Don't eat that

Yesterday a child arrived to school in a firetruck and the class got their picture taken infront of it. My morning got started out on the right foot when one child looked behind him to take in the massive splendidness of the large metal beast and said with awe "Wow. That's a whole lotta firetruck!"

The day only got better from there as we had an ice-skating fieldtrip and I love ice-skating. I didn't fall once. I usually don't fall on ice. I think somehow my body remembers bygone days of trial and error on a couple pieces of sharpened metal tippiness and tries it's best to stay upright. The children, on the other hand, looked like fish out of water flopping around. One child informed me that he was the best skater in class. Shortly after I saw him sail across the ice, narrowly missing his face smashing into it. I guess confidence is half the battle.

I lost count of how many times I had to tell children not to eat the ice. What do parents teach their children these days? In his younger days, my Dad was an 'ice cop' and drove the zamboni (my parents actually met ice-skating) so I realize I have gotten a superior ice-education: do not eat the ice, it will make you sick; if you fall, get up quick so you don't get run over; when you fall, make a fist immediately because someone could run over your fingers (my Dad actually witnessed this first-hand back in the day...that guy lost his digits); and, if Dad takes you ice-skating, you're bound to get hot chocolate. But children eating the icerink ice?! A popular line for me yesterday was "Don't eat the ice. There are chemicals in it and they will make you sick." The children all acted very surprised at this information.

So as my public service announcement, I urge you: Do not eat the ice.