Hay Fever

The students and I walk through the soccer fields on our way to the garden.

On the fields are tufts of beige, dead grass, slightly resembling hay.

As we walk to the garden I hear a voice behind me. “Ms. H. Why is there so much hate?”

I turn around and see little *Emilio.

Wow. I think in my head. This will be a great teaching moment to talk about being a peacemaker in our community.

I turn to Emilio and start explaining how the world is a beautiful place, but sometimes people do bad things. I explain that that’s why it’s important to become a peacemaker in our community.

I stop.

Emilio and the rest of the children have dazed and confused looks on their faces.

I’m not sure if the peacemaker concept has made any sense, so I begin to think of other ways to explain when *Emily shouts “NOOO. Not hate Ms. H. hay. Why is there so much hay on the fields.”

Immediately I burst into laughter. I’m confusing the children to think that somehow hay correlates to people doing bad things.

Ah well. It’s the funny mistakes/moments that make this “field” so entertaining.