Laughter Is the Best Medicine Blogfest

Welcome to any newcomers! And for my regular blog checkin' in peeps, today is the Laughter is the Best Medicine Blogfest hosted by Lydia Kang of The Word is My Oyster and Leigh T. Moore of That's Write! Be sure to click on the LITBM link to check out the other entries.

My day job is a Humane Education teacher. I have a non-profit (co-founded with one of my friends) called Paws and Learn. We go into the schools throughout Los Angeles and give FREE presentations educating kids on a variety of topics (Dog Safety, Kindness to Animals, City Wildlife, Pet Needs, Truth About Pit Bulls, etc.). I love my job because it varies day to day. And kids are completely unpredictable. They keep you on your toes. I love to have quick comebacks and always try to stay one step ahead of them.

I was teaching 3rd Graders City Wildlife a few months ago. We learn about all the cool animals and insects that live in their backyards/neighborhoods. We learn what their special jobs are (usually involves what they eat) and why they are so important to have around. I have really cool props that the kids love (owl pellet, rattlesnake tail, beautiful posters).

I held up our Owl Board. We discussed that owls have great night vision, they can carry two to three times their body weight...

Me: Who knows what owls eat?
Girl: Mice.
Me: Right. What else?
Boy: Rats.
Me: Rats, mice...what else do they eat?
Another boy: Leprechauns.
Me: Nope. They're not fast enough to catch Leprechauns.
Same boy: But you said they fly up to 40 miles per hour.
Me: They do! But Leprechauns move faster. (pause) And they can disappear. (pause) Because they have magic.
Same boy: And a pot of gold!
Me: That too.
Same boy: So the owl can grab that!
Girl: No. They can't carry a pot of gold.
Same boy: YES. They CAN. She said they carry two to three times their body weight.
Boy's Friend: Duh. Weren't you listening?

It's nice when your friends get your back. Especially when you're trying to debate whether or not an owl can in fact carry off a Leprechaun's Pot O'Gold.

How can I not love what I do?