"Experiences of Life"

A Typical American Family

by

Merrill Baum

I stood in front of the kindergarteners as they sat on the carpet looking up at me. I found the chart stand and as I turned the pages finally found the world map. The teacher was a little concerned that a substitute teacher could not handle her class. She stood by the door as I continued.

“My last name is Baum. You can call me Ms. Tree because baum in the German language means tree,” I introduced myself.

“Are you from Germany?” the students asked.

“No, my father was Hungarian, which long ago was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many Hungarian families have German last names,” I explained.

“My father is from Guatemala,” one student said while raising her hand.

My mother is from Botswana,” another shouted in excitement.

“Wait, wait,” I said. “One at a time, everyone will have a chance to speak.”

As each child told the class from which country their family immigrated, the teacher watched with a questioning look.

After everyone had a turn to speak, I asked, “Do you know what that makes us?”

In unison the class shouted questioningly, “No.”

“It makes us Americans,” I answered.

The questioned look on the teacher’s face changed to a big smile as she left the room.

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