Do I smell funny? (teaching)

Having 23 small children as a part of each weekday brings some interesting experience to my life. Once, a paper cut got really infected in, like, 12 minutes; a tiny slice became a bit of a science experiment because of the creepy crawlies that make their home on my hands (I'm better about washing my hands now). I see a spectacular range of emotions (pure joy to complete despair) hourly. Paperclips have become choking hazards in my mind. And, most unexpectedly, I have become strangely aware of my appearance. Now, you might be thinking, "Has she suddenly become vain? They are just little kids." But, these little kids are so aware of me that it is a little unnerving.

Yesterday, I wore a new pair of boots. [I am a fan of boots. In my world, skirts are to be worn with very high heals or tall boots. Teach for a day in 3 inch heals and you will know pain. I only forget about the pain once every 2-3 months and can wear a skirt on those days. So, when I got these new (flat) boots, I was excited.] One of my more astute little guys told me he liked my boots. Other than my roommate, the boots went unnoticed by people above 4 foot tall. Several of my other little guys are a little preoccupied with my hair and there is one girl in the school has long conversations with me about the color of my eyes. All of these things kind of make sense though. The kids spend a lot of time around my feet. They are on the rug, I am on a chair. That is boot level. My hair could be seen as a novelty if your mother wears a head scarf. And, if you have brown eyes, my blue eyes are a little different.

Today, however, I became a little unnerved by a comments of one of my students. He asked me if I was wearing perfume after I helped him with his writing. A six-year-old is around me enough to know when I smell different. I did not realize that my own smell was so distinctive that small children would know the days I put on lotion. It's craziness.