Today both 2nd grade classrooms went on a field trip to the Museum of Natural History.  (This was the same museum featured in the movie Night at the Museum)  Originally I had been told that there were enough parents to take all of the children and that the teachers would be free to roam the museum at their leisure.  I cannot tell you how excited I was about this.  I love this museum and was counting down the hours until I could browse through the Pacific Island, Native American, human origins, and outer space exhibits.  That was until Ms. Baitzel told me that they were one parent short and needed me to take Allison, Capri, and Emma for the day.  Thankfully, I would have another parent with me, but I would still have to chase three 7-year-olds around all 5 floors of the gigantic and maze-like museum in New York City.
Not only did I have to follow them through the masses of pushy parents and squealing children, I also had to keep them happy.  They usually eat lunch at 12:00 and we were not allowed to eat until 1:15, causing serious emotional breakdowns.  It was also difficult to watch three children while I was dealing with awful allergy issues and trying not to sneeze on the thousand year old fossils.  (I wanted nothing more than to be on the bus, with a peanut butter bagel, and the promise of Nyquil waiting for me at home)  Allison was never entirely happy in whatever exhibit she was in.  She whined until we took her to the blue whale, until we took her to the T-Rex, until we took her to the African Mammals...  When she asked me for the 8th time when we would get to see the "DumDum statue from the movie," I said, "Allison, there is cool stuff all around you.  And you are going to miss it if you keep hoping for the next thing.  Be happy where you are."  And then I realized that those were the words that I needed to hear.  Here I was, watching three girls gaze in awe at all of these things that they had never seen before, and all I could think about was when how much longer 'til I could take some sinus medicine.
Teaching is really challenging.  It will kick your butt.  But if I focus on the little annoyances instead of the life-changing moments, I'm going to look back on my semester with regret.