Caren Krutsinger Poet Prose Poetry

Yours Is Too Playful He Tells Me

I can draw that he says.
I say okay.
He tries to, but it is not the same.
I tell him it is great.
He asks better than yours?
We both know it is not better or the same.
It is different.
Why don’t you draw something you want to draw? I suggest.
He smirks.
It will be better than yours, he brags.
Okay, I agree. That will be fine.
Yours is kind of plain, he tells me.
Okay.
Yours has too many dots.
Okay.
Yours is too playful.
I have stopped smiling and agreeing
Understanding now why other teachers become exasperated.
Mine is better he says.
I say agreed.
Mysteriously this makes him angry.
He has not gotten a rise out of me
And it irks him.
We draw in silence
Stuck with each other until the end of the day.
The next time I try to pick him up he says he does not want to go.
I do not blame him. I am not easily riled by children or childish behavior.
When you are child-like, it is an easy gig to survive.

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M. L. Kiser December 4, 2019 at 6:35 PM This is reminiscent of my great nieces and nephews when I would try to color with them. A fun poem that awakened fun memories. Caren Krutsinger December 5, 2019 at 4:01 AM It is never too late to color with someone. Go find them!

Kim Rodrigues December 4, 2019 at 9:13 AM LOL! My son would try to get a rise out of me. He had a pimple on his ear...looked like a hole. “Mom, I got my ear pierced.” “Great, son.” or he would be telling a wild story and another parent would say, “Your mom’s standing there.” And i’m like i know kids have stories. I worked at his school...was passing this senior, trying not to ruin his time with a girl and he calls me back over and introduces me. Today he’s not as warm but I’m working on him anyway. He has a wonderful family Caren Krutsinger December 5, 2019 at 4:02 AM The children have to push us away, so they can build their own nests. Luckily, we have art and poetry and hobbies galore, so we can survive, right Kim?

Mahtab Bangalee December 4, 2019 at 4:07 AM oh the life sometimes in hardship and sometimes in ease; the hardship begets in me always the ease! Caren Krutsinger December 5, 2019 at 4:03 AM Your comments are always profound, Mahtab. Thank you for stopping by!

Gershon Wolf December 3, 2019 at 8:49 PM Ha, ha! Pure delightfulness to the tenth power. So enjoyed this one, Teach! :) gw Caren Krutsinger December 4, 2019 at 12:20 AM I see you understand!

Ilene Bauer December 3, 2019 at 5:53 PM i so enjoy reading your take on your interactions with kids, caren. they are very lucky to have you in your school... Caren Krutsinger December 4, 2019 at 12:21 AM We must not forget I have two schools. Weirdly and sadly enough as building relationships with staff, students and parents is the goal. To split me between two schools is such a disservice! I have over 600 students now. One school is Monday and Friday, the other school is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. A crying shame.