Career Day

Friday was "Career Day" at the girl's school.  They were supposed to dress up as the professional they would like to be someday.  Cassie didn't have to think twice.  She was going to dress as an artist.  She swept through the house, grabbing a hand-painted T-shirt, a beret, and her paint smock.  Lacey had a bit of trouble deciding how to dress.  Every day life is so absorbing that she really doesn't think much about the future.  Not too long ago she asked if she was going to be able to grow up and get married some day.  So, the idea of having a profession and actually working is a little abstract.  Eventually, with a little coaching from Cassie, she decided to dress like a teacher.

"Mommy," she began, "What do teachers wear?"  

"Umm.. . . ," I faltered as I looked down at my outfit.  I was wearing khaki-colored capris, a lavender "Life is Good" T-shirt, and a blue denim shirt that has my school's name embroidered over the pocket.  This is the same shirt that I wore to the county courthouse in December when Les and I dropped off Lacey's re-adoption papers.  (I'm straying, but this is interesting.)  When we entered the courthouse, the guards all jumped up and came rushing over to us.  They literally looked me up and down, from head to foot.  They exchanged strange looks with each other.  They finally let me pass,  but then several other people came rushing over, anxious to help.  I mentioned to Les how attentive everyone seemed.  He explained that they all thought I was a prisoner being brought over for trial.  He added that they were all probably trying to guess what a middle-aged woman like me was doing in prison.  It turns out that my shirt is the same kind worn by inmates in the county jail.  Somehow, I didn't think that Lacey would want to hear that teachers dress like prisoners.

"Well," I tried, "I can tell you what teachers don't wear.  They don't wear bikinis to work!"

This got a good laugh from both girls.  Cassie offered to try to help Lacey find something nice to wear.  They found a skirt and blouse, and Cassie advised Lacey to wear her good shoes.

"But, Mommy wears flip flops!"  Lacey protested.  "Remember, Mommy is trying to set a record to see how many months in a row she can go without having to wear shoes?"

"That's because Mommy doesn't have to go out on the playground,"  I said.  "You need to wear shoes to be safe on the playground."

The girls ran off to finish getting ready for school and left me looking at myself in the mirror wondering exactly what a teacher is supposed to look like.

The artist and the teacher