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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Class Clown?

What do you do when your 2-1/2 year old daughter - who apparently is normally shy in school, despite being not shy at all at home - decides one day to get up on her teacher's chair and pretend to be the teacher (instructing, leading singing, etc.) for a while? When even the teachers think it's hilarious and really talented, do you bother trying to teach her that it's a bit rude? Or just let it go?

Elianna is soo cute. :)

And a joke to keep you going, entitled The Rabbi and the Priest, by R' Dr. Aryeh Frimer:
Opening his front door, the Rabbi found himself face to face with the local priest. "Rabbi, may I have a few words with you?" asked the priest.

"Of course, Father," replied the Rabbi somewhat nervously.

"Rabbi," began the priest, "It must be evident to you that in this town we are plagued by thieves. Scarcely a day passes without one of my flock coming to me bemoaning the fact that his house has been broken into. On the other hand, I have noticed that thieves do not bother you Jews nearly as much."

"Father, you are correct."

"Yes, but why is that?" inquired the priest.

"Look at this little box here on the side of my doorpost" said the Rabbi. "It's called a mezuza. We Jews believe that when we put a mezuza on the entrances to our houses, the Holy One, may His Name be blessed, protects both us and our property."

"In that case", replied the priest, "I must have one!"

Not wishing to be the cause of an incipient pogrom, the Rabbi reluctantly handed over a mezuza to the priest.

Some two weeks later the Rabbi was awakened by the sound of someone pounding violently on his door.

Dressing himself hastily, he made his way down the stairs. "Who's there?" the Rabbi asked tremulously.

"Open the door! Open the door!" screamed a voice on the other side.

Leaving the door on the latch, the Rabbi cracked the door wide enough to seethe priest standing in front of him, his eyes wild with great distraught.

"What happened?" asked the terrified Rabbi, "Robbers?"

"No, even worse!" screamed the priest, "Schnorrers!"

12 comments:

  1. Class clowns tend to be natural leaders.

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  2. You should send her to work with me.

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  3. That is a conundrum. She is so darn cute, but she will have to learn eventually.

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  4. I think you should let it go since she's normally shy in school. You don't want her to be inhibited because she's afraid of doing something wrong, especially since at her age it didn't come from something negative. If you see it repeating itself and her teachers or you and Serach feel that it's unacceptable, then it's time for a gentle conversation explaining what's allowed and what's not, without making her afraid of opening up.

    FWIW, my daughter is extremely shy with adults and hardly ever talks to her teacher. A few days ago they went on a little walk near the school and the teacher told them that they were not to bring anything with them. My daughter piped up and said "Oh yes I am!" Her teacher repeated that she was to leave everything in the classroom and my dd said again, "No, I'm taking something!" and pulled out her Epipen which she takes with her whenever she goes anywhere. The teacher was so happy that she actually spoke up and asserted herself that she didn't criticize her at all for the way she spoke. Being her mother, I did explain to her that she was right that she needed her Epipen but that the way she said it was not an acceptable way to speak to her teacher. She understood and I'm sure will not do it again.

    Elianna, OTOH, is much younger (my dd's turning 7) and she wasn't really being rude. Kids like to imitate adults and for her it was probably the equivalent of playing house. I think you should wait and see if it develops into rude behavior but for now I wouldn't worry about it.

    She is such a cutie though!

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  5. I LOVE ELIANNA!!!

    That's all. :D

    (As an aside - she really does remind me of my sister. My sister was also SUPER loud/talkative at home but really shy in school. And yet she LOVED school and would set up stuffed animals in the basement as students and "teach" them. When my little brother got older, she would "teach" him. Sing all the songs, write on the little toy blackboard we had, etc.

    As another aside, I used to do the same thing. :P)

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  6. Neil - VERY true.

    Diana - She has school, ya know... :P

    SaraK - ...or not? :D

    AT - Absolutely. At this point, that's our approach. And that's a great story - good for her!! (And the teacher.)

    Yeah, we're not really worried. It was just more surprising considering it was less than a week since we found out she's mostly quiet in class. (Yet they said she clearly follows everything, and seems to sing the songs silently to herself. At home she sings the whole song out loud.)

    Erachet - Perhaps you're a natural leader. :)

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  7. Let it go. That's really young. I think many believe that there is no such a thing as self control until age 5 so unless it's something dangerous or hurting someone what's the point.

    That sounds really cube by the way.

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  8. The first children in our family tend to hold back until they are certain they can do something perfectly. Elianna just waited until she had her entire lesson down pat and then proceeded to take over the class!

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  9. Erachet - Perhaps you're a natural leader. :)


    If only I wasn't shy. :)

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  10. PB - Oh, we're letting it go. The question wasn't all that serious, more just telling the story... thanks! :)

    Mommy - OMG that explains SOOO much...!!!

    Erachet - If only. :P

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  11. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. She was doing it to have a good time, not make fun of the teacher.

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  12. Rescue - Actually sounds like she was doing it because she figured that's what someone in that seat does. :) Really cute.

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