For the first time in 9 years of our daughters attending school, I accompanied a class on a field trip. Anna told asked me over the weekend if I’d like to help chaperone her Social Studies class as the ventured out to the National World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial. The museum was opened in 2006 and I’ve always wanted to go – but have never been. Fortunately, it was my one day off and I was available to go. Two birds, one stone!

I met the group at the museum and was unprepared for just how unruly and disrespectful 8th grade boys could be. Certainly I wasn’t like that when I was 13? The old cliché “herding cats” came to mind a lot during the day. Frankly, it WAS just like herding cats. As soon as I’d help get a small group back under control, there’d be another small group getting out of line. The disappointing part is that there was a lot to learn and take in while at the museum and I’m afraid most of the kids didn’t get much out of it. Three-fourths of the kids were just fine, but that other one-fourth made it a difficult learning environment. I thought to myself, I’m glad the kids were not wearing t-shirts announcing that they were products of our particular school district and from our particular part of town.

After the museum visit, we loaded up onto buses and travelled over to the Crown Center to have lunch in the food court. Anna and I ate lunch with a good friend of hers. That actually was a fun time and was capped off with ice cream. Then the ultimate cat herding event began. We needed to collect each of the 150 or so kids and take attendance. This was being done while each kid had just eaten and was hopped up on sugar from the candy store or ice cream shop. WOW. However, I experienced some very entertaining interactions with young teens at this time. One kid wanted my class ring – in fact, called himself a magpie and really just wanted to have my ring. Another kid walked up to me and proclaimed that she’d had too much food and her belly was full. She was glad she hadn’t tried to eat at the Japanese restaurant because we didn’t have time, but sushi was her absolute favorite food. I’m not sure she ever took a breath through the 90 seconds that she spoke to me. I’d never met the little girl before – I was a complete stranger. It was like something out of a sitcom.

After wrangling all of the kids together, we walked over to the Union Station to experience the “American I Am” exhibit which celebrates the history of African-Americans in the United States from the early 1600s to today. Very cool exhibit. Much to our pleasure, there were security guards there that were more than happy to play the part of the mean guy and make sure the kids behaved.

2:00 finally came and I was released to walk back to my car to enjoy the rest of my day off. It was a wonderful day with Anna and her friends. Hopefully, she won’t need me for another nine years.