Elementary School Pottery

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Every year, during the week before Christmas break, my son comes home from school bearing a construction paper-wrapped gift.  Every year I instruct him to go tuck it underneath the Christmas tree.  And every year he ignores my suggestion, tears the paper from the present and bestows upon me his latest pottery creation.  

This year was no exception.

There is something about elementary school pottery that I adore.  My boy's creations are some of my most prized possessions.

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In Kindergarten, my son made this lovely pinch pot.  He even scrawled the words "I love you" on the inside.  I especially love the indentations of his little fingertips.

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This googly-eyed frog was his first grade art project.  My favorite part is the fly resting on the frog's tongue.  Words cannot express how much I love this thing.

I regret that I cannot share my son's second grade piece with you.  Another child's piece of pottery blew up in the kiln and managed to destroy my son's work of art in the process.  It's just as well.  Second grade was a rough year... one we would all like to forget.

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In third grade, the art teacher had all of the students make turtles.  I think this may be my boy's most realistic looking piece.

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This fish we affectionately call "Fang" was my boy's forth grade creation.  Fang ranks up there as one of my all time favorite things.  I especially like his blood-tipped teeth.  Vicious.

Fifth graders are given the special privileged of being able to make whatever they want out of pottery.  It is something that the kids look forward to their entire elementary career.  The boy explained to me how he thought long and hard about what he should make.  After much consideration he settled on...

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A shotgun shell.  

Out of all the possible whimsical things he could make, my boy decided to make a shotgun shell.  I'm so proud.  This slab of pottery is not going to kill anyone, but I feel certain it could snap a toe if it were accidentally dropped.  The thing weighs a ton. 

I have to admit that I am a little sad that I have received my last piece of elementary school pottery.  It's just another reminder that my boy is rapidly growing older.  I'm just glad I have these wonderful creations that were made by my once little boy.  

What about you, dear readers?  What things have your kids made that you love?