after my 11th graders left, I noticed there was a wrapped tampon on the floor of my classroom. I’m sure it fell out of someone’s purse…but I didn’t notice it until my reading lab was all settled down enjoying their free-reading time.
Seventh grade awkwardness shot to a new level. No one would pick it up, one girl covered it with her shoe for 20 minutes, another came up to me red-faced after class and whispered, “do you know what’s over there? I tried to hide it, but I think some of the boys saw. What are you going to do???” She might as well have been wringing her hands.
She couldn’t believe it when I went over, picked it up, and threw it away. No blushing required. I couldn’t help it—I felt freaking mature.
Are you there, God? It’s me, Beth.