Today marked yet another milestone as a very brave student of mine, Ashante, asked me in front of the entire class (and Todd who happened to be observing) if I was pregnant. I was so caught off guard that my response was “no sé” (I don’t know) and I turned a certain shade of red. I do talk carefully about my personal life and Bill in class, but did not think it was the right time to announce the ‘news’ to my students. This same class has been curious for about two weeks now – last week a different student raised her hand and asked, completely out of the blue, how you say ‘pregnant’ in Spanish. While she had no intentions with this question the rest of the class found it hilarious and started whispering and laughing.
This raises an interesting question: Do I tell my students? If so, when? My guess is that most students would never even dream of asking. I remember when Amy (French teacher) was 8 months pregnant they thought that she was just ‘getting fat’. Either way they certainly are curious…
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Oh No, how embarassing! I guess it's one of those times when you can think of about 100 really good things to say about an hour later. I think they already know that you're pregnant. Most of them have a younger brother or sister and the more astute ones have already been spreading the "question" around. So, I guess that since you were caught off guard that maybe you could go into your spanish classes and make a little speech in spanish. "I was asked on Tuesday if I was expecting a baby and was caught off guard. To put the rumors to rest, yes, I am expecting a baby this summer." Maybe your advance classes will catch on right away and the others you may have to tell them in english. It's kind of hard to hide the fact much longer.
I've already had a student ask me if the teacher I work with is pregnant and she is two weeks behind you. The student is twelve. They know.
Once you start wearing maternity clothes, you will probably look MORE pregnant! Since they're asking, it might be less awkward to just get it out in the open than to figure out how to continually dodge the question! Maybe you could put together a little mini lesson plan with all "Baby" words for the day that you tell them. You know… Bottle, formula, diapers, burp, spit-up, cry, crib, stinky poop, Of course, it might be fun to tease them a little. You could always just SAY you are getting fat because you quit running marathons to dedicate yourself fully to the education of their young minds!
My Cousin in law, is a pregnant high school chemistry teacher. She did tell her kids right about 12 weeks or so. If I remember right, she said something like "Class, I am tired, cranky, hungry, and three months pregnant… You do NOT want to mess with me today."
Ha – I love it! I'm definitely going to have to try that one out. The cat is officially out of the bag – I was asked by FOUR students today if I was pregnant, and given a big hug and pat on the belly by another. I will announce something in two weeks after our next ultrasound. For now the brave ones can continue to ask…
Ha – I love it! I'm definitely going to have to try that one out. The cat is officially out of the bag – I was asked by FOUR students today if I was pregnant, and given a big hug and pat on the belly by another. I will announce something in two weeks after our next ultrasound. For now the brave ones can continue to ask…
I love all the creative suggestions! How DO you say, "stinky baby poop" in spanish? I love the chemistry teacher's method also. I'm sure you've felt like saying something like that a hundred times in class already.
Love you
This is all so interesting…and I can't wait to find out how you decide to handle it. It does sound, though, that the sooner the better. Is your next ulta sound on Mar 5th? I don't know how you can hold it in!!! I love you….you do look beautiful. I vote for telling the kids asap and end the gossip! They'll love it! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
oh my gosh I have been away from this blog for too long 🙂 I cant stop laughing .
I like the chem teachers response .
by the way … isn't this high school? they get it ..don't wait too long
Hi Kristy,
I thought you would like this story. The young women I work with, Kristin Crowe, decided that today was the day she would tell the 7th graders in her class that she was pregnant (she is two weeks behind you). She did a hang man on the board with the kids using "baby Crowe" as her words. It was pretty cute. The kids were trying to figure out what kind of saying that was when one boy shouted out, "Oh, I get it. Mrs. Crowe is pregnant!".
Have you had any more class room comments?
Love, Judy
I officially told my students on Friday and announced that it is a girl. I got a big round of applause, a few hugs and awkward pats on the belly, and taught them how to say "congratulations!" in Spanish.
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