I do have to admit, my current group of Kaplan kids are really cool. Perhaps it's because of the small size. Or that 3/4 of them go to the same school. I shared my stories of trying out for Jeopardy and stuff I did in high school. It wasn't until class was over that I realized that these kids are only 16 or 17. That means that I am seven years older than them! That's a lifetime in to them. Heck, to me too at this point. When I'm teaching, I feel like I'm still a teenager. And it was really cool to when they got something. (As opposed to just say "uh-huh" to get me to shut-up.)

I've been thinking more and more about teaching. I'm still going to pursue this art thing (3d animation thing?) but I am thinking more and more about teaching art. I think I would love to teach art in high school. I've thought about elementary school, but only upper-graders. But public schools are really suffering in the arts right now. Unless I teach at a private school. My cousin Jean goes to a private elementary school, and supposedly they have a really great arts program. And private schools are good in that you don't have to have a teaching credential to teach. But where ever I end up, I want to make sure I'm a professional artist first. So my SMC journeys still seem valid.

My aunt told me that I'm really good with kids. But like I said before, the only reason kids like me is that I actually pay attention to them. And that I'm willing to play like a kid with them. Kinda like how some dads play with their kids. And it can be fun, sometimes, but for the most part, it's not something that I want to do all the time. Like at church, all these girls want to hold and play with the two babies. But I don't, not really. They are really cute, but I just don't want to take care of them.

That's what really sucked about last Sunday. My aunt and uncle come over to go look at land with my parents (ugh, don't get me started on that) leaving me to baby-sit their kid, James. The 4-yr-old whom I recently helped out at his birthday party. Now, he's a cute kid, and I like spending time with him, but I really don't like having to take care of him. He's not old enough for us to "hang out." I have to look out for him. My aunt can call it "playing" all she wants, I'm still "baby-sitting." So I really don't like the job is thrust upon me without even asking me. And I know it'd be rude to correct her, but she basically wanted relief from care-taker duties so she dumped them on me. WITHOUT ASKING. Even at dinner that night (though they did treat) my uncle wanted James to sit next to me so that I can feed him and keep him occupied and make sure he doesn't get lost. At least he can sorta feed himself. But I had to get his utensils, arrange the bowls around him, and wrap the meat in ddukssam. Just so my aunt and uncle could eat normally and talk with my parents (and drink soju). Let's just say, it wasn't fun for me. I was trying to eat, too. (I'm glad at least that I didn't have to spoon-feed him.)

Y'know, thinking back, I remember whenever we went to someone's house, we'd just end up playing with our cousins. It made sense cuz we were all kids. I didn't think that them being older (by a bit) made them have to watch over us. For the most part I remember having fun. I was the youngest so I didn't do the things that my sister and female cousins did as well. Uncle Danny (the one that's only 9 yrs older than me) asked me if I remembered him baby-sitting us when we were little. I didn't think it was baby-sitting. After all, he had fun playing on our Nintendo. And I didn't have to have him escort me to the bathroom, or help me eat, or chase me around a restaurant. 'course, I was 6 or 7 at the time. I mean, things should get better once no more little babies start coming into our family. Though I think it's high time that I pass the buck to the younger kids. I've paid my dues. Now it's their turn.