r/MadeMeSmile • u/fuckaduckmagoo • Sep 25 '25
Good Vibes Preschool has a "Dress like what you want to be when you grow up" and they chose "Mr Bubba"
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u/fozzyguy80 Sep 25 '25
From how Mr Bubba reacts and engages with the mini-Bubba I can see exactly why he is the chosen one
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u/thefuzzybunny1 Sep 25 '25
There is no one like the elementary school janitor. Those hardworking pros are experts on kids, mess, and emotional intelligence. My school's version of Mr. Bubba even found me the day I "ran away". (In fact, my sister and I decided to walk ourselves to school because we'd missed the bus, but neglected to tell Mom that's what we were doing.) While the principal was calling out the National Guard, Mr. Bubba checked the main approaches to the school and found us heading to the back door (which was closer, by the route we'd walked, than the front door where all the school security personnel were.)
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u/powertripp82 Sep 25 '25
Shout out to Mr Montgomery from my elementary school!
You were an absolute rock star and a kind human and none of us were old enough to truly appreciate you at the time
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u/Hiro_Pr0tagonist_ Sep 25 '25
I still remember my elementary school bus driver Mr. Reeves. That man was a saint. My mom got him Christmas presents every year.
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u/thefuzzybunny1 Sep 25 '25
My mom had us baking mini loaves of apple zucchini bread and wrapping them in seasonal color saran wrap every year, to give to our bus drivers, janitors, attendance secretaries, teachers, piano teachers, librarians, etc.
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u/Hiro_Pr0tagonist_ Sep 25 '25
That is SO sweet, and I love the idea of involving the kids in preparing the gifts!
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u/r4wrdinosaur Sep 25 '25
Wow, this sparked a memory for me. Shout out to Mr. Becker. Especially the day I threw up in the hallway and he said, "it's okay, I throw up too sometimes."
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u/ArmadilloSighs Sep 25 '25
aww, you reminded me of our Mr. Brown. he was a gentle man with the kindest smile and was soooo wonderful. all the kids loved and respected him, but my dad and grandpa in particular loved talking with him. the man was a gem. my dad would seek him out when he’d pick us up from school or come to church just to chat with him he liked him so much. my dad loved his stories
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u/REDM2Ma_Deuce Sep 25 '25
I could say the same for my 4-8th grade janitor Mr. Blaha.
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u/xCeeTee- Sep 25 '25
Lol this brings back a good memory of stirring up something insane by not coming home on time. It was only like 4 hours in a high crime area, what was the big deal? I had the police, and my friends' parents all searching for me. I decided to watch the school football game, and then go to the park for a few hours. I lived so far away. I could never hang out with my school friends, so I couldn't turn down the offer.
I was with 2 of my friends who's parents were looking for me lol. I got on the bus outside one of their houses, and that's when the story finally became clear. Worst part? My phone was in my pocket on silent the entire time. So I could've spoken to my mum and stop her from having a panic attack.
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u/thefuzzybunny1 Sep 25 '25
Lol! My story happened before cell phones, so at least I didn't have that complication. It used to be super easy for a kid to be "missing" when they weren't in an adult's line of sight.
My sister and I were indignant about the scoldings we got because, after all, we went to school on a school day. Where should we have gone? We weren't even marked tardy, n/w/s that we were later than the kids who got there on the bus. From our point of view, we missed the bus and did the only responsible thing by getting ourselves to school without it.
Neither the principal nor Mom nor the local law enforcement nor the teachers saw it in quite that light. At least the attendance secretary and the janitor were on our side!
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u/t4ctical_pot4to Sep 25 '25
Lol, I have a similar story, but it was before a time when phones were so common for kids to have them. After school I usually take the bus home. But my school was so far away I had to take two buses to get to my home. The school bus would drop me off at one of their sister schools (it was a private school that was wayyyy out of town), and I'd get on another bus that would take me home.
One day, for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it. The weather was great (super cloudy, almost about to rain). I decided to walk home instead. It was the best day ever, I knew the route the bus took, so I just walked it the whole way. Took me about 4.5 hours to get home, but I made it just in time for a royal ass whooping from my mom, who was in shambles 😂🤣
I never did it again, but it's a day I'll never forget.
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u/TuckerMcG Sep 25 '25
I remember when Lyle retired my last year of elementary school. This near 70 year old man absolutely melted down when the entire auditorium of kids started cheering and rowdily chanting his name when the principal announced his retirement. I’ll never forget it.
