Adopt-a-Family

Today was the day I both look forward to and dread every year. Today was Adopt-a-Family delivery day.

Every year at SHS, homeroom classes adopt a needy family in the Kennewick area for Christmas. This is an activity that I LOVE. Each homeroom is assigned a family that is in need during the holidays. We are provided with a list of gift suggestions from the family, and then it is up to the kids to get stuff donated or purchased. Then, a week or two later, right before our Winter Break, the kids get to play Santa and deliver the gifts to the families.

It just warms my heart to see kids get excited about giving to others. Most of the time, the families that are adopted have young children. This is the first year that my class has ever gotten a family that doesn't have kids. In fact, this year, we got a single, elderly lady by the name of Phyllis. No kids at all. At first my seniors were disappointed. They like to get stuff for the little kids. I don't blame them, kids are usually the most fun to shop for. But they rallied together and decided they were going to give this lady the best Christmas she's ever had.

We spent a few minutes one morning looking at the list of things Phyllis requested and brainstorming other gift ideas. We also decided who was going to deliver the gifts. That was a fun morning. Kids were throwing out all kinds of crazy ideas. Many of the funniest came from one young man in particular: "Hey, you know how Cosmo has Cosmo Girl?? I wonder if they have Cosmo Granny?" Then, a few minutes later, he throws out this gem: "What about a brooch? Old ladies love that crap!"

One girl was adamant that whoever was going to buy the light bulbs MUST buy the Energy Star Compact Fluorescent bulbs because "they are a little more expensive, but the money you save in the long run is well worth it!"

Another young man shared that his grandma was the same age as Phyllis, and that she takes Tae-Kwon-Do lessons, did we think she might like that? Man, did we giggle that morning. But it was a great way to spend some time and do a little bonding! (Much to my chagrin and surprise, discussions of Christmas are far more popular than discussions of Hamlet. Oh well. Such is life. I'll take good discussion with kids wherever I can!)

Today, all the gifts had been purchased, and a few of my kids who finished their projects early were wrapping the gifts. Then we talked again about delivering the gifts. This is the part of Adopt-a-Family that I don't enjoy. It makes me intensely uncomfortable to go to a perfect strangers house and bring them stuff. I hate making small talk, especially with people I don't know. And what can you say in this situation? "So, tell me why you're living in city housing and needed help this Christmas?" I don't think so.

But because it is a school function, we have to have a chaperone for every 10 kids. I usually don't worry about that too much with seniors, though. I figure if they let me be in charge of 30 kids during class, I can handle a few more than 10 after school. It's a class bonding event, and I think it's important that I am there to share in the experience with my kids. I could just hand it over to a parent, but then I think both the kids and I lose out. So I suck it up every year and volunteer to "chaperone" and hope that some of my more outgoing kids sign up to help deliver. This year was looking promising. Four of my most boisterous and outgoing kids were going to go! Then, this morning, those four and two others all backed out on me.

I was so disappointed in them. I don't know why they backed out, but they did. While I was saddened by those six, I was thrilled with two of the young men in my class who stepped forward and picked up the slack. Instead of a merry group of 8, we were down to 4.

After school our class representative (the only one who didn't back out!), and the two fabulous young men who stepped up met me in my room, and we carried gifts out to their cars. Because it was just the four of us, we decided to drive separately so we could just leave from Phyllis' house to go home.

Somehow I was elected to be the leader of our little caravan, and we set off. It's sort of heartwarming how much faith they have in me...little do they know that I could get lost in a paper bag! While it's heartwarming, it's pretty scary at the same time how much trust they blindly put in me. But no worries, J was at home today so I called him really quick and had him MapQuest our route for me! Luckily it was in an area close to my home, so I was pretty confident I could get us there with no trouble.

When we arrived, there was another group there delivering to a family in the same building. We followed them after they got buzzed in, and then waited for the elevator. My kids were so cute. They are polite at school, but their manners kick into overdrive as soon as they leave the building. I've never had so many doors opened for me in my life!

The kids who came with me are seniors, and you would think they'd be confident and independent, but they were crowded around me like they're shy or something. (Come sit in my second hour class for 5 minutes and you'll know, they're NOT shy kids!) They were looking at me to be the brave one, even though I was dying on the inside. It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it, though, so I led the way.

I knocked on Phyllis' door, and when she opened it we said "Merry Christmas!" Man, as much as I hate going to strangers' houses, I'm not gonna lie - it's pretty gratifiying to see how amazed people are by a little bit of kindness. Her eyes welled up, and she said thank you about a million times. Then she wanted to know "you kids' names." The kids introduced themselves, and I introduced myself as their teacher. (I love it when people are surprised when I say I'm a teacher! It won't be very much longer that I look young enough to surprise them.) She complimented me on my fine young kids. It was nice for them to hear that, and I liked being able to brag on them for a bit right in front of them.

She was very grateful and appreciative. We made small talk for a few minutes, and then I tried to make excuses so we could leave. One of my poor kids is sick, and Phyllis smokes. As soon as we walked in, I knew he was going to be miserable the entire time we were there. His eyes were red and watery, and his nose started to run almost immediately, but he was a trouper. Right as we were getting ready to leave, though, the girl said, "Oh! I forgot the card in my car. Why don't you come with me? We'll be right back, we're just going to run to my car to get the card our whole class signed."

Crap. Now what am I going to do? I've got this great big giant of a kid (he is 6'6" and more than 200 pounds) who doesn't feel good, is attached to my hip, and hasn't opened his mouth other than to introduce himself, and the other two are ditching us. I've already used my quota of small talk up, and now I'm going to have to lead this discussion for the next five minutes or more. I really don't like this. But there's no way I can leave a student alone, and I can't have the young lady go to her car by herself, so I'm stuck.

Somehow I managed. The football player and I survived dreaded small talk with a very kind stranger, and as soon as the other two got back I said goodbye and led them to the door. Phyllis said thanks one more time, and wanted hugs from each of us, and then we were on our way.

Overall, it was a good experience, and I'm so proud of my kids my heart is just bursting. I'm proud to know such a fine young lady and young men. This is one of those memories I'll hold on to and bring out on those days I look at kids doing dumb things and wonder what the future is going to be like. The world can't be all bad with these three (and the others like them) in it.

Life is good, and I have much to be thankful for.