My classroom is currently a Christmas bonanza of lights and ornaments and music. The music is courtesy of Burl Ives and the Chipmunks. The decorations are courtesy of my students and my family.

Each year I provide the decorations for my homeroom students to hang in my classroom as they desire. This year, however, provided many laughs for me as my students and I strung lights across the ceiling. I have decided that boys are, at some point in their lives, taught about the “dark spot”. Perhaps when girls are getting “the talk”, this “dark spot” is one of the things the boys learn about.

Allow me to explain. We put up our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, as is tradition in our home. After my husband wound strand after strand of lights around the tree, he stood back and critically gazed at his handiwork. “Well, honey? What do you think? Does it need more lights?”

“No. It’s fine. It looks lovely. Let’s hang ornaments.”

“No, no….look! There’s a DARK SPOT!”

Seriously, it sounded as if the world would end. My poor female brain simply could not comprehend and I insisted the tree was fine. He finally gave in and we hung ornaments. I regret that now. Why? Because now every time we look at the tree I can hear him muttering under his breath about the “dark spot” which plagues him.

So there we were in my classroom the following week, hanging lights with Burl Ives singing about Rudolph. My students were thrilled with their handiwork, as was I. Then – no joke – my boys looked around the room critically and said, “Wait, Mrs. Moore. We need more lights.”

“What? Why? It looks fine. It looks great! You did a great job!”

“No, really…look – it’s a DARK SPOT!”

There was no way for me to explain the laughter which overtook me and left me gasping for air. But we got more lights. My husband, sympathetic to their cause, provided them. Sometimes a teacher simply has to go with the flow! I conceded defeat and joined in the battle to overcome the “dark spot”. Sing it one more time, Burl!