You can call me Mrs. Snyder

On second thought, no, don't do that.

That makes me sound like my mother-in-law.

But I got to do something that "Mrs. Snyder" (again, talking about me, here) would do.

I got to be a chaperone.

A few weeks ago, Caleb, out of the blue, asked if I could chaperone his field trip to the zoo.

I have to admit, being a parent who works full time outside the home, I kind of don't pay much attention to those "We need chaperones!" slips that come home.

After all, I use my PTO for the kids' sick days, not for walking around museums with them.  Even though museums are a lot more fun.

But then I thought back to my recent promise to myself.

That I was not going to let the busy-ness of life own us.

That I was going to embrace moments.

And so I arranged to take the morning off.

I was going to be a chaperone.

I supervised their animal and plant observations. 

 I entertained kids, even when all of the exhibits lost electricity and were closed.

Which was a particular challenge given that almost all of the animals were already inside due to the cold weather.

I survived two boys thinking a nude statue was the "nastiest" thing in the world.

I didn't lose anyone.

And for one morning, I got to hang with my oldest boy.  A boy who, when he got off the bus, ran toward me, jumping and yelling, "You're here!  You're here!" 

(And no, that doesn't mean I have a history of not showing up when I say I am going to.)

Even better?  He was happy to hang with me.

I was a chaperone. 

And I was pretty good at it.

Other than the time when one of the kids tried to call me "Mrs. Snyder" and I did a double take.  I did correct him and tell him to just call me Molly.

Of course, now Noah has requested that I chaperone his trip to the zoo at the end of the month.  I've told them both they just have to promise not to get sick so I can keep using my PTO for the good stuff.

Because this is the good stuff for sure.