i heart little kids

today was parent observation and conference day. i always have the "luck" of having a class during 5th period, the observation class time slot. once i didn't actually have class 5th period, but they rearranged the schedule so that i had to teach that period. but this year i don't have 5th period on fridays and they didn't change the schedule this time. plus, they sent all the students home after 5th period and used 6th period to have a homeroom teacher/parent meeting, so my 6th period class got cancelled. fridays are usually my busiest days, so having a little break was nice.

instead of teaching, i played with the cutest little kid! a couple mothers brought their younger kids along and i immediately fell in love with this little boy who wanted to show me all the toy trains he brought in his thomas the tank engine bag. i said to the mother, "if you want, i'll look after him..." (she was trying to observe her 8th grade daughter's class and watch her 2 year old at the same time) and she seemed grateful. hopefully she was still grateful when she came to pick him up and one sock and shoe were wet because, despite my best efforts, he plunged his foot into the little pond in the garden of the school.

he was so well behaved and said "konnichiwa" to everyone he saw that looked his way. he had a buzz cut, cute pudgy cheeks and the most adorable "little boy" laugh. he couldn't quite say his own name, (i didn't know the mother nor did i ask for her name) but eventually we figured out whose little brother he was and when we asked him if that was his last name, he got the goofiest little grin on his face. oh man, i love little kids. realistically i don't want kids yet, but days like today definitely make me excited to have my own kids someday.