Me, Through the Eyes of Middle Schoolers

I think it's hilarious how little kids have absolutely no concept of age. This is especially true of 6th graders because during the first semester of Middle School, they are still SO young, SO untainted, SO cute, SO sweet, and SO naive. They're basically just Elementary School babies. But the more they're around their older, snottier peers in 7th and 8th grade, they slowly start to morph. The transformation really takes place over Christmas break, and during the Spring semester, they finally turn into hormone-drive, full-of-attitude Middle Schoolers. But for now, they're still sweet.

The other day in class, I was talking with my 6th graders about my dog in relation to writing a short story. I mentioned that I got Jerzee when I was in 5th grade. One of my students raised her hand after I made this comment and said, "WOW! You're dog must be REALLY old!" I thought it was hilarious because this was the first time (pretty much ever) that someone, ANYONE, had actually thought of me as old. I realized that she obviously has no concept of age, but hey, I'll take it. To little kids like 6th graders, if you're an adult, then you're just an adult, and any adult is old. I laughed out loud in class.

So if you know me and my pet peeve for being told that I look like a Middle Schooler, I was kind of flattered that she thought I looked "old." I was riding a sort of emotional high for a while because I thought it was so funny... until my 8th graders came later that day.

I was teaching my 8th graders how to introduce themselves to adults, including shaking hands and holding a conversation. The students went out in partnerships to the 8th grade hallway and introduced their friends to their teachers. They mentioned how a lot of the teachers didn't shake their hands. I discussed with them how they needed to be the one to take the intiative to shake hands because, lets be honest, the stereotype for a Middle School student is that they're young and you shouldn't take them seriously. Feeling bolstered by the 6th grade girls' comment, I felt confident enough to mention how even I have to be the one to often take initiative in such ways, because people think I always look so young. I should've known better.

With that single, seemingly-innocent comment about how I look "young," one of my 8th grade boys brazenly pipes up and says, "Yea, you look like you're fifteen!" I simply looked at him and said, "Well, I guess 15 is better than 12, which is what I normally get." And thus ended my emotional high of finally feeling that I possibly look like an actual adult.

*** EPILOGUE ***

Good thing I have my husband to comfort me. After just reading him the above blog post, Derek simply says, "Nah, I think you look at least 16!" He then followed it up with the sound advice for looking older: "Just grow a beard!" Thank you, Derek. I'm so glad I have a husband who has all the answers!