Ginger Walmart

Every year my children come home from school with papers describing some time consuming project that is requiring my constant help. Rarely (I won't say never though I can't remember it ever being stated) has a purpose or learning principle been explained. I spent a great deal of time pondering these tasks, complaining, and threatening not to complete them, but in the end I sit down with my children and begin the craft.



This year is no different. Austin came home two weeks ago, announcing that the entire second grade class would be building a three dimensional model of our town. She had volunteered to build Walmart (Have I mentioned that we don't have a Walmart? The closest one is 25 min. away.) Our only instructions were that it needed to be freestanding and we weren't allowed to use Lego's. Austin came home so excited. She was sure her idea was the best. She wanted to build a Walmart out of gingerbread! After all, the closest Walmart to us is brown. I told her that sounded like a fun idea, but that I wasn't sure that was what her teacher was looking for. (Note the loving response and the deflective maneuver.) Austin, never being one to be deterred, talked to her teacher the very next day and proudly came home and announced that Ms. Strickland said gingerbread would be fine. (Have I mention how much I appreciate Austin teacher? Ü) So I was stuck. Who could say no to this face?