pond water potion

After an afternoon of learning about teeth and making fruit parfaits with 6 little special ed. kindergarten boys, we settled down to watch a short movie before the bus came to pick them up. In the movie we watched a caterpillar and a tadpole who were excited to grow up and "turn into something else". Simple idea, right? Even though some critters keep their general characteristics and just get bigger as they age, many others go through a physical metamorphosis where they turn into different creatures, close to being unrecognizable.

Sitting there I had a metaphorical flashback to when I was about 12 years old. In this post I wrote about my idyllic upbringing in the woods of Virginia with my amazing family, but what I didn't tell you then was that I struggled with the girls in the neighborhood. Moving when you are 12 is a tough thing, but if the local boys kinda like you it is like a death sentence.

One of the things my new potential pals had me do in order to be their friend was to stick my arm, elbow-deep, into a five-gallon bucket full of pond water and loaded with tadpoles. I did it. And after that I jumped through other ridiculous hoops out of a need to not be hated.

How ironic that tadpoles would be part of that experience. Tadpoles that change and turn into something else. I am the frog that got its start in that bucket. Ribbit.

11 comments

wendy | February 20, 2009 at 8:44 PM

that is thought provoking---because how many things to we do in our lives "for a dare to be accepted" and to "just fit in". Those growing up years are tough ones indeed. Looks like you survived your pond water - kissed a toad who turned into a prince (or am I making that up) Maybe he was a prince from the get go...slowly turning more "toad-esk".

wendy | February 20, 2009 at 8:45 PM

p.s I LOVE IT when I am the First comment. hardly ever happens

April | February 20, 2009 at 9:14 PM

We all spend our lives morphing from one thing to another. I think we just don't realize it and some people can do it more easily than others.

Heather | February 20, 2009 at 9:15 PM

Isn't that cool when real life is full of symbolism. 12 has got to be the hardest age for girls because everything is changing, I wonder if changing is as hard on tadpoles, or caterpillars, what happens to all those legs anyway?

Heidi | February 20, 2009 at 9:25 PM

So, you got hazed? Yikes! Girls are awful which is why I guess it is a good thing I only gave birth to one of them (but I have six for sisters. Yeah. It's tough.)

Midge | February 20, 2009 at 9:46 PM

I was just thinking about this same concept earlier this week. You have such a way of putting down my thoughts!

Melanie Jacobson | February 21, 2009 at 1:16 AM

Girls. Blech. The bane of a middle school teacher's life. I'm so afraid I'll have one. I'm pretty good I could raise a nice one, but I don't know how I'd protect her from the means one.

I love frogs. I think you're a very nice frog.

Luann | February 21, 2009 at 7:12 AM

My tadpole years gave me a lot of the experiences I needed to be the frog I am today. I think that's true for most people. And anyway, I like tadpoles. They may be wiggly and slimy, but so are frogs.

CHERRANNE | February 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM

You are one COOL froggie, Kaz. LOL.

That Girl | February 21, 2009 at 5:07 PM

Children - especially girl children - can be the cruelest and most obscure people on the planet.

I was the first one to get a bra (though I pretty much stayed the same size), and it was AWFUL.

Ribbit, ribbit crooooooooak.

Little GrumpyAngel | February 24, 2009 at 7:34 PM

Yeah, girls can be mean. Maybe it's our inherent way of validating ourselves, by diminishing others. Just glad most of us grow up and out of our tadpole years. Well, I'm sure those girls know what a cool froggy-gal you've become and feel punished.