like any mature adult

Thursday, September 27, 2012 by Nicole | 10 Comments

In my personal life, there are times when I am completely immature and inappropriate and somebody will often say, “Nicole Marie! What would your Mother say?” Well, the truth is, she’d laugh hysterically, give me “The Look,” and then she’d start laughing again. It’s a vicious cycle and quite entertaining.

In my professional life, however, I try to be just that: Professional. As a teacher, I realize the importance of being a positive role model for my students who have reached their “tween” years and life is so confusing. I try to be a *ROCK* in their unstable environment. I mean, middle school dances are weird, uncomfortable, deafening loud, and awkward. If I had to attend those on a regular basis I would need more therapy than Dr. Flynn could provide Christian Gray.

Recently, a female student came running to me in tears because a girl she “thought” was a friend told another girl who told another girl that she liked a boy and she really does but she didn’t want him to know so now her life is completely ruined and she can’t stand being in the same cafeteria as The Boy in the Blue Shirt. (She doesn’t know the boy’s name, so for the sake of our brief, but intense conversation, we named him Boy in Blue Shirt because he was wearing a blue shirt that day. I can’t make this stuff up, people.) A few hours later, I saw Tween Girl in the hallway and she had made amends with the friend she previously thought had betrayed her and had completely forgotten about Mr. Blue Shirt. Who knows, next week it’ll be Mr. Red Shirt. I can’t keep up with their crushing interests.

What I *CAN* do is maintain my calm, cool, collected demeanor and continue being the mature adult in all situations. Just like the time a student came running, jumping, and screaming in excitement saying he had something to tell me.

Excited Student: “Hey Miss H, do you like gross stuff?”

Me: “Not so much, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me anyway.”

{ the sarcasm is completely lost and student continues right along }

Excited Student: ”Well, yeah! You have to check out this YouTube video I found showing the biggest booger being removed from a guy’s nose. It’s really gross but really cool. Promise me you’ll watch it? It’ll gross you out real good, Miss H. Promise me! Please? Pretty please?”

So I did what any responsible, mature, professional would do in this situation …….