Glasses

I started wearing glasses in first grade.  For the next 5 years I broke more pairs of glasses than my parents could afford.  I recall two breaks climbing up the slide (now I know why that’s against the rules).  I broke a pair pulling them out from under my math textbook, how they got that far down in the desk I have no idea.  One pair came to destruction while playing tag. 

Alexia is my young 5’s student.  I think she’s worn glasses for at least 3 years.  She had them when her brother was in my room a few years back.  In an attempt to atone for my destruction of glasses as a child I try to protect the investment parents make in their child’s eye-wear.  One of the first things I tell my glasses wearing students is; never clean or wipe your glasses with the paper towel at school.  That brown stuff can really ruin the finish of your lens.  I recall dong that once in elementary school.  I have a soft towel for cleaning glasses.  I happily share how I clean my glasses and we practice together. 

Alexia’s glasses have had a tough year.  She broke off the nose piece early in the year.  A little later she pulled the bow off, but we even found the lost screw that time and I sent them all home in a Ziploc bag.  About three weeks ago Alexia came in from lunch recess missing a lens.  An adult volunteer went out to the playground and they proudly returned with the lost lens.  But it had fallen in a snow free area and I think the entire lower elementary had trod over them.  The lens was scratched beyond use. 

Last week Alexia came to school with a new pair of glasses.  Today she came to me with her nose piece entangled in her lavender sweater. The pair was so twisted up she walked up to me with them on her stomach, hands free.   “Can you help me wif this?” she lisped.  (This kid cannot catch a break)  As I carefully unwound the nose piece from the loose weave sweater I reminded her to let me help wipe her glasses next time.  It’s the least I can do to honor my poor parents.