In preschool anything can happen. Just when you think the day is going to be mundane-it happened. During recess-three little girls came running up to me.
Usually at recess I try to stand away from the children so they can learn how to play together using all of the imagination in them. I don’t want to be a hovering presence. Of course I’m always listening and always watching for anything inappropriate or dangerous they may get themselves into-they just don’t know I’m watching. It’s my superpower!
One of the three little lovelies came up from behind, grabbed my arm and began pulling me.
“Miss Jodi! You’ve got to come to our restaurant! We made a salad for you!”
I was starving and I so badly wanted this to be true.
There it was sitting on the border of the fence that keeps them safe. A most stunning salad presentation awaited me.
They sat me down on the ledge not expecting me to play along.
“This is such a very decadent salad you’ve prepared,” I exclaimed! “” Is it all for me?” (Their six eyes twinkled that I was being so interactive and so believably into their make believe.)
” This is exactly the healthy meal I was praying I’d get to eat for lunch today! “
I grabbed a dandelion, stuck the whole thing in my mouth, chewed and swallowed. I grabbed the second dandelion, stuck it in my mouth and began chewing. I stopped mid chew to take their freaked out looks in as they realized I was really eating their make believe salad!
“What the..,” one little lovely wondered aloud?!
Another said nervously, “Wait! Umm, How’d you do that? I mean? Are you supposed to do that? Boys look! Miss Jodi just ate a real weed!”
Suddenly, the littlest dumpling with the dark brown hair pushed her way in looking frightenly alarmed and panicked!
“Wait! Where is the third yellow flower? I want to wear it in my hair?”
Terror struck me as she anticipated my right answer.
“Ummm, I’m chewing it,” I admitted paralyzed in sudden guilt!
” Awwww! You’re not my best friend anymore Miss Jodi!” She stomped off and she meant it!
The other two stayed behind asking if they could eat the leaves. It was a perfect time and place for a preschool lesson on never eating anything in nature (especially mushrooms) unless you’re 1000% sure what you’re eating isn’t poisonous or toxic in some way.
When I return to the classroom, I’ll bring the girls flowered hair barrettes to make up for the real, live ones I swallowed!
The boys won’t notice and if they do-I’ll play kick the can with them on Friday!
Have you eaten a healthy dandelion yet today? You can eat every part of it. Make certain it has not been sprayed.
Before I end this column, one quick question. “Will you be my new best friend?” I just lost one over a salad ingredient she wanted to wear in her hair. I’ll never do that again without asking!
The Blonde on the Prairie is a lover of ND. She is an author and motivational speaker, owner of “Monkey Balls” food truck and Joyologist to the elderly, the disabled and, now, also to children wherever she is needed during the school year and beyond.