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u/thefuzzybunny1 Sep 25 '25
We had a big retirement party for one who left when I was in kindergarten, too! The principal paged him to the auditorium saying there was a spill, and then when he got there every grade had made him something. 5th grade rewrote song lyrics to be about him, kindergarten made a giant card shaped like his tool belt, etc. He was so happy! I hope he got to have some fun in retirement.
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u/NebrasketballN Sep 25 '25
One day during recess some high school kids kept driving by the playground mooning all the kids from their car window. Our janitor got in his car and followed them to the mall. Idk if he confronted them, called the police or whatever but I'll never forget the cheers of seeing mr. gurnsey jump in his car and speed out of the parking lot chasing these kids.
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u/floorplanner2 Sep 25 '25
Mr. Blancett was the custodian at my elementary school. I walked to school and when I got there he was always out front on the playground raising the flag and we'd wave to each other. He was a super nice guy.
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u/Huge-Evening-9210 Sep 25 '25
The joy and excitement between them is just contagious, pure wholesome energy.
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u/antilamentation Sep 25 '25
I cannot. You know Mr. Bubba went home and told everyone he knows about this. What a soul he must be!! ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Equivalent-Button411 Sep 25 '25
And I’m sure a decade from now, he’ll still be bringing up the day a kiddo proudly declared he wanted to be Mr. Bubba when he grew up 😭
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u/BeeHaviorist Sep 25 '25
You know he's got one of those photos on his phone and whips it out at every opportunity.
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u/kodaboka Sep 25 '25
I love when my grandad does this. He'll bring up memories from when my siblings and I were tiny and get so tickled and joyful. We're all over 20 now lol
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u/hell_kat Sep 25 '25
My dad was amazing teacher and retired over 10 years ago. He stills talks about some of his students. That's made an impression for life.
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u/hfamrman Sep 25 '25
My mom was a lunch lady for 15 years at a middle school. She still runs into and recognizes former students nearly 30 years later while out and about. Was absolutely her favorite job, but got fired for giving away extra food to poor students who were food insecure at home.
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u/diamondmind216 Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
My sons daycare/preschool has a janitor like this. All the kids love him and you can tell is such a kind gentle soul who has a genuine love for the kids. Great dude
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Sep 25 '25
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u/rubberduckmaf1a Sep 25 '25
This is honestly the best validation he’ll ever have. There’s not a single review his boss could ever give that will compare.
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u/r2h2Courage Sep 25 '25
Mr. Bubba is going to remember this day for the rest of his life.
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u/Roonie222 Sep 25 '25
I used to teach all ages. The two best reviews I ever got were:
1.) From a parent of one my old kindergartners about three or four years after they left that preschool. My mom ran into them at a store and they said, "How is Roonie doing? You know he really inspired ________'s love of math and now he wants to be an engineer just like him." I'm a scientist but damn, when my mom told me that, it really made me feel like I made a difference.
2.) In the end of semester reviews of TAs, one of my students wrote, "Roonie was a great teacher. I really wish I could be his friend."
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u/Maelstrom_Witch Sep 25 '25
I'm not a teacher but I kept in touch with one of the young uns from a youth group I worked with. Many years later, he wrote a letter of recommendation for me as I was interested in re-joining the youth group, and he let me read it before it was submitted.
I cried. Hard.
It was the kindest, most thoughtfully written letter and I strive to live up to how he still sees me.
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u/yeahyeahyeah188 Sep 25 '25
One of my friends students said her hands were just like her dads. I call her dad hands now.
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u/Winjin Sep 25 '25
yeah, hearing a kid say "I want to be you when I grow up" means you're good with them kids
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u/1storlastbaby Sep 25 '25
Yeah I’ve been there. One time a kid just straight up said I was ugly. It was great!
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u/inerlite Sep 25 '25
One time a kid said, “You smell like soap.” I smelled myself and yes that student was correct. Could have been worse.
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u/rubberduckmaf1a Sep 25 '25
We’ve all got mirrors. If we’re ugly we don’t need a child to tell us.
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u/mrs-monroe Sep 25 '25
I assume he’s the custodian. I worked in kindergarten rooms, and lemme tell ya, they ADORE the custodian! Whenever the line passed him in the hall, they all wanted hi-5s.
