Open House: Building a Nest

This weekend was our Annual Open House. I was smiling all day. I really enjoy meeting the future little (and big) people who may come to our school in the Fall.
"It's like building a nest." I said to my husband on the phone last night
(he is presently away on a trip).
"A nest?" he replied.
Even though I could not see his face I knew he was making a "what the?" expression.
"Yes, a nest." I repeated. "You know a piece of hay, a strand of yarn, a twig..."
Silence on the other end of the phone.
"I'm the mother bird..."I continued.
I paused.
"O k a y...." he said to me.
"Never mind." I said, feeling a bit silly because he wasn't getting it.
And then he said,
"I understand, you're the mother bird, your classroom environment is the nest?"
"Yes!" (Well, close enough) I was just so happy he was willing to follow along with yet another of my often flowery analogies.
The whole conversation reminded me of one I had with a parent of a child from my child care program years ago. He had asked me where my umbrella was. And I remember staring at him with a "what the?" look on my face until I politely said, "I'm sorry I don't have an umbrella."
and he said,
"No, you know, like Mary Poppins?"
"Oh!" I said, "yes, Mary Poppins.....no, wait, what?"
He smiled and said, "Never mind, have a nice night."

It was pick up time and he and his child left for home, I assisted others in their packing up and going and it wasn't until later that night that I finally 'got' what he was saying to me.
I reminded him of Mary Poppins; or he was trying to compliment me. And unfortunately at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon I had little to no sense of humor to pick up on his implication, clever and cute as it was....sometimes I fail to pick up on things.
And although I was very complimented by him comparing me to the ever impressive, practically perfect in ever way: Mary Poppins, as you know I am NOT Mary Poppins.
But wordy I am, so I will end this post by saying this:

When I use my Mary Poppins like imagination, I am a Mother bird and to me Open House is like finding the perfect tree. Meeting the children and their parents for the first time is like discovering the wonderful, colorful special materials for building the nest. And setting up the classroom is like pulling it all together, hopefully creating a comforting, safe, happy nest in which to nurture little ones...and their parents :)
Thank you for allowing me to be flowery. I hope this makes sense. It's not "a spoon full of sugar" but I think you get the idea.
PEACE
~~MM