at.
Bear: Basketball.
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me: Time for Flip the Interview! You get a question.
Bear: Have you ever wanted to go see where you were born?
me: Yes! Yeah. I really have. And for a little while there that was a real sadness for me, ’cause I thought I’m never gonna see where I was born. Now…I’m a little hopeful that maybe someday things will be peaceful enough in the Philippines that I could go just to see what grandma and grandpa have always talked about.
Bear: Yeah.
me: But, you know, that’s one of those hopeful things. We’ll see if it happens.
Riddle from the Middle 
Great family. I’m curious about the teacher throwing stuff at the students. What on earth is she throwing?
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Oh my goodness, that was quite a story. I was in her room helping the students make memory pages for her end of year scrapbook, and one kid bursts into giggles and says he’ll never forget the time she threw a dry marker eraser. The whole class busted out laughing & told him he shouldn’t have been goofing off. I asked her about it later and she was all oh my gosh, I felt so bad, I called him mom right away — I guess it does look bad in writing, doesn’t it? But she’s a riot, her students love her, and I know it was done as a joke.
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Oh good. I hope the kid’s mom took it okay. Some parents be crazy! 🙂
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Luckily his mom has a great sense of humor, too!
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She might have even thought her son deserved it. Those are the best moms. Ha! 🙂
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Beautiful conversation! Touching, too. I’m afraid my 4th grader would tell me his biggest worry is that he’ll never get his electronics back.
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Thank you. She’s an awesome girl, though it does make me a bit sad that such a heavy worry crossed her mind.
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It is sad to hear such deep worries at such a young age. Just shows how insightful she is. A blessing and a curse.
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