Thursday, September 15, 2011

More awesomer

Yesterday I chaperoned a field trip to Yellowstone with Amanda and all the fifth graders in her school.  I went into this thinking that fifth graders were more mature, easier to chaperone than say...kindergardeners.

What a stupid assumption.

Helping with kindergardeners is like herding kittens.  They're all cute but constantly on the move in that kind of "Ooh look something shiny!" kind of a way, and off they wander.  Leashes would have been a huge help with the kindergardeners.

Fifth graders aren't so cute.  They're more evil than cute.  Not all of them mind you, but enough to make me think less of leashes and more of stun guns.  I was a bouncer more than I was a chaperone.

There was a small group of boys who were such disrespectful pains in the ass, I was embarrassed for them.  Once I saw the last name of the biggest little jerk, I rolled my eyes and thought...Why am I not surprised?  Spoiled little rich kid.

One woman told him Stay away from the ledge sweetie, we don't want you falling and getting hurt..."  He looked at her with his little shit smirk and mocked her for calling him a sweetie.

I tried to be nice at first, but it didn't take long for me to drop the sweetie and just holler at him.  GET BACK ON THE TRAIL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN ASKED A HUNDRED TIMES.  Fucking little shit.

By fifth grade I expect kids to be respectful.  I expect them to follow simple rules.  I expect them to have decency.  For the parents of the little shits, I just want to slap some sense into them because clearly they have failed in that little thing called discipline. 

You know, one of the most important parts of parenting.

In spite of the hoodlums, it was a great field trip.  We did a lot of hiking, and by a lot I mean A. LOT.  I was impressed with myself in that I actually complained less than most of the kids on the hike.  Some of them need to get out and exercise once in a while.  Sheesh.

The time spent with Amanda was awesome.  Maybe if I didn't have such a good example of a fifth grader under my own roof I would have lower expectations for the others.  And yes, I'm bragging and saying my kid is more awesomer than the rest. 

It's because she is, and it shouldn't go unnoticed.


 
I photoshopped the blur into this picture to make the other kids unrecognizable, and in doing so I inadvertently created an image that embodies Amanda's entire being.

Amid the blur of life, the hustle and bustle of those around her, she is content in her existence.  She is quiet, contemplative, unwilling to let others rattle her.  She is a rock, stronger than most adults I know.  She is polite and compassionate.  She is fierce in her beliefs.

She is more awesomer than I could have ever expected in a daughter and she makes me proud beyond words.

Yes I know more awesomer isn't proper...let it go.

Being a parent is just too cool, even if it means I have to deal with other people's contemptuous offspring.   If nothing else, it reinforces those times when I'm feeling good about the job I'm doing.



18 comments:

Bersercules said...

I can relate to your story, not because I chaperoned some kids, but because you expressed the same sentiments I had while I was a kid in the 5th grade!

The Accidental Somebody said...

Bersercules you must have been one of the good ones?

Unknown said...

Amanda IS awesomer...and you are Awesomer Mom.

Dean
http://leftcoastguy.com

Anonymous said...

Wow "unwilling to let others rattle her."

That is truly amazing and atypical, so kudos to you and your daughter.

*smile*

" Hit It......." said...

I know how you feel. Wait until you are in a car pool twice a week with several little bitchy twelve year olds.

I give you credit. I would rather stick a needle in my eye than help out on a field trip. My mouth would get the better of me and I would call someone a shit or worse.

The Accidental Somebody said...

~LC Guy I love that title...Awesomer Mom. I'm going to make my kids call me that from now on. :)

~Quirkyloon, the girl is 10 going on 30. Not that she doesn't have her moments, 'cause she most certainly does! But she's quite a young lady and impresses me all the time.

~Hit it, I am NOT looking forward to the bitchy teen years! And I'm not a big fan of field trips either, but I like to go when they fall on a day off because those are few and far between.

Rory Grant said...

Personally, I think ' more awesomer' is perfectly appropriate :-)

Rory

The Accidental Somebody said...

Thank you Rory...I love to feel validated. It's more awesomer than anything!

:)

Copyboy said...

Wow! Those are amazing characteristics for a girl her age. BTW...made you blog of the day.

The Accidental Somebody said...

Copyboy you rock...thank you!

Anonymous said...

Very nice! Have you ever noticed the kids at the grocery store who scream and stomp and completely FREAK OUT when they want something? Their parents say NO nine hundred times and then say, "Ok sweetie." WTF? Let's reward a child for a tantrum, 'cause that makes sense?!

Too many people know who I am and I'm too much of a pansy to write posts on my blog like yours. Your blog is now going to be my guilty pleasure. Thank you! :)

The Accidental Somebody said...

Lane, you nailed it with the parents who reward tantrums just to get them to shut up. Parents can be such pansies!

I used to censor myself quite a bit until I decided if people don't like what I say they don't need to read it! Much better that way.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by!

my day in a sentence said...

The older they get, the less cute they are. :D
But Amanda is cool. :)

The Accidental Somebody said...

~Day in a Sentence, you got that right! Fifth grade is the beginning of the crappiest stage in life. Ugh.

And thank you, she is a cool girl!

:)

Anonymous said...

Fifth grade is tough indeed. I was a bully in that grade. true story

Matt Conlon said...

This is a terrific picture! The artistic symbolism is wonderful, even if unintentional. Hell, ESPECIALLY because it was unintentional! She will absolutely love it one day, I'm quite certain.

Linda Medrano said...

Besides being such a good girl, Amanda is also just gorgeous!!!

The Accidental Somebody said...

~Lunatic Pope I bet a lot of people regret a lot of elementary/middle/high school.

~Matt, thank you - I was quite pleased and surprised with how it turned out.

~Linda thank you! She is a beauty. :)