As a second-grade teacher with 15 years of experience, I’ve heard my fair share of show-and-tell stories. But one particular tale still makes me chuckle to this day. It was shared by a bright and outgoing student named Erica, who brought a pillow stuffed under her sweater and a snapshot of her baby brother, Luke.
Erica began by explaining how her parents “made” Luke as a symbol of their love. She described how her dad put a “seed” in her mom’s stomach, and Luke grew inside, eating through an “umbrella cord” for nine months. The class listened in awe as Erica mimed her mom’s labor pains, complete with a hilarious duck walk and groans.
According to Erica, her dad called the “middle wife” – a clever term for the midwife – who helped deliver Luke.
Erica reenacted the scene, lying down with her back against the wall and miming the midwife’s instructions to “push” and “breathe.” The climax of the story came when Erica exclaimed, “Pop! My mom had this bag of water… and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed!”
The class erupted into laughter, and I was struggling to keep a straight face. Erica’s creative storytelling continued, describing the midwife spanking Luke for “crawling up in there in the first place.” With a triumphant bow, Erica returned to her seat, leaving us all in stitches.
That day, I learned the importance of embracing creativity and humor in the classroom. And I made sure to bring my camcorder to future show-and-tell sessions, just in case another talented storyteller like Erica came along.
Years later, Erica’s “Middle Wife” tale remains one of the most entertaining and memorable stories I’ve ever heard. It’s a reminder that children’s innocence and imagination can bring joy and laughter to even the most mundane moments.
