Black Poop: A cautionary tale about Preschoolers' obsession with pregnancy and babies

Most of the women I teach with are married with children. 

And several of my kids in my class have babies in their homes.

 This leads to a very obvious obsession with infants and families.

One of my favorite boys in the class has just met his new baby brother. Before the baby was born, we asked him when his new brother would be born. He replied "My mommy told me that when it snows outside, the new baby will come".

In Southwest Georgia, I really hope the new baby doesn't wait that long! 

Well he didn't! The new baby was born shortly after that conversation. 

When we saw that little "Andrew" was absent one day, the teacher and I knew that must mean his new brother was here. 

The next day, when Andrew returned to school, I asked him "What do you think about your new baby brother? Is he so cool?"

Andrew replied, with wonder in his voice, "Yeah! He poops black poop!"

Apparently, this is what qualifies as super cool in Andrew's mind. 

I have also had two or three students ask if I had a baby in my tummy. I later found out that these kids had mommies who were pregnant or had just given birth. This was my way of telling myself that I wasn't looking pregnant, that the kids are just really focused on being pregnant since it's a common topic at home. 

One sassy little one, "Jayla", even asked "You have a baby in your tummy, don't you?!" 

I quickly had to tell her that no, I in fact DID NOT have any babies in my tummy. 

Another little one, "Nadia" is in the crew I take to breakfast each morning. 

As we ate our sausage biscuits across from one another, she said "Do you make breakfast for your daughter every morning?" I told her that I did not have any children. She asked again if I made breakfast for my daughter. 

I said "Nadia, I don't have a daughter."

"Oh, okay, then for your son?"

She was not getting the message.

I retorted "No, Nadia, I don't have any daughters or any sons, and I'm not married"

Obviously still confused, Nadia asked "Well who do you make breakfast for then? Your husband?!"

I'm quickly learning that persistence is the name of the game with pre-k students.