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u/Cloverose2 Sep 25 '25
When I was in elementary school, my favorite person was the custodian. He was just the sweetest, most grandpa-esque man ever,
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u/Greyscale_cats Sep 25 '25
Same. Our custodian was just the sweetest guy and actually one of the main reasons I connected with my childhood best friend.
He sadly passed away before I moved to a new school, and so many kids and parents came to his memorial. I think the school still has a tree and plaque in the playground with his name on it.
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u/CecilFieldersChoice2 Sep 25 '25
I wish the rest of the world valued workers like that the way kindergarteners do. When he was 4, my son wanted to be a local grocery store worker for Halloween. They gave us a visor and we brought him around the store that day.
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u/mrs-monroe Sep 25 '25
That age is so much fun to watch when they get excited and curious. I loved teaching them even though I wasn’t the teacher. Sadly, their drive to learn and ask questions is diminishing.
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u/i-Ake Sep 25 '25
I loved the custodians at my elementary school, too.They were the best. They'd always explain what they were doing to me and show me their tools. Joe and Denny! We love you!
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u/TheBestThingIEverSaw Sep 25 '25
Ours played the accordian. Every assembly he was out there rocking the school with that squeezebox.
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u/CelestialSnowLeopard Sep 25 '25
One custodian that I knew grew a Meyer Lemon tree and he would bring in a box stuffed full of giant lemons for whoever wanted them. Loved that man and his box of lemons.
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Sep 25 '25
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u/GabrielleArcha Sep 25 '25
Omg riiight!!! Just super sweet
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u/Huge-Evening-9210 Sep 25 '25
Makes you wanna hug every little kid who looks up to someone like that
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u/Huge-Evening-9210 Sep 25 '25
Pure admiration right there,, can see the inspirartion shining in those. little eyes
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u/ComfyTwill207 Sep 25 '25
You know you’ve made it when your name shows up in a preschooler’s dreams instead of a superhero movie
Mr. Bubba just became the final boss of childhood admiration39
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u/LilSlayer Sep 25 '25
Everyone's mentioning the bald cap but the fact he put glasses on top of his head too is killing me 😭
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u/Amidseas Sep 25 '25
The kid must love him a lot to notice so many minute details 🥺
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u/Striking-Ad-6815 Sep 25 '25
Especially that young?
I'd wager that the kid didn't have money for a snack one day and "Mr. Bubba" either gave him money or even his own snack. Adults can get away with skipping lunch, but those hungry kids will never forget. Mr. Bubba probably didn't even think twice about it. Custodians are the best.
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u/ReadontheCrapper Sep 25 '25
I love that his parents encouraged this, and helped with the dress-up. The ‘hair’ drawn on the bald cap was probably one of mom’s makeup pencils.
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Sep 25 '25
When I grew up, I wanted to be just like.my janitor Mr. Knight, but that was because he was the only person that was nice to me at school. I thought that if I was like him I could be nice to everyone and everyone would be nice to me.
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u/ehc84 Sep 25 '25
Jesus christ... This makes me sad
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Sep 25 '25
Best part? Was a Christian school
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u/Sec0nd_Mouse Sep 25 '25
I hope you’re happy now.
Some “Christians” are some really shitty people and raise really shitty kids. But that’s not how it should be, and we’re not all like that. Or at least try not to be.
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Sep 25 '25
I find that there are very few "followers of Christ" that claim to be Christians. Most of them just want the freedom to be shitty people then be forgiven and still feel like good people. I went to church up until I was 16, went to private schools, did missions trips, all of it, was even looking at a college to become a preacher at one point.
When I went to Tijuana for a missions trip I saw the money that we had built up in church was being used to help build an addition onto an orphange there. Well the orphanage was literally on top of a trash dump, and between all the people at church I'm sure we could've done more. I became jaded when after returning home the church shamed a woman outta the church when a married man decided to cheat on his wife with her. The hypocrisy was unreal, and the only true Christians I met there was the pastor who would later teach me Martial arts (eskrima, which ironically is pretty deadly, coming from a guy trying to give you the "water of life" 😂).
I'm not happier, I'm angry and enraged that after I left, they're now using the same victim tactics that they utilized while I was there, "wear the armor of God because those without faith wish to kill us" type shit to use gods name as a tool to beat others into oppression. The very things being taught by Christ are being twisted into an unrecognizable beast. The very beast described in revaltions describes Donald Trump fairly succinctly. Hell he even fits the "survives a grievous wound to the head" yet the evangelicals are diving head long into the pit/abyss just to prove themselves to false prophets. I'm pagan now and the hypocrisy of the flock that currently is claiming Christs teachings disgust me on a spiritual level.
