Boy, Is it Quiet!

This is our 3rd day without Bear. Our school district has this thing where the 5th graders have an opportunity to visit DC with or without guardians. No worries, there is a school sponsor. Even if guardians go, the kids stay in the hotel room with other kids and not their parents. It's a fun experience for them! Bear is having a great time which I'll post about later (or let him guest blog).

When Lamb was in 5th grade, she desperately wanted to go. We wanted her to, but we didn't want her traveling alone. I trusted the school sponsor, but I wasn't ready to let Lamb go off into the world without a family member. However, we couldn't afford two tickets. In steps my mom. I was hoping she'd volunteer to pay for MY trip, but instead, she paid for herself.

Lamb is an independent, quiet, aloof girl so we didn't think anything of sending her off to DC with her G. There were over 30 kids in her grade level going and several of her friends. It was hard seeing her off, but I knew she'd love every minute of it.
And she did. Until that first night. She & G were riding in the elevator to their rooms when G asked Lamb what was wrong. Lamb burst into tears and wailed, "I miss my Moooommmmmyyyyy." Broke G's heart. Broke mine also when I heard. Luckily, Lamb had some great friends to cheer her up. And the next day, G found a Mama & baby stuffed snow leopard (my favorite exotic animal) to remind her of me. Lamb was fine after that.

There were several moments of that trip that my mom will always remember. While on the bus touring the different monuments, the kids spontaneously burst into The Star Spangled Banner upon seeing the Iwo Jima statue. The kids were incredibly respectful at the Vietnam Wall and other memorials. After viewing the children's portion of the Holocaust Museum, they had an interesting discussion at dinner. So, even though, there were a lot of kids, it was a good time.

Then there is this trip. Bear has been waiting for four years for his turn. Once again, my mom went instead of me. I'm not bitter, really, I'm not. It's a smaller group, only 10 kids. Only two of them boys. And five of those girls? Obnoxious. And it takes a lot for me to say that.

I was prepared for Bear's homesickness. He is a clingy child and doesn't enjoy being alone. I knitted him a scarf but stopped myself from packing Blue Bear and my his robe. Ha! The fates laugh at me. That child practically kicked his G out of his room the first night (& last night). When he talks to me, he's in a hurry & listens with ½ an ear. The phone is hung up before the word "bye" has stopped echoing in my ear. I'm happy about that. Really, I am. These kids of mine. Always keep me guessing!
However, I don't think my mom is enjoying the experience as much. She is having fun, but she keeps thinking about Lamb's group. She shouldn't. I mentioned ½ the kids are obnoxious. During the bus tour, they wouldn't even get off the bus to look at the memorials. They are only interested in the gift shops. At the American History Museum, my mom told the sponsor she was taking the boys to look around as they would not be interested in seeing what the girls want to see. About an hour before meet-up time, she saw them sitting around waiting for them. She ignored them & keep touring with the boys.

They are only ten/eleven so I understand the disinterest. It's just a shame, though. And they should still know better than to climb all over FDR and the Korean War soldiers. I'm just sayin'.