The Evil Eye

"Do they teach you that when you're in school to be a teacher?" asked Tatum. "What? Do they teach us what?" "The evil eye." I prefer to call it the look. But either way, apparently, I have mastered it. My 8th graders duck and cover when I give them the look. They know they've gone too far, and it's time to focus and straighten up. Hannah definitely knows it and cuts it out. And, Hudson. My sweet 15-month-old Hudson who loves to cuddle momma and to get into trouble. I give him the look when he goes for the fireplace, the TV, the oven, the plugs, cords or vaporizer (just a few of his favorite no-nos). I try to limit it to things that will hurt him, and I do quickly redirect (thank you, parenting 101). But, he still goes for those things. And, when I pick him up to redirect, he screams and kicks and fights the whole way to the toys that are appropriate. Then, he gets down, looks at me, and races right back for the taboo thing. After a couple of attempts, he bows his head and gives me the look. He furrows his little brow, sets his little mouth and stares hard at me. No. I didn't learn at "teacher school." The look comes with children. It's just part of the passage into parenthood! (And, luckily, it works well in the classroom, too!)