Chaperoning the Squirrel
Hubby, K, and I joined the first grade on a field trip to the Children's Discovery Museum yesterday. All 120 kids rode on 2 district buses, while chaperones drove over separately.*Here's where I digress a second* I never understood that if the buses crashed it would be 120 lives at stake. WHY OH WHY are there not seatbelts in those things??
I was the chaperone to My Boy and 3 classmates, while Hubby was in charge of K. When I got my list of kids, I was both elated and deflated. The squirreliest was in my group, as well as the sweet girl, and quiet boy. I had to wince a little at first when 5 minutes in, the Squirrel was hanging uspside-down on a hand-rail and nearly landed on his noggin. Why me? Maybe Mrs. L thought since I was a teacher 10+ years ago I would remember some management tricks. Does "get over here Squirrel" in my outside voice, every other minute count?
I've really lost the ability to control a classroom of 20 since being a parent. Also lost all my patience. It was going to be an interesting day.
The visit was off to a roarin' start when the docent announced the rules of the museum.
1. NO Running!
Ha, nice try, we're talking 120 FIRST grade children. That's 6 and 7 year olds. They only come in two speeds, asleep and Speedy Gonzales!
2. Touch EVERYTHING, it's a very hands-on museum, everything is ON-limits.
...then she had to throw this into the mix...
3. DO NOT TOUCH THE FIRE ALARM!
Well you may as well written an invitation for them! DO NOT tell first graders what NOT to touch because usually it will be the FIRST thing they do.
4. Blah Blah Blah
I wasn't listening.
5. Have Fun!
Oh so clever.
I laughed out loud when I saw a twisted glimmer in Sweet Girl's eye (her inner rebel) while waiting for the boys in the restroom. She spied a temperature control device on the wall and curiously asked, "what's this?" "Can I touch it?" Oops, that was something the docent left off her do not touch list.
The museum was great fun. Over-crowded as usual, but the kids had a good time. The water exhibit was by far the best, everyone got soaked, but smiles were stretched across their faces! 3 of the four kids made, with my help, cornhusk dolls. My Boy (ever the sensitive one) was crushed at eventually losing his. Enter Quiet Boy, who handed his over, "sure, take it". Probably embarassed carrying around a DOLL anyway. The one piece that was tied on to make the arms fell off but quickly became Corn Husk Jedi's Light Saber! I could just see Hubby sigh with relief, that doll thing had him worried.
I must admit I was proud of all the "exercise" I did too. Keeping tabs on Squirrel had me sweating like nobody's business and darting after him kept me on my toes. It was all good.
self-clarification: yesterday I mentioned I was having one of THOSE days, but it wasn't because of this trip. clear as mud? good.
May 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
What a day! Nothing is boring with kids around, that's for sure! There's a kids museum not too far from here, but we've actually never been...
May 7, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Teeheee....
so, should I chaperon Jay's zoo trip or not so much?
May 7, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Sounds like quite an adventure. Thanks for volunteering :) (Or were your dragged, kicking and screaming??)
May 7, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Sounds like a real adventure! Nice of you to volunteer (or did you get dragged, kicking and screaming??)
May 7, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Ha! I can so see this playing out. I agree that once you cross the line ans have kids of your own, your patience for a large group is shot. Sounds like a fun time, and at least you did not have to ride the bus. I believe that was always the most dreadful part of a field trip!
May 7, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Corn-Husk Jedi? AWESOME.
Totally on the same page about the seatbelts in the school bus... Just don't get it.
May 8, 2008 at 12:23 AM
crystal clear there princess leah!
you did a fabulous job!
i'm jealous--I no longer have an inside voice--especially in somewhat discrete places like say the office where i now 'work'
May 8, 2008 at 5:58 AM
I came across your blog through
CF husband. I had a great time reading a lot of your post. You have a very fun and interesting blog.
Enjoy your camera! I am hoping to get one for Mother's Day.
Have a great day.
May 8, 2008 at 6:52 AM
Hahhaah Hahahahah
Last field trip, you should have seen my mouth drop all the way to the floor when I realized "I" had a group of kids to supervise. I thought because I had my handy "A" card I could get out of that? Geez, how horrible am I???!???
May 8, 2008 at 9:20 AM
LOL - I have first grader too. I never know why the teachers figure 5 kids per chaperone sounds good. At this age it's man-to-man defense.
May 8, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Being a first grade teacher you know I feel your pain. It's no wonder I don't have patience left at the end of the day. It sounds like it was a fun day though.
May 8, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I love Children's Museums! But I would be scared to go with an entire school of children on a field trip. Squirrel sounds like he needed his own personal grown-up to run amock with him!
May 8, 2008 at 6:25 PM
sorry, I didn't get passed "Hubby, K, and I joined the first grade on a field trip". Did you mean, like YOUR husband? Not some other husband, right?
I can't fathom my hubby being at a field trip.
baffling to me.
PS that is awesome that he can make such trips!!!