A Promise is a Promise

When I was in first grade, my mom went back to work. She was a teacher, and got a teaching job at the same school I went to, so that was nice. But in the mid-60s, it sure created a scandal. All of the moms on our street knew that we'd turn out to be hoodlums. We didn't.

I liked having my mom at the same school as me. But, as far as I can remember, there was only one time I missed not having a stay at home mom. Those times were field trip days. I really missed the fact that my mom could never be a field trip chaperone.

Now I have kids of my own and am also a teacher. Up until three years ago, I worked half-time, so I was able to volunteer in the kids' classrooms on a weekly basis (although I never enjoyed it). Then three years ago, my husband decided to go into teaching, and I knew I'd have to return to full-time teaching.

I made one promise to myself. As long as the kids wanted me along on field trips, and as long as my name was chosen to be a chaperone, I'd chaperone every field trip I could. And I have done that.

Yesterday Stella's class went on a field trip to see a play, and I was a chaperone. Stella was so happy. It made me happy. I'm keeping my chaperone-promise!