Fortune cookies.

Today we watched Mr. Rogers* and he was learning how people make fortune cookies. Art thought it was pretty cool and naturally, he wanted a big conveyor belt and machines like in the factory. I proposed making our own fortune cookies.

So we sat down to write some fortunes. He clearly didn't understand what the whole thing was about and at first suggested we write, "Emily" on one and "Michael" on the other. And then "Your sister" on another. So I gave him an example. I said we want to write something that would make someone feel happy, so I made one that said, "Hello. You are pretty!" What would you say that could make someone happy, Art?

"Happy birthday!"

So we have fortune #1. "Happy Birthday"

Then I kept egging him on. I made one that said, "You have a friend nearby." I said fortune cookies often are about what you will soon do, like "You will soon eat salami." He said another one.

#2 "You will soon play with Henry and Alma."

Great! We're making progress! What other things will you soon do?

#3 "You will soon play with toys."

#4 "You will get a paper."

Or you can write things that tell someone something that they would like to happen or something about themselves...

#5 "There are not things you can't do."

#6 "Your house is big and tall and comes down like magic toys." (That's my favorite.)

And, another one...

#7 "Happy. Happy. Happy. HAPPY!"

Well, sadly the cookies were a disaster. I remember a volunteer mom coming into my fourth grade class with a hotplate and cheap skillet and we all made fortune cookies. It all seemed so easy in my memory. Not in reality! I had a bad recipe. But aren't those fortunes lovely?