Kangaroo Farts

My job is about as un-physical as they get. But what it lacks in a physical sense it makes up for in the mental realm.

7:30am this morning. Driving along enjoying the sun rise, humming my favorite tune or probably the one I last heard on the radio before exiting my car. Half way thru my elementary route. One of my 2nd grade boy riders (I will call him Dennis. As in, The Menace well cause it fits hehe) says to me...

"Miss Chellie....Do kangaroos fart???"

Supressing hysterical laughter I am thinking where the hell did this come from, when I glance in my overhead mirror to see Dennis sporting a brand-spankin new Outback Steakhouse t-shirt with a big ole happy kangaroo on the front. I take a moment to gather my thoughts before I reply knowing that it may be a trap of some kind.

Go with the safe answer or so I thought. "Well Dennis, I would think that Kangaroos do fart."

Dennis then proceeds to tell me that Barney (the 1st grade boy sitting next to him) thinks they do fart, but that he is wrong. Because only mammals fart and kangaroos aren't mammals. He learned that in science. So they can't fart, right?.?

2nd grade was along time ago, but I am fairly certain mammals ;have babies and wean them themselves, so I believe kangaroos qualify. How to explain this in 2nd grade terminology without risking losing my job. I can hear Dennis now. "Mommy the bus driver told me that kangaroos breastfeed." Good Lord it is a trap!!.

As a person of authority in these kids lives and someone they grow to trust, I spend time listening to them no matter if it pertains to my job or not. So often kids go unheard because the adults that surround them don't have time to stop and pay attention. If giving them 5 minutes of my time encourages them in some way, then it is well worth it to me. Even when it involves kangaroo farts! I ponder my reply knowing that it is important or they wouldn't have asked. So what do I do?? I went for the safe comical answer.

"Dennis, you might want to ask your science teacher to help you look that up when you get to class, but if I were to take a guess, I would think that if we ate nothing but grass, leaves and berries and hopped around on 2 legs all day and night...we would probably fart ALOT!"

All in a days work!!

Enjoy yours :)