Watercolor Happiness

It's funny that as you grow older you can look back at your younger self with awe and a little longing for simpler times. I was thinking about this as I prepared watercolors for my class of Prekindergarteners a couple weeks ago. Each time I lift a set of watercolors it takes me back to my first experience with them. I was about to start kindergarten and my mom had bought my first school supplies. I was so excited. One of the items was a long, shiny, black tin of watercolors. I sat on my bed and explored the tin. The way it felt in my hand, the smell of the paint, the gorgeous, bright colors of the paints and the letters on the tin (that I couldn't read). My mom had written my name on it and even her handwriting was a miracle in my little hand. My name was beautiful. I was happy. It really makes me think about the fact that children are experiencing so many things for the first time when they are with me. Whether it's their first time painting with watercolors, tasting a pomegranate or hearing a brand new story that I've read 100 times before. These new experiences in the life of a child happen every day and I know that I've had to step back and ask myself if I'm giving each child the best opportunity to explore and expand their knowledge of the world. After all, that's my job and I want them to look at the world with the same wonder and happiness that my watercolors brought to me.