My class trip…..

I am the eighth grade teacher and every year, I take my class on an end of the year trip.   I have done all kinds of excursions from Montreal, to Boston, to Cleveland, to Washington for days on end, to amusement parks.   At my current school, no overnights are allowed but it is still, in trying to have the kids get the most out of the day that they can, a long day.   Yesterday was no exception, as we planned a day that began at 6:30 a.m. and ended after 11:00 p.m.

After a lot of research, the class decided on Kahlahari water park in Ohio.  It has both indoor and outdoor water rides, zip lining and if you have never been, it was an awesome place to take teens!  I posted some live videos to our parent Facebook page so those at home could see the excitement.

I did not come prepared to swim, nor even think on it.  I wore appropriate teacher attire, a pair of capris, and a nice Tshirt.   Yes it was very hot and humid in that, but I need to be dressed appropriately.  Given it was a water park I asked my students to wear modest suits and thankfully all did.  I was especially proud of my girls for their nice suits.   They were girlish, many two piece but appropriately covered.

I am the teacher and with twenty students on board and all their parents at home, a few with nut allergies, and health concerns, my purse containing epi pens, I needed to be available on my phone at all times.   We arrived and decided on a great meeting place and they were off with times to check in with me.   I walked around the perimeter and checked to see where everything was, places where I thought they might congregate.  I scoped out what were the supposed healthy eating options were, so I would know my options,  and actually found two spots where fresh  salad was available.

I walked to see where the kids were, observing from a healthy distance so as not to spoil their fun but close enough to know they were safe.  And I kept on walking.   I would stop and watch some kids come down some ride and listened to their laughter. Waved to them, heard them calling to me.   All day long they kept thanking me for being willing to bring them as they were having the time of their lives.  I laughed as they made friends with other teens and brought them to check in with me too.  Occasionally I would stop somewhere to charge up my phone and then walk some more.

I admit that the wave pool really caught my eye and I thought how fun that must be.  I love the water, always have.   But on this trip, I am the adult in charge and need to be readily available.  Plus, swimming at the Y with my loose saggy skin is one thing, in front of my students? Ehhhhh…. not so much……

After the first check in, I thought it best to have lunch, as I was getting hungry.   I had brought some fresh vegetables and a Dr. Jack sort of approved snack bar,  and so I returned to the salad spot.  And minus the dressing, which I will feel today, the salad itself was wonderfully fresh filled with any ingredients you wanted.   It was delicious and I was so full, no other meal was needed.

The only negative which was my own fault, was at the end of the day, I felt like I had not consumed my usual water quota and I could feel it, my lips felt parched, my fingers tingly, but decided I had a four hour ride home to meet it.   And when I got on that bus… well the most amazing thing hit me….  I wasn’t sore, k wasn’t uncomfortable, I wasn’t aching from head to toe.  I realized the most important thing…..

How completely grateful I am…. for the ability to walk comfortably…. for not even thinking about any other yucky foods….for being able to walk a ton of steps pain free…. for comfortable clothes and not having to try to cover every inch of myself….. for being able to not think about how long can I walk before I need to sit down…. for going all day on no caffeine….. for no sugar crashes….. for enjoying the delicious salad…. for being able to keep up with twenty teens….  for a great dya with my class filled with fun and memories…. for waking up early this morning without sore muscles and aches… for being alert enough to write this …..

I have some personal goals this summer…. what better way to begin than with gratitude for where I am right now…..