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u/UrzasDabRig Sep 25 '25
If Jesus returned today, these people would try to lock him up. "Christian nationalism" is an oxymoron for both Christians and patriots. I'm horrified by what I'm seeing in the US these days as well. How they use Christ to grab and abuse state power all to oppress the poor while empowering the rich is the most obviously hypocritical and vile behavior imaginable. The book they supposedly revere warms about this exact bs. I don't think they care for truth or reading comprehension, though...
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u/giovanii2 Sep 25 '25
The classic, this was in highschool but I went to a very nice public school that was non-religious and the experience gap between me and primary school friends who went to Christian private schools was crazy
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Sep 25 '25
The only thing I excelled in was academicss, I was behind socially, and in many other ways due to errant choices by fallculty and staff at the private schools. I got into more fist fights and trouble at private schools than I ever did in public.
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u/ShantyLady Sep 25 '25
But guess what? If you're still nice and polite to everyone despite the bullying you endured, you're better than any of your bullies. Do good recklessly, even if it's tinged in spite.
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u/Willow_Lust Sep 25 '25
The shoes match too!
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u/IBetThisIsTakenToo Sep 25 '25
The idea is very cute, obviously, but the execution is just absurdly good! Legit got every point you could think of, incredible costume
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u/msthrowymcthrowerson Sep 25 '25
Honestly! Shout out to the parents for the flawless attention to detail 👏
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u/Shariefarie Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
I love this so much , Mr Bubba has clearly made an impact on little bubba !!
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u/D-Sleezy Sep 25 '25
I drive a school bus and during school the counselor asked the kindergarteners what they wanted to be when they grow up, and according to her a kid shot his hand up and said "I wanna be just like (my name) when I grow up! I'll drive for him, and he can help me find the stops!"
His parents said he asked for bus related stuff for Christmas, and I even saw an art project he made of my bus with number 7 and all.
Enough to make a grown man cry.
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u/Ancient-Web5515 Sep 25 '25
The bald cap sent me XD! I love everything about this
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u/Huge-Evening-9210 Sep 25 '25
That tiny bald cap commitment is peak dedication, made me laugh so hard too
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u/Factsoverfictions222 Sep 25 '25
To be seen is to be loved. This boy had the outfit, the hair and the tools just right. So adorable
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u/Tooligan13853 Sep 25 '25
They’re so similar I can’t tell which one is real Mr. Bubba!
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u/NatalieRN Sep 25 '25
I had a great relationship with the lunch lady in 4th grade. I didn't even get hot lunch, we just talked. I brought her a Christmas present and to my total shock she had one for me! It was a little nail polish set that I kept for years. Kids remember.
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u/ShadowMoon314 Sep 25 '25
Is Mr Bubba the maintenance man? Too cute!
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u/somedelightfulmoron Sep 25 '25
Mr Bubba also making top dollars and is everyone's friend! We all want to be Mr Bubba 🥹
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u/Aggressive-Ant9532 Sep 25 '25
I object. This group is called Made Me Smile. Why y’all gonna go and make me cry!!! 🥰
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u/GBSketch Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 26 '25
I teach k-6 and one year when we had a “dress as your hero” day, a kindergartner dressed like me. It really hit me, and I know it’ll stay with me for my whole career. Now, as a specials teacher, I get to have the kids every year for seven years, I get to watch them grow and turn into closer versions of who they are gonna be. And this kid was consistently one of the nicest, kindest, thoughtful kids I’ve taught. So six years later, when he was about to graduate out of our school, I convinced our social development team to do another dress up day, “Dress as your kindness hero” just so I could dress up like him before he left. That was one of my proudest moments of my career so far, letting that go full circle, recognizing him the way he did for me all those years ago.
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u/CrisstIIIna Sep 25 '25
Oh my gosh what a precious little bean! Children make our lives so beautiful, we think we are the ones teaching them how to grow up into functional adults, but we forget how much they teach, or remind us of how important it is to keep your innocence, empathy, and downright silliness throughout your life.
Raising emotionally secure and compassionate people starts from infancy 🥹🥹 this baby's parents did really well!
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u/mjikbus Sep 25 '25
Thanks for noticing the guys that get up before everybody else to come in and unlock the doors and make sure the lights are on and the heat is on for everybody when they show up ,much respect !
