It's A Field Trip!

The first grade went on a field trip to The Mountain Playhouse today. I volunteered to chaperone for the first time that Micah has been in school. I know what you're thinking - he's been in school for 2 years now and I'm a slacker. That's not entirely true, though. I'd have loved to have been that overinvolved parent that pokes her nose into every event that Micah participates in (and some that he doesn't) but Micah simply wouldn't allow it. The Boy At School and The Boy At Home are two very different individuals and I can't cross that line without incurring The Boy At School's wrath. On the rare occasion that I stop into his classroom and actually catch him working at learning something, he will get up from his seat and escort me out of the room, all the while grumbling that I had some nerve stopping in just to embarrass him in front of his peers. No, I'm not kidding. The boy does not want his mama to be seen with him.

In fact, when I drop him off at the school he now insists that I stay in the vehicle while he walks himself into the building and marches himself down the hallway to his classroom. He is not a baby, mom. He'll do it without my help, thankyouverymuch. And while I'd love to oblige him on this, standing back and watching him push the button to be buzzed in and entering the world of school all by his big little self, I can't. I have to sign him in at the front desk. This does not make him happy at all.

So I've waited almost two entire years before volunteering to chaperone an event. And I was quite curious to know exactly how he'd react once he realized that I was there whether he liked it or not. Turns out, he was thrilled to have Mama tag along for the day. There is no rhyme or reason with that boy.

At the Playhouse, we saw an hour long production based on seven different children's books, including If You Give a Pig a Pancake, How I Became a Pirate and Lilly's Big Day among others. Micah was amazed. A-mazed. He stood at his theater seat, wide-eyed, oohing and aaahing, pointing and clapping. And just when he thought they were done, they started on another book. It was the shortest hour ever. He could have stood there in wonderment for three more, dancing to the music, watching the actors play out the fun stories, marveling at the props.

But while it was the Best Day Ever for Micah, one little boy on the bus was quite disappointed. "I thought we were going to a playhouse" I heard him say. "We weren't allowed to play with anything."