My little Tom Sawyer

Last week The Bandit came home with a note from the kindergarten teacher.  I don’t know what the class was studying, but the kids were asked to bring in a family heirloom to discuss with the class.

A family heirloom.  With my five year old. 

I don’t think so.

My Honey and I puzzled over what to send.  Obviously I wasn’t sending him with any of my great grandmother’s china or her wedding ring.  His father wasn’t excited about our son leaving the house with any paintings or Indian sculptures either.

A family heirloom?  The dictionary definition: something of special value handed on from one generation to another.  Can you imagine sending anything of that description with a five year old to his kindergarten class?

Whatever it was that we sent with the boy, we fervently hoped it would return whole and in very similar condition in which it left this house.  I wandered past the glassed in bookshelves and dismissed that idea out of hand.  I wouldn’t send a paperback much less one of those books.  Obviously no antique guns were going.  While the teacher might appreciate it, I didn’t think the kids would understand antique lace or or gold watches.

Pop and two big fish

Finally, we decided on this.  I wrapped it in bubble wrap and gave instructions for its care. 

This is a picture of The Bandit’s great grandfather and his namesake.  Bandit was thrilled when I explained who it was and the relationship with their names.  He was a big hit.  Some of that may have had to do with the fish.

What was the best part in Bandit’s opinion?  After they’d sat in their circle and discussed each item, the kids were sent back to their desks and told to draw a picture of their item.

“My picture was already done!” he said in triumph.  That’s my boy, always looking for a way around the work.