I slept for twelve hours.
I wish I could say I was a new woman and I am ready to conquer the world, but I am moving around this house like a zombie.
So rather than try to compute everything my brain learned and remember everything that happened in Vegas so that I can blog about it, I’m going to tell a story instead.
While I was on the blogging panel (I wonder how many times I’ve written that and if/when it will become obnoxious), I had to introduce myself and give a tip.
It’s not top secret so I think I’m okay telling those of you who weren’t in my session. And also those of you who could care less and just read my blog for the fun of it even though you don’t have a blog of your own and don’t want to.
SO.
My tip is to connect with your readers.
I said I do that by blogging about everything from what I eat, what I drink, tales about my dog, my husband, my twin, great things that happen in the classroom, and even the not-so-great things that happen in the classroom.
I then went on to say something along the lines of if I’m reading your blog every day and it’s all about rainbows and lollipops in your classroom, I am most likely going to click out because I don’t get how that’s actually your classroom with rainbows and lollipops and I don’t believe you because I JUST HAD A DAY IN WHICH I SAT IN URINE.
And then everyone in the session laughed.
Because it’s true.
And it happened.
And they can probably relate. Maybe not specifically to sitting in urine, but to some time in their teaching career in which something equally as disgusting or horrifying or funny or outrageous happened to them.
That’s how I connect with my readers.
After my session, while out and about, I got asked to tell the story of how exactly did I sit in urine?
Well, I’ll start off by saying it was not my own urine.
This was years ago, back before cell phone cameras, otherwise, knowing me, I would have probably taken a picture of how exactly I sat in it.
It was Fun Friday (and I’ve talked about that enough, so if you don’t know how I run Fun Friday in my room, click {HERE} to get started) and I was running around the classroom trying to prep things for the following week.
A popular center was Read the Room because my kids (mostly girls) loved using the pointers to play teacher.
You might notice on my most recent Fun Friday chart that Read the Room is no longer a center.
Ahem.
My girls would play teacher, use my easel, echo sentences that I use all the time (kiss your brain, what a great choice, here’s a gold tag) while taking turns being students on the carpet and being the teacher in the chair.
My chair.
Yep.
Apparently, unbeknownst to me, one of my little girls had to go to the bathroom.
But it was her turn to be the teacher so she didn’t want to leave the classroom. She wanted to be the teacher. And sit in my chair.
Yep.
When Fun Friday was over, my kids cleaned up, packed up, and met me at the carpet with their backpacks on, ready to listen to our daily chapter of Junie B. before heading off to the weekend.
I walked over and I sat down.
In my chair.
Without looking at it first.
Why would I need to look at my chair? I knew where it was. It wasn’t like someone was going to pull it out from under me or anything. It wasn’t like it wasn’t where it was supposed to be. It wasn’t like anything should be on it.
And you guessed it. (because I used foreshadowing)
I sat in something wet.
I sat in a puddle of wet.
Not just a tiny little drop or something.
A puddle.
Of liquid.
Which made me jump right back up.
And I must have said something along the lines of
And THIS is why I love your blog. It's real life. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the urine. TRUTH!
Thanks for the laugh, girl. 🙂
Fantastic story!
I am also walking around my house like a zombie, even after a 4.5 hour nap. I think I might need to take another one! And your idea about teachers wearing scrubs is GENIUS! Let's start a campaign. I am with you!
~Jennifer
Stories and Songs in Second
Well, you are not alone. I, too, have had the pleasure of sitting in warm kid pee. However, it wasn't my chair, it was a KID'S CHAIR. Serves me right for sitting at a germy desk! Haha!
Haha! Thanks for sharing…I've done that, too! And it was a 4th grader! And we were not at school at the time! I may have packed for every emergency, but a change of clothes for me AND her was not in my trusty emergency backpack…
Real Teachers Learn
I tell my kids not to sit in my chair because it tips over if you aren't tall enough! lol #random
Oh goodness. I just got chills. Haha! Thanks for tht laughs!
Angela Linzay
Lights Camera Teach
Oh goodness. I just got chills. Haha! Thanks for tht laughs!
