So, I totally got suckered into going on Daphne's last field trip of the year. It was a trip for the whole first grade to the Aquarium and Botanical Gardens, and the information that came home said no siblings allowed. I told Daphne that I was sure it would be fun, but I wasn't going on this one.
I was surprised when I got an email from her teacher asking if I was "still planning on going to the field trip." I told her no because I already owe all my friends for watching the boys for all of my Doctor appointments, and so wouldn't be getting someone to watch Daphne's siblings. She wrote back and told me that since it was the end of the year field-trip they were making exceptions and parents could meet the class there at the Gardens and siblings could come along, AND that Daphne was really looking forward to me being there.
Hmm. Walking around the gardens for hours, eight months pregnant, trying to keep track of my boys in a crowd of first graders. Not gonna lie--it's not my idea of fun. But I caved and said I'd be there.
I really drug my feet getting out of bed that morning. I was just dreading it. Even if I did survive, I'd get home with an hour to get everybody settled and catch my breath before the first of five piano students arrived. sigh . . . no rest for the weary. (you should hear violins playing somewhere in your head.) Arthur gave me a pep talk about how if I decided to have a bad time, I would, so I should just go and try to make the best of it.
So after the older ones were on the bus to school, I packed a surprisingly yummy lunch (despite the fact that we were kind of short on groceries,) and loaded up the car and we even got to the Aquarium on time. Daphne was really excited to have us there, and for awhile everything was good-albeit somewhat stressful trying to keep track of Sean. He's not much smaller than most of the those 1st graders, so he sort of blended in.
When we got to the butterfly pavillion, I opted to wait outside with the boys because pushing a stroller around in there is so cumbersome. But before I knew it, I saw Sean
inside the pavillion. Don't know how he found the door since it isn't entirely obvious, but he did. So I parked the stroller outside, pulled out Hayden and my bag, and went in to enjoy the butterflies after all.
We were having a great time finding lots of butterflies, and Sean was having a great time hanging out with Daphne. Then there came a time when I noticed Sean wasn't with Daphne anymore and I realized that I hadn't gotten a visual on Sean for awhile. I walked around the pavilion checking all the kids with blue shirts, and none of them was Sean. I asked another mom, my friend Amber, if she saw him anywhere, and she didn't see him either.
So I grabbed Hayden, and we booked it out of the pavilion, and started searching. I backtracked because I figured he'd be by the miniature train tracks trying to spot the trains (that weren't running that particular day.) I ran, pushing the stroller, looking all over the path, and calling his name. He was nowhere to be seen.
(The miniature train tracks that were so captivating just a short while before)
I was feeling so flustered, and a lot of negative thoughts came crushing through my mind like, "I just knew something like this was gonna happen." And "What a sight am I with two little boys that I can hardly manage and 8 months pregnant with the next one." And "Wouldn't you know it, the time I have to lose one is when I'm on a field trip with tons of other parents from school, who are all thinking, why in the world is that woman having another one!?!" But amidst all of that, I thought to pray for Heavenly Father to help me know where to look. And the first thought that came to my head was to head back to the front gate and report a missing child.
The lady at the front was very helpful. She came right out of her booth and walked me into an office where we called security and recruited a couple more people to help spread out and look for him. I told them he was four years old and was wearing a blue shirt, brown shoes and had short dark hair.
Well, right as we all re-entered the gardens, I saw him walking down a path we hadn't been on, holding hands with one of the gardeners. I was so relieved to see him and thanked the gardner over and over. She said he was clear in the back all alone by the real train tracks used by the train that takes people from the Zoo to the Gardens. She said, "I thought he must have wandered away, and I'd better bring him up front because I'm sure someone was looking for him." I'm so glad she was the one who found him and not someone scary. What a blessing!
While we were eating lunch on the big grassy area in the middle of the park, we saw this mother duck and her 12 little ones making their way to the duck pond. It may have even been more than twelve--I couldn't even fit them all in one shot-- Unlike one of my sons, these little guys were staying VERY close to their mother-- They also had an escort of three gardeners helping clear their way to the pond, making sure that no little kids separated the group or stepped on those little ducklings.
It might have been my favorite part of the field trip. (Besides finding Sean, of course!) And I think I might have been a little envious of that mother duck. All of her children following close behind her PLUS an escort to get her safely to her destination. Of course, I pointed out to Sean how those little ducks were staying close to their mom so they were safe.
Well, the rest of the field trip passed uneventfully, (thank goodness!) Sean did much better staying by me, and even though I felt pretty unsettled for the rest of the day, I even survived my piano lessons in the afternoon. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father answers prayers, and that directed me on where I should go to find my son, and brought us all home safely.