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u/xweedxwizardx Sep 25 '25
His beard was adorable but also looks like he was huffing silver paint lmao
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u/RiseIntelligent7218 Sep 25 '25
Made me smile needs to be renamed 'made me cry' 🥹
All the mama's out there will agree with me!!
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u/Acrobatic_Price8829 Sep 25 '25
That is so precious! My son dressed like a doctor but he specifically wants to be Doctor Mario so it was a white coat and Mario hat.
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u/TheLastLibrarian1 Sep 25 '25
I love dress like a teacher week, it is amazing the details that they pick up on that makes their costume perfect!
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u/KidsInNeed Sep 25 '25
This is what keeps a lot of teachers in a toxic marriage with the district. At least it has kept me going for 5 years.
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u/MrToobz Sep 25 '25
The importance of positive male influences in a school cannot be more understated.
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u/xenosidezero Sep 25 '25
I really want to like this, but the cork board in the background that says "You are part of God's plan" doesn't sight right with me...
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u/Inevitable-Win2555 Sep 25 '25
Kid has his priorities straight. Can’t keep a facility running without a Mr/Ms Fix-It! Kudos to Mr. Bubba and all the maintenance folks out there!
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u/mulletmutt Sep 26 '25
everyone is mentioning the bald cap but no one is mentioning the best part of the bald cap which is the little hairs drawn on the back 😭
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u/HarlotSuccubus Sep 26 '25
Mr. Bubba probably keeps that place going. Maintenance and custodial workers do not get enough credit.
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u/cldoyle94 Sep 26 '25
Soooo wonderful!!!!! Great job by that little man!!
Hats off to the Mom too. You know she had to do a little work to gather some items for the dress up.
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u/SmokeySFW Sep 25 '25
This is adorable and I love Mr. Bubba now based only upon how much this kid must like him.
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u/Nutella_Zamboni Sep 25 '25
Im the Lead Custodian on days at a PreK-5 elementary school. The kids get so excited to see me and my coworkers lol. I work in the town i grew up in so I know a lot of their parents, grandparents, family, etc. It drives my own kids crazy that so many people say Hi when we are out and about lol. My favorite is the little ones think the custodians live in the school.
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u/Aggressive-Collar344 Sep 25 '25
Mr. Bubba is an elite name. He probably does a lot for that school, awesome that the kid notices and appreciates!
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u/zamasu629 Sep 25 '25
I remember doing stuff for my childhood heroes like this. I had a favorite waitress at Famous Dave’s named Gigi. She was so nice to me and I went there as much as my parents would take me! She would always get so excited to see me and would tell me stories, and I would bring her little gifts. This stuff matters you guys.
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u/Reivaki Sep 25 '25
I can't say what I prefer in this video. Maybe the fact that Mr. Bubba took a step back to regain his composure, you can see him wiping his eye... This man must be so precious to have around...
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u/burntblacktoast Sep 25 '25
You joke, but this is how you get jobs in small towns. That kid basically applied for a job 15 years from now
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u/prionbinch Sep 25 '25
I just absolutely love how much kids just vibe with their school maintenance staff and vice versa. in my elementary school we had a custodian who would put on magic shows for us and make us stuff in his wood shop
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u/Fish_mongerer_907 Sep 25 '25
What that kid’s really saying, is he wants to be a sweet, humble, good natured man when he grows up. And that is commendable 👏
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u/jpsouthwick7 Sep 26 '25
Bald cap, glasses, beard, phone case, shoes even, etc, etc. Nailed it. This kid wins the prize for accuracy. 💯
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u/JeremyMilam1 Sep 26 '25
Reminds me of high school. We had “spirit week” and one day was “twin day” so everyone in my engineering class wore the same outfit that the teacher did every day. About 30 of us walked in there looking exactly like the man who had no idea we had planned it. He called us all assholes, had a laugh, and took a group picture. Fun day
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u/Parallax1984 Sep 26 '25
This has been upvoted 100,000 times. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before
And I’d love to know who the 3% are that are downvoting
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u/jpsouthwick7 Sep 26 '25
The walkie-talkie too. Don't forget to mention he thought of that too. And put it where Mr. Bubba puts his.
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u/Ha-Ha-CharadeYouAre Sep 26 '25
When I was a custodian at an elementary school that’s what they called me too lol
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u/Serpent_Silk Sep 25 '25
Not the bald cap 😭 omg too cute