Angela Linzay
Lights Camera Teach
I love real life!! Education is hard and it's so nice to know others face the same trials.. I can relate to your story. We were on a field trip to the fire station. A little boy was scared and crawled in my lap. They sounded the horn and the sirens. It scared him so bad that he had an accident in my lap!! I'm not sure who was more horrified him or myself!! I was covered in urine from waist down in the front and back. Thank goodness my principal allowed me to run home to shower and change clothes.
http://purposefulteachingandlearning.blogspot.com
I propose scrubs all the way up to 3rd grade! I had 3 throw ups- and I'm talking about the spews that just go everywhere- 2 pees and a poop this year. None of which made it to the bathroom that is located INSIDE OUR CLASSROOM! I guess my lessons and myself are just too engaging for them to miss a minute to relieve themselves. Yikes.
Your story was hiliarous and made me laugh when I really needed it today. Thank you for being you and sharing.
Kelli
Tales of a Tenacious Teacher
I feel connected, but hopefully tomorrow not "too" connected! 😉 xoxo
Girl…I feel your tired and let me just say I will always remember to look before I sit. PTL it hasn't happened yet. Loved seeing you!!
I heard you story in Vegas and now am glad I could read about the whole thing! You are hilarious and I always love reading about your stories! Can't wait to hear more about your adventures in Vegas!
Jennie
JD's Rockin' Readers
Kristin, your connection with your readers has had me reading for over 3 years. I have stopped following the "rainbow and lollipop" blogs that are only trying to sell me their products. I love your stories (and I fowrard your Halloween finger story to my colleagues every year) and I use a ton of your ideas and resources. Thanks for another hilarious story.
Ps. I once wiped up vomit with a flimsy paper towel because I thought it was juice. I was like, "who spilled this juice!? Why is there juice all over the communication baggies!? If you spill juice, you need to clean it up!" And that's when the little girl started to cry, "I threw uuuuuuuppppp!"
Glad to know that I am not the only teacher that sat in a student's puddle of urine! I immediately went home and washed over and over to get my self clean. My clothes were dry clean only, so I through them away! Lesson learned—never sit down without looking first!
Shelly
Smiling and Shining in Second Grade
Oh goodness. I just got chills. Haha! Thanks for tht laughs!
Angela Linzay
Lights Camera Teach
I learned early on to keep a change of clothes in my classroom. The only problem with that is that I'll be home looking for the clothes I want to wear and they're sitting in my drawer at school. I guess I should keep clothes I don't really like there instead!
-Maria
Yikes! You just effectively ended kids sitting in my chair. I'm going to tell them your story and say no way, Jose'! That's not happening to me! 🙂
I have been there, just with BM not urine. I have been used as a human kleenex and had a hair brush rolled into my hair- last time they brushed my hair. And they say teachers have it easy. At least we have great stories to tell that normal people would never believe. Extra clothes on hand is a great idea. 🙂
HAHAHAH!!
OH MY KRISTIN! This is why I read your blog. You keep it REAL! This is pretty much teaching in a nutshell. Pee, throw up, secret poops, are all part of normal life and when you tell someone who isn't a teacher their head spins around. Thanks for your amazing blog posts. And I LOVED hearing you talk in real life, so amazing.
Dancing into First
Came across your blog tonight after reading blog after blog over months and months – you have the best one. Thank you for keeping it real. I laughed and cried, that's huge!
I love to read your blog…every..single..word. I loved your panel, I loved making you smile and that you stopped to take a picture with me. You are a rockstar! You inspire me to do better and be better!! Thanks for everything!
Terri Izatt
KinderKapers
I love reading your posts! You have such a knack for writing that it reading it sounds like a conversation. I can really hear "your voice" (o.k.. that is waaaay to "teacher" like to say) but it's true. Even if the content is not something I am in need of at the time, I always have a "take away" when reading your posts. They are just so honest and authentic and I love that. You're awesomeness!
Best,
Julie
bahhahaha you poor thing! That sounds terrible!
LOL…thanks for helping me add another rule to the list next year. There will be no sitting in the teacher's chair!
Yes, Vegas is tiring! Hubby and I weren't home 10 minutes before we crashed for a 2 hour nap. It was great meeting you at the TpT Meet Up! Definitely one of the highlights to my and hubby's 10 Year Second Honeymoon! (Don't tell hubby 🙂 )
I just love you! BIG!!!
Heather
Heather's Heart