The end of the school year is here. Around here it means field trips. Almost all of my kids field trips are scheduled for after spring break. So we have kiddos going to the symphony, Elitches, movies, picnics, and museums. Technically the daughter’s trip to Florida fits in that category too. Rarely in those last two weeks, are they just going to school.
It is the time of year that all books and such belonging to the school have to be turned in. Fines have to be paid for the inevitable lost book (usually more than one for Mr.12) It means less homework and more play. My kids can wear shorts to school.
It is also the time of year for field day. Now some of you may love field day and hooray for you! I do not have fond memories as a child of field day. I was very small, short and skinny. I could not run super fast or jump really high or throw things very hard. I also was pretty good at falling down and tripping. We had the high jump, the lowest jump point taller than my head. We had the long jump jump, where I skinned my knees. We had the three legged race, where my partner was like a foot taller than me and dragged me the whole way. We had some sort of throwing game, I could barely lift the thing we were supposed to throw. All in all the games were not designed with me in mind…I weighed maybe 50 lbs in 5th grade and was only about 4 foot tall. My Mr. 7 is bigger at 7 than I was at 11.
At my elementary school you earned a ribbon for how you did. I never got anything but yellow and green ribbons, mostly green. Last place. I do remember falling down and skinning my knees. I remember getting sunburned. I remember realizing that I was not going to win and trying to be happy about it.
I was not super successful at field day. To be blunt, you could say I sucked! I could do math in my head, read super fast, and spell almost anything. But gym in general, no, (DODGEBALL STILL GIVES ME NIGHTMARES), and field day specifically definitely NOT.
Now my 16, 14, and 12 don’t have to do field day anymore. This year only Mr. 7 has that privilege. Thank heavens. Although they are all way better at it than I ever was. They have all won lots of ribbons of every color, even on occasion the coveted blue first place. Still they don’t love it. I go to support them. I bring them water, and sunscreen and hugs.
Every year I see that little girl (or boy) at field day that reminds me of me. Shorter and smaller than the other kids and looking miserable as she gets green after green. I always give them a big hug and whisper the same thing in their ear that someone very smart told me a long time ago. When you grow up NO ONE WILL EVER ASK OR CARE HOW FIELD DAY WENT! It is great advice. Pass it on to someone this field day.
