Shoeless?

Back in September when the teachers are feeling high from the promise of a new year I remember a student who asked nonchalantly several leading questions. One of them was, "Can we take our shoes off during rest time?"
Me, "Oh, nope - we have to keep our shoes on in Kindergarten."
I knew on some level that a five year old could be persuasive and persistent, but I held fast to the fact that I was the boss in this here classroom and I can usually defuse anyone who is overly persistent or persuasive.  (Ever felt like that, parents?)

It wasn't long before this mini power packed persistent five year old said to me, "Can you take our shoes off when we are doing centers?
Me: Slightly tired of the question already, even though it had only been asked twice, said, "Ahh, No.  Shoes stay on in Kindergarten."

Well, this went on from some time.  About two weeks into the asking to be shoeless this five year old girl looked at me with a hand on her hip, head slightly cocked and said, "Will there EVER be time for us to take our shoes off in Kindergarten?"

Then, and only then, did it occur to me.  This half pint Kindergarten student with curly blonde hair, a smile as big as a banana and charisma as big as the day is long was trying to harangue me into changing my steadfast rule of no shoes off.  So, I had to up the stakes and lay a big one on her, "Oh, we have to have our shoes on in Kindergarten because if there is a fire  you don't want to be tearing out of here without your shoes.  You'll step in all the water that the firefighters are spraying to hose down the school."

This one made her ponder.  You could see the wonder and amazement in her eyes as this sunk in.  Clearly she had never given any thought to the idea that the school could be engulfed in flames and that we could be fleeing like mice from a sinking ship.

There were no more inquiries as to whether or not shoes could be removed at school.  A little fear never hurt anyone. Not even a five year old.