I'm not saying I'm a hero, but...

I would like to preface this blog post by saying that it is being constructed during the commercial breaks of Wheel of Fortune, which has been my sanity for the duration of the school year.  At times, the only thing that I have to make me feel good about myself in a day is solving puzzles before the contestants.

Not today. Nope, I have far more to feel good about myself today than a silly Wheel (as I affectionately call it) puzzle.

Today I was a hero.  Not because we finished our NJASK (standardized test) review and my kids feel somewhat prepared, not because I had a heartwarming discussion or two with a kid, but because I saved my kids from... a moth.

Because we have NJASK testing all next week, all educational posters and reminders had to be taken off of the walls in my classroom by this afternoon.  God forbid a child needs a little reminder to "line up the dot" when adding decimals.  Anyway, I had my entire class (voluntarily) stay in for recess today to help me with the task.  The kids are off doing odds and ends of clean up when, all of a sudden, I hear a few concerned voices say, "Uhh, Ms. Bonanno... there's a bug."


A bug. Anyone who grew up with me knows that I have mixed feelings about bugs.  Throw a caterpillar or ant my way and I'll entertain it, but throw a spider my way and I'm out the door.  


I look over to where the students were pointing and see a moth about the size of a golf ball sitting on my desk.  Perhaps because they were startled, or because I didn't know what to expect, or maybe just because moths tend to fall somewhere in the middle of my 'bug-entertaining-or-ditching' spectrum, I began to grow very nervous.  At the time, one of my students was standing on a chair that was blocking the door in order to take down some old cause and effect posters.  I feel bad admitting that if he took any more time getting off the chair and out of the way I might have pushed him. (Kidding, but really. I was that nervous). 

Standing in the doorway, I summoned a student to assist us, but saw that the student was planning on killing the moth.  I personally don't feel too much attachment to bugs, but between the mess and the potential of the moth flying and 8 screaming children just didn't sit well with me.  I was almost out the door when I stopped and said to myself, "Karen Ms. Bonanno, you are the adult. You must be the responsible one."


I didn't know it at the time, but my kids will now forever look to me as their hero.


I can't remember another time when I planned and executed a heroic act so well.  I turned to the kids and (at this point I was saying the above mentioned things out loud) said to them, "Alright. Here is what is going to happen.  You are all going to line up in a single file line.  I am going to pick up the moth in my hands and walk it outside.  You will follow me in your single file line as if I am your mother and you are my ducklings.  You will not talk."


Sure enough, after asking them to not watch me several times (I knew if I missed and it flew they would all scream), I was able to work up enough nerves to scoop up the moth and carry out the plan.  As the moth released from my hands outside, there were a few little screams, but then an 11-year-0ld with hand sanitizer (unrequested) and a handful of smiles standing by.


A hero.  I was a hero today... and I solved a Wheel puzzle or two.