Oh, it’s an Empathy Belly!
November 20th, 2008 by marietta nelsonWarning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
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“When fathers wear “The Empathy Belly” it creates gut-level awareness and empathy, increases communications and appreciation and brings couples closer together.” — empathybelly.org
I did not like high school. I loathed high school (If you went to Belmond High School in the late 1980s, I’m sorry. Don’t take that personally.)
However, now that I don’t have to actually GO to high school myself I love being there among the bustle of kids watching the PDA, the fashion statements, eavesdropping on the conversations. It’s totally entertaining. My best days of work involve being in the schools finding out what’s going on with kids.
So Wednesday Mary Anne Alexander at North Kitsap and Cynthia Blinkinsop at Central Kitsap were gracious enough to let me come talk to kids about financial education and the current state of our economy. The kids were great – articulate, informed – and maybe a little eager to be quoted in the paper.
I visited Blinkinsop’s class at the end of the day, so she and I were standing around in her classroom after the bell chatting about money management, kids etc.
All of sudden the door burst open and two students came in, one obviously heavily pregnant. She looked in a hurry, irritated and sweaty – like a lot of women look at nine months. Like “let’s just cut this little guy out with a spoon, that would be less painful than carrying this belly around one more day.” THAT pregnant.
Blinkinsop glanced over at the students and turned back to me. Meanwhile, the pregnant girl is standing next to Blinkinsop’s desk. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her begin to pull off her shirt. What the?Blinkinsop continues talking and I’m thinking, ‘Why is this girl taking off her clothes????’
Blinkinsop must have seen the look on my face, because she turned around and started asking the girl about her day. And just then I hear the ripping of Velcro and notice the girl is wearing a heavy, navy-blue vest with a huge kangaroo pocket on the front. On a nearby counter is a duffel bag with “Empathy Belly” printed on the front.
“Oh, it’s an empathy belly,” I exclaimed (and I did exclaim it, not just say it.)
Yes, Blinkinsop explained. Wearing an empathy belly for a day is part of the curriculum of a child development class, she said, as she removed several sandbags and 7-pound balls from the pocket. The belly weighs 30 pounds.
The student didn’t say much. Just peeled off that vest, handed some papers to Blinkinsop and fled the room with her friend.
Did I say I didn’t like high school? Well, at least I didn’t have to wear an empathy belly.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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