Splatter painting

I went to pick up Emma and her friend, Brenna, from Kindergarten today. Just before the bell rang, her teacher opened the door, found me, and beckoned me inside. She had "a look" on her face that somehow made me want to apologize, hang my head, and go sit in a corner, even though I didn't know why.

Teacher: Emma & Brenna decided to splatter paint during Choice Time today. Just look at this mess!

I looked around the room. It was covered - literally dripping - with globs of brightly colored paint. There were paint globs on the door, splats all over the floor, splotches on the books and desks. Walls, cabinets, chairs - all magnificantly splattered by 6 or 7 shades of gloopy paint.

I looked over and saw Emma and Brenna on their hands and knees, looking utterly chagrined and smearing the paint around with sloppy, wet sponges.

Teacher: I am just flabbergasted by this! I never would have expected it of these two.

Me: Um . . . that's an awful big mess. How long did it take them?

C'mon! My first reaction was: WHERE WERE YOU, TEACHER, WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON!? This was not just the work of a few quick flicks of a brush. There were multiple colors and it was everywhere!

Teacher: (obviously understanding the implication of my question) Well, I only turned my back for a minute to go check on some other children.

Uh-huh. Right. So I grabbed a sponge and helped the girls clean up. They were also covered in paint. Emma's hair was bright blue and sticking out like a punk rocker.

Later, I asked Emma how long they had been splatter painting. "For the whole Choice Time" (at least 10-15 minutes). Then I asked what her teacher had been doing during that time. "She's usually on her computer." (Across the room. Facing out the window.)

I had Emma write a note to apologize. But part of me is kind of proud of her. I, myself, got in trouble in Kindergarten (for eating the plastic fruit in the play kitchen area). Like mother, like daughter.

Now that's a scary thought. But I bet my mom is lovin' it.