Well, that's my life.

In my six year old classes, we are learning about trees. Right now, we are focusing on the parts of a tree. But earlier in the semester, we were learning about all sorts of living things and what they need to survive. We learned about so many living things, in fact, that sometimes my sixes get a little confused about which living things go where and how their life cycles work (but don't we all).

(Also, if the person who thought it was a good idea to talk to six year olds about their favorite plants and animals life cycles could raise their hand, I'd like to have a word you...)

One day this week, as we were sorting pictures of what living things live in a tree and what living things don't, one sweet little girl raised her hand and asked "teacher, do fish eat caterpillars?" We then went through all the differences between fish and caterpillars and where they live, etc etc. and as I was walking away from her desk I heard a small sigh and then "well, that's my life."

Fish don't (usually, according to google...) eat caterpillars and the only explanation for it is that that's just how her life goes.

The nonchalantness that she had about rearranging her cards so that the fish weren't eating the caterpillars is something that I have had decided I need a little more of in my life.

So, I have decided to start responding with "well, that's my life" to all of the situations that seem confusing, hard or unpleasant in an attempt to brush over all of the confusing, hard and unpleasantness of the situation.

For example, this weekend I got pretty sunburned at the beach and as each and every student asked me what happened to my face ("Teacher, you're face. Why?") I responded with "I got a sunburn because that's my life."

So far, this response has really helped me to push all of the things that I need to deal with eventually right under the rug until dealing with them is completely unavoidable.

My broken freezer door - "that's my life"

The fact that I ate an entire container of cookies - "that's my life"

Neither the taxi driver nor I have any idea what the other person is saying - "Sorry sir, I know you don't know me but this is just my life"

Planning my next year by throwing things at the world and hoping something sticks - "that's just my life, I suppose."