One of the books I love to read with my class is "A Paradise Called Texas". The story centers around a little girl whose family immigrates from Germany to Texas in the mid-1800s. It is a great book that really helps the kids understand the hardships that the original settlers faced. But y'all . . . it! is! sad! So sad in fact, that I've actually avoided it for the past couple years.
This year, I decided that I could handle it again. I am strong. I am in control of my emotions. So we started reading a couple weeks ago. Everything was sailing along smoothly. We were enjoying the book. The kids were learning. Then yesterday happened. Yesterday, we got to the chapter where the mother passes away, and I was reading out loud to the class. Stupid considering I knew exactly what was coming! I tried to control myself. I tried not to choke up. But first my voice start quivering. Then the tears started coming . . yeah, I was crying. Thankfully, I teach fourth grade and not eighth. The kids were teary-eyed too instead of laughing at me. But still bursting into tears in front of 22 fourth graders isn't exactly my finest moment.
Well, at least now they know I'm human. We'll put that one down in the books as a bonding moment between my 2012-2013 4th grade class and myself. And in the future I think I'll stick with comedies and adventure novels.
Join me in my adventures in parenting, adoption, marriage, faith, and life in general